Merrigan hopes grants fertilize a new crop of farmers
Janet Kubat Willette
Date Modified: 11/19/2009 10:33 AM
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Agri News staff writer
ELGIN, Minn. -- USDA Undersecretary Kathleen Merrigan hopes to break down some of the barriers faced by small and beginning farmers with a round of grants announced last week.
The grants were awarded through USDA's national Institute of Food and Agriculture's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. The program is designed to help farmers who have been farming for 10 years of fewer.
The funding announcement is part of USDA's new "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, which emphasizes the need for a connection between producers and consumers.
Merrigan said that not every family needs a lawyer, but every family needs a farmer.
"We're losing too many farms in American as you all know," Merrigan said, adding it was exciting to tour a successful farm operated by young farmers.
Eric and Lisa Klein, who hosted Merrigan, wore nametags that said "I'm your farmer."
The Kleins direct market pork, beef and chicken. They graduated from the Land Stewardship Project's Farm Beginnings program and now mentor others participating in the program. The Farm Beginnings program will receive a boost from the grants Merrigan annoucned at the Klein farm.
The Land Stewardship Project worked with Rep. Tim Walz, D-1st District, who was one of the original sponsors of the beginning farmer language in the farm bill. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-7th District, chairman of the House agriculture committee, said there would be money for the program and Sen. Amy Klobuchar was the co-author of beginning farmer language on the Senate side.
When it came time to announce the grants, USDA called LSP and asked if they had a farm where the announcement could be made. The Kleins agreed.
"This community is rock solid for the future of farming," said Mark Schultz, LSP associate director. "There's really strong support here."
There are young people looking for opportunities in agriculture and there are opportunities in agriculture, said Aimee Finley of St. Charles. Finley had a grass-based dairy, but has now sold her cows and is raising heifers while looking for another place to dairy.
Farm Beginnings programs are also filled to capacity, said Amy Bacigalupo, LSP Farm Beginnings program director.
Programs like Farm Beginnings and the beginning farmer grants are a first step in making a difference in the demographics of farming where there are two times as many farmers older than 65 than younger than 35, said said Matt Wohlman, agriculture aide for Walz.
The average age of farmers nationwide is 59, Merrigan said. In Minnesota, it's 55.
Merrigan flew into Rochester, had breakfast at the Good Food Co-op and then headed for Elgin. In the afternoon, she visited a school in the Twin Cities and attended teh Agri-Growth annual meeting.
Resources for Beginning Farmers in Minnesota:
Rural Finance Authority loan programs, www.mda.state.mn.us/en/about/divisions/agdev/agfinance.aspx
Minnesota Department of Agriculture livestock development team, www.mda.state.mn.us/en/animals/feedlots.aspx
Minnesota Farm Business Management Education Program, www.mgt.org
Farm Service Agency of Minnesota, www.fsa.usda.gov