{"id":9652,"date":"2012-09-20T16:38:25","date_gmt":"2012-09-20T16:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vps70863.inmotionhosting.com\/~nationalgrange\/\/?p=9652"},"modified":"2012-09-20T16:38:25","modified_gmt":"2012-09-20T16:38:25","slug":"armed-to-farm-gives-vets-tools-to-succeed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vps70863.inmotionhosting.com\/~nationalgrange\/armed-to-farm-gives-vets-tools-to-succeed\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Armed to Farm\u2019 gives vets tools to succeed"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Military veterans-turned-beginning-farmers learn how to build mobile poultry units at an Armed to Farm workshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For many military veterans and their families, the transition from the military to civilian life is a complex undertaking; however, reports and personal accounts indicate that many military veterans have discovered that farming offers a place for employment, training and healing.\u00a0 The problem is there are few educational programs tailored to meet the particular needs and abilities of returning veterans.<\/p>\n

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture\u2019s (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) makes it possible to fill that gap in training.\u00a0 At the University of Arkansas, Dr. Dan Donoghue used BFRDP funds to develop internships, workshops and online courses that focus on the needs of veterans interested in pursuing farming after their service to our country.<\/p>\n

The workshops, hosted in collaboration with the Farmer-Veteran Coalition and the National Center for Appropriate Technology, give veterans and their families basic and practical on-farm skills for poultry and livestock production, as well as networking opportunities for veterans from all around the country.<\/p>\n

Army veteran Terrell Spencer serves as the veteran mentor on the project. After returning from Iraq, he and his wife now produce egg and meat chickens, heritage turkeys, goats, vegetables and firewood on their farm in West Fork, Ark.<\/p>\n

The Spencer farm is one of the stops on the \u201cArmed to Farm\u201d Workshop where the focus is on sustainable pastured poultry production. Veterans and their families see firsthand the challenges of starting a working farm and the benefits \u2013 both psychological and physical \u2013 of farming. All the participants got hands-on experience building a movable hoophouse for pastured chickens, as well as setting and managing feeding and watering systems and electrical fences.<\/p>\n

As a result, several veterans are initiating plans to farm, expanding existing farms by leasing additional property, comparing production and marketing strategies, and learning about local food systems. They also learned about funding opportunities specifically for returning military personnel through the Veteran Farm Coalition.\u00a0 But, most importantly, it created an environment to talk about their hopes for their future and create a support network.<\/p>\n

On Aug. 30, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Fiscal Year 2012 BFRDP awards to organizations across 24 states that will help all beginning farmers and ranchers with the training and resources needed to run productive, sustainable farms.\u00a0 BFRDP, established through the 2008 Farm Bill, has awarded $75 million in grants since its inception in Fiscal Year 2009. In 2011, BFRDP grants supported training for more than 38,000 people in 46 states.<\/p>\n

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education, and Extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people\u2019s daily lives and the nation\u2019s future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For many military veterans and their families, the transition from the military to civilian life is a complex undertaking; however, reports and personal accounts indicate that many military veterans have discovered that farming offers a place for employment, training and healing.\u00a0 The problem is there are few educational programs tailored to meet the particular needs … Continue reading “\u2018Armed to Farm\u2019 gives vets tools to succeed”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1803,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national-grange-news","category-ng-newsletter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Armed to Farm\u2019 gives vets tools to succeed - 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