Apply now for the New Farmer program

Published: May 17, 2011

COLUMBIA — The S.C. New and Beginning Farmer program is accepting applications for the Class of 2012 until June 30.

S.C. New and Beginning Farmer is a statewide multi-agency partnership supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant No. 2010-03113.

The project’s goal is to help new and beginning farmers be successful, productive and innovative members of their agricultural communities. The program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful entrepreneurs.

The program includes an application process, workshop series, site visits to successful farms, entrepreneurship training, participation in statewide agricultural organization meetings, a mentoring program and optional internships.

To download the application, visit www.scnewfarmer.org. For more information, contact Karen Woolsey at kwlsy@clemson.edu or 803-788-5700.

The program is led by Clemson University’s David Lamie, an associate professor and Extension specialist at the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development at the Sandhill Research and Education Center.

Clemson is assisted by primary partners Lowcountry Local First and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. The partnership also includes the S.C. Department of Agriculture, S.C. Farm Bureau, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, and S.C. Young Farmers and Agribusiness Association.

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