Exploring the Small Farm Dream - A short course and a decision-making workbook that can help you decide if starting an agricultural business is right for you. The course/workbook can help you identify and assess your values, goals, and general ideas for your prospective farm business.

In the "Exploring the Small Farm Dream: Is Starting an Agricultural Business Right for You?" course, participants discuss current opportunities in small scale agriculture, explore objectives, assess personal and financial resources, conduct preliminary market research, and develop an action plan for pursuing their interests in food and farming. Visit the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NJ website for information about course offerings.  To read more about "Exploring the Small Farm Dream" or to obtain a copy of the self-study workbook, visit the New England Small Farm Institute’s Small Farm Development Center.

Farm Start - This program from First Pioneer Farm Credit and CoBank is designed to assist beginning farmers and new cooperatives, providing working capital of up to $50,000 with repayment terms up to five years. Recipients will have the opportunity to develop a successful credit record as well as work with an advisor to learn effective cash flow management and other business skills. Farmers, forestry producers, fishermen, and farm-related businesses and cooperatives, generally in their first three years of business, are eligibly to apply.

Evaluating a Rural Enterprise - A short guide highlighting important areas to consider (and questions to ask) when starting a new farm business. These areas include evaluating your resources, assessing your finances, considering your experience and information, and researching marketing trends and strategies. The guide is available in either html or PDF formats and it is published by the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (NSAIS), an organization which provides information and technical assistance to all members of the agricultural community. NSAIS' website has a number of a number of additional publications on specific topics such as horticultural crops, field crops, soils and compost, water management, pest management, organic farming, livestock, farm energy, education, and marketing, business, and risk management.

Directories of NJ Agricultural Organizations - Published by Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) of Salem County, The NJ Green Pages is a comprehensive reference guide to New Jersey's agricultural programs, associations, service providers, and markets. It also has information on useful websites, books, periodicals, and other resources. The NJ Department of Agriculture also publishes a directory that lists the contact information (without annotations) for NJ's agricultural organizations, including the Department of Agriculture, County Boards of Agriculture, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, grower organizations, and lending agencies.

NJ Farm Link Program - A program of the NJ State Agriculture Development Committee - One of the program's functions is help connect people who own farmland with farmers who are seeking access to land and farming opportunities.

Have additional questions about finding access to land? Visit the Growing New Farmers (GNF) website or read Access to Land, an article co-authored by GNF and the New England Small Farm Institute. The Spring 2004 edition of The Natural Farmer, a quarterly publication of the Northeast Organic Farming Association, also has a Special Supplement on 'Access to Land'. New farmers looking for land and farming opportunities in NJ can also look through the NJ Farmer Newspaper or NOFA-NJ newsletters, contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension county agents, and talk to local farmers and agricultural organizations. In addition to the NJ Farm Link Program and its listings, other sites, such as Agriseek.com, may also have posts that list farming opportunities.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) - RCRE county offices are staffed by County Agricultural Agents who can help to answer your questions about agricultural marketing, production, business planning, and more.

Beginning Farmer Training - Rutgers has developed a Beginning Farmer Training course similar to the Exploring the Small Farm Dream course. This 5-session introductory course was offered for the first time in February and March 2006 and is designed for people with little or no farming experience who are interested in farming. Read the press release about the training for more information.

First Pioneer Farm Credit - First Pioneer provides farm loans and a range of financial services for new and established farmers. First Pioneer has two offices in NJ (Bridgeton and Flemington) and partners with farm business consultants who are ready to work with new farmers on creating their business plans and managing risks. On its website, First Pioneer has a page devoted to new farmers as well as additional Tips on how to start a new farm enterprise, information on Building a Business Plan, a list of Top 10 Business Tips, a Farm Business Planning Check-Up, a Risk Management Check-up, and information on How to be a better risk manager.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) - A federal government agency with offices in each state - FSA coordinates various conservation and loan programs, including two programs that provide farm-ownership and direct-operating loans to qualified beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - NRCS provides technical assistance to farmers regarding the conservation and management of their soil, water and other natural resources. Many farmers develop farm conservation plans for their farms with the help of NRCS. NRCS is within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and as in other states, has several regional service centers and support offices throughout New Jersey.

NOFA-NJ - Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey - An organization that supports sustainable and organic agricultural pursuits in NJ.

Foodshed Alliance - A grass-roots organization working to sustain the agricultural industry and a healthy, local food system in northwestern Jersey. The Foodshed Alliance works with farmers, consumers, and agricultural professionals to foster a "self-sustaining 'foodshed' that supports farmers, nourishes people, respects the land, and strengthens our communities." The organization's website has a list of resources for farmers, including information on marketing opportunities, connecting with consumers, newsletters, groups promoting high-quality farm products, and other agricultural programs.

NJ Department of Agriculture (NJDA) - The Department of Agriculture's Division of Marketing and Development provides agricultural economic development services, including assistance with business development; agricultural credit and finances; risk management; and farm building construction concerns. While NJDA does not have a loan program for purchasing farms or acquiring farm-operating capital, the department disseminates information and responds to questions on the availability of financing from federal, state, and commercial lending institutions for agricultural loans.

NJ Farm Bureau - The Farm Bureau is a membership-based organization that represents the agricultural industry in NJ and advocates on behalf of farmers.

The New Farmer Development Project (NFDP) works with immigrants in the New York City area who are interested in farming. The project's mission is to "identify, educate and support agriculturally experienced immigrants in the NYC region to establish economically and environmentally sound, small-scale farm operations." The NFDP website has a long list of resources for new farmers.

Marketing, Risk Management, and Business Planning Resources - Identifying markets, developing business plans, and assessing and managing risks are important for all farmers - especially new farmers. Resources available in these areas include many of the ones listed on this page, such as Growing New Farmers, Exploring the Small Farm Dream, the NJ Department of Agriculture, First Pioneer Farm Credit, Rutgers Cooperative Extension county agents, and resources from other states. Additional resources include publications by the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service and by SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education), such as "Reap New Profits: Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers" and "Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses". Another resource is the NxLevel Tilling the Soil of Opportunity course, a business planning class available in many states.

Rodale Institute  - The Rodale Institute has a resource section on new farmers, including online training production courses, an online farmer forum, an archive of new farmer success stories and journal entries by new farmers describing their farming and learning experiences, and a classified section for posting farming opportunities sought/desired and other events and services. The Rodale Institute's mission is to "inform, encourage, equip and inspire farmers with the support they need to take the important transition steps toward regenerative agriculture".

Northeast Small Farm Expo - The Small Farm Expo is an annual event that provides educational workshops, lectures, and demonstrations for people interested in farming and rural living. The programs offered include risk management for small farms, livestock management (sheep, equine, etc.), forest and natural resources conservation, commercial horticulture production, organic and traditional farming, and rural living. The Small Farm Expo is sponsored by a tri-state Cooperative Extension team with representation from NJ, NY, and PA.

Entering a Profitable Small Scale Farm Business This hands-on workshop covers farm management and operation skills such as using a tractor, preparing soil, mulching, seeding, and cultivation. The class is held at the Snyder Research Farm in Pittstown, NJ and is split into 2-3 sessions. For more information on the course and its upcoming schedule, contact John Grande at the Snyder Research Farm.

Food Innovation Center - The Food Innovation Center helps support the economic development of New Jersey's agricultural and food processing industries. The Center's mission is to to transfer needed business and technology expertise directly to farmers, food business entrepreneurs, and small and mid-sized food processors. Its include assistance with business development, market development, product and process development, workforce development and training, regulations and manufacturing support, and quality assurance and food safety systems. Visit the Food Innovation Center's website or read a recent news article about the Center for more information.

Selected New Farmer Resources from Other States – Support for new farmers extends throughout the Northeast. In addition to what's available in NJ, many resources from other states may be used by new farmers in NJ. Such resources include beginning farmer workbooks, fact-sheets, workshops, profiles, articles, and more. Many of these resources may be found through different states' Farm Link Programs. Here is a sample of what's available:

• NY Beginng Farmer Project - Extensive resource guide, FAQs, online courses
• PA Farm Link - New and beginning farmer workshops, Passing on the farm workshops
• NY Farm Link - Guides and workbooks for beginning, growing, and retiring farmers, and for farmers transferring their farms
• Land Link VT - Lease agreement guide for landowners and farmers, 'Your First Farm Loan' fact sheet, VT New Farmer Resource Guide
• New England Land Link - Access to land and farm transfer fact sheets/publications, Sample lease agreements, workshops
  

Holding Ground: A Guide to Northeast Farmland Tenure and Stewardship - A 2004 publication that addresses farmland access, transfer, affordability, and stewardship issues. "Holding Ground" examines leases and other tenure arrangements, and it contains sample lease provisions with explanations, sample stewardship standards, worksheets, and case studies. Specific sections include: Principles and challenges of farmland tenure; Short-term leases; Long-term leases and other non-traditional tenure models; Paths to ownership; Farmland stewardship; and Negotiating, monitoring and enforcing agreements. Holding Ground is a publication of the Intervale Foundation (VT) and the New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI) (MA). The eighteen authors include farmers, landowners, attorneys, and land use specialists. To order the publication, visit NESFI online or call NESFI at 413-323-4531 of the Intervale Foundation at 802-660-0440. (162 pages; $20 plus $2 S&H; bulk discounts available)

A Lease Agreement Guide for Landowners and Farmers - A concise guide that presents landowners and farmers with the basic elements to consider when discussing or structuring a lease agreement - Available online through Land Link VT.

Farm Centre - Farm Centre is an farm management resource website developed by the Canadian Farm Business Management Council. The website one section devoted to new farmers and another section devoted to farm succession.

Finding the Niche: Case Studies of Beginning Small-Scale Farmers - A collection of case studies about Wisconsin new farmers and the their successes, failures, and lessons learned as they started their farm businesses. This publication and others are available at the New England Small Farm Institute's Small Farm Library.

Farming Alternatives: A Guide to Evaluating the Feasibility of New Farm-Based Enterprises - A guide and workbook similar to "Exploring the Small Farm Dream" - This guide can help you assess your values, resources, marketing plan, business ideas, and more as you consider the feasibility of starting a new farm business. This guide was first published in 1988 and is being updated for re-release in 2004.

Farmers for the Future - This section of Agriculture Online features a variety of resources for new farmers, including a series of short articles containing farm planning advice, a series of profiles of new farmers called "Up By Their Bootstraps", and a series of farm transfer profiles called "Transitions".

Farming internships and apprenticeships - Two sites that list postings of internships and apprenticeships in the Northeast, including NJ:

ATTRA - Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships

Northeast Workers on Organic Farms - Additional listings for the Northeast

Check back regularly as the latest resources for new farmers are added. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Kritz in the NJDA Division of Marketing and Development at (609) 984-2506 or David Kimmel with the NJ Farm Link Program at (609) 984-2504.