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Beginning Farmer Program

Rick Costin

Summary

Ky FarmStart is a new, three year, extension initiative funded under the USDA´s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development program. The program is a comprehensive whole farm management program designed for individuals with less than ten years of farm experience. The KyFARMSTART program is a two year commitment for the producer. During the first year, producers will participate in 10 to 12 face to face educational meetings which may include classroom style meetings, on -farm demonstrations, field days, and field trips. In the producers´ second year, they will be teamed up with a mentor with similar enterprise interests. The project will also have an on- line curriculum for producers who do not have the program in their county or who prefer the flexibility of the on-line alternative.
Potential topics include: Farm Management, Marketing, Enterprise Evaluation, Financial Management, Nutrient Management, Evaluation of Natural Resources, Legal Risk, Government Resources, Business Plans, Production, Farmstead Management, and Leadership Development. County Extension Agents are responsible for developing their curriculum to fit the participants needs. The program is getting a large amount of attention. Over thirty counties have either started the program or have made plans to begin this Spring.

Details

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