Prior to the pandemic many farmers didn’t utilize the internet for any kind of meeting conferences, workshops or any other platforms for agriculture business, farmers were accustomed to face to face contact for business and dealing with people.  Now that business are slowing opening up in Kentucky there are many resources needed by limited-resource minority farmers in the world including Kentucky.  

The Kentucky State University (KSU) Small Farm Program is an Extension program designed to help farm families with decision-making skills to solve farm and home problems. It includes educational programs that emphasize farm production, farm management, and marketing.  It also includes the use and understanding of local county programs and USDA agencies and their programs, plus providing technical assistance in completing applications for the program and the entire application process.  The KSU Small Farm Program’s Area Agent for Small Farms works with small, limited-resource, and minority farmers, most of whom have not used Extension prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  He targets minority farmers, farmers who are new to Extension, or farmers who think that Extension is not for them.  First he has to gain their confidence.  Then he has to show them that he can help them to meet some of their needs. 

This is his experience with two families that requested technical assistance.

These are some of the technique assistance requests by two farm families one in Franklin County and one in Scott County, Kentucky. 

The KSU Area Agent for Small Farms provided technique assistance to farmers needing home repairs through the United State Agriculture of Department, Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. 

Often, limited-resource farm families have sub-standard housing. Their roofs leak, bathrooms need major repairs or the houses or trailers are in major disrepair. Their septic systems are in need of repairs, also some need improved heating or cooling, and many need improved ventilation. Their potable water supply is often a problem. Many have cisterns, untested wells, or the county’s waterline is not available. Often banks turn the farmers down for home improvement loans and they do not know where to go for help.

The items that normal give applicants the most problems is the section 504 application which includes supporting documentation of evidence of ownership: Copy of Deed, or other documentation for example life estate deed and repair bids including an itemized description of repairs, material, labor, and a copy of Contractor’s license, if applicable.  Many time the KSU Area Agent for Small Farm has to assist individuals’ in providing these documents. Then after income verification documentation are within guidelines, assets, credit, other documentation is gathered the application is normal approved. Currently since May 2021, the KSU Area Agent for Small Farms is in the process of helping these two farm families secure these documents stated above to be eligible for approval.