We endorse and recommend the following as a priority for the next Farm Bill 2024:
• Invest in community-led projects that create secure, affordable, and equitable land access opportunities by authorizing and funding the USDA Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program in the Farm Bill;
• Establish a new Urban Innovation and Research hub in Jacksonville, Florida, and a unique tech coordinate position that supports the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission of equitable access; emphasize the use of land centered around the needs of small businesses, beginning farmers of underserved, historically divested communities. (December new plans of Innovation Center at JaxPort in Lavilla)
• Improve access to UF/FAMU extensions with workforce-eligible, professional certifications within the scope of USDA conservation programs for water and climate resilience by creating a new EQIP initiative for small farms by simplifying and streamlining applications;
• Ensure that USDA staff, resources, and programs to rural and urban areas reflect Black and Indigenous farmworker populations by authorizing and funding to foster a program that provides “culturally appropriate” conservation technical assistance;
• Create and fund a state soil health match program to build on and fill gaps in federal conservation programs;
• Invest in farmer well-being by reauthorizing and continuing funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network;
• Invest in broadband education and better access to remote learning platforms to secure pipelines to the workforce with learn-to-earn program incentives for young farmers to participate, relearn, and compete for existing farms as older farmers transition;
• Appropriate new strategies to improve Heirs Property in Florida that prevent land loss in targeted Redlined communities suffering from historical disinvestment,
• Improve access to grants and credit to help farmers ADUs, enabling them to better compete in the real estate sector,
• Ensure the accessibility and accountability of USDA programs by investing in Young Farm Liaisons/Subject Matter Experts like myself.
As Futurists in Farming and Agriculture we look forward to collaboration with new and existing farmers. Get in touch with us directly when you want to discuss how to engage best and serve the next generation of young farmers in Florida.
