Technical Assistance
Hands-on Support to Grow Your Farm
Sprout connects Louisiana farmers to resources, knowledge, and each other. From one-on-one help to soil-building demonstrations, our team works alongside you on whatever your operation needs to thrive.
About Technical Assistance
At Sprout, the objective of our technical assistance (TA) work is to support Louisiana producers to address a wide range of on-farm issues. We know that farmers learn best from each other. We also know that, like any professional, each farmer has areas that they excel in– and others not so much! In order to meet our objective and address as wide a spectrum of issues as possible, the Sprout TA team includes Sprout staff (who are also farmers in their own right), farmers in our community with key areas of knowledge, and, on occasion, folks from the eight other statewide agricultural support organizations we work with through the Louisiana Small Scale Agricultural Coalition (LSSAC). For example, if you are a hydroponic producer in need of technical assistance, you may be referred to the folks at Shreveport Green who operate an urban hydroponic system. This constellation of partnerships helps create an expansive and coordinated network of support for Louisiana’s agricultural producers.
What We Help With
Through the Louisiana Small-Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC), our Farmer Support Manager provides in-person and digital support to farmers across a wide spectrum of issues.
-
Tell us what you're working on and we'll connect you with hands-on help, statewide partners, and the right resources for your farm.
-
We host demonstrations and pilot projects for sustainable practices like cover crops and pollinator strips that help you build healthier soil and suppress weeds.
-
In partnership with LSU, Acadiana Food Alliance, and the Crescent City Farmers Market, we run Grow LA, a USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program, supplemented with community classes, office hours, and workshops.
Cover Crop Seeds
Request cover crop seeds for your farm, free of charge. Available varieties: Dutch Clover, Red Clover, Sun Hemp, Rape Seed, Austrian Winter Pea, Millet, Tillage Radish, Iron & Clay Peas, Albert Lea, Sorghum Sudan, Buckwheat, Annual Rye, and Hairy Vetch.
How It Works
If you are a producer looking for technical assistance, the first step is to fill out the LSSAC Farm and Farmer Technical Assistance Request Form. Why do we use this form? First, it collects necessary information about you so the right person can reach out with some baseline understanding of who you are, where you are, and what you farm. Second, it logs your request in our collaborative statewide system so if Sprout does not have an answer for you or is not the right organization to answer your particular inquiry, you will be connected to the right technical assistance providers as quickly as possible.
Once you’ve submitted the intake form, if Sprout seems to be the right organization to handle your case from the information you provided, you will most likely be contacted by Sprout’s Farmer Support Manager to set up a time to check-in and get more information about your specific needs. If your particular needs exceed our Sprout staff in-house TA offerings, the Farmer Support Manager will coordinate transferring your TA case to a specialized provider, either a farmer peer or a partner organization that can more appropriately assist you, with your consent.
TL/DR: If you need technical assistance, fill out the Technical Assistance Request Form.
“The Sprout cover crop program has expanded our use of cover crops and sustainable practices. The seed has been essential to resting fields between crops, and the knowledge Sprout staff shared has been key to our success.”
Need a hand with your farm?