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Training Programs

Internships/Apprenticeships are on-the-job training opportunities. Some pay hourly wages or stipends, while others simply provide room and board for your commitment. Internships/apprenticeships are great ways to get your foot in the door, and to begin to understand what a career in agriculture would be like. There are many ways to access internship/apprenticeship opportunities including, contacting farms in your area to inquire whether they are looking for an intern. Local land-grant universities can be useful resources for locating and securing an internship/apprenticeship. The ATTRA website has up-to-date sustainable agriculture internships/apprenticeship opportunities nationwide. The Farmer Veteran Coalition also has an up-to-date database of internship/apprenticeship opportunities, including opportunities specifically for Farmer Veterans.

Incubator farms focus on bringing beginning farmers into the production agriculture industry. Many of the people who come to incubator farms have no experience in agriculture. In many cases, participants are provided a small plot of land on a larger farm, where they have access to farm equipment and materials, as well as the opportunity to observe techniques used by others to yield a successful crop. Incubator farms foster a community where new farmers learn from each other. Programs will often assist participants in finding local markets to sell their product. Incubator farms offer a chance to start your own farm without a large amount of capital and begin recording and filing farm income – a process that is crucial to securing loans. Please contact The Farmer Veteran Coalition for farm incubator opportunities in your area.

Training programs are formalized programs centered on a curriculum, which typically provides both classroom and hands-on education. Some training programs are accredited and others provide certifications for specific skills. Training programs can vary in length and meeting time. Some programs are full time commitments; while others are scheduled as evening classes for those with day-time employment. Training programs provide a mixture of in class and in field education to create well-rounded farmers of tomorrow. Take a look at the current programs available:

California Farm Academy (CFA)

Operated by the Center for Land-Based Learning, this innovative program and farm business incubator teaches and mentors new farmers in agricultural production, business planning and marketing of specialty crops. Limited dairy, poultry and livestock classes will be offered in 2013.

CFA’s nine-month program takes place on a part-time basis, with classes held on evenings and weekends, 2-3 days per week. The CFA training program consists of classes, hands-on experience, farm visits and other field trips.

CFA students develop farm business plans, which are suitable to present to a loan officer and help guide farm setup, operations and management decisions. Each student also has an independent study project that focuses on specific farming and marketing goals. Classes are led-by-the program staff, farmers, college and university instructors, and agricultural, natural resource and agriculture business professionals.

Topics include:

  • Crop planning
  • Soil science
  • Pest management
  • Organic agriculture
  • Tractor driving and farm machinery
  • Irrigation and water management
  • Direct and wholesale marketing
  • Ecology and conservation
  • Goal setting and farm enterprise analysis
  • Obtaining loans, insurance and permits
  • Farm financials and record-keeping
  • Farm safety
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Decision-making and problem-solving

The CFA farm business incubator consists of farmland for lease to qualified graduates of the training program. Plots of land (some organic) will be available at the Center for Land-Based Learning or at other sites. Farmer mentors and program staff will continue to train and guide CFA incubator farmers as they grow and market their own product.

CFA is dedicated to training, mentoring and providing access to land for motivated, hard-working farm entrepreneurs.

Beginning Farm and Ranch Management Apprenticeship Program

The Apprenticeship Program connects aspiring farm managers with established farmers who provide a space and opportunity to develop and practice the skills needed to manage a successful farming operation. Apprentices can also be existing employees that farmers have identified as a future manager. For these apprentices, the program provides a structured pathway for knowledge, skill, and leadership development to take on a new role on the farm.

The Beginning Farm and Ranch Management Apprenticeship Program is a formal apprenticeship registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards that combines paid on-the-job training with job-related instruction. The program lasts approximately two years, and upon completion of the Program, the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards graduates apprentices to a Journeyman level in the occupation of a Beginning Farm and Ranch Manager.

Please call or check the website, CaliforniaFarmAcademy.org for additional details or an application.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WEB: www.landbasedlearning.org
PHONE: 530-795-4146

Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA)

Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship is a National Apprenticeship registered with the U.S. Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration. This innovative program consists of full-time paid employment, comprehensive training in all aspects of running a managed grazing dairy operation, and the experience needed to transition to dairy farm business ownership.

DGA provides a career pathway for aspiring dairy farmers, managers, and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, with different levels of experience. The program is also ideal for established dairy graziers who want to develop a current employee as a manager or partner as well as for family members seeking a structure of support to prepare for farm transfer.

Apprenticeship

At the core of the two-year Apprenticeship is 3700 hours of on-farm employment and training under an approved Master Dairy Grazier with opportunities for advancement upon completion. A comprehensive DGA Training Guidelines lays out the competencies that must be met in order to own and operate a managed-grazing dairy farm or business, providing a blueprint for the mentoring process.

Minimum Requirements

  • Must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED, or a composite score on the ACT of at least 18, or minimum Accuplacer test scores in math and reading.
  • Must be not less than 18 years of age.
  • Must be physically able to perform the work of the trade with reasonable accommodations and without hazard to themselves or others.
  • Must have reliable transportation to and from work and school.

Major Work Categories are as Follows:

  • Manage dairy cattle in a grazing system
  • Manage milking operations
  • Manage dairy cattle nutritional requirements
  • Manage pastures for optimal production
  • Manage natural resources in a grazing system
  • Manage farm business operations to meet goals

Related Instruction

 

Core courses have been developed specifically for Apprentices and are taught in an online format through Managed Grazing Innovation Center to enhance on-farm training and provide networking opportunities. The program incorporates 300 hours of related instruction:

  • Courses in Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Feeds & Feeding, Milk Quality, Dairy Cattle Health & Wellness, Soil & Water Resources Management, Farm Financial Management, and Managed Grazing Systems for Dairy Cattle
  • Peer Discussion Groups, Pasture Walks, Farming Conferences, and Networking Opportunities
  • Holistic Management and Professional Development Training

Note: Apprentices are responsible for their own tuition, which is approximately $1,500 over two years and subject to change.

Each Master Dairy Grazier-Apprentice pair is assigned a local Education Coordinator, who monitors the mentoring relationship and provides educational support and on-farm technical services. Apprentices not only gain skills, knowledge, and experience but also develop relationships with Apprentices and Masters in their cohort as well as with other dairy farmers, agricultural professionals, and service providers in the local community.

Apprentices graduate to certified Journey Dairy Grazier status, receive additional support services as they advance in their career as Herd Manager/ Pasture Manager/ Feed or Hay Manager/ Heifer or Young Stock Manager. The long-term option is also available for graduates to transition into farm ownership, become Masters themselves, and take on new Apprentices.

Internship

A shorter Internship allows Masters and potential Apprentices to test a relationship before committing to a full Apprenticehship. It also provides students and others with an opportunity to learn about managed grazing dairy production on a working dairy farm.

  • An Internship can start any time of year and ranges from 240 to 480 total hours .
  • Interns work for and are mentored by approved Master Dairy Graziers anywhere in the DGA network.
  • Interns are paid a minimum of $8 per hour and must be at least 18 years old (unless entering through Youth Apprenticeship in high school).
  • Courses taken during Internship may be credited toward Apprenticeship related unstruction hours (as well as college credit if entering through a university).
  • Up to 480 on-farm work hours and 12 weeks time during Internship may be applied toward an Apprenticeship.
  • A DGA Education Coordinator provides guidance and oversight during the Internship.

To be considered, just choose the Internship option when you fill out the Apprentice application. FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WEB: www.dga-national.org
PHONE: 530-795-4146

Battleground to Breaking Ground (BGBG)

Battleground to Breaking Ground (BGBG) is an agricultural training program conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The goals of BGBG are to provide agriculture business planning and management education, agriculture production practices training, and veteran transition support. BGBG offers the following courses:

BGBG (Year-Long Program): Designed for veterans going into agriculture as well as new and beginning farmers and ranchers, our traditional BGBG program is broken into two parts – agricultural business and management planning, and hands-on production learning. Participants in BGBG receive business planning training, agriculture marketing knowledge, financial planning training, mentorship, hands-on learning tailored to their desired areas of production, and the opportunity to network with and learn from other veteran farmers and ranchers.

BGBG Skills Training Program: Consisting of the same curriculum as the yearlong program, BGBG-STP is designed specifically for transitioning military members using Career Skills Program or SkillBridge. Cohorts are 16 weeks in length and training takes place in Texas near Killeen and San Antonio. BGBG-STP is an approved Department of Defense SkillBridge organization and is listed on the DoD SkilBridge website.

BGBG Bootcamp: This five-day course serves as an introduction to agriculture production. Bootcamp is designed for those with little or no experience in agriculture, and want to gain a basic understanding of farming and ranching planning and practices to help them get started with their own agriculture operation. The course consists of a 3-day workshop in College Station, Texas where participants learn business and management planning and receive a basic overview of livestock and vegetable/horticulture operations, and a 2-day workshop at a training farm where participants take part in hands-on learning.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WEB: https://txagrability.tamu.edu/bgbg/
EMAIL: txagrability@ag.tamu.edu

Growing Careers in Agriculture

This project provides training and apprenticeships for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on organic farms and artisan food businesses in Northern California. Veterans are matched with businesses based on their interests and the farm’s need. Through grant funding, FVC is able to work with the farms to provide paid apprenticeships for the veterans. Along with the opportunity for education and training, is rejuvenation from working with the land that can help heal the wounds of war and other traumas veterans may face.

Northern California was selected as a pilot for Growing Careers in Agriculture. The farm training and employment opportunities utilize the region’s product diversity and abundance of established organic farms, creameries and other small farm businesses. The apprenticeship opportunities range from 3-6 months with the end goal of employment in the agriculture field. This project is made possible by individualized case management by Farmer Veteran Coalition staff. The FVC team seeks to combine education and training while offering a chance for reflection and personal growth that helps smooth the transition from the military to civilian life.

The Farmer Veteran Coalition plans to extend Growing Careers in Agriculture to other regions of California. The agriculture field provides many viable career opportunities, and apprenticeships are just the beginning.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WEB: www.farmvetco.org
PHONE: 530-756-1395

Veterans Farm

Veterans Farm was founded by Adam Burke, an OIF combat veteran. The farm is located in Jacksonville, Florida where they grow blueberries and peppers in containers; which allows the farm to be wheel chair accessible.

Currently, the average age of a farmer is between 60-65 years. For every 3 farmers retiring there is only 1 farmer taking their place. Veterans Farm believes that our returning veterans can help fill this gap in the farming industry. With an approximate suicide rate of 18 veteran deaths per day, as well as a lack of successful reintegration programs, Veterans Farm also recognizes the need for new ways of treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries. In 2012, Veterans Farm started a fellowship program to assist Post 9/11 disabled veterans start a career in agriculture. Veterans Farm fellows were once soldiers on the battlefield with a mission to protect our country from harm. Now, they stand ready for a new mission here at home. Instead of being armed with tanks, these veterans need tractors. Instead of being armed with an M-16, they need plows.

Veterans Farm uses a “Prescription without Medication” approach through a horticulture therapy program. During the 6 month fellowship program, veterans will learn to harness their military leadership skills, and apply them to becoming successful entrepreneurs. Each veteran is expected to work hard and to challenge themselves. Through hard work, strengths are refined, and weaknesses are tested. Veterans will learn everything from executing a business and marketing plan, to learning how to farm organic fruits and vegetables.

Each veteran who graduates from the fellowship program is expected to start a farming program in their own respective community. Using the Veterans Farm model, these veterans will hire additional veterans in their own state and community, to teach what they have learned from the Veterans Farm fellowship program. The goal of the Veterans Farm fellowship program is to create a domino effect throughout the country, and to equip veterans with the agricultural skills they need to be successful farmers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WEB: www.veteransfarm.com
PHONE: 904-214-5720

GI Bill Comparison Tool

Learn about education programs and compare estimated benefits by school.

https://www.vets.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool

Join the Farmer Veteran Coalition

Farmer Veteran Coalition is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization assisting veterans–and currently serving members–of the armed forces to embark on careers in agriculture. With a nationwide network of more than 30,000 veterans—and growing—we’re helping America’s bravest men and women serve our country a second time, by feeding it.