Request for Assistance

For new or beginner farmers serious about starting their own farm business and looking to acquire the knowledge and skills. To take the next step to see if The Center for Integrated Agriculture can provide assistance please complete this form and a staff member will be in contact with you within one business day.

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Address:

State and Zip:

Are you currently farming?
Yes
No

If Yes, How Long:

Type of Operation:

Assistance Needed:

If No, Do you have farming experience and in what state:

Do you own or rent land?

Do you have a business plan?

Assistance Needed:

Define your goals (i.e. educational, economic, community)

Aspects of this program is based on work supported under by the Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP) Grant Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, under Award No.12-25-G-0922. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Aspects of this project is supported by the Beginner Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriclture, USDA Grant # 2010-49400-21800

Training Sessions

The Center for Integrated Agriculture provides training sessions on a variety of farm-related topics that are critical to any farmer or food-related business owner attempting to get started or expand their existing business. Training sessions provided by the Center are offered at no cost to the attendee. Sessions are funded by the following programs:

Farmers’ Market Promotional Program (FMPP)
FMPP is a program funded by the USDA-Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS). Through the FMPP program, The Center is able to offer group training sessions through September 2011 such as:

• Business Planning: session includes topics such as writing a business plan, financial management, insurance, operations, and profitability.
• Food Safety: session includes topics such as what is food safety, clearing up rumors about food safety, self-inspection, third-party auditing, etc.
• Direct-to-Consumer Marketing: session includes topics such as marketing venues, regulations, and branding.
• Integration and Use of EBT: session includes topics such as application process, equipment use, and benefits.
• Record-Keeping: session includes topics such as field production information related total farm sales goals, yield and production data, accounting reports, and organic certification.
• Area Market Trends and Challenges: session includes topics such as current market analysis, regulation issues, and niche markets.

Beginner Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
BFRDP is a program funded by USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Through this program, The Center is able to offer group training sessions beginning September 2011 such as:

• Financial Management: multiple sessions will be created to address specific topics such as payment methods, cash-flow management, customer retention for wholesale and retail, record-keeping of sales, basic Quickbooks training including tax management, etc.
• Loan Acquisition: session will focus on various loan options for agriculture and ag-related businesses, keys and criteria for securing funding.

Local Food Business Assessment

Take a step in launching your new local food business
Ready to launch your local food business, but still a bit unsure? Send us your business idea and we will provide a review and assessment to help you make your business viable.

To submit an assessment, send us an email addressing:
• Business Scope
• Land Description
• Growing methods
• Marketing
• Water Resources
• Risk Management
• Human Resources, and
• Fiscal Management

To submit an assessment, email your document to Jacob Leech.