Microloan amendment receives bipartisan support in the Senate

We are thrilled to announce a small victory on the Farm Bill front! This week the FSA Microloan Authorization amendment to the Farm Bill received bipartisan support, as Senators Casey (D-PA), Harkin (D-IA) and Johanns (R-NE) all put themselves as official co-sponsors of the bill.  The Microloan amendment strengthens the Farm Service Agency’s microloan program for young and beginning farmer, which is a modification of its existing Farm Operating... Read More

Registration Open for Free Webinar Discussing FSA Microloan Program

FSA microloans can be used for anything from growing infrastructure to marketing equipment! You’ve heard us talk about the FSA microloan program. In fact, you probably were a part of the push over the past year to make it a reality. Well the USDA listened to us, so let’s make sure this program actually gets used! The microloan program offers low-interest loans up to $35,000 to better serve the financial operating needs of beginning, niche... Read More

Resource Spotlight: USDA’s Organic Literacy Initiative

The USDA recently launched its Organic Literacy Initiative, a program designed to connect organic farmers, ranchers, processors with the Department of Agriculture resources they could use.  Resources go over what the it means to be organic and how certification works, as well as resources for current certified farmers and ranchers. The matericals include factsheets for producers considering the transition to organic – check out the sheet for... Read More

New Guide: Learn what FSA loans can do for you

Fall Line Farms; cooperative, co-op; Richmond, VA.Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture The FSA has just released a clear a concise explanation of its different farm loans and policies in an online publication entitled “Your guide to FSA Farm Loans.”  The guide is specifically written for those considering assistance for starting, expanding, or purchasing land for a farm or ranch.  While the best thing for you to do is get in touch with an... Read More

Bootstrap @ Full Heart – The Unexpected Costs of Farming

I spent $200 this month to bail out my four pigs. They got out of their electric fence and wandered 1.5 miles until they were almost in the neighboring town. It took two towns of animal control, the fire department, and public works to coral them into a trailer, all while I was blissfully unaware and happily selling produce at the farmers’ market. I arrived home after dark in a monsoon of rain to find them missing and wasn’t able to get them back... Read More

Bootstrap @ Hartwood Farm: How We Bought the Farm

Not owning farmland should not keep anyone from farming.  There are amazing land matching opportunities that make farmland accessible to potential new operators, and we have been lucky enough to participate in some of them.  As long as we’ve been working on other farm operations or leasing land, we’ve had an urge for permanence that we couldn’t shake.  We wanted to own the land we farmed.  And we don’t think it’s that crazy to try to... Read More