Beginning Farmer Resources

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Below is a collection of business, financial, production, and technical assistance resources to help aspiring and beginning farmers further their business goals. If you see any resources missing that you find helpful please share them with us by emailing Rachel Burke at rachel.burke(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org.

Business Planning Resources

• Ag Plan – University of Minnesota
• How to Start a Farm – USDA
• Business Structure Resources – Farm Commons
• Workers and employees resources – Farm Commons
• Whole Farm Planning – Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA)
• Planning for On-Farm Success – FarmLink Montana
• Marketing 101: An Introduction to Basic Marketing Practices – Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
• Meat and Poultry Processing – Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
• Risk Management – USDA
• Insurance and liability – Farm Commons
• Business Plan Checklist – Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT)

Financial Resources

Learning Tools

• Farm Finances Webinar Series – The Land Connection
• Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
  • Financial Planning and Business Decision Making
  • Pricing
• Ag Decision Maker – Iowa State University
• Farm Financial Templates – The Carrot Project
• Farm Finances – The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA)
• Farm Service Agency Loans: Guidebook – National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC)
• Farmer Resource Guide – Farm Aid
• Farmers Guide to Iowa Taxes

Grants and Loan Programs

• Fund-a-Farmer Grants – Food Animal Concerns Trust
• Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants – Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)
• Brighter Future Fund Grants – American Farmland Trust
• Farmer Rancher Grants – Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
• Beginning Farmer Programs – Iowa Finance Authority
• Value Added Producer Grant – USDA
• USDA Agricultural  Funding Resources
  • Farm Service Agency (FSA)
  • Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans
  • Farm Operating Loan Program
  • Farm Ownership Loan Programs
  • Guaranteed Loan Program
  • Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
  • Microloan Program
  • Youth Loans
  • Minority and Women Farmers and Ranchers Loans

Land Access Resources

Planning for Land Tools

• Seeking Farmland Resources – Land for Good
• Farmland Access Hub – Renewing the Countryside
• Finding Farmland calculator – National Young Farmers Coalition
• Land Contract Toolbox – Farm Commons
• Farm Rental Assessment Checklist – University of Vermont
• Farm Site Assessment Guide – Farm Link Montana

Land Seeking Tools

• Find A Farmer – PFI’s website matching landowners and land seekers
• Ag Link – Iowa State University Beginning Farmer Center
• Farmland Clearinghouse – Land Stewardship Project
• Finding, Assessing and Securing Farmland – New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
• Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT)
• Land Link-up – Marbleseed
• Minnesota Farmlink – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Land Link Directory – National Young Farmers Coalition