More Farmers on the Land
More Farmers on the Land
If you are a farm hand - and have your own dream of owning and running your own farm, you will want to hear about this.
The Farm Beginnings Program works to get more successful farmers on the land and organize for a system in which family farmers can flourish.
Farm Beginnings provides a wide range of trainings, including Farm Dreams, Farm Beginnings and the Journeyperson Course.
Brian DeVore of the Land Stewardship Project says the focus won't be on farming techniques, but on the business aspects of the profession.
"It's more to look at what kind of decision-making and goal-setting you need to do in order to set up a successful farming operation."
The idea has always been to attract a new generation of farmers. That's why DeVore says they also serve those who only speak spanish..
"We are now seeing a generation of Latino residents who have come here as migrant workers over the years and have become familiar with Minnesota's agriculture. A lot of them come from a rural or farming backgrounds, and they want to farm. Some also have a little bit of experience with direct marketing, on a small scale. They need that extra push to learn some management techniques, and see how it's being done here."
Another emphasis will be on serving the fast-growing markets of sustainable, organic farming and livestock production. Details are online at www.farmbeginnings.org.
