Alcorn receives second round of USDA funding to train farmers, ranchers, and veterans
The United States Department of Agriculture is awarding Alcorn State University’s Mississippi Small Farm and Agribusiness Center another grant.
The funding comes from the agency's National Institute of Food and Agriculture and will enhance the sustainability of new farmers, ranchers, and veterans. The funding allows the center to recruit, train, and equip new farmers, ranchers, and veterans in Mississippi to implement viable farm business plans. Alcorn received the first round of funding from 2018 to 2021. The second round was given in late 2021 and will continue through 2024.
Participants will have access to resources for farm management, farm operations, access to land, and much more.
Velma Oliver, farm management/loan specialist and co-director, said the funding will assist new beginning farmers, ranchers, and veterans with the tools and resources necessary to become profitable and sustainable.
"The grant funding enhances our capacity to educate new, and beginning farmers, ranchers, and veterans to attain and sustain economic viability," said Oliver. "The grant benefits our students by providing hands-on experience through grant-related activities and provides opportunities for them to interact with the participants.
Oliver is proud that the proposal for more funding was granted.
“I am delighted that we, again, have written a winning proposal to train a new cohort of beginning farmers, ranchers, and veterans in our state and connect them to available resources for their farm operations."
Registration is currently open and is free and open to the public. To register, click on the link: https://forms.gle/mZLwcddNEzVFv7Tu5.
For more information, please contact Aundrea Coleman, project assistant, at [email protected] or 601-877-6449.
