Free Farmer Training Program supporting new, seasoned growers

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—A free program for Northern Louisiana farmers is back. It aims to help new and seasoned growers learn better business and management skills while exploring ‘the ‘farm science’ to support commercial production systems.

The free Farmer Training Program is a 12-month business development program with workshops, field days, and on-farm implementation. It is designed to help new and beginning farmers (1-10 years experience) grow and sell fruits, vegetables, niche crops, and value-added products made from their products.

Nonprofit Shreveport Green says participants will gain:

• insight to develop and implement a farm plan that achieves their income and sustainability goals;
• Connect with other farmers, technical assistance providers, researchers, and business coaches to form a network across the state and
• Become more confident in business and farming.

Participating in the FTP is free. However, admission is competitive, and participants are required to attend each workshop and complete all assigned work to graduate and receive the certificate of program completion.

According to the nonprofit Shreveport Green, the Farmer Training Program (FTP) is supported by the Louisiana Small-Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

LSSAC notes that applications will be accepted from anywhere in the state, but these are in-person workshops and field days that meet 2 to 3 times per month on average from 6:00 p.m. —8:00 p.m. for classroom workshops and during the day (morning or afternoon) for Field Days. Transportation is not provided, and 100% attendance is required. 

If accepted into the FTP, the average time commitment for March – September classroom and field-based workshops is four hours per week. 

LSSAC member organizations supporting this program include Shreveport Green, Louisiana Central, Red Stick Farmers Marke,t Crescent City Farmers Market, New Orleans Food Policy Action Council, SPROUT NOLA, and Fightingville Fresh.

All required materials and workshops will be provided at no cost to participants, according to LSSAC.

There are three cohorts for those residing in Central Louisiana, North Louisiana, and Lafayette.

In Shreveport (cohort two), priority is given to applicants that live/farm in North Louisiana: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, De Soto, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Union, Webster, and West Carroll Parishes.

Applications will be accepted online from Feb 14 to March 11,  2025. The first workshop is on March 20th, 2025.