Beginning Farmer & Rancher - Herds & Harvest Program | Extension

New to farming? Want to learn how to start a farm? Extension can help and offers additional assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers. USDA considers anyone who has operated a farm or ranch for less than ten years to be a beginning farmer or rancher. Our program can help you get started or grow your operation through a variety of programs and services, from farm loans to crop insurance, and conservation programs to disaster assistance.

The overall aim of the program is to:

Help develop the agricultural entrepreneurship, business and financial management skills of Nevada's beginning farmers and ranchers, providing the tools necessary to own, operate and sustain an agricultural operation.
Improve beginning farmers' and ranchers' capacity to manage water resources effectively.
Help beginning farmers and ranchers implement sustainable agricultural management practices.
Help beginning farmers and ranchers develop a marketing strategy that ensures the competitiveness of their agricultural operation.
Provide a support network to help beginning farmers and ranchers achieve project objectives.

Farm to Fork Level I Certification Program

The Herds & Harvest Program is hosting a Farm to Fork Certification Program providing a certification program Feb. 21 – April 27 geared toward new or up-and-coming ranchers and farmers that will allow them to obtain a Nevada Beginning Farmer & Rancher Level 1 Small Acreage and Farm to Fork Certification. The classes will take place 6 – 8 p.m., Wednesdays, Feb. 21 – April 24, with additional field trips touring small-acreage farms and ranches in Washoe and Douglas counties being offered April 26-27.

The program’s courses will be conducted via Zoom and will draw upon the knowledge and experience of established Nevada agriculture producers and University experts. Participants who complete the course, attend a tour or one of the spring Nevada agriculture conferences, and complete a business plan review will receive their Level 1 Certification. Course topics include:

Feb. 21: An overview of small-acreage and farm-to-fork production, including identifying resources, understanding jurisdictions, developing a business plan and setting goals.
Feb. 28: Crops and soil, focusing on plant needs and how to determine the best plants for a given land space. This will include an overview of how plants grow, nutrients and day length requirements, and soil basics.
March 6 and 13: Courses will be paused for the Nevada Urban Agriculture Conference, March 6-8 in Las Vegas; and the Nevada Small Agriculture Conference, March 13-15 in Fallon. Participants may choose to attend one of these conferences or one of the tours offered April 26-27 as part of the certification requirements.
March 20: Value-added programs in Nevada and where and how to market products, including farm stands, direct market sales, sale yards, using Nevada Grown and social media. Participants will also learn how to develop a marketing plan.

March 27: Livestock needs and requirements, including basics of livestock and poultry nutrition, feed management, reproduction and the Quality Assurance Program.
April 3: Meat quality, processing and training, including the characteristics of meat based on nutritional management and an overview of meat regulations in Nevada and the statewide meat program.
April 10: Understanding Nevada water, focusing on the basics of water rights and water law in Nevada.
April 17: Farm financial management in the 21st century, focusing on financially building a farm, building business skills and assets, estate planning, and balance and cash flow basics.
April 24: Partners and funding, including an overview of opportunities and resources available to Nevada producers.
April 26-27: Field trips touring local farms and ranches in Washoe and Douglas counties will be available to participants, who can choose to attend either a tour or one of the aforementioned conferences as part of the certification requirements.

The cost for the program is $60 per person, and registration can be completed online. For more information, contact:
Staci Emm, Extension educator for Mineral County, at emms@unr.edu or 775-475-4227
Kaley Chapin, outreach specialist, at kaleys@unr.edu or 702-467-2668.

The Nevada Herds & Harvest program combines a series of workshops on different topics, and provides educational business management and mentoring skill building to support Nevada agricultural producers. If you are interested in meeting with a mentor to build a specific enterprise budget for your agricultural operation, please contact the faculty member below to begin your mentoring experience.

Meet the Leadership Team

Program Leader & Contact

Staci Emm

Program Contact

Lindsay Chichester

Kaley Chapin

Jamie Lee

Cally Wade