The Next Generation of Farmers Additional Resources

[EditorBob]

Resources for Young Farmers
Original article here:
http://www.farmingmagazine.com/article.php?id=4497

Cornell Cooperative Extension video series, “Voice of Experience”
Can be viewed online at the Beginning Farmer Project Web Site: http://beginningfarmers.cce.cornell.edu

The Intervale Center, Burlington, Vermont
Offers two programs for new farmers.
www.intervale.org

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Program
Operates a Journeyperson Program and a Farmer-in-Residence Program
www.mofga.org

New England Small Farm Institutes
Offers plenty of information and training for beginning farmers
www.smallfarm.org, www.growingnewfarmers.org

New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
For immigrants and others with ag backgrounds to start farming operations in Massachusetts. www.nesfp.org

Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership
Helps local farmers achieve economic success by creating a demand for locally produced food. www.semaponline.org

USDA Farm Service Agency
Offers two financing programs for land purchase by beginning farmers. www.fsa.usda.gov
Greenhorn Guide to Beginning Farmers
http://www.thegreenhorns.net/resources/greeacres.pdf

Other Useful Resources
ATTRA: Evaluating a Rural Enterprise (workbook)
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/evalrural.html

From the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture: Building a Sustainable Business – Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses www.misa.umn.edu/vd/bizplan.html

Resources for Beginning Farmers
www.misa.umn.edu/vd/bfarmers.html

Primer for Selecting New Enterprises for Your Farm, University of Kentucky. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AgEcon/pubs/ex...ext2000-13.pdf

NCAT’s Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships
Database lists U.S. farms that are looking for interns and apprentices. www.attrainternships.ncat.org

Sources for Farm Loans
Note: List adapted from The Carrot Project Web site, from a page that was made possible through a grant from the Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement. For loan sources by state visit: http://thecarrotproject.org/farmer_resources

State Loan Programs
Through various state programs, new farmers may access a few types of loans to purchase farmland, equipment, livestock, and buildings.

• Aggie Bond Beginning Farmer Loans – Through the state, private lenders can earn federally-exempt interest income when they make loans to qualified farmers. Lenders are able to provide loans at reduced interest rates because of the tax savings.

• Guarantee Loan Programs - Private lenders receive up to 85% guarantee of principal and interest.

• Direct Loan Programs - State legislatures allocate funds for direct loans, usually for specific programs within agriculture, and are provided by a state agency or authority.

• Loan Participation Programs - In the case where farmers and ranchers have low equity, a state agency or authority buys part of the loan from a private lender.

• The National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs has more information on these types of loans and provides an easy-to-navigate directory of state loan programs: http://www.stateagfinance.org


Federal Loan Programs
If you are unable to receive financing from commercial lenders, you may be eligible for a direct or guarantee loan through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Congress appropriates funding to loans each year with a portion aimed at beginning farmers. Contact your local FSA office for assistance.

• Farm Service Agency: Beginning Farmer Loan Program: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?a...t=fmlp&topic=b

• Farm Credit Services of America – Young and Beginning Program: http://www.fcsamerica.com/3f2f8c63-2...581d3262d.aspx

Private Lending Sources
You may find other loan sources in your community from surprising sources -read the newspaper, talk to local leaders, check out the food co-op bulletin board. A couple other loan sources worth mentioning:

• Local Producer Loan Program: Through the Local Producer Loan Program, Whole Foods Market makes $10 million available annually for low-interest loans to small, local producers. Eligible products include agricultural crops, value-added food products, and other all-natural grocery items. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/prod...plp/index.html

• Freshman Farmer Grants Program-Peaceful Valley Farm Supply

• Community Land Trusts/ Private Foundations

• Organic Valley Dairy Fund

• Rudolf Steiner Finance/ Social Finance firms

• Customers: You may find over time, you have a devoted customer base that wants to see you succeed. While not a realistic loan source to help you get your operation going, you might have a customer willing to give you a loan to help you expand your business or take on a new project. For example, many CSA farmers are able to obtain non-collateral loans with low or no interest rates to buy land or inputs.


Multi-State
(Includes organizations working in more than one state or region.)
Cooperative Fund of New England provides loans to all types of cooperatives. http://www.cooperativefund.org

Equity Trust helps people set up innovative ownership models for land protection throughout the country. and provide technical assistance to many more farms working to gain security. Plus, they have a revolving loan fund. http://www.equitytrust.org/WholeFarm.html#Financing

Farm Credit is the largest agricultural lender in New England and New York. They have offices throughout throughout the region.

FarmStart, a program of First Pioneer Farm Credit and CoBank, assists beginning farmers and new cooperatives with seed capital. For more information contact 800-562-2235 or FarmStart@FirstPioneer.com (Southern New England and Eastern New York). https://www.firstpioneer.com/Products/FarmStart.aspx

National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs has a directory of finance programs offered by each state department of agriculture. http://www.stateagfinance.org/directory.html

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service assists land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance for many conservation activities. There are multiple service centers in each state. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/agency.html

USDA's Farm Service Agency is the federal government's lender that works with farmers who cannot get loans from a commercial bank. http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?a...&topic=landing