Ag Census Sheds Light on Trends

Here's an interesting tidbit about the Ag Census:

See it at http://www.noble.org/ag/announcements/ag-census-sheds-light/

USDA Offers Grants to Train Beginning Farmers, Ranchers

From the USDA:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Thursday announced more than $17 million in grants for organizations that will develop training and provide other resources for beginning farmers and ranchers across the nation. 

The awards are made through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program was first established by the 2008 Farm Bill and was continued in the 2014 Farm Bill. The program provides support to those who have farmed or ranched for less than 10 years. 

NIFA awards grants to organizations throughout the United States that implement programs to train beginning farmers and ranchers, which may take place through workshops, educational teams, training, or technical assistance.

One organization, the Hawthorne Valley Association of Ghent, NY, is getting $693,918. American Farmland Trust, which does some work in New York state, is receiving $699,796.

On Line Courses Offered for Beginning Farmers

Go to http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/ to see the story.

Taking Care of Business Course Available for Beginning Farmers

Go to this link http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-103-business-side-of-farming/  at the Northeast Beginning Farmers Project for some information about courses to help beginning farmers.