Whether you’re inheriting a farm or have been interested in the profession forever, starting a farm requires significant effort before seeds can be planted in the soil. Beginning farmers need a viable business plan, startup funds, healthy land, equipment and supplies, and a marketing plan to reap the profits from the crop grown. And, beginning farmers need a support team to make sure everything gets done in the best way for their specific needs.
Everywhere there are farms, there are people looking to help farmers. Local nonprofits and other similar organizations focused on helping farmers are often overlooked, but can have incredible resources specifically cultivated for producers in your community.
Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) is a nonprofit built around farmer-to-farmer learning. The organization builds relationships between farmers, regardless of experience, who are invested in the farming landscape and maintaining its resilience.
The group hosts public events including their Annual Conference, field days, webinars, workshops, and farmer meet-ups, most of which are free. They also have educational programs focused on regenerative farming practices and production systems (including for field crops and livestock), business practices, farmer-led research, and beginner farmers.
Rachel Burke, Senior Beginning Farmer Engagement Coordinator at PFI, says her favorite tool to recommend to farmers is the group’s YouTube channel.
“There are years of farmer-led webinars and videos on just about every farming topic you can imagine, across all enterprises and experience levels,” she said. “It’s a goldmine of information. Whether you’re growing row crops, vegetables or flowers, or grazing cattle, there’s probably a video that relates to your interests.”
Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Annual Conference takes place in January in Des Moines, but they have field days across Iowa and surrounding states throughout the year. Connect with the group to meet farmers like you, learn from their experiences and leave with ideas to help build your own game plan.
“Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to fellow farmers and ask questions,” Burke said. ”No one understands the challenges you face better than someone who’s been there before.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a great place to start looking for help beginning your operation. In addition to providing worksheets and guides for developing a business plan, they also have a team of staff ready to assist you in implementing your plan at service centers throughout the country.
Each state in the U.S. has a dedicated Farmer and Rancher Coordinator to connect you to state-specific programs and services. Find your coordinator and reach out to them directly.
Colleges within each state sponsor Extension offices to engage citizens in community and economic development. Often this includes providing resources for farmers. Your local extension office is a great place to find local news, research, and educational resources.
Without a clear financial picture, it’s difficult to run a farm and make a profit. Accountants are trained in tax compliance and managing budgets, and they can assist you with managing funds received from government programs.
Not just for representation when things go wrong, attorneys can aid in setting up business entities and developing farm succession plans. However, many attorneys specialize in specific fields of law, so look for a professional with experience in agricultural law. Or, you could work with a team of corporate, real estate, employment, and estate planning attorneys depending on your needs at a given time.
You may not have time to watch the markets all day, so connecting with a marketing advisor can improve your ability to market your crops and livestock smarter. Marketing advisors provide advice, but do not make moves on behalf of your farm. They empower you to make the right decisions for your operation. Learn how to choose a marketing advisor.
You can also work with a broker to connect with buyers for your agricultural goods or to manage the risk throughout a season. Brokers work with you to implement your marketing plan.
Friends and neighbors are a great resource! If you don’t know anybody you can ask for advice or to borrow equipment for a day, reach out to a nonprofit, or new farmer coordinator for recommendations.
The community’s generosity with knowledge is what makes Practical Farmers of Iowa a stand-out community, according to Burke.
“PFI farmers are generous with what they’ve learned and genuinely want to help the next generation of farmers get started,” she said. “They candidly share what’s worked well for them, what hasn’t and welcome others onto their farms so everyone can learn together. That’s what makes them so special: their ability to think generations ahead, not just years.”
You need to be able to track input costs and revenue from your operation. Even with an accountant, make sure your finances are accessible and understandable.
Beginning farmers can also access financial incentives to support new farming operations from the government. Some states, including Iowa, have beginning farmer tax credit programs for qualifying producers. The USDA also has Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans to help new farmers access land and capital.
Locally to Trader PhD, Practical Farmers of Iowa also has programs to help farmers access land and capital, including Farmland Access Navigators and the Empower Farmers Program.
Use new and emerging technologies to help you track your data and make better decisions, including with inventory, fertilizer and irrigation control, field forecasting, autonomous machinery, and more.
Get the equipment to do the work! The behind-the-scenes isn’t the only part of your farming business that requires more than two hands and some seeds.
Apps can bring together all the information you need to market your goods, including price charts and agriculture-related news updates.
In addition to daily market news and price charts, The Trader PhD app also includes weather forecasts and interviews, special report analysis of potential market impactors, and a six-month library of our broadcast advice calls so you can track activity and recommendations over time. Start a free trial today to see the benefits to your marketing strategy.
Start by gathering the information you need to succeed before taking action. Make sure you have a financial plan to support the operation and your livelihood, considering both input costs and profit from marketed products. Then, start gathering your team and preparing for the next season!
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