Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Virginia need increased participation in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that will empower them to acquire and operate profitable and successful farm enterprises. Recently, there has been an increase in the rate at which socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers lose their family farms due to foreclosures. Many of these farmers lack adequate knowledge in estate planning and management, financial and farm management, and other areas. Additionally, there is a need to strengthen their production, food safety, and marketing skills though outreach and technical assistance to develop viable and profitable alternative enterprises. To address these issues, Virginia State University received a grant from NIFA to provide outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Virginia. This 36-month project, started October 1, 2009 and will end September 30, Its overall goal is enhancing farm incomes, profitability, and quality of life for these farmers and their communities. This presentation highlights the objectives, activities, and accomplishments made in the first 18 months of the project. Activities 1.Conducted outreach meetings, conferences, and workshops to provide information and enlighten SDFR about USDA programs and services 2.Produced and distributed brochures, fact sheets, publications and other outreach tool 3.Utilized local newspapers, newsletters. radio and television to reach a wider audience of SDFR Activities 1.Planned, hosted, and conducted two two-day conferences (November 2009 and November 2010) for limited-resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners in Virginia. These Conferences addressed the concerns and needs of these targeted audiences, and provided opportunities for them to receive current and valuable information on various agricultural assistance programs. 2.Conducted one-on-one farm visits to provide hand-on training and technical assistance to SDFR 3.Planned and conducted four (4) on-farm demonstrations on production techniques, and one field day each project year on vegetable production, meat goat production, and aquaculture production. 4.Hosted two annual Biological Farming Conferences. The focus of these conferences is organic farming and marketing of organic crops/livestock. 5.Conducted six (6) estate planning workshops. Activities 1.Conducted hands-on marketing workshops to provide marketing skills to SDRF 2.Conducted a tour to farmers markets 3.Conducted a “Value – Added” conference 4.Conducted “Social Networking” meetings Activities Objectives Accomplishments 810 socially disadvantaged farmers were reached and received information on USDA programs and services. 366 Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers have increased interest in participating in USDA programs Accomplishments 315 SDFR have adopted cost efficient production practices 470 socially disadvantaged farmers are now producing alternative crops and /or livestock 38 socially disadvantaged farmers have learned and acquired high tunnel production system 107 SDRF participated in Small Farm Family and have been trained on value added techniques 182 SDFR were trained to use basic computer technology to search for ag-related information, write business and marketing plans 140 SDFR were provided information on how to take proactive measures to prevent foreclosures Accomplishments SDFR Participation in existing regional marketing outlets, networks, cooperatives or associations has increased by socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners have written business and/or marketing plans. 52 socially disadvantaged farmers have increase their profits through value added product development 128 SDFR have improved their profits through on-farm direct marketing Accomplishments PD: J. Hairston; Co-PD: F. Okpebholo Virginia State University Objectives 1.To increase the ability of socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners to acquire and maintain ownership of their farms through greater awareness of, access to, and participation in USDA farm programs 2.To improve the economic and financial well-being of socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners through educational outreach and technical assistance on alternative and environmentally sound cost-efficient production practices 3.To enhance the income of socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners by increasing awareness of marketing opportunities, providing educational outreach and technical assistance in developing new marketing strategies, and increasing involvement in existing marketing networks, associations, and cooperatives Background Objective 1: To increase the ability of socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners to acquire and maintain ownership of their farms through greater awareness of, access to, and participation in USDA farm programs Objective 2: To improve the economic and financial well-being of socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners through educational outreach and technical assistance on alternative and environmentally sound cost-efficient production practices Objective 3: To enhance the income of socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners by increasing awareness of marketing opportunities, providing educational outreach and technical assistance in developing new marketing strategies, and increasing involvement in existing marketing networks, associations, and cooperatives