PROJECT SUMMARY Farm Incubator Educational Training Program and Web-based Resource Center for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Funded by USDA/NIFA/Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) Project Team PD: Dr. Duncan M. Chembezi Co-PD: Dr. Buddhi R. Gyawali Co-PD: Dr. Swagata Banerjee Co-PD: Dr. Rufina Ward Co-PD: Ms. E’licia L. Chaverest Co-PD: Mr. Robert Spencer Co-PD: Ms. Karen Wynne Co-PD: Ms. Diane Tune Co-PD: Mr. John Zippert Co-PD: Mr. J.C. Holt Institution Alabama A&M University Alabama A&M University Alabama A&M University Alabama A&M University Alabama A&M University Alabama Cooperative Extension System Rosita’s Farm Tune Farm, Alabama Federation of Southern Cooperatives AL Agricultural A+ Marketing Association % of budget allocated 58.65 ” ” ” “ ” 14.01 10.67 6.68 10.00 Alabama A&M University (AAMU) has served the needs of Alabama’s limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFRs) since 1994 through the Small Farms Research Center. Since 2008, the Center has assisted over117 producers (NBFRs, SDFRs and limited resource producers) through value-added producer grants, crop insurance, cost-share and loan programs totaling $4,186,356. AAMU, in partnership with ACES (AAMU and Auburn University), Rosita’s Farm, AAA+MA, Tune Farm, and FSC/LAF, is applying for a grant under NIFA’s 2012 BFRDP to recruit, grow and assist a total of 225 new and 600 beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs) in Alabama and neighboring states. An additional number of at least 2,000 farmers and ranchers are expected to be reached through general outreach training, newsletters and online web portal. Over 31% of the requested federal funds for this standard BFRDP project is budgeted to address the needs of limited resource, immigrants and socially disadvantaged BFRs. This includes at least 50% of the budget allocations for each partner organization will directly benefit NBFRs in general through direct technical assistance, outreach training and education. The growing numbers of young, limited resource, minority, retired, and immigrant farmers and ranchers who aspire to own and/or operate farmland and participate in government programs generally lack access to capital, land, markets, and are uninformed about various aspects of agricultural, legal, and procedural mechanisms of acquiring land, equitably accessing government services, and lack the technical know-how of how to use the land profitably. Many are also dissatisfied with the current revenue streams from agricultural farmlands as most of their lands are either not effectively utilized or their products are not market-competitive. Thus, this project’s long-term goal is to grow the next generation of farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs who will use the experience, skills and land stewardship to improve and enhance sustainability and productive capacity of farms and ranches. Our specific objectives are: (1) Recruit new and BFRs and provide them agricultural training and certification courses via five Farm Incubators strategically located across Alabama; 2) Establish a web-based resource center at AAMU for developing and implementing effective training programs and disseminating educational materials; (3) Strengthen farm incubator training and education through farmers-to-farmer mentoring, field days, on-farm demonstrations, entrepreneurship and business training, web-based instruction, and certification programs; and (4) Provide targeted technical assistance and outreach training to expand production and access niche markets for specialty crops and small ruminant. Based on strong partnership, target audience support, and the proposed innovative training approach including incubator and online resource development, this project will likely be self-sustaining.