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.
RELEASE: National Young Farmers Coalition receives $250 thousand award from USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program
NYFC to create online vehicle for young farmers to do direct business with consumers
HUDSON, NY – Oct. 2, 2017 – As the result of receiving a $250,000 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) is launching a two-year initiative to develop an innovative online platform that that will modernize the way farmers do business directly with their customers.
Make hay while the sun shines (market grain while the toddler sleeps)
By Halee Wepking | Even with all of the small mills, bakeries, and distilleries that are popping up, and with the growing demand for organic food-grade small grains in general, there is a hole in the supply chain.
RELEASE: National Young Farmers Coalition Rejects Threat to Rural America in President’s Budget; Calls on Congress to Protect the Future of Agriculture
“We all have a stake in our nation’s food system.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 16, 2017) — In response to President’s Trump’s proposal to slash the Department of Agriculture’s budget by 21 percent, the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) which represents America’s next generation of farmers, called on Congress to protect rural Americans and the dedicated farmers and ranchers who feed us all.
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 […]
Capital: the high cost of getting started – BOOTSTRAP AT WILLOW SPRINGS FARM
By Hannah Becker, Willow Springs Farm A neighboring farmer likes to joke, “You know how you make a million dollars as a farmer? Start out with two million!” While my comedic neighbor’s joke isn’t accurate, farming does take a LOT of money just to get the ball rolling. Start-up costs for a small-scale agriculture […]
5 things to love about USDA's New Farmers website
By Eric Hansen, NYFC Policy Analyst Yesterday, USDA announced that they are doubling down on their commitment to new farmers. The Department is aiming to boost beginning farmer participation in their programs and services by focusing $5.6 billion of existing funding on these farmers over the next two years. It is exciting to see this […]
New capital for new farmers : BOOTSTRAP AT OLD HOMEPLACE FARM
By Maggie Bowling, Old Homeplace Farm The winter before we started the buying club, we counted twenty-two deer in my future vegetable field over the course of one night. I’m sure you can imagine what we chose as our very first farm investment. Will has an off-farm job as an elk biologist (yes, there are […]
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 […]
2016 Agriculture Appropriations: An Update
By Eric Hansen, NYFC Policy Analyst Earlier this month, Congress reached a major milestone in its annual appropriations process, which funds the federal government. Both the relevant committees in the House and the Senate passed funding bills for the Department of Agriculture. These bills set spending levels for conservation programs and farm loans and include […]