Programs and Projects for New Farmers

 

Northeast New Farmer Program Profiles (1.2 MB)
A collection of 23 program profiles by and about GNF Consortium member organizations that specifically target new farmers in their region or state. Profiles contain information on the organization, the target audience, needs addressed, response created, challenges and successes, partners, outreach and promotion, funding sources, and next steps (GNF Project/NESFI, 2004).

The profiles in this publication are also available to be viewed individually:

• Pennsylvania FarmLink: Beginning Farmer High School Apprenticeships
• Regional Farm & Food Project: Farmer to Farmer Mentoring
• Beginner Farmers of New Hampshire
• New England Small Farm Institute: Exploring the Small Farm Dream
• Vermont Land Link
• Maryland Cooperative Extension: Operating a Profitable Small Farm
• UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture: Growing Places
• NY FarmLink: The Dr. George Show
• MA Dept of Ag: Farm Viability Enhancement
• Penn State: Marketing and Managing Skills for Farmers
• Cornell Coop Extension: New Farmer Development Project
• Hartford Food System: CT New Farmer Initiative
• NY FarmLink
• Cornell Coop Extension: Beginning a Successful Small Farm Operation
• Rutgers Coop Extension: Agriculture Outreach Initiative
• Agriculture and Rural Development Services, NJ Dept of Agriculture
• Wayne County (NY) Agribusiness Microenterprise Program
• First Pioneer Farm Credit Beginning Farmer Program
• Women's Agricultural Network
• Finfish Aquaculture Demonstration Project, RI
• Exploring the Small Farm Dream, NOFA-NJ and Mercer County Community College
• Farming for Me, CT Farm Bureau
• RI Shellfish Aquaculture Extension

High School Agricultural Apprenticeships (96 KB)
A report on the creation of the first certified high school apprenticeship in agriculture in the US. The program is in Pennsylvania. (PA Farm Link, 2000)

GNF Pilot Projects

The Growing New Farmers Project brought together and provided support to GNF Consortium member organizations to undertake projects that benefit new farmers. To learn more about these projects, click the organization's name to go directly to its website.

Chester County Economic Development Council developed several new loan programs for beginning farmers.

NY FarmLink tested a cooperative-financed milk marketing contract.

Maine Department of Agriculture worked with partners to explore ways to provide operating loans to new farmers, and created a brochure outlining how beginning farmers can become credit-worthy.

Greenmarket/New Farmer Development Project created a peer-monitored revolving loan fund for new immigrant farmers.

NOFA VT explored cooperative marketing using the Community Supported Agriculture model.

Beginner Farmers of New Hampshire investigated collective approaches such as pooled product to increasing market access for new farmers.

Nuestras Raices helped new urban farmers in Holyoke, Massachusetts get their Puerto Rican specialty crops to local markets.

The Connecticut Farm Bureau designed "Farming for Me", an educational program for prospective farmers.

The Hartford Food System worked with land conservation partners to provide new farmers with tenure on protected farmland.