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32 <br /> DRAFT/March 28,2025 <br /> GOAL #3: Enhance the Economic Viability of Agriculture <br /> Recommendation 7: Expand educational opportunities in agriculture and <br /> agricultural business development. The changing nature of agriculture in the <br /> County from traditional commodity farms to small, diversified farms and the <br /> increasing population of beginning farmers in the County necessitate provision <br /> of education and training to help both new and established farmers thrive. <br /> Priority Action 7a provides a mechanism for education and training in a <br /> program that emulates and expands the successful PLANT at Breeze program <br /> previously offered by Orange County. <br /> • Priority Action 7a: Offer both new- and established-farmer-targeted <br /> coursework and bootcamp with curriculum to include business development, <br /> agritourism, crop production, livestock management, marketing. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Program developed and launched • County staff including new <br /> • Number of participants enrolled proposed Ag Viability and <br /> • Number of participants Farmland Stewardship position <br /> completing the program 0 County Extension agents <br /> • Number of participants <br /> completing the program and <br /> going on to farm <br /> • Participant ratings of program <br /> Recommendation 8: Support farmers in expanding and diversifying their <br /> businesses through agritourism. Agritourism, or welcoming visitors to the farm for <br /> recreation, education, and/or purchasing farm products, is a means of <br /> diversification and potentially significant income generation (UC Sustainable <br /> Agriculture Research and Education Program, 2017). In the 2023 Orange County <br /> Farmer and Landowner Survey (Appendix 1 for summary), agritourism was cited <br /> nearly two times more often than any other measure as a way respondents <br /> would consider to enhance their farm business. Besides being a source of direct <br /> financial gain for farms, agritourism benefits farms by fostering customer <br /> relationships and enhancing customers' understanding of agriculture---non- <br /> material impacts that can lead to sustained financial support. In the 2023 <br /> Orange County Farmer and Landowner Survey, only one of three respondents <br /> indicated that they practice any form of agritourism on their farm. Priority <br /> Actions 8a and 8b are intended to introduce farmers to agritourism in its various <br /> forms and to support them in exploring agritourism initiatives. <br /> 30 <br />