The USDA announced a nearly $24 million investment into organizations and institutions that teach and train beginning farmers and ranchers.
“Investing in the professional development of our nation’s newest farmers and ranchers will help our food and agriculture sectors to flourish from the ground up,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics.
The funding is part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which supports a range of professional development activities for new farmers and ranchers.
“We recognize that beginning farmers and ranchers have unique needs for education, training and technical assistance,” said NIFA Acting Director Dionne Toombs.
“Their success, especially in the first 10 years, often hinges on access to reliable, science-based information and the latest educational resources so they can improve their operations’ profitability and sustainability long-term.”
