About the Program

The Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is in the process of identifying young future farmers in the state.

The Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program that NC A&T SU administers is identifying young minority men and women, 25 and younger, who may be interested in farming.

The average age of North Carolina farm owners and operators is 58, and many that are older are considering retirement.  The Small Farmer Outreach and Technical Assistance Program wants to add new and younger farmers to the pool of small farm owners and operators.  We want to identify young minority men and women who have expressed an interest and/or (with a little mentoring) would consider becoming a small farmer.

The names provided will serve as our first step in developing a database of these individuals.  This information will also be used to assist us in developing and implementing educational programs to introduce minority youth to the world of production agriculture.

Participants will be provided with opportunities to attend training sessions that address business planning, farm management, marketing and planning, crop production, livestock production, post-harvest handling and processing technologies.

This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.  In addition to identifying young farmers, the program works with other small farmers who gross less than $250,000, annually, from the sale of farm products.

Over the past several years, this program has done an exceptional job in helping small farmers become better managers by improving their farm management an record keeping skills, marketing their crops, selecting alternative enterprises, developing business plans and using the computer as a farm management tool.

North Carolina A&T State University

The Cooperative Extension Program

Implementing Solutions

This image is being used  as a tool for identifying and recruiting potential young minority men and women interested in farming.

To contact us:

NCA&TSU

Cooperative Extension Program

PO Box 21928

Greensboro NC 27420

 

Phone:336-334-7734

Fax: 336-334-7298

E-mail: djones@ncat.edu