The Minnesota Land Stewardship Project is one of 37 groups nationwide that received a USDA beginning farmer and rancher grant this week. Paul Sobacinski of LSP says they’re getting just over $ 384,000. He says their program helps beginning farm couples work together to establish a farm business management plan.

He says the model they use in Minnesota to assist beginning farmers and ranchers is being adopted by several other groups nationwide.

Sobacinski says with the average age of a farmer and rancher rising, the need for more beginning farmers and ranchers is increasing. He says for rural communities to be healthy those producers are needed.

Sobacinski says anyone needing more information about their beginning farmer and rancher program can go to their website at farm beginnings collaborative.org.