Beginner Farmer Resources

Colorado Resources for Beginner Farmers

Colorado Agricultural Development Authority (CADA) Beginner Farmer Loan
The program involves a three-way transaction between the lender, the borrower and CADA. Through the issuance of a tax exempt bond by CADA to the lender, all interest paid by the borrower is tax exempt. The result is an interest rate to the borrower below commercial rates.

Financing a New Farm Operation

Beginner Farmer Financing Programs: Center for Rural Affairs
This resource list contains at least five sources of potential funding are available including the local bank, Farm Credit Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA), Aggie Bond programs, and private contracts.

Colorado Agricultural Development Authority (CADA) Beginner Farmer Loan
The program involves a three-way transaction between the lender, the borrower and CADA. Through the issuance of a tax exempt bond by CADA to the lender, all interest paid by the borrower is tax exempt. The result is an interest rate to the borrower below commercial rates.

USDA Beginning Farmer Loan Programs
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is the traditional lender of last resort and has its roots in providing funds to beginning farmers. They provide loans with funding Congress appropriates each year with a portion targeted toward beginning farmers.

USDA: Small Farms Funding Opportunities
The USDA has a Small Farms website which includes a webpage of over 15 different funding sources for small farmers. The funding sources include USDA grant programs as well as grants from independent foundations.

Beginner Farmer Workshops: Nationwide

The Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farming Training (CRAFT)
Angelic Organics Learning Center offers The Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) Program. CRAFT offers on-farm training and business planning skills provided directly from established farmers. Founded in 1997 by a group of family farmers, CRAFT is working to train our next generation of organic, biodynamic, and sustainable farmers.

Cultivating Success: Sustainable Small Farms Education
Cultivating Success, a program offered by WSU Whatcom County Extension, helps farmers get started on the path of success. Cultivating Success was developed by Washington State University and the University of Idaho with the goal of increasing the number and fostering the success of small farmers.

Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy Farmers
The Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers has been designed to provide the opportunity for motivated individuals to educate themselves about pasture-based dairy and livestock farming. The school offers specialized training through traditional classroom activities, hands-on internships, and farm tours of pasture-based farms managed by successful graduates and mentors.

Land Link Programs

California FarmLink
California FarmLink provides a range of services to facilitate a transition from one farmer or landowner to the next generation of farmers.

Center for Rural Affairs: Land Link Resources
The Center's Land Link program serves to increase opportunities for beginning farmers while encouraging good stewardship. Computer data base matching and consulting services bring beginning farmers and landowners together. Retirement planning, beginning farmer financing, farm business, and environmental assessment information is used to assist in transferring family operations to a new generation of farmers and ranchers.

National Farm Transition Network
The National Farm Transition Network supports programs that foster the next generation of farmers. In particular, the Network helps to develop Land Link Programs around the country. The website has a list of all the states that are participating in Land Links.

Business Planning Guides for New Farmers

Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses
Published by Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, 2003.
This is a 280 page, 5 chapter, step-by-step guide to developing a business plan- with a focus on agricultural businesses. The publication includes worksheets and farmer profiles/testimonials. Available at Sustainable Agricultural Publications: 802-656-0484, $14.00 each.

Exploring the Small Farm Dream: Is Starting an Agricultural Business Right for You?
Published by The New England Small Farm Institute, 2003.
This is an 86 page, 5 chapter workbook designed to help individuals who are exploring the possibility of starting a small farm.
Available at The New England Small Farm Institute 413-323-4531, $22.00 each.

Marketing, Business & Risk Management: ATTRA Resources
These resources can guide agricultural business planning and help farmers manage the amount of risk in their enterprises. In addition, some of these resources offer advice on diversifying, developing new markets and adding value to farm products to increase income.

Small Farm Handbook, University of California: Small Farm Center
At last, a practical, easy-reading guide for people interested in operating a successful small farm is available. New and experienced farmers alike will benefit from tips on livestock and crop production, buying property and equipment, dealing with taxes and regulations, marketing, maintaining healthy family relationships, and much more. Easy-to-use worksheets allow you to customize the information to fit your farming goals.

Farmer Apprenticeship Programs

ATTRA: Sustainable Farming Internships & Apprenticeships
This directory of on-the-job learning opportunities in sustainable and organic agriculture in the U.S. (and some in Canada) has been published since 1989 as a tool to help farmers and apprentices connect with each other. The listed farms are primarily seeking interns/apprentices from North America.

University of California at Santa Cruz, Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS)
The CASFS at UC Santa Cruz offers a six-month Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture on the campus’s 25-acre farm and 4-acre Chadwick Garden.

New Farmer Success Stories

Profitable Practices & Strategies for a New Generation
Profitable Practices and Strategies for a New Generation brings you the stories of people making a difference in rural America. There are several stories of New Farmers in rural areas.

[Beginner Farmer Resources: 9 Jan 2012 Version]