Growing new and beginning farmers

Talk like a small farms outreach provider

Biodiversity — the variety and richness of organisms found in an area

Capital — a person’s financial assets, including money and property

Credit — in finance, the ability to borrow money

Entrepreneurship — taking on financial risks to start and grow a novel and innovative business

Financial literacy — the ability to effectively understand and manage finances

Heir property — family-owned land with unresolved estate issues, usually when the original owner dies without leaving a will

Mentoring — advising or training a less experienced person

Minority — a relatively small group of people with particular characteristics (e.g., ethnicity), often facing discrimination

Sustainable — maintainable far into the future by avoiding depletion or contamination of natural resources

Underserved — not provided with sufficient help or services

If you are interested in running a farm, where do you begin? Many farmers find starting their careers a daunting process, especially if they are from disadvantaged backgrounds or lack a network for support or advice. To counter this, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) runs the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), which aims to help new and beginning farmers by funding programmes or services that support them.

One such programme is run by Alabama A&M University’s Small Farms Research Center (AAMU-SFRC). “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a sharp increase in the number of minority farmers entering the agricultural industry,” says E’licia L. Chaverest, Assistant Director of the AAMU-SFRC. “To help this process, we run a programme designed to cater to their specific needs.” The programme targets military veterans, who are often in need of a new career after leaving the armed forces, as well as young people who are seeking a career in agriculture, due to having inherited agricultural land or having a passion for the sector.

Education and empowerment

The programme, ‘Developing Capacity for Veterans and Socially Disadvantaged Beginning Farmers in Black Belt Alabama’, works to support farmers through a range of methods, including farm planning, farmer-to-farmer mentoring,  experimental learning through hands-on  demonstrations, and research based educational  courses across a wide range of topics.

Alabama’s Black Belt gets its name from the area’s rich, black soil. Writing in the 1930s, American sociologist Arthur Raper described it as the historical home of “the richest soil and the poorest people” in the US, with nine out of Alabama’s ten poorest counties being found within the belt. Almost 100 years later, Raper’s description is still valid today. The region focuses on agriculture and has a low population density, high unemployment and insufficient access to medical care and education. The AAMU-SFRC is working on improving this situation by giving upcoming farmers a helping hand in running profitable and sustainable agribusinesses.

“For many new and beginning farmers, the main challenges they face are access to resources and technical assistance,” says E’licia. “They may be unaware about the USDA programmes and services that are available, as well as agricultural institutions such as AAMU-SFRC.” The centre’s programme focuses on supporting new farmers through education and empowerment. “We provide comprehensive programmes on topics such as business structure, financial literacy, risk management strategies, diversification, food safety, and marketing,” says E’licia. “These programmes include workshops, seminars, certification courses and case studies to build this knowledge.”

Money and law

Legal and financial matters are notoriously complex, especially when dealing with large amounts of land and capital, as is typically the case with farms. “Many historically underserved farmers are facing heir property issues, meaning they encounter legal problems in proving ownership of their land,” says E’licia. “Racial barriers and financial literacy also pose big challenges.”

AAMU-SFRC provides educational programmes to tackle this. “We have courses on estate planning, heir property and land access,” says E’licia. “Other courses educate farmers about financial credit, record keeping and managing both business and personal finances,” says E’licia. The AAMU-SFRC also provides one-on-one consultations and specialist appointments to help farmers meet their specific needs.

Entrepreneurship and leadership

These days, it is not enough for farmers to know how to farm; they also need to be business-savvy. “In the digital era, entrepreneurial and leadership skills are so important,” says E’licia. “New farmers will be required to be innovative, creative and visionary to operate their farms. As leaders, they will need skills such as strategic development, planning and delivery, and management of employees.”

In the age of industrialised farming, it can be difficult for smaller farms to keep up – but they remain highly valuable. Smaller farms tend to be more sustainable and friendlier to biodiversity, which is critical for ensuring the future of food supplies. Smaller farms also help build local resilience; if food supply chains are disrupted, they can help provide for local communities. This highlights the need for the farmers who run smaller farms to understand the business landscape and compete against the agricultural giants.

Farmer-to-farmer mentoring can be a powerful way of facilitating this process. Instead of relying on traditional ‘classroom’ settings, the programme connects beginning farmers with experienced farmers who can pass on their invaluable knowledge and expertise gained from years of farming. “Farmer-to-farmer mentoring is critical for new and beginning farmers,” says E’licia. “It gives them the opportunity to shadow traditional farmers and learn through hands-on experience.” The programme also offers apprenticeships and internships, helping prospective farmers to build their understanding before getting fully involved in farming as a career.

A legacy of success

The AAMU-SFRC has a substantial history of successes. “Over 28 years of operation, AAMU-SFRC has reached nearly 20,000 farmers and landowners, including the education and empowerment of over 12,000 who are new or beginning a farming career,” says E’licia. “Throughout that time, we have learnt about a number of approaches that are keys to success.” For instance, meeting the farmer in the field – taking the classroom to them – can be vital for ensuring that their specific needs are being addressed. The value of networks is also powerful, helping farmers to access people and opportunities that otherwise may have been inaccessible.

All this has only been possible due to a passionate and driven team at the AAMU-SFRC. “Without my team, we would not have been able to accomplish what we have over so many years,” says E’licia. “I am proud to acknowledge my coworkers and the essential roles they all play in our projects.”

The AAMU-SFRC Team

Dr Duncan M. Chembezi, Director

E’licia L. Chaverest, M.S., Assistant Director

Aminat Amunigun, Graduate Student

Oppia Burke, Program Assistant

Shuniya Hutton, Program Assistant

Virgina Ward, Program Assistant