Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy recently joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in announcing that $614,356 has been awarded to Fort Berthold Community College to help train new farmers and ranchers.
“Agriculture is the largest sector of North Dakota’s economy and serves as our state’s economic engine. We need to keep that engine running long into the future,” the delegation said in a joint statement. “The education and training provided to new farmers and ranchers by this grant will help ensure the continued success of agriculture in our state.”
Nationwide, USDA distributed $17 million in grants to 29 institutions to address the needs of beginning farmers and ranchers and enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture.
This funding is part of USDA’s new ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative, which was launched in September 2009 to emphasize the need for a fundamental and critical reconnection between producers and consumers. ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ includes such major agricultural topics as supporting local farmers and community food groups; strengthening rural communities; enhancing direct marketing and farmers’ promotion programs; promoting healthy eating; protecting natural resources; and helping schools connect with locally grown foods.
The grant was awarded through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Congress authorized the funding for this program in the 2008 Farm Bill. Under the program, USDA will make grants to organizations that will implement programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers.
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Source: USDA, KFGO News Center
