Vermont is a wonderful place to begin farming: there's lots of support.
Explore the links on the left to learn more!
Under the University of Vermont's Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the New Farmer Project includes a land access coaching program intended to help both farmers looking for land and those looking to make their land available to farmers.
Facilitates the transfer of farms, lease agreements, rentals, or work-ins between New England farmers and landholders. For $10/year, farmers join NELL to receive updated web-based listings.
Helps farmers gain access to quality and affordable farmland.
If your land is new, take soil tests. Your nearest Extension Office provides University of Vermont soil test kits. The UVM commercial soil test is a good, inexpensive basic nutrient test, which also includes percent organic matter, CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity), Ca:Mg:K ratios, and micro-nutrients. Take a heavy metal test if you have never take one on that field or it is a new field. (There are some old orchard soils around the state that have some high metal levels, but no signs that they were orchards in the past on the ground.) The results come with crop recommendation categories that you choose. Extension people or NOFA Vermont Technical Assistant Advisors will help commercial farmers interpret results.
Vermont NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) staff can help you determine what type of soil you have, its properties, erosion potential, drainage, doughtiness, productivity, and other properties. There are also fee-based private consultants who can also help you; please call NOFA Vermont technical advisors for assistance in finding private consultant.
Mid February every year. Our two-day conference has many workshops that can help growers learn new crops and techniques. It is also a great place to meet people and network.
Early January every year. Provides farmers with new tools and strategies for selling products direct thereby increasing the farmer's income and viability.
Provides farmers with on-farm educational opportunities during the growing season. There are workshops designed for beginning farmers and apprentices, as well as ones developed for more experienced commercial farmers. Please come to any that look interesting to you.
Available to beginning Vermont farmers with at least 3 years experience farming and farm businesses that have been in business more than one full year with over $10,000 in gross income the previous year. NOFA Vermont is a service provider through the Vermont Farm Viability Enhancement Program. As a provider, NOFA Vermont is able to offer on-farm technical assistance in production and business planning to organic and transitioning vegetable, grain, dairy, and livestock farms in Vermont.
State and federal programs available to help farmers conserve resources and energy through technical assistance and flat rate annual payments. Please note some government programs have additional incentives for beginning farmers.
State, federal and national grants available for farmers to try new ideas and develop business.
Loans of $2,000-$15,000 for operating cash, improving the business or livestock and equipment, but not for buying land. Applicants are reviewed by a peer loan fund advisory board, and must under go a credit check.
Some great specific guides and their Vermont authors for beginning farmers are listed below.
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA)
ATTRA has hundreds of publications on all aspects of farming. They focus on sustainable agriculture and have many resources on organic farming.
Cornell University's Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service (NRAES)
NRAES offers some great comprehensive production guides. Reading these guides will help you in your planning process understand animal and crop needs.
NOFA Vermont Books
Over 200 titles on organic production. NOFA Vermont members get a 10% discount on all books.
Sustainable Ag Research and Education (SARE) program
SARE has many very practical and readable publications for growers--many of which you can be download for free.
Offers advice, field visits, whole-farm planning and problem-solving research for organic and transitioning farmers.
University of Vermont Extension has many agriculture programs that help beginning farmers some of which are listed below.
Promotes small farm development by providing information and training for aspiring, beginning and transitioning farmers. .
Cornell University provides educational support to farmers, including a video series. The "Voices of Experience," video series has experienced growers talking about farming and the experiences starting a farm.