Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Program
Starting a farm is difficult, and succeeding beyond the first few years may be even more so. Beginning farmers and ranchers nation-wide face unique challenges to achieve their farm goals and aspirations. The long-term goal of the Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Program (VBFRCP) is to improve opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations and communities in Virginia. To reach our goal, we support the development and enhancement of whole farm planning curriculum and training, online resources, social networking, and farmer mentoring. Unique to this statewide Extension program is its coalition of agricultural organizations and farm business that work together to develop and implement these programming aims.
The Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program (VBFRCP) is working hard to improve opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations thorough whole farm planning programs. We offer several, place-based whole farm planning training opportunities across Virginia. These trainings provide farmers with a range of networking opportunities, classroom-based workshops, farm tours, field instruction, and self-study opportunities using our newly developed Whole Farm Planning curriculum.
Whole Farm Planning Opportunities
Photos by Kelli Scott, Montgomery County Extension agent
Created with flickr slideshow.
The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Program (VBFRCP) is a state-wide and coalition-based Extension program. Our long-term goal is to improve opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations and communities in Virginia. To reach our goal, we support the development and enhancement of whole farm planning curriculum and training, online resources, social networking, and farmer mentoring. Unique to our effort is a coalition of agricultural organizations and farm business that work together to develop and implement programming aims. The coalition formed in the fall of 2010 as a way to more effectively address start-up needs of Virginia’s beginning farmers and ranchers.
Featured Publications
Events
- 2018 Virginia Smart Farming Conference: Using Controlled Environment Agriculture Thursday, Sept. 13
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.