$17.8 Million Awarded

Why not reward a farmer for growing sustainably? For not planting near waterways. For introducing legumes instead of corn in a drought stricken area. It is changing our food system and education about food. How about showing people what a wild relative of a carrot would look like? I love your idea of ' farming is cool'. Megan Lewien who is a Washington State University PhD student.

So echoing Megan's sentiments, rewarding those in our communities who feel that farming and ranching is cool enough to make a career, the USDA has chosen to take action. In a recent meeting with new and beginning farmers at Iowa State University, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new investment of $17.8 million for 37 projects to help educate, mentor, and enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. The investment is made through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $126 million into projects targeting new and beginning farmers and ranchers through BFRDP.