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Small Farms Program in NIFA

Small Farms Program in NIFA. Brad Rein Division Director Agricultural Systems The Division of Agricultural Systems addresses the human interaction between science, technology and agriculture.

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Small Farms Program in NIFA

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  1. Small Farms Program in NIFA Brad Rein Division Director Agricultural Systems The Division of Agricultural Systems addresses the human interaction between science, technology and agriculture. We integrate the biological, physical, environmental and socio-economic factors essential to successful production enterprises and viable rural communities.

  2. Division of Agricultural Systems Staff Division Director Program Specialists Brad Rein * Jason Boim Lelan Dixon * National Program Leaders Clyde Ellis Jill Auburn * Desiree Rucker * Denis Ebodaghe * Robert Hedberg * Program Assistants Daniel Schmoldt Omar Lugo Robbin Shoemaker Doris Perry Marietta Pannell Program Support Supervisor Hilary Whitfield II Laarina Mullings * LGU Extension Experience

  3. What is a Small Farm? • Small farm - A farm with less than $250,000 in gross receipts annually on which day to day labor and management are provided by the farmer and/or the farm family that owns the production or owns or leases the productive assets.

  4. Small Farm Definition • Current Definition: Small - less than $250,000/yr. Medium – Between $250,000 and $500,000/yr. • Proposed Definition: Small - less than $350,000/yr. Medium – Between $350,000 and $999,999/yr.

  5. 0 200 Miles Percent of Farms with Sales of Less Than $10,000: 2012 Percent Less than 35 35 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 74 75 or more 2012CensusofAgriculture 0 100 United States 56.6 Percent 0 100 Miles 12-M009 U.S. Department of Agriculture, NationalAgricultural Statistics Service Miles

  6. Small Farm Program Impacts • 50% Increase in AFRI submissions from 1890 Colleges and Universities • From 2009-2012, 30% increase in USDA grant writing success rate. A result of USDA grant writing coordination specific to minority and smaller institutions • Enhanced farm income by $20,000/yr. on the average per small farm family

  7. Small Farm Program Impacts • Expanding an existing education or outreach program • Increased partnership and collaboration • Increased diversity • Increased farm management skills • From 1997-2012, 30% increase in farmland owned by Black farmers (2012 Ag. Census).

  8. NIFA Small Farm Highlights • Coordination of Department-wide series of National Small Farm Conferences once every 3-4 years since1996 • 75% increase in small farmers participating in USDA’s programs and services

  9. National Small Farm Conferences • 1996. Nashville, TN – 300 participants • 1999. St. Louis, MO – 750 participants • 2002. Albuquerque, NM – 775 participants • 2005. Greensboro, NC – 780 participants

  10. National Small Farm Conferences • 2009. Springfield, IL – 584 participants • 2012. Memphis, TN – 800 participants • 2016. Virginia Beach, VA (Sept. 20-22)

  11. National Small Farm Conference Impacts • Expanding an existing education or outreach program • Increased partnership and collaboration • Increased diversity • Increased access to USDA programs and services • 78% of conference attendees work with farmers • Increased success rates in minorities and smaller institutions garnering grants from USDA agencies • Increased opportunities for professional and personal development

  12. National Small Farm Conference Impacts • 90% of conference attendees reported gaining new ideas that would be useful in their work • 81% picked up new strategies and tools • 50% reported reaching more than 50 farmers in a year • 30% reported reaching over 150 farmers in a given year

  13. Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 145 Awards 2009-2012 39 Awards 2014 $20 million/year 2014-2018

  14. 2014 Ag Act – New Focus on Veterans

  15. National Clearinghouse: Start2Farm.gov New Clearinghouse 2015-2019

  16. “MAIL $4 MILLION. GRANT CHECK PAYABLE TO…”

  17. Small Farm & BFRDP NPL Contacts • Denis Ebodaghe • debodaghe@nifa.usda.gov • 202-401-4385 • Jill Auburn • jauburn@nifa.usda.gov • 202-720-2635

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