In February the USDA unveiled Start2Farm.gov, its latest resource for beginning farmers.  The program, which acts as a clearinghouse database of training and assistance programs, is funded through a Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grant by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). 

The resources that Start2Farm provides are broken down into four types of services:

Training, which covers educational resources for successful farming;

Financing, which details loan and grant programs available for beginning farmers;

Technical Assistance, which identifies technical assistance programs in different areas; and

Networking, with information on organizations that exist for farmer-to-farmer support, including NYFC.

This useful resource is yet another example of the good things that will continue to exist if the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act, including continued funding for the BFRDP, is passed.  More information about the program can be found at Start2Farm.gov.