NRCS Helps New and Beginning Farmers

l. to r. Steve Greene, Darryl Williams, and Walt Barton

An NRCS program in Florida program helped  two new farmers, Walt Barton and Steve Greene by providing technical and financial assistance to get their operation going while helping to protect the environment. The two were providing commercial communications in Florida resort towns when they bought the operation in Okaloosa County. Though the Barton and Greene didn’t know much about farming they did understand how a business worked. "You can learn this farming business, which we knew nothing about, you can learn it through hard knocks and mistakes and try not to make them over and over again, or you can get people out here who can help you from making those mistakes." To avoid the mistakes many beginning farmers make, Barton and Greene got involved with the NRCS New and Beginning Farmer program. NRCS provided technical assistance to help conserve soil and water resources on the central Florida farm and financial assistance to put in new fencing.

Visit the NRCS Florida Web site.

NRCS district conservationist, Darryl Williams, noted "We were losing farmers and ranchers at a fast clip to urban sprawl, low income, and low profitability. I think what we had in the farm bill is the sense to say we understand that farming must continue to provide a livelihood for individuals and helping new and beginning farmers is one means to that end."
Your contact is Bob Stobaugh, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 352-338-9565, or bob.stobaugh@fl.usda.gov.