United States Secretary of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding to help new and beginning farmers succeed.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue signed a memorandum of understanding with SCORE at the Iowa Ag Summit Saturday. SCORE, or Service Corp of Retired Executives, is a non-profit association dedicated to helping small businesses get started. Perdue said the partnership would provide mentorship for new and growing farmers, ranchers and agribusiness entrepreneurs.
?In any industry, in agriculture especially, shepherding one generation to another is our responsibility,? Perdue. ?New farmers, veterans, and those transitioning to agriculture from other careers face distinct challenges. They need land, equipment, access to capital and someone to turn to with their questions. They need the wisdom of people who have gone before to help them and guide them, and be able to ask those questions.?
Perdue said having a safety net for young farmers is important.
?Helping young farmers with FSA and others is so important, but we also need to help them, with someone at their shoulder,? Perdue said. ?It may be a parent, grandparent or other, and that?s great. For those who don?t have that, we want the scores of SCORE members to provide mentorship and business advice. I believe this initiative will grow the network of support that already exists. With SCORE and other partners, USDA is working to ensure we are tapping into that deep well of knowledge that exists within our local communities to support that next generation.?
Under the memorandum, SCORE plans to provide the agriculture industry access to its nearly 10,000 mentors nationwide.
Farmers interested in becoming a SCORE mentor are encouraged to sign-up at USDA New Farmers? website, newfarmers.usda.gov/mentorship.
