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.