What Are New Farmer Characteristics?

Each new farmer enters farming with some combination of attributes and ideas about farming. Here is a framework developed by several collaborating organizations* to help understand the new farmer and his or her service needs:

New farmers current situation (who they are and what they bring to farming)

Background and expertise

• Farming skills and knowledge
• Farm management expertise
• Farming background

Assets and resources

• "stage" of commitment to farming
• family and community support and networks
• resources (land, capital, infrastructure)

New farmers vision (where they are going and what they want)

Livelihood goals

• Desired amount of time spent farming
• Desired family standard of living
• Desired decision-making and risk role

Farm operation and enterprise goals

• Production system and philosophy
• Income from farming
• Marketing strategy

For more information about new farmers, please see our publication, Listening to New Farmers: Findings from New Farmer Focus Groups. You will find it, along with many other interesting publications, on our GNF and NENFN Tools & Resources page.