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Mitigating Structural Impediments and Challenges Affecting Small and Medium Sized Beginning, Social Disadvantaged, Veteran, Women Tenant and Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers in the Delta and Southern States.

Samuel Scott

Summary

There is new wave in agriculture especially in the Delta (Arkansas, Louisiana &Mississippi) and Southern States (Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina). Starting in the mid-1990s these producers were driven by a series of structural changes in agriculture. A confluence of factors including (i) program crops becoming unprofitable on small acreages, (ii) the growth of specialty food enterprises, (iii) displacements in manufacturing jobs and, (iv) seizing of agriperineurial opportunities by non-agriculturalists after the collapse of the economy and financial markets in 2008. Every decade since then saw the entrance of new and beginning farmers from the following groups, Social Disadvantaged, Veteran, Women Tenant and Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers. There are significant challenges faced by many of these beneficiaries in accessing several Federal Programs administered by USDA and for the Partnering Organizations that help to administer these programs. This case study examines challenges in seven (7) areas and how these producers and partnering organizations, especially during the Pandemic (COVID-19) have been able to mitigate these by developing innovative methods, yet need additional assistance to ensure the sustainable and viability of these farms and ultimately growing the agricultural sector in the Delta and Southern States.

Details

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