11/4/2009 9:50:01 AM

Comments (0)

By Janet Kubat Willette
Agri News 

ELGIN -- Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced $17 million in grants Tuesday aimed at helping young farmers.

	• The USDA program Farm Beginnings grew out of a program started by Wabasha County farmers to help young farmers get a start in agriculture. • As part of a USDA initiative known as "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food," Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will host a Facebook chat at 3 p.m. Thursday.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grants will help new farmers and ranchers, Merrigan said. She spoke to at least 60 people at Hidden Stream Farm in the Elgin area, where Eric and Lisa Klein raise hogs, cattle and chickens.

Merrigan said beginning farmers face many barriers when they start farming, including high land and equipment costs.

"The training and education provided through these grants will help ensure the success of the next generation of farmers and ranchers as they work to feed people in their local communities and throughout the world," Merrigan said.

The average age of U.S. farmers is 59, she said, and the beginning-farmer grants will help grow the next crop of farmers.

"We're losing too many farms in America as you all know," Merrigan said.

Three organizations with Minnesota ties receive grant money through the program, which was authorized in the 2008 farm bill. The Land Stewardship Project will receive $413,820 over three years to work with other organizations offering the Farm Beginnings program.

The beginning of Farm Beginnings

Farm Beginnings is a 13-year-old program that grew out of a kitchen table idea from a group of Wabasha County farmers known as the Wabasha County Give A Damns. The farmers realized they needed to help the next generation get started.

Lisa's parents, Everett and Rosemary Koenig, were among that group of pioneers, and Lisa and Eric are graduates of Farm Beginnings. Now the couple mentors others who want to start farming.

Eric said the grants will help more people learn how to farm. There is always a need for more small farmers, he said, and the local-food market continues to grow.

The Kleins direct-market pork, beef and chicken. They market to restaurants in the Twin Cities and Rochester and sell at farmers markets. Beginning today, their Hidden Stream Farms pork will be sold at Silver Lake Foods in Rochester.

Other recipients

Farmers' Legal Action Group, based in St. Paul, will receive $506,170 and Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, based in Spring Valley, Wis., also a resource for Minnesota farmers, will receive $151,515.

Janet Kubat Willette is a staff writer for Agri News, a weekly agricultural newspaper published by the Post-Bulletin Co., LLC.

There are 0 comments - Display All Comments