There is a new opportunity for Black farmers to grow their business and receive resources with the “Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture” program.
The program, hosted by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) who partnered with global food corporation Cargill, provides education and strategic business support to Black farmers.
There is a 12-week learning curriculum that involves building negotiation skills, developing growth plans, and more. Eligibility requirements include having an agriculture for profit enterprise with revenue of at least $25,000 per year.
A study done by McKinsey & Company in 2021 showed that 1.4 percent of farmers identify as Black, and those farmers represent less than 0.5 percent of total US farm sales. The NMSDC hopes to tackle that issue with Acres.
On October 12, the NMSDC recently announced its partnership with Southern University, where the school will offer its instructors and course material for the curriculum. Applications for the new cohort of Black farmers close October 30, 2023.