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Center News & Events

• Farmer Art Show traveling in Vermont
• VGFA and Center team up with NRCS to promote grazing
• "Greening the Herds": SAC Farm of Year winner in methane-reduction experiment
• Innovative, successful agricultural enterprises in Vermont
• SusAg Council Research Reports available

Quick links

• Resource Guide for New and Aspiring Farmers (945 kb PDF file)
• Growing Places Pre-Business Planning Course
• UVM Extension's Contribution to the VT Farm Viability Enhancement Program

Sustainable Agriculture News and Events

• Financial Suppport for  Farmers' Markets  to accept EBT
• Grant Available for Meat & Poultry Slaughter and Grain Processing
• High Tunnel Assistance
• Funding for Farmers Markets
• Investing for Farm Families - on-line course
• USDA launches new local food initiative

Beginning Farmer & Land Access Program

With the average age of farmers on the rise, and the state of Vermont changing gradually from a rural to suburban and urban society, rotating in new farmers is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture in the region.

The Beginning Farmer and Land Access Program’s goal is to support a significant increase in the number of newly established, successful farmers over the next five to seven years.  The program will focus on preparing beginning farmers for early business success, and helping beginning farmers gain access to production resources, such as land and capital.

The program is still in development, but in the future will host “Vermont’s New Farmer Link,” a central point of access to a variety of services helping new and beginning farmers.

• “Supplies Link” is a guide of businesses giving discounts specific to new farmers
• “Farmer Link” is a forum of new farmers networking with other farmers
• “Equipment Link” is a statewide list of farmers willing to rent or share equipment
• “Finance Link”  links new farmers to institutions extending credit and IDA programs available to new farmers
• “Plan Link” provides individualized business planning assistance service
• “Land Link” hosts a database of profiles of land owners seeking farmers and farmers seeking land opportunities.

We are pleased to announce that Ben Waterman is working to develop funding and direction for this exciting program, which is growing out of the work of the New Farmer Network.  If you have any questions or suggestions for Ben, please contact him at (802) 656-9142 or ben.waterman@uvm.edu.

       Resources

• Legal Guide to the Business of Farming in Vermont
• Keeping Farmland Working in Vermont:  A Lease Agreement Guide for Landowners and Farmers
• Resource Guide for Vermont's New and Aspiring Farmers
• Your First Farm Loan
• Family Farm Succession
  

Last modified May 18 2009 08:35 AM