[Ag-eq] USDA actions to encourage new farmers and ranchers

[Tracy Carcione]

I'm pasting a bit from the USDA newsletter about programs to get more
people involved in agriculture..
Tracy

Montana FSA: New USDA Commitments to Help Build Up Next Generation of
Farmers and
Ranchers
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a commitment by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize $5.6 billion over the next
two years
within USDA programs and services that serve new and beginning farmers and
ranchers.
Deputy Secretary Harden also announced a new, tailored web tool designed
to connect
burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and resources available to
help them get
started.
 
The new web tool is available at www.usda.gov/newfarmers [

http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDI5LjUwODE5NzUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAyOS41MDgxOTc1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDkwNTQ0JmVtYWlsaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&101&&&http://www.usda.gov/newfarmers
 
]. The site was designed based on feedback from new and beginning farmers and
ranchers around the country, who cited unfamiliarity with programs and
resources as
a challenge to starting and expanding their operations. The site features
advice and
guidance on everything a new farm business owner needs to know, from
writing a
business plan, to obtaining a loan to grow their business, to filing taxes
as a new
small business owner. By answering a series of questions about their
operation,
farmers can use the site’s Discovery Tool to build a personalized set of
recommendations of USDA programs and services that may meet their needs.
 
Using the new web tool and other outreach activities, and operating within
its
existing resources, USDA has set a new goal of increasing beginning farmer
and
rancher participation by an additional 6.6 percent across key USDA
programs, which
were established or strengthened by the 2014 Farm Bill, for a total
investment value
of approximately $5.6 billion. Programs were targeted for expanded
outreach and
commitment based on their impact on expanding opportunity for new and
beginning
farmers and ranchers, including starting or expanding an operation,
developing new
markets, supporting more effective farming and conservation practices, and
having
access to relevant training and education opportunities. USDA will provide
quarterly
updates on its progress towards meeting its goal. A full explanation of the
investment targets, benchmarks and outcomes is available at:
BFR-Commitment-Factsheet [

http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDI5LjUwODE5NzUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAyOS41MDgxOTc1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDkwNTQ0JmVtYWlsaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&102&&&http://www.usda.gov/documents/BFR-Commitment-Factsheet-10-27-15.pdf
 
].
 
As the average age of the American farmer now exceeds 58 years, and data
shows that
almost 10 percent of farmland in the continental United States will change
hands in
the next five years, we have no time to lose in getting more new farmers and
ranchers established. Equally important is encouraging young people to pursue
careers in industries that support American agriculture. According to an
employment
outlook report [

http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDI5LjUwODE5NzUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAyOS41MDgxOTc1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDkwNTQ0JmVtYWlsaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&103&&&https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/
 
] released by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and
Purdue
University, one of the best fields for new college graduates is
agriculture. Nearly
60,000 high-skilled agriculture job openings are expected annually in the
United
States for the next five years, yet only 35,000 graduates with a
bachelor’s degree
or higher in agriculture related fields are expected to be available to
fill them.
The report also shows that women make up more than half of the food,
agriculture,
renewable natural resources, and environment higher education graduates in
the
United States. USDA recently released a series of fact sheets [

http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDI5LjUwODE5NzUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAyOS41MDgxOTc1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDkwNTQ0JmVtYWlsaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&104&&&http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=women-in-ag.html
 
] showcasing the impact of women in agriculture nationwide.
 
Today’s announcement builds on USDA’s ongoing work to engage its resources to
inspire a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving
access to land
and capital; building market opportunities; extending conservation
opportunities;
offering appropriate risk management tools; and increasing outreach and
technical
support. To learn more about USDA’s efforts, visit the Beginning Farmers and
Ranchers Results Page. [

http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDI5LjUwODE5NzUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAyOS41MDgxOTc1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDkwNTQ0JmVtYWlsaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9cmFjaGFlbC5kdWJpbnNreUBvYy51c2RhLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&105&&&http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=usda-results-beginning-farmers.html
 
]