With more than 750 farmers who call themselves graduates, the South Carolina New and Beginning Farmer Program (SCNBFP) enters its 17th year of supporting the state’s No. 1 industry by giving agricultural producers the tools they need to succeed.
South Carolinians looking to launch or grow a farm business have access to comprehensive entrepreneurial education and business training thanks in part to a $141,000 Rural Business Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Rural Development (USDA-RD) that runs through next year.
The SCNBFP is a Clemson University Cooperative Extension Agribusiness public education program focused on enabling new, beginning and aspiring farmers to be successful, productive and innovative members of their local agricultural community.
“Our program helps participants accelerate the development of their farm business so they can accomplish their goals faster while helping to improve access to healthy, locally produced food for South Carolina consumers,” said Ben Boyles, SCNBFP director and Clemson Extension Agribusiness agent.
The SCNBFP works to accomplish this by providing farmers with the tools, knowledge, skills and resource connections necessary to be successful entrepreneurs, sound business managers, exemplary stewards of the natural environment and successful marketers of the unique products they create. Most importantly, the SCNBFP seeks to develop individuals who have a sense of pride and enjoy a quality of life because of their investment and participation in South Carolina’s No. 1 industry — agriculture.
This is the second time the SCNBFP has operated under a USDA-RD grant. In addition to those who have completed the program, SCNBFP has reached many more through additional training programs.
“One in four South Carolina producers are considered new and beginning farmers with less than 10 years of experience,” Boyles said. “These emerging farmers need targeted training and technical assistance to ensure they have the skills to sustain and grow their new farm businesses.”
The SCNBFP Class of 2027 cohort program will run from February through August and includes three full-day and six half-day agribusiness and production workshops focused primarily on farm business management. Topics include business concept/plan development, financial and risk management, legal and regulatory issues, marketing strategies, soil health and pest management, and an introduction to federal, state and local agriculture resources.
While open to any qualified farmer applicant, the SCNBFP typically serves small, family farms focusing on environmental stewardship and local food systems. In the interest of increased accessibility, most of the 2027 workshops will be hosted online.
“There is great value in the peer-to-peer networking that occurs during in-person workshops,” said Diana Vossbrinck, program manager. “At the same time, we appreciate that the SCNBFP can be more inclusive when travel requirements are limited. We endeavor to find a place in the middle by combining our approach.”
In addition, the 2027 program will include a series of eight online “lunch and learn” training events, addressing niche and/or advanced agribusiness and production topics. These will be available to the cohort, but also to SCNBFP alumni and the public.
Any legal resident of South Carolina who is at least 18 years of age, is just beginning to farm or has actively farmed for less than 10 consecutive years is eligible to apply for the SCNBFP cohort program.
Additional information, including program outline, fee structure and application, can be found at www.scnewfarmer.org. The deadline to apply is Dec. 7.
