Connected by Louisiana Central and Shreveport Green; and supported by LSSAC and USDA, the FTP is a 12-month business development program for farmers. Suitable for new and beginning farmers with 1 - 10 years of experience growing and selling fruits, vegetables, niche crops, & value-added products made from products they grow. Farmers looking to develop wholesale production & sales are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted through March 11, 2025.
Applications will be accepted from anywhere in the state but these are in-person workshops and field days that meet 2x per month on average from 6-8:30 pm for classroom workshops and during the day (morning or afternoon) for Field Days. Transportation is not provided and 100% attendance is required.
Space is extremely limited. Please apply today. If you are accepted into the FTP there is an average time commitment of four (4) hours per week for the months of April - November classroom and field based workshops. Some of this time is self-directed learning on your own, and some is structured workshops.
The program also offers access to one-on-one technical assistance, custom business coaching, and on-farm implemention after graduation in November based on the unique needs of each graduate.
All required materials and workshops will be provided at no cost to participants. Failure to attend any required portion of the program will result in removal from the program. Although this program is available at no cost to participants, there are certain expectations that the participants use the opportunites provided to invest in their business.
Successful applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the 2024 Farmer Training Program:
1-10 years experience farming and selling farm products
Be available to attend all required workshops and field days
Transportation to and from in-person workshops and field days. Mileage reimbursement will be provided.
A gmail account.
*If eligibility requirements create barriers to your participation, please consider applying and use the space provided on the application to explain the situation so that we may assess our ability to work with you to overcome the barrier if possible
In order to build a more sustainable and resilient food system in Louisiana and the entire state, the SE region, and nation, we need more farmers growing diverse, climate and culturally appropriate fruits and vegetables. This business development program is designed to help new and beginning farmers (1-10 years experience) learn better business development, management skills, and explore farm sciences that support commercial production systems.
Participants will gain knowledge to develop and implement a farm plan that achieves their income and sustainability goals.
Participants will connect with other farmers, technical assistance providers, researchers, and business coaches to form a network across the state.
Participants will become more confident in business and in farming.
There is no cost to participate in the FTP, however, admission is competitive and participants are required to attend each workshop and to complete all assigned work in order to graduate and receive the certificate of program completion.
We expect participants to invest available resources into their business as needed in order to thrive.
If there are potential barriers to your participation that we may be able to address with you (lack of internet, lack of computer, verbal/written communication needs, other) there is room on the application to explain the situation. We encourage everyone with an interest to apply and we will make the program accessible to all participants to the extent it is feasible.
