LOUISIANA MASTER FARMER PROGRAM

Established in 2001 through a collaborative effort between the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Louisiana Cattlemen's Association, the Louisiana Master Farmer Program offers a voluntary, conservation-based approach to addressing environmental issues in production agriculture. The program includes an educational component, BMP (Best Management Practices) demonstration, and whole-farm conservation implementation. Members (Participants) become eligible for certification upon completing and verifying all three phases.

The program educates producers on environmental stewardship, conservation-based production techniques, and sustainability. It employs a comprehensive approach through collaboration with program partners, encompassing:

Phase 1: Completion of six hours of classroom instruction
Phase 2: Participation in a conservation-based field day or workshop
Phase 3: Implementation of a Resource Management System (RMS) conservation plan across the entire farming operation

Since its inception, over 4,100 producers, landowners, and agricultural industry leaders have engaged in one or more phases of the program. Notably, 381 individuals have achieved Louisiana Master Farmer certification or re-certification by completing all three phases since 2006.

For more details on each phase or the certification process, please select from the links below. Information on trainings and field days is available under each respective phase.

What's New:

Master Farmer Certifications & Awards for 2024
A new "Benefits of Certification" video
A Phase 1 (classroom instruction) online module is now available under the "Phase 1" tab. A producer may complete all the listed requirements and receive credit for this phase of the program. If you have already filled out a registration form (by attending another event), you do not need to fill out another one.