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Kentucky State University (KSU) was recently awarded $709,042 by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), to provide education, mentoring, and technical assistance to help veterans and underserved beginner farmers and ranchers own and operate successful farms. The program is led by KSU Associate Research Director and Professor, Dr. Siddhartha Dasgupta, in partnership with The National Center for Appropriate Technology and other organizations such as Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Camp Brown Bear, The Growing Warriors, Laurel County African American Heritage Center, and the Ag-first Community Cooperative.

The project titled, “Farming for Cash: A Training Program Leading to Farm Ownership,” will provide military veterans and beginner farmers hands-on skills in farm management, harvesting, production and sales and is expected to serve over 300 participants.

“We are very excited to bring the best training and agricultural strategies to military veterans and beginner farmers to help make farming a sustainable livelihood for them and their families,” said KSU President, Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo.

Participants will be trained on subject matters such as a Tomato School where farmers will be taught to specialize in organic tomato production in high tunnel, a method that extends tomatoes’ growing season, yields better quality tomatoes, and extends cashflow; hydroponics, a technique to grow plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil; and a tractor training program called Tractor School that teaches farmers how to safely operate and repair tractors and tractor-powered implements. KSU will be one of a small number of institutions in America that provides a hands-on Tractor School for beginning farmers.

Participants will also receive workshops regarding farmland access, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State programs/services for beginner farmers, entrepreneurship, retail and wholesale food marketing, food safety, business planning, farm safety, for example. The combination of hands-on training coupled with educational workshops will provide beginner farmers with the knowledge and skillset needed to start farming and running their respective business using the best, research-based agricultural methods and business practices.

“We give them commercial, agricultural skills and that’s what makes this project special because it’s not just about gardening. Some people may think, ‘Well, I can grow those things in my backyard,” Yes…but it would not be the same quality as the market wants. So, if you want to sell to restaurants, if you want to sell to grocery stores, or even in a produce auction, the price that you will get is dependent on the quality of your product…And that is where we come in and we give those types of trainings to help farmers be successful,” said Dr. Dasgupta.

The training program is free to beginner farmers and will last 12-months, with the option to extend training and mentorship as needed. Enrollment is on a rolling basis. Details on how to enroll are forthcoming.