The Farm Beginnings program provides participants the opportunity to learn from local farmers about farm management issues like Whole Farm Planning, Financial Planning, Marketing, Business Planning, and Connecting with Resources. Beyond the formal classes, the course also provides opportunities for networking between beginning and established farmers, the chance to engage in mentorship or apprenticeships if desired, and the chance see sustainable practices being implemented on local farms during the course's farm tours and skills sessions.
...DRA's Farm Beginnings program is funded by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant #2010-03066 ["DRA Gets Grant from Farm Beginnings," Madison Daily Leader, 2010.11.23].
Oh, that darn federal government, spending money to help small farmers and preserve South Dakota's way of life....
Hey, isn't that a program originally created by Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin? Why yes, yes it is.
ReplyDeleteI hope all those beginning farmers and ranchers (many of whom are young families) realize exactly who got them that money, and brace for a future filled with platitudes about cutting spending. Too bad speeches don't help farmers pay the bills.