Vermont New
Farmer Network
“We have some experience and the eagerness
to farm-- and really need to know the next steps”
-- Vermont
beginning farmer
The Vermont New
Farmer Network increases the capacity of agricultural resource
providers to meet the needs of new farmers. Beginning farmers are
being linked with the resources they need. Joint workshops are used to
educate organizations about beginning farmer needs. New farmers are
increasing their access to available resources.
Resources
Resource Guide for
Vermont’s New and Aspiring Farmers (945 kb PDF file)
This guide is an
effort among a number of organizations to better serve new and
beginning farmers. A great place to start!
It is
available in the .pdf file format and you will need the FREE Adobe
Acrobat Reader to read it. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Table
Of Contents
Section 1:Addressing Obstacles New Farmers May Face
Access to Capital
Access to Production Knowledge, Skills and Technical
Assistance
Access to Land
Access to Markets
Section 2: Organizations That Help New Farmers
Section 3: Farm Credit Availability
Workshops
& Educational Opportunities Targeted at New & Beginning Farmers
July 23,
2008 A
Plan For Pastured Pork hosted by Brown Boar Farm, East Wells,
VT
August 7,
2008 From the Ground Up Beginning
Farmer Workshop, focusing on horticulture (more info coming soon!)
August 13, 2008
From the Ground Up Beginning Farmer Workshop,
focusing on livestock (more info coming soon!)
Registration is now open for Growing Places, a
pre-business planning course offered by the UVM Extension Women's
Agricultural Network. Fall classes start September 23.
New
Farmer Network Collaboration
Vermont’s New
Farmer Network will focus on offering skill-based learning that will
enhance access to services and increase the opportunities for success
for new and transitioning farmers. Together, Network members plan
to conduct a series of learning opportunities for organizational staff,
as well as beginning farmers on:
* Access to Land and alternative forms of land tenure,
* Access to Skills and Production Information,
* Access to Finances and Credit, and
* Access to Markets.
Who
Are New Farmers?
New farmers are
a diverse group. Programs and services need to understand these
differences and be clear about which type(s) of new farmers they are
targeting.
New farmers
include:
* recruits (people with an aptitude or interest in farming that have
not considered it as a career option);
* explorers (those actively researching farming as a career option);
* aspiring farmers (committed to becoming farmers but haven’t started
commercially);
* startup
farmers (in their first few years of commercial production);
* re-strategizing farmers (in their first few years
and now reassessing their operation); and
* establishing farmers (stabilizing their production and marketing).
The Network utilizes
experienced farmers and Network members to conduct practical,
skill-based workshops and to serve as mentors. At the same time, we are
researching the challenges for New Farmers in gaining access to land,
financing, markets, and skills.
The New Farmer
Network’s goal is to strengthen collaboration and communication among
people and organizations that serve new farmers. Several organizations
have partnered to expand and coordinate existing programs that serve
new and beginning farmers.
Background
Vermont, like
the nation, has been gradually changing from a rural to a suburban and
urban society. Only small percentage of today’s population is engaged
in farming and according to the agricultural census the average age of
our farmers now stands at 52 years. Yet, roughly 6,000 farms remain in
Vermont, encompassing almost 1.3 million acres of land. Farming
continues to play an essential role in rural economic development, food
security, and the maintenance of open space for tourism, wildlife
habitat and recreation. To assure a bright future for agriculture in
the state, it is critical that efforts are made to encourage new
entrants to farming and to help them succeed.
A career in
farming is attractive to many young people as well as to people seeking
a change of professions. Anecdotal evidence suggests there is an ample
pool of people willing and eager to enter into farming if they can
overcome the initial obstacles, which include: access to financial
capital, access to land, access to markets and access to technical
assistance.
Priorities
for Action
Vermont’s New
Farmer Network is an open coalition of farmers and agricultural
organizations. Organizational members include: Farm Service Agency,
Intervale Foundation, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), UVM Center
for Sustainable Agriculture, UVM Extension, Vermont Agency of
Agriculture, Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Farm Bureau and Yankee Farm
Credit.
Priority actions
identified included;
(a) Coordination of new farmer programs and
information,
(b) low interest loans and grants for new
farmers,
(c) on-going business training sessions for new
farmers,
(d) hands-on new farmer practical skills courses, and
(e) examination of land conservation policy as it relates to new
farmers.
For more
information, contact Jenn Colby, Interim New Farmer Network
Coordinator, at (802) 656-0858, or jcolby@uvm.edu.
If you are having
trouble downloading the guide or prefer a print version, they are
available for $5 from:
The University
of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture
106 High Point
Center, Suite 300
Colchester, VT
05446-8800
Phone:
802-656-5459
Email: sustainable.agriculture@uvm.edu
Website: www.uvm.edu/sustainableagriculture