Beginning Farmer Resources
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. You can send them to Greg Padget at greg.padget@practicalfarmers.org
Business Planning Resources
- Ag Plan – University of Minnesota
- USDA’s How to Start a Farm site
- Business Structure Resources from Farm Commons
- Workers Resources from Farm Commons
- Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) –
- Planning for On-Farm Success from 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)
- USDA’s Risk Management Agency
- Insurance Resources from Farm Commons
- Beginning Farmer Resource Guide – Iowa State University Extension
- Business Plan Checklist – Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT)
- State-wide Farm Management Specialists with Iowa State University Extension
PFI’s Business Planning Resources
Financial Resources
Learning Tools
- Farm Finances Webinar Series – The Land Connection
- Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
- Ag Decision Maker – Iowa State University
- The Carrot Project’s Farm Financial Templates: Free Downloads
- Farm Finances – The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA)
- Farm Service Agency Loans: Guidebook – National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC)
- Financing Your Farm: Guidance for Beginning Farmers – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (NCAT)
- Farm Aid’s Farmer Resource Guide
Grants + Loan Programs
- Fund-a-Farmer Grants – Food Animal Concerns Trust
- Beginning Farmer Programs – Iowa Finance Authority
- USDA Agricultural Funding Resources
- Rural Development
- Agricultural Marketing Service
Land Access Resources
Planning for Land Tools
- Land for Good’s Toolbox for Farm Seekers
- Farmland Access Hub – Renewing the Countryside
- The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project has a guide to “Finding, Assessing and Securing Farmland“
- The National Young Farmers Coalition has a “Finding Farmland” guide including a land affordability calculator.
- Land Matters Resources from Farm Commons
- Farm Rental Assessment Checklist – University of Vermont
- Farm Site Assessment Guide – Farm Link Montana
Land Seeking Tools
- Find A Farmer – PFI’s Land Linking Program
- Ag Link – Iowa State University Beginning Farmer Center
- Land Stewardship Project’s Farmland Clearinghouse
- Finding, Assessing and Securing Farmland – New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
- Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT)
- Marbleseed’s Land Link-up
- MN Dept. of Agriculture’s Minnesota Farmlink
- National Young Farmers Coalition’s Land Link Directory
- Finding Farmland Calculator