Lee County Extension
Small Farms Technical Assistance and Training Program Details

Project Areas: Crop Production, Livestock and Range Management, Produce Marketing

Target Groups: Vegetable and Tropical Fruit producers, New-crop enterprisers, Ranchers, Livestock and Poultry farmers, in-land Fisheries.

Program Objective: To improve productivity and competitiveness by providing technical assistance and training.

Program Strategies: Education, Technical Assistance, Marketing, Facilitation.

Education: Provides scientific knowledge and insight to guide the process of change.

Aim: To educate growers on aspects of irrigation, farm development and planning; and educate producers in animal health, pasture management and inland tropical fish production.

Technical Assistance: Provides insight into how to obtain necessary resources.

Aim: To assist in the diagnosis of pests and diseases, and in technical areas of farm development, risk mitigation and disaster preparedness.

Marketing: Provides skills-focused training on negotiating and on product promotion.

Aim: To develop and enhance the business management and marketing skills of limited resource farmers.

Facilitation: Provides linkages between providers and end users.

Aim: To create, develop and improve linkages and communication among Federal, State and local agencies that serve farmers and ranchers, while encouraging participation and service to minority groups.

Project activities:

1. Telephone and e-mail responses
2. Mailings
3. Publications – print media and internet
4. Workshops and seminars, teaching and speaking engagements
5. Farm visits, site-trials, new-products testing, demonstrations
6. Identification of minority producers
7. Hurricane preparedness planning