Inventory and Evaluation of Farmer and Rancher Training Programs in New Mexico

What is the ongoing problem?

Twofold:

1. Farmers are essential workers, as they contribute to food production and security. The number of farmers has been decreasing in New Mexico and across the United States. It is imperative to train a new generation of farmers.
2. Modern agriculture greatly contributes to greenhouse gases, pollution, climate change, gentrification, and other environmental, health, and social problems. We must return to traditional agricultural practices that promote conservation and sustainability.

What is this program doing to solve the problem?

State agencies and private donors support farmer and rancher training programs throughout New Mexico. However, a formal state-wide evaluation of training programs has not been conducted. A sound evaluation is essential to understand whether an intervention is achieving the expected outcomes and identify best practices.

The project consists of two phases: Phase 1 is to develop an inventory of ongoing training programs and conduct a case study. Phase 2 is to conduct an evaluation to assess the multilevel impact of training programs.

Who is the PI?
Francisco Soto Mas

Who are the additional team members?
Kathryn Coakley, Vittoria Totaro (GRA and PhD Candidate, Sociology)

Who is the grant funded by, for how much, and over what time period?
Thornburg Foundation, $50,000, April-Aug 2024 (Phase 1 only).

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