Maryland Service Provider Education for Improved Beginning Farmer Outreach.

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: extension, networking
• Farm Business Management: business planning, financial management, value added

There is a growing demand for local food production, with the 2022 Ag Census seeing an increase in new and beginning farmers. Beginning farmers generally have lower rates of business survival than more established farm operators. The USDA defines a beginning farmer or rancher as someone who has operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less. Beginning farmers face many obstacles to starting a profitable farm business. Several organizations, programs, and grants in Maryland support beginning farmers by providing them with resources and contacts to explore enterprise options, refine ideas, develop plans, and implement their farming practice. To better support beginning farmers, this SARE project will bring together organizations that provide education and support for beginning farmers for professional development and networking opportunities.

These trainings will center on improving knowledge and skills needed for service providers to better assist beginning farmers. Each training session would cover an agricultural production topic and soft skills, such as communication and adult education techniques. The topics and skills discussed during the project are based on feedback from the University of Maryland Extension (UME) Beginning Farm Success Training Class, survey data from extension winter production, and an agriculture service provider survey. These topics include business planning, marketing, financial management, organic production, value-added goods, alternative markets, and animal production systems. Sessions will consist of presentations about the topics and activities. Sessions will also involve group discussion, where participants can share resources, identify gaps, and address shared needs. This project will use surveys to track knowledge gained, the number of farmers assisted, and future needs. At the end of this project, service providers will be equipped and feel more comfortable assisting beginning farmers to increase the viability of their farming operations through 1:1 coaching in business planning, marketing, and financial management.

Ten service providers will complete the program and help 60 beginning farmers increase the sustainability of their farming operations through workshops, training events, and one-on-one coaching in business planning, marketing, and financial management.