Assessing Needs and Fostering Agricultural Entrepreneurship among Immigrants in Several Iowa Communities

Latinos are becoming farm operators in the United States and Iowa at a faster rate than any other ethnic group. Across the country, immigrants of all backgrounds are participating in training and business incubation programs geared toward their particular needs as immigrant farmers. Iowa’s Latino population grew 15 percent between 1990 and 2000 to make up nearly 4 percent of the state’s population today. This project sought to identify the assets and interests in farming among not-currently-farming Latino immigrants in the Iowa communities of Denison and Marshalltown. The results of a survey of 111 respondents reveal strong interest and a wealth of agricultural experience and skills. Many grew up on small-scale, diversified family farms. Respondents see access to financial capital as a major challenge to starting farming in Iowa, although homeowners are less likely to see this as a barrier. Through this project, we created a survey that can be used in other Iowa communities. The information can assist communities statewide to determine the value of developing programming to support immigrant farmer entrepreneurs. Agricultural organizations could provide such programming by creating multilingual access to targeted services, such as training in small business development and production in a northern climate, creating access to financial services, and connecting beginning farmers to small acreages.

Contacts:
Rick Tafoya
M&M Divide RC&D
1917 N US Hwy 71 Ste 3
Carroll, IA 51401-3355
Rick.tafoya@ia.usda.gov
712-792-4415

Hannah Lewis
107 East Hall
Iowa State University
Ames IA, 50011-1070
hlewis@iastate.edu
515-294-6480/515-450-8126