Several events associated with the UMES Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) Program are in the works for small farm businesses and other assorted small enterprises.
An event scheduled for Friday, August 16, involved three on-farm demonstrations that highlighted tried and successful farming techniques sure to improve a farmer’s profit level. A van leaving the Richard A. Henson Center headed for the three featured farms. One stop featured the Four Mothers Farm, which specializes in organic scotch bonnet peppers, organic hibiscus as well as renewable energy and emerging farm technology. Another stop was on the K&M Farm, which specializes in amaranth, okra, tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers and pigs. And yet another stop was on the Pugh Farm, which specializes in goats and beef cattle.
Upcoming events will focus on the grant-created Single Point Farmers Portal that will provide instant online connectivity among key groups that are connected by small farming exchange communities, vendors, and agencies (e.g., USDA). The primary intended beneficiaries of the project are limited resource and other farmers and assorted small businesses. The system, however, can benefit small businesses who are looking for consultants, buyers for their farm products, banks and various lenders, grant providers, and other facilitators engaged in supporting small farm agriculture. Beta testing of the Portal by farmers and UMES personnel is now in progress. A food safety training event, to be held jointly with Future Harvest, Inc., is also being planned for November. The focus will be on various aspects of post-harvesting produce.
To date, the SDGG program has sponsored a number of events, including several impactful listening sessions, Small Farm Conference sessions and a successful on-campus farmers’ market over the last two years. The program is funded by the USDA Rural Development Business and Cooperative Program and seeks to identify individuals within SDGs who are interested in developing or expanding small businesses involved with the production and sale of various consumer products. Those products include, but are not limited to, goats, sheep, yellow perch, fruits and vegetables. In addition to identifying such individuals, the grant supports technical training and assistance on various aspects of business development and business management. This grant was also involved in developing a small, but growing cooperative, Somerset Solutions, which has established a Produce Market to be open soon and located on Somerset Avenue in Princess Anne.
For more information about the UMES Socially Disadvantage Groups Grant, call Dr. Arthur L. Allen at 410-251-6622.
At the Four Mothers Farm, pictured on the ladder is Keith Bucca, lab technician, UMES; below the ladder is Dr. Terry Sankar, SDGG farmer participant and Single Point Portal technology consultant; on the ground from left to right Thomas M. Harmon Jr.; Gwendolyn Pierce, local farmer; Thomas M. Harmon, Sr, faculty, DSU; Norman Pierce, local farmer; Joseph Haymaker, graduate student, UMES; Dr. Arthur Allen, SDGG project director; Ron Broadnax, SDGG consultant, Envisions Enterprises; and Dr. Fawzy Hashem, soil microbiologist and food safety specialist, UMES.
At the Pugh Farm, pictured from left to right are Sidney Hankerson, SDGG project consultant; Thomas M. Harmon Jr.; Keith Bucca, lab technician, UMES; Gwendolyn Pierce, local farmer; Thomas M. Harmon, Sr., faculty, DSU; Dr. Arthur Allen, SDGG project director, UMES; Machai Pugh, farm owner’s son; Floyd Pugh, SDGG on-farm demonstrator; Norman Pierce, local farmer; Dr. Fawzy Hashem, soil microbiologist and food safety specialist, UMES; and Ron Broadnax, SDGG consultant, Envisions Enterprises.
At the K&M Farm, pictured left to right are Keith Bucca, lab technician, UMES; Dr. Terry Sankar, SDGG farmer participant and Single Point Portal technology consultant; Gwendolyn Pierce, local farmer; Kenneth Ballard, on-farm demonstrator and local farmer; Norman Pierce, local farmer; Dr. Arthur Allen, SDGG project director; Dr. Fawzy Hashem, soil microbiologist and food safety specialist, UMES; Thomas M. Harmon, Sr., faculty, DSU; Sidney Hankerson, SDGG project consultant; Thomas M. Harmon, Jr.; Ron Broadnax, SDGG consultant, Envisions Enterprises.
