Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
USDA Listening Session - Oct. 27 2008, Washington, D.C.
Comments delivered by Jamie Collins

	Hello My Name is Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms. I am here today representing my farm and the many other young California organic farmers that were not able to be here to voice their opinion about how funds for new aspiring farmers should be spent to ensure their chances of success.
Jamie and her goats

I started my certified organic vegetable farm in California 7 years ago on four acres. My farming partner, Roberto Garcia and I are currently farming 45 acres and over 50 different varieties of vegetables, herbs and berries which are sold through farmers markets, community supported agriculture programs, local restaurants and markets and for local and long distance wholesale markets. 

The past seven years building my business has been very difficult even with my education and extensive experience with sustainable farming practices. I have a bachelors degree in Crop Science and a minor in Fruit Science,  three years experience as an assistant farm manager for a large corporate organic farm, and I was the Regional Service Representative and an organic inspector for California Certified Organic Farmers for 7 years.

When you decide you want to be a farmer you are plunged into being a business owner, even if your background or education is in growing plants.  This was the hardest part of being a farmer for me; learning how keep and maintain financial documentation for loans,  create a farm plan, establish markets for your product which are  never guaranteed from year to year, learn how to manage the fluctuating cash flow, and invest in crop insurance.

One year we lost 7 acres of heirloom tomatoes to the early frost. I contacted my local Farm Service Agency to request crop loss funds. I was awarded $7,000 and told I would need to have crop insurance on my tomatoes for the next season. I was told I could insure our tomatoes with the FSA so I wrote a check to cover the farm for the next growing season. A few months later I received a letter with my check back from the FSA stating that they don’t insure ORGANIC tomatoes and I would need to look elsewhere for insurance. I had no idea where to look for crop insurance and the FSA did not have any information of agencies that would insure crops. By the time I had located one that would insure organic tomatoes, I had missed the sign up deadline of and I was unable to obtain crop insurance for that year. Because I did not have proof of my crop being insured for that season, the FSA requested that I pay back the $7,000 with interest, even though they made the mistake which caused me to miss the cut off date. This is one instance where I definitely did not feel supported or given information that could have helped me in obtaining crop insurance and missing the deadline. In short, I do not feel there is enough information or education on the rules and regulations for agriculture which can be utilized by new farmers in order for them to be successful.  
 
There are also other important areas that new farmers struggle with such as: post harvest handling, packing product up to specs for wholesale markets, quality growing techniques, how to become certified organic, rules and regulations for agriculture, and planning for consecutive harvests.  There is also a big gap between organic education and information for farmers, and the increasing demand for organic food in the country.

Deciding to pursue a career growing organic crops to feed people and protect the environment should be supported. As an organic inspector and Regional Service Representative I saw 98% of the new farmers not make it through the second or third growing season.  Who is going to grow our food if we can’t encourage the younger generation that farming is a viable career choice?

Organic farming has a high payoff for creating a new generation of successful farmers, particularly in terms of economic benefits, not to mention environmental benefits. The overwhelming majority of beginning farmers surveyed by California Farm Link showed that they are committed to farming the land organically, and it’s been my own personal experience that the organic food I grow has a much greater market than conventional food.  

Organic beginning farmers often have to go at it alone.  In my own experience, I went to a Ag college that had no classes or education for organic agriculture, only conventional agriculture, and they are just beginning to develop a program to train organic farmers.  The BFRDP can help close this gap by prioritizing grants for beginning organic farmer training programs. 

I also believe that when making funding decisions, organic farming should be recognized as a viable economic opportunity for aspiring farmers and they should be rewarded for the environmental and conservation stewardship of the land. I suggest that CREES seeks input from beginning organic farmers to determine the specific challenges they have experienced, and look to fund grants that address these challenges.
CSREES should also appoint grant review panelists that have a strong background and expertise in organic and sustainable agriculture so they are knowledgeable about the unique challenges of organic farmers.
I also believe the funds should be prioritized and awarded to non-profit and community based organizations that have been spearheading organic research, education and supporting new farmers for many years. The groups with the experience know what the local farmers need, and have the infrastructure and education to hit the ground running providing useful services to farmers who need it.

There are several community groups that have helped my farm over the last seven years. A few examples: California Alliance for Family Farmers funded a perennial beneficial habitat and pollinator row 1,000 feet long to help with biological pest control and crop pollination.

California Farm Link provided funds for an accountant to teach me how to use QuickBooks and how to keep accurate farm records. They also helped me review complicated lease language so I didn’t get in over my head with the property I am currently farming.

The reason I feel non-profits and community based organizations should receive priorities is because more of the money will go to help the farmer and not be used for administration costs. When Universities are awarded grants, 50% of the total awarded grant goes towards ‘overhead’, and universities aren’t set up to concentrate on issues of small farmers like the already established community based programs are. I suggest that the priority be awarded to the community based / non-profit groups before the universities so that they money will go further.

The funded programs should also reflect the trends of ethnicity, especially in the western states.  

• In Monterey County, California where I farm, the number of Latino farmers increased 70% from 1997 to 2002, according to the USDA’s Census of Agriculture.
• The growth has resulted in 264 Latino-operated farms in Monterey County, outpacing a strong 44% growth rate in the rest of California. Meanwhile, the overall number of farms in Monterey County dropped by 180 during the same period.
• Despite the overall loss of farms, Latino farmers account for a 60% statewide increase in acreage over five years.

Another valuable program I feel should be strongly supported is the proposed  IDA asset building program. This program helps farmers save for expensive assets by matching the amount the farmer deposits into the account each month. After two years there would be enough money saved to buy a farm asset such as a tractor. I think this is a great program to support, and an excellent way for start up farmers to obtain expensive farm equipment and farm infrastructure.

In closing, I am thrilled that there is funding to help young, aspiring farmers.  Even after seven years, I know I still have a lot to learn about running a successful farming operation, and my farm would benefit from accessing these types of programs. It is my hope that farming reemerges as a viable business that is increasingly valued and supported. Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion today, it has been an honor. 

Jamie Collins
Serendipity Farms
Monterey, CA