Small Farms
The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center’s (SUAREC) Small Farm Institute (SFI) is housed within the Cooperative Extension Program’s Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Unit. The Cooperative Extension Program operates in 34 parishes across the state of Louisiana. Many of these parishes are comprised of small limited-resource and underserved farmers and landowners. SFI’s goal is to educate, provide technical assistance and outreach while fostering sustainability among Louisiana’s small farm communities.
Mission
The Small Farm Institute's mission is to serve new, disadvantaged, minority, underserved, women, and veteran farmers in Louisiana. Through outreach, education, hands-on training, resources, new technological innovations and assisting farmers with sound decision making, the program creates an atmosphere for successful agriculture businesses and enterprises.
Objectives
- To assist small new, beginning, women and veteran farmers and landowners in achieving the small farm dream.
- To educate and provide information on emerging agriculture trends and science based practices.
- To assist farmers in generating and maintaining an income that supports their families and communities.
- To serve as an incubator of small farm information in Louisiana.
- To provide materials for bilingual farmers and personnel.
What is a Small Farmer?
A small farmer is defined as one that grows and sells between $1,000 and $250,000 per year in agricultural products. These farmers could include:
- Growers working with plants in greenhouses.
- Ethnic minority farmers.
- Farmers with limited resources.
- Hobby farmers, retirement farmers, lifestyle farmers.
- Farmers who sell directly to consumers through farmers markets, CSA’s and other marketing channels not a part of the traditional, wholesale distribution chain.
- Farmers who do not mono-crop, including those who grow vegetables or fruits while also raising livestock.
Source: USDA, Small Farms, Big Differences, 11 March 2021.
