Financial & Educational Resources To Help Beginning Farmers

One of the biggest obstacles beginning farmers face is a lack of information. When embarking on any new business venture, it’s essential to do research and have a thorough understanding of the market. This is just as true for farmers as it is for any other group of entrepreneurs. The good news is that there’s a wealth of federal, state and county resources that can help nurture budding agricultural operations and position them for success.

In fact, there are so many programs and government agencies out there that it can be difficult to weed through them to find the right information – especially for someone new to the ag industry, says Horizon Farm Credit Senior Vice President of External Affairs Kurt Fuchs.

“There are a variety of government programs available for producers, from direct payments to conservation initiatives to trade assistance,” he says. “There’s definitely a framework of support to help beginning farmers, as well as those producers who are more established.”

Here’s a look at some of the organizations, programs and legislation Fuchs suggests investigating.

Federal resources

Farm Bill
Every five years, Congress passes a comprehensive Farm Bill that includes funding for the bulk of agricultural programs that support agriculture. While the Farm Bill itself isn’t a program a farmer can directly access, it’s the foundation for many of the programs that do, so it’s well worth looking into.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Research, Education and Economics 
Based on hard data and extensive research, this government-affiliated website incorporates the latest statistics to provide fact sheets, tool kits, reports, action plans and more.

SCORE
SCORE connects farmers new to owning their own businesses with experienced mentors who provide guidance. The organization also offers workshops to help teach business strategies, like creating a business plan or personnel system.

FarmAnswers.org
Curated by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development program, FarmAnswers.org is a treasure trove of knowledge, covering a wide variety of topics, from production to marketing, to legal and much more.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture
NIFA, an agency of the USDA, offers an extensive Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program that provides grants for development, education, training, outreach and mentoring programs.

Farm Service Agency
The FSA is the USDA’s predominant touchpoint with ag producers. Among other things, it offers direct and guaranteed loan programs, including targeted funding for beginning and young farmers. FSA also offers a micro-loan program for both operating and farm ownership funding for amounts of $50,000 or less.

Federal Crop Insurance Program
Crop insurance plays an enormous role in risk management planning for ag producers, helping them recover from natural disasters and crop/market failures.

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Another arm of the USDA, the NRCS encourages soil and water conservation among farmers, offering both financial and technical support for farmers who want to follow best management practices through multiple programs, including its Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Small Business Administration
Although not specific to agriculture, the SBA offers business support that could help farmers with their business planning and operations.

State resources

State agencies
Every state has an agency that focuses on agriculture, and many have programs to support beginning, young and small farmers.

Cooperative Extension Service
The Cooperative Extension Service is operated through the nation’s Land-Grant University System in partnership with federal, state and local governments. Extension agents are dedicated to supporting farmers, agriculture and rural development in their states.

Land preservation programs
Many state and local governments have programs that strengthen their ag economies and protect prime farmland. These programs enable state governments to purchase conservation easements from farmers. Other programs are aimed at helping young and beginning farmers own land.

Young and beginning farmer resources
Some states also have specialized programs that help young and beginning farmers access funding to buy farmland. Check with your local extension office or Farm Credit office to learn if your state has programs that can help you grow or establish your operation.

Local resources

• As an extension of the federal program, most counties have a local USDA service center, usually consisting of FSA, NRCS and a Soil Conservation District office.
• Local or regional economic development agencies often offer programs to support agricultural producers.
• Many counties have dedicated ag marketing professionals, who are essentially economic development staff members devoted to the ag sector in their counties or regions.
• Groups such as local Farm Bureau chapters and agribusiness organizations can also be great sources of information about available programs.

Fuchs said another excellent resource is the national network of Farm Credit associations, which often provide links on their websites so farmers can sort through the various federal, state and local programs. Farm Credit University, which is owned and maintained by AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, offers specialized college-level online training to farmers, whether they’ve been working in the fields for years or are just starting out.

“I’d advise any beginning farmer to reach out to their local Farm Credit branch to ask about the government programs available to them,” says Fuchs. “These programs are constantly evolving, so it can be difficult to keep track. In the meantime, never underestimate the power of a good Google search.”

Source:
Kurt Fuchs, Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Horizon Farm Credit