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Small Scale Farmers Benefit From Record Keeping Program
| Name | Lewis Beckham | | Situation | Small and limited resource farmers are often denied farm operating loans because they lack appropriate business records. A lack of skills necessary for the development of such records has been a major impediment to the advancement of many of these farmers. The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service has developed a cost share program for improving management practices for small farmers. A key component of this program is
that appropriate business records must be kept. An educational program was needed to assist those applicants who needed to acquire knowledge and skills for such recordkeeping. | | Response | Four Extension agents and specialists working with the leadership of Dr. Fran Wolak developed an educational program for teaching financial and farm management record keeping. The complete package includes classroom
instruction, record keeping materials and individual follow-up teaching sessions for those clients who require individual assistance. As of this time, Dr. Wolak, Dr. Roy Hollingsworth, Dr. Toby Boring, Russell Duncan , Lewis Beckham and USDA NRCS Small Farm Liaison Agent Wilford Pace have developed and/or presented trainings in 8 key locations throughout South Carolina. Two more trainings are scheduled for the immediate future with
more to be held as needed. Numerous follow-up sessions have been held with individual clients. | | Impact | Over 120 NRCS Small Farm Program applicants have received instruction in the eight classes that have been held. Prior to receiving cost share payments from NRCS, the applicants must have received instruction from this program and must have appropriate records. Sixty-seven applicants have met these qualifications and have received payments at this time. |
Last update9/2/2008
This website is maintained by Amy West.
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