Assisting KY Socially Disadvantaged Farmers who Grow Vegetables Improve their Production, Business and Marketing Practices to Insure a Safer Food Supply

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Expected Results for Objectives 1, 2 and 3: <OL> <LI> Thirty KSU 'Third Thursdays' will train approximately 3,000 participants on organic and sustainable vegetable production, marketing, BMPs, GAPs, food safety, H.B. 391, H.B. 669, direct marketing, and USDA agencies and their programs. <LI> Twenty meetings at churches, the Fairview Produce Auction, and other locations will train some 3,000 participants on direct marketing including farmers markets and vegetable auctions, value-added processing, BMPs, GAPs, food safety issues related to H.B. 391 and H.B. 669, and USDA agencies and their programs. <LI> The 2010 Small Farm State Field Day will train about 1,500 participants on USDA programs, alternative farm enterprises and value-added vegetable marketing. <LI> The 2009/2010/2011 Kentucky Small, Limited-Resource/Minority Farmers Conferences will train approximately 600 socially disadvantaged farmer participants on USDA agencies and their programs, family health, direct marketing systems, and record-keeping. <LI> The 2009/2010/2011 Southern Sustainable Agriculture Workers Conference (SAWG) will train approximately 300 Kentucky socially disadvantaged farmer participants and 2,500 farmer participants on direct marketing systems, farm business management, food safety issues, and vegetable and horticulture production. <LI> One-on-one, telephone and e-mail contacts are expected to average 400 for each quarter, totaling 5,400 contacts with vegetable and direct market producers to assist them with their individual situations and with farmers applying for USDA agency and state programs. <LI> Conduct at least six on-farm demonstrations and field days on socially disadvantaged farmers' farms related to vegetable production, GAPs, BMPs, and direct marketing. <LI> Work one-on-one with about 100 new immigrant farmers annually in their 'truck gardens' as they commence farming in the U.S. <LI> Have an Annual Hispanic Festival at the Farm hosted by the KSU Research and Demonstration Farm with about 100 participants annually. <LI> Some 2,000 participants in the monthly 'Third Thursday' workshops, the 2009/2010/2011 Small, Limited-Resource/Minority Farmers Conferences, and ten risk management meetings at churches and the Fairview Produce Auction will learn about USDA agencies, their programs and services. <LI> Expected participation in USDA programs as a direct result of the effort and assistance with applications is 25 farm operating and rural housing grants and loans, plus 30 demonstration and grant projects. Over 70 farmers are expected to participate in the state cost-share programs. Expected Results for </ol>
Objective 4: <OL> <LI> Sixty (60) high school youth including the KSU Research and Apprenticeship Program (REAP) high school summer intern students and 2,000 elementary school students will participate in training opportunities on agricultural careers, USDA careers, and tours to socially disadvantaged farmers' farms. <LI> KSU College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems students to be introduced to USDA agencies and their programs, career opportunities, and the special needs of socially disadvantaged farmers.
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APPROACH: <OL> <LI> Provide training to SDA farmers in one-on-one settings on their farms, in group meetings, and by publications, fact sheets, web-based information and distance learning on BMPs, GAPs, financial and farm management, record-keeping, vegetable production, USDA agencies and programs, health and nutrition, home-based processing, and marketing opportunities including produce auctions, farmer's markets, and csa's.<LI> Utilize the Southern SAWG, Women in Agriculture Conferences, Fairview Produce Auction educational meetings, meetings in African American churches, the KSU Small, Limited Resource/Minority Farmers Conferences, KSU "Third Thursday" workshops, and other meetings to provide training on vegetable production, food safety, marketing, and USDA agencies. <LI> Assist SDA farmers to utilize the production practices of BMPs and GAPs, improve the handling, management, marketing, home processing, and production of vegetables; do this by providing one-on-one training to 2501 OASDFR project cooperators; hands-on training at the "Third Thursday" workshops; group outreach meetings at locations where socially disadvantaged farmers attend including churches, community centers, on cooperating farmer's farms, and the Fairview Produce Auction; and education at the 2010 State Small Farm Field Days, and the 2009/2010/2011 Annual KSU Small, Limited Resource/Minority Farmers Conferences. <LI> Provide one-on-one assistance to socially disadvantaged farm families to apply for USDA programs including FSA farm ownership, operating, and youth loans (including guaranteed loans), RD housing loans and grants, SARE, EQIP, and other programs. <LI> Use the Kentucky State University Land Grant Program website, e-mail and distance learning (mobile television lab), and publications and newsletters to provide outreach and information to farmers. Provide training on USDA agencies and their programs to socially disadvantaged and small farmers by one-on-one intervention and using these technologies. <LI> Provide demonstration gardens in selected counties. <LI> Provide education to elementary school children and KSU's REAP and other high school student programs on USDA, SDA farmers, agricultural careers, and farming opportunities, including farm tours. <LI> Because Kentucky State University is initiating a College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems in the fall of 2009, introduce these students to USDA programs, career opportunities, and the special needs of socially disadvantaged farmers.