Renew Rural America | Farming Opportunities
Beginning Farmer
First, Finding Land
- Linking farmers with land: Find programs across the US and elsewhere that match beginning farmers with retiring ones.
- The Ins and Outs of Financing Land Transfers (opens PDF)
- Success Stories: What works in land transfers.
- National Farm Transition Network
- Transitioning CRP: New Program Offers Incentives
- Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher Land Contract Guarantee Program
- Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
- Legal Forms for Land Contract or Deed: State-specific sample forms for leases or transfers.
- Finding Land to Farm: Six Ways to Secure Farmland (Opens PDF)
- Transfers, Agreements and Structures (Opens PDF): A primer on buying, leasing or transitioning land.
- Navigating Land Transfers for Retiring Farmers/Ranchers
Contact Wyatt Fraas, wyattf@cfra.org or 402.254.6893 for more information on the Center for Rural Affairs' work with beginning farmers and ranchers.
Financing Strategies
Before You Ask for Money
- Creating a Financial Strategy
- The Farmers’ Guide to Agricultural Credit (Opens PDF)
- AgPlan: A Free Financial Planning Tool from the University of Minnesota
- A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses
- Estate Planning 101
- Get to Know Your FSA: A Plain Language Guide to Applying for A Farm Service Agency Loan (opens PDF)
Where to Look for Financing
At least five sources of potential funding are available for beginning farmers, including:
- Local Banks
- Farm Credit Services
- USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
- Aggie Bond Programs
- Private Contracts
About This Page
This page offers resources, ideas and strategies for new and diversifying farmers and those interested in the comeback of the family farm.
Beginning FarmingFinancial Strategies
Successful Farming
Government Programs and Policy
Farm Photos from flickr.com
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Successful Farming
Strategies for Staying in the Black
- Profitable Practices & Strategies for a New Generation: A summary of the Center for Rural Affairs' report on profitable practices.
- Tapping High Value Markets
- Guide to Value-Added Producer Grants
- Pasture Monitoring: Grassfed meats offer new opportunities for entrepreneurial farmers and monitoring pastures and rangeland is critical.
- USDA Report: Emerging Market Opportunities for Small-Scale Producers
- Marketing, Business and Risk Management: ATTRA's guide on organics, value added processing, cooperatives and more
- Risk Management Assistance and Education
- Growing Markets: Tapping Your Community’s Market Potential
- Beginning in Organic Farming
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities.
- Agritourism: Increase Farm Income by Hosting Others on the Land
- Barn Restoration: Preserving the Past, Opening Opportunities
Contact Kathie Starkweather, kathies@cfra.org or 402.438.8496 for more information and resources on successful business development strategies for farmers.
Government Programs & Farm Policy
- Guides to government programs: This page gives a summary of all the pages the Center For Rural Affairs has created to help navigate government programs for farmers and ranchers.
- Farm Bill Programs for You and Your Community: Getting started in farming or ranching, establishing high value niche markets, implementing conservation-based systems, and transitioning to organic farming or ranching.
- USDA's "Know Your Farmer" Program: A primer on direct marketing, government programs and resources, success stories and more.
- Beginning Farmer or Rancher Development Program
- Conservation Reserve Program Transition Option for Beginning or Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
- Beginning Farmer or Rancher Development Program
- Biomass Crop Assistance Program
- Direct Farm Ownership and Operating Loans
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Organic Initiative
- Conservation Stewardship Program
- Guaranteed Loan Program
- Wetlands Reserve Program
- Value Added Producer Grant Program
- Rural Energy for America Program: Help with renewable energy for your farm, ranch or rural small business.
- Inside the New Homestead Act
- How Rural America Fared in the 2008 Farm Bill
Contact Traci Bruckner tracib@cfra.org or (402.687.2103 ext 1016) for more information on the Center's work on farm policy.