Is Whole Farm Revenue Protection Right for You?
Is Whole Farm Revenue Protection right for you? We asked and young farmers answered. There aren’t many crop insurance programs that truly meet the needs of many of the young farmers in our network. In fact, only 5% of young farm owners who responded to our 2017 survey reported using the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) […]
Finding and Funding Your Farm
By Michael Durante, Land Access Program Associate
The demographics suggest that finding farmland should be easier now than ever, and indeed the National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates that over the next five years, nearly 100 million acres of U.S. farmland are expected to change ownership. But beginning farmers consistently find that accessing land—particularly finding and affording land on a farm income—is the number one challenge they face. We recommend several strategies for farmers seeking land.
FSA announces funding for loan program
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced last Friday that they are transferring additional funding into their direct farm operating loan program. This program loans money to farmers to help them pay for farm operating expenses and equipment when they cannot find a farm loan with another lender. This program includes the incredibly popular microloan program […]
Big USDA Wins for Young Farmers
This past week, USDA announced two big changes coming to your local county office. First, USDA will be hiring five new staff members at the state level to coordinate new farmer programs for the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) has pushed USDA to provide specialized expertise for new farmers, and […]
The FSA Microloan Expansion is Coming November 7th!
Yesterday, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a major expansion to the microloan program. Starting on November 7th, the cap on microloans will be raised from $35,000 to $50,000. We are thrilled to see FSA expand this program that is critical to young farmers! Microloans provide operating loans to small and beginning farmers. They have […]
July News: NYFC at White House, Student Debt on the Agenda, FSA Elections, Land Trust Ed
Here at NYFC, we think farmers should be spending the summer fighting weeds, fixing fences and growing food—not worrying about student debt and untenable leases. In this July newsletter, we’ll tell you about two exciting campaigns NYFC is taking on: tackling student loan debt and fighting for affordable land. Plus, see us at the White House […]
Tomorrow: USDA Deputy Secretary Harden Hosts an Online Workshop on Credit and Farm Finances
On Tuesday, April 1 at 4 p.m. EDT Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden will host a Google+ Hangout to discuss types of agricultural credit and ways to access them in support of your farm or ranch business.
NYFC March 2014 Newsletter
We’ve kicked off the spring with an exciting win at the USDA! Thanks to feedback from our coalition, the Farm Service Agency is making key changes to its facilities loan program that will increase access to diversified farmers. Want to be involved in NYFC’s next policy win? Now’s your chance – we’re calling for applications […]
USDA Responds to NYFC Feedback with Major Changes to FSA Loan Program
The USDA announced major revisions to its Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program, a major win for young farmers who specialize in diversified operations and CSA’s. Thanks to the efforts of NYFC and its allies, the new program is now more flexible and useable for a much broader set of farms needing to build or […]
New CT Farmers Alliance Brings Farmers Together at the "Build Your Network, Grow Our Future" Event
How do we build our networks and help grow the potential for success in the future food economy? By bringing together farmers and service providers to meet each other, ask questions, listen and discuss.