Comments on: Perspectives on Policy from a Beginning Farmer

By: Dan L

Dan L — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:45:01 +0000

Please don’t loose heart. Yes, there are real challenges to beginning to farm but there is also much to be gained from facing these challenges head on with a positive attitude. If one is waiting to get money from some organization, why would one imaginge that there would not be strings attached? Everything I hear (including from USDA sponsored groups) is that the best route for a small farmer to take is to sell directly to the consumer with a diversity of income streams/products on offer. Don’t bother trying to compete with “commodity farmers,” you’ll never make it–create your own market niche locally. Yes, that means taking on the responsibility of building and maintaining your own customer base. This is what all of the successful small farmers I have met have done. Plan to succeed. Failing to plan is planning to fail. If one doesn’t know what to do, ask for help–I have never been refused answers to the questions I have asked. Learn to ask questions… then slowly and methodically learn what you need to learn and take the steps to make your farm a reality. Save the buying of land for later when your business is established. Meanwhile, lease land, or “borrow” it–there are many looking for farmers to grow things on “vacant” property. Who really needs handouts?–don’t get caught thinking that one has to get large sums of money from some agency in order to begin farming. For example, one can set up a membership base and sell shares (CSA) to raise capital for your start-up. Don’t try to start out too big or grow too fast. Starting a small farm can be done without breaking the bank. Messages of “doom and gloom” that say it’s too difficult to start a small farm only feed into the myth that farming is for “big business” only when we all know this is not the truth. Small farms are the future! I’m convinced that even the USDA knows this. I feel that the only obsticles to starting a small farm are ignorance and misinformation. Why draw attention to what’s wrong with the status quo–move forward into what you know is the right thing to do and set a standard for others to follow–this alone will bring about the conditions you seek… Forums that discuss the “obsticles” to small farmers are really about uncovering the hidden opportunities that need to be developed, aren’t they? Congratulations and Best Wishes!!

By: Perspectives on Policy from a Beginning Farmer | Beginning Farmers

Perspectives on Policy from a Beginning Farmer | Beginning Farmers — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:10:25 +0000

[...] From the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: [...]

By: Take action for beginning farmers! « Diggin’ Roots Farm

Take action for beginning farmers! « Diggin’ Roots Farm — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:54:52 +0000

[...] action for beginning farmers! Jump to Comments I wanted to share a link to the blog entry that I wrote about my experience in DC. Also I wanted to encourage everyone who’s reading [...]

By: Mike Burns

Mike Burns — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:22:24 +0000

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I agree with pretty much all that you have said. It is an uphill battle to continue to fight for the new farmer. The capital investment to farm on a small and sustainable level is higher than most realize. Most small farmers require additional off-farm jobs just to make a living. Most of us would like to farm full-time. Some of the small scale farmers would be able to accomplish this goal if they were given access to capital or grants that make sense.

My complaint about many of the government programs such as EQIP from NRCS and others is that they really don’t understand they way sustainable farming occurs. I looked in to an EQIP grant and when they finally began to tell me the details of how it needed to be done I realized I was throwing money away on things that did not make sense. They wanted me to construct a permanent watering station … even though I was doing management intensive grazing. There is a new program for cost share of greenhouses. I have been told that they want us to take the covers off the greenhouses in winter. Does this make sense? NO!

My hope is that there are some private foundations out there that can help small farmers get over the hump and help us to do what we love on a full-time basis.

Who will replace the aging farmers? Who will be there when the megafarms go out of business? Wake up America and get involved!

By: Louise Cross

Louise Cross — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:23:42 +0000

Interesting article, I am sure you are aware of this film below, but just incase you aren’t here’s the link. An inspiring film about the journey of a begining farmer and her quest to make the family cattle and sheep farm sustainable, financially and environmentally (not that the two can be seperated)
http://www.viddler.com/explore/PermaScience/videos/4/

By: Lisa Bee

Lisa Bee — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:14:20 +0000

You go girl! ~ from somewhere in the billion dollar budget for commodity subsidies? IF THEY WOULD STOP FUNDING MONSANTO CORP WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS THEY WOULD HAVE A TON OF SPARE MONEY FOR BEGINNING FARMERS!!!

By: Suzannah Stockwell

Suzannah Stockwell — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:46:17 +0000

I recently completed Florida’s Version of “Annie’s Project” and while it was very informaive and elightening, I found myself becoming more and more discouraged as each weekly class passed, thinking how utterly impossiblee it’s going to be for me to grow organic vegetables to make them avaiilable for the dining tables of my local cummunity.
There are NO funds or grants or low interest loans for beginning farmers……ALL of the risk – ioo% – is on the farmer. Forget the “up front” costs!
The problem is that those who make the laws, hold committee positions where decisions are made where to allot funding for certain projects -food is not a priority. Have you seen the places these people dine? They don’t consume tomotoes that have been harvested well before their ripeness – and gassed enroute to market……these people have access to only the best – so why would they ever consider that anyone, especially developing children should ever need to eat fresh, organically grown tomaotes, spinach, broccoli or carrots.

The utterly revolting fact is that these subsidies are going to soy bean, corn and wheat growers and NOTHING will ever trickle down to the small local farmer who puts life (and health) saving food on family dinner tables.