Helping Farmers Grow Up to Be Successful

There has been a lot of great discussion going on in response to the recent New York Times editorial, Don't Let Your Children Grow Up to Be Farmers. Author and farmer Bren Smith laments the fact that, despite a great resurgence of interest in food and in farming as a career, making a profitable business out of farming is still a huge challenge. At NOFA-VT, we firmly believe that sustainable farming must include the farm's financial stability. That's why we put so much energy into building diverse markets and educating consumers, and why our technical assistance and farmer training programs include business planning, enterprise analysis, and marketing alongside soil management and weed control. We advocate on state and federal levels for legislation that supports small-scale, family, and organic farms. Along with our six sister NOFA chapters (plus MOFGA!), we're able to conduct regional projects and be a strong voice for New England farmers on national issues. Smith suggests, rightly, that farmers and those who care about their food need to organize to make the substantial changes in the food system that will be required for farmers to succeed. We've been working with Vermont farmers and in the regional food system for over 40 years, and we hope that you'll join us as we continue to work towards the goals of successful local farms, healthy food, and strong communities. Join us buttonAll farmers and their supporters are welcome as members. Help us improve the viability of Vermont's farmers and the vitality of our rural communities – become a member today!