The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Small Farm Program was recently awarded a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), according to Dr. Henry English, head of the UAPB program. The program, which provides direct assistance to beginning farmers, will be offered for the next three years by UAPB and the East Arkansas Enterprise Community (EAEC) in northeast Arkansas.
“With the average age of farmers in Arkansas being 58, new farmers are needed to replace those who will be leaving the business,” Dr. English said. “This program works to meet that need. USDA defines a beginning farmer or rancher as someone who has operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less.”
Dr. English said the program will offer assistance to new farmers in the following areas:
· Business planning: developing long-term farm business plans, completing USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan applications, developing annual farm business plans (income expense projections with financial statements), selecting business structures and crop insurance.
· Production planning: use of Cooperative Extension Service (CES) recommendations such as variety selection, soil testing, integrated pest
management, hay testing, herd health, vaccination recommendations and enterprise budgets.
· Conservation planning: use of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs and practices such as land leveling, watering facilities, underground pipelines, cover crops and no-till/minimum till.
· Fruit and vegetable marketing and related activities.
In addition to the New Farmers Program, the Small Farm Program will be hosting a class for new farmers.
“The Beginning Farmers Class is a part of UAPB’s Beginning Farmers Program,” Dr. English said. “The class consists of seven monthly workshops conducted on-site at the UAPB Farm. Individuals are encouraged to enroll in both the program and class.” To enroll, email the Small Farm Program at [email protected] or call (870) 575-7255.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
