Beginning Farmers Receive Training Through New California Initiative

Students from the California Farm Academy receive hands-on training as part of a new six-month program for beginning farmers.

For six months, staff from the California Farm Service Agency spent several evenings and weekends educating new farmers through the California Farm Academy. A new initiative geared toward working adults with busy schedules, the academy serves as a farm business incubator designed to teach and mentor new farmers in agricultural production, business planning and marketing of specialty crops.

Local FSA staff participated in the curriculum development and served as guest lecturers on FSA program issues and this month, staff members watched as the inaugural class graduated from the program.

“Whether focusing locally or globally, today’s agricultural leaders are being challenged to produce and deliver high quality, nutritious, and affordable food to a growing population while sharing limited land and water resources with other human needs and activities,” said California State Executive Director Val Dolcini. “The need for skilled and qualified farmers to raise our food and care for our agricultural land and surrounding ecosystems is vital to the future.”