Beginning Farmer Resources
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A decision to become a farmer or rancher must be thoroughly evaluated, including thoughtful consideration and articulation of personal values, short and long term goals, assets, physical capacity, lifestyle preferences, and farming experience. A successful farmer is resourceful, persistent, and willing to put in long hours to produce agricultural products. Development of a business plan is critically important, although a farmer's ability to succeed is also determined by outside forces, including weather and economic markets.
Consideration of starting to farm could include the following steps:
Accessing land: to purchase or to lease? When considering access to farmland, it is important to consider the pros and cons of leasing compared to purchase. Whether through purchase or lease, secure, long-term land tenure is the foundation of a viable farm. Without long-term tenure, important capital investment to grow and sustain business will be challenging. What assets do you have access to? Are you ready to make a long-term commitment by purchasing land? Can you find a secure, long-term lease arrangement on land that will initially meet your needs? What is your capacity to handle debt? These and many more questions are important to consider when becoming a farmer. This program seeks to connect new farmers with farmland owners who wish to sell, lease, or transfer their farmland to a new farmer who will farm the land. Fort he purposes of the grant, a "new farmer" is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as someone who has farmed for less than 10 years.
Support is available through this USDA grant to connect new farmers to mentors, business planning, access to capital, and technical assistance on crop product. If you are a new farmer and would like to find farmland to farm on Whidbey Island or in the San Juan Islands, please print and fill out the Farmer Seeking Farmland Application and scan & email to Karen Bishop. The information you provide in your Farmer Seeking Farmland Application will help us to better understand your goals, including whether you are interested in leasing or purchasing land, types of farming that you are interested in pursuing, your previous experience farming, infrastructure needs, assets, and more. Some important things to know regarding the application:
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Click a Tab Below for More Resources:
Farmland access resources
Starting a Farm
Acquiring Land to Farm
Leasing Land to Farm
Farmland conservation resources
Farm Succession & Transfer
Farmland Conservation
Working with Land TrustsMany land trusts throughout the country have protected farmland through 1) direct acquisition for future lease to a farmer; 2) purchase then protection through a conservation easement, then resale; and 3) simultaneous purchase together with a farmer, including protection through a conservation easement. Conservation easements may specifically address future farming, or be more general. However, recent studies have shown that agricultural conservation easements do not necessarily ensure that the land is available for future farming.
Funding resources
Funding ResourcesCenter for Rural Affairs National Sustainable Agriculture Association National Young Farmers Coalition USDA Farm Service Agency top resource organizations
Top Resource OrganizationsThe following is a list of organizations that offer workshops, resources, and other support for new farmers and farmland owners seeking to transfer their farms. This is not a comprehensive list, as there are many other organizations dedicated tot he goal of sustainable farming, including connecting new farmers to farmland.
To learn more about the specific partners involved in this grant project and the details region wide, click here, or visit the partners program pages below:
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