Location: Poultry Production and Product Safety Research
Project Number: 6022-31230-001-031-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Feb 1, 2015
End Date: Jan 31, 2020
Objective:
This proposal is specifically designed to develop comprehensive training and technical assistance programs and enhance market profitability through research and product labeling for military veteran farmers. This project is targeted to Program Area Priority under FY2014 (Priority 1 Small and Medium Farms- developing strategies and technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability including poultry, livestock, crop, agroforestry and other commodity operations. Our specific objectives are to: 1) develop targeted training programs on farm, business and financial practices for small and medium farm enterprises and 2) conduct a comprehensive market assessment and develop a military veteran-grown label to enhance marketing.
Approach:
Trainings will involve hands on focused workshops (e.g., Arm to Farm Boot Camps) and webinars targeting small and mid-sized poultry, livestock, vegetable and specialty crop military veteran farmers. The workshops will provide intensive training focused on financial planning, business planning, marketing strategies, and farm diversification. The programs will also offer customized training on aspects of poultry and livestock production and specialty crop establishment. Research focus and ARS participation will focus on evaluating the suitability of various breeds and varieties for both meat and layer production systems for small farm operations. Trainings will be conducted at the University of Arkansas/USDA, ARS organic certified poultry research facility in Fayetteville, AR and on a local veteran owned farm (Across the Creek Farm).
