Training Underserved Specialty Crop Producers
to Mitigate Production Risk through Farmland Assessment and Soil Health
Practices Project (14622).
Beginning
and socially disadvantaged farmers face increasing crop production risks due to
climate change. With the Training Underserved Specialty Crop Producers
to Mitigate Production Risk through Farmland Assessment and Soil Health
Practices Project (14622),
educational programs trained 507 producers on soil health, water conservation, and
agroecology principles to mitigate production risks and support producers to
address legal risks through assessing available farmland and securing long-term
leases or farmland purchase.
Through
1-1 technical assistance, farmland advising, field demonstrations, web-based presentations,
producer learning networks, and field days/farm tours, we conducted two half-day soil health workshops;
two webinars on water conservation, soil health, and agroecology/regenerative agriculture
principles; two farm tours showcasing conservation production practices; four presentations
on farmland search and leasing tools; two farmland mixers; and updated a
farmland resource guide. Risk management curriculum was incorporated into
existing farm business planning and crop production courses.
Our target audience were Northeast
Massachusetts beginning and socially disadvantaged specialty crop farmers underexposed to risk
management and crop insurance options.
The
results: participants gained knowledge/understanding of soil quality
indicators; created conservation and soil health plans; improved their knowledge of
farmland assessment and leasing tools; improved record keeping; and implemented
risk mitigating crop production practices. 507 producers attend workshops (132),
webinars (195), classes/mixers (30), tours (130), and individual farmland
advising sessions (20). 367 – 2,500 additional individuals accessed additional online
resources, subscribed to our YouTube channel, and actively accessed New Entry’s monthly newsletter featuring outreach about resources developed through this project.