Researchers and educators in Penn State University's College of Agricultural Sciences have received grants of more than $1.3 million to help grow a new generation of farmers, reports Gant Daily.
The funding is part of more than $17 million in grants authorized in the 2008 federal farm bill under the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative designed to address the education, training and technical assistance needs of this next wave of farm operators.
While the lure of "custom farming"--raising unique animals, specialty crops or products for niche food markets--is as an upward trend appealing to many would-be farmers, both Penn State projects identify access to training, land and capital as the biggest barriers to entering the field.
Original source: Gant Daily
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