VIRGIN ISLANDS
BEGINNING FARMERS 
TRAINING PROGRAM
Targeting 
Beginning Farmers
 Procedure
• 
Increased number of successful famers 
in the Virgin Islands
• 
Virgin Islands farmers learn and adopt 
best management practices
• 
Financial security for agribusiness 
enterprises in the Virgin Islands
• 
Improved business and management 
skills utilized by farmers in the Virgin 
Islands
• 
Increased quantities of high quality 
locally grown agricultural produce 
• 
Greater consumption of fresh local 
farm products
The University of the Virgin Islands 
Cooperative Extension Service, 
Agricultural Experiment Station and 
the V.I. Department of Agriculture will 
provide the technical assistance and 
training in the various classes using the 
following:
• 
One-on-one coaching sessions
• 
Formal workshops and seminars
• 
Field days
• 
On-farm demonstrations
• 
Help-a-farmer days
• 
Agribusiness education training
• 
Observing on-farm operations
 Outcomes
 Contact Information
UVI Cooperative Extension Service
(340)-692-4071/4054, (340)-693-1083
V.I. Department of Agriculture
(340)-778-0997 ext. 238
This project is supported by the Beginning 
Farmer and Rancher Development Program of 
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 
USDA.
Cooperative Extension Service & 
Agricultural Experiment Station
Virgin Islands Be ginning Farmers Training Program
OObjectives
• 
Increase participation of new and 
beginning farmers in crop and 
livestock production and marketing 
in the Virgin Islands.
• 
Develop a comprehensive agribusiness 
mananagement and enrepreneurship 
program for beginning farmers.
• 
Develop training materials and 
implement workshops for beginning 
farmers in conservation, risk 
management and direct marketing.
OOverview
The goal of the Virgin Islands Beginning 
Farmers Training Program is to ensure that 
there will be a sustainable new generation of 
beginning farmers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
The program will provide training that would 
improve beginning farmers income and 
enhance their potential for success. 
The University of the Virgin Islands 
Cooperative Extension Service  in partnership 
with the University of the Virgin Islands 
Agricultural Experiment Station and the V.I. 
Department of Agriculture  will provide the 
leadership and technical training  to expand 
the agribusiness sector and make it one of 
the main drivers of the economic and social 
development of the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
The beginning farmers will be provided 
with information, know-how, research and 
techniques needed to make wise decisions 
for their agribusiness operations.
OTargeted Audience
OVision
The University of the Virgin Islands 
Cooperative Extension Ser vice, 
Agricultural Experiment Station and 
the V.I. Department of Agriculture will 
work collaboratively to train beginning 
farmers in crop production, small 
livestock production and farm financial 
management.
• 
Beginning Crop Farmers
• 
Beginning Livestock Farmers
OTraining
• 
Agribusiness Planning
• 
Whole Farm Planning
• 
Integrated Pest Management
• 
Financial Management
• 
Recordkeeping
• 
Crop Production
• 
Small Livestock Production
• 
Marketing
• 
Post-harvest Handing and Processing
• 
Available Federal Programs