New, Beginning Farmers Resources

Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

General Programs

Land Conservation Assistance Network

Visit this website to view a list of resources available to new and beginning farmers including articles, training programs, and industry-specific resources.

 

Farm Answers

The Farm Answers Library features over 5,400 materials including apps, audio, online courses, presentations, written materials, and videos to help answer your farming and ranching questions.

 

National Young Farmer Coalition

The National Young Farmers Coalition represents, mobilizes, and engages young farmers to ensure their success. This coalition is membership-based and serves states across the US through efforts relating to land access, water, food safety, advocacy and supply discounts. Idaho does not currently have a chapter.
  • Find a variety of business resources here.
  • Here is a guidebook created by the Farm Service Agency and the National Young Farmers Coalition to navigate FSA financial assistance.

 

Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition

Virginia Tech hosts resources in this program that are valuable for beginning farmers across the nation.

 

BeginningFarmers.org

Beginning Farmers offers information on how to start a farm, planning a new farm, funding resources and finding land to start your farm on. We cover all areas of farming from raising chickens and goats to mushroom production, and urban farms to business farming. Internships and employment opportunities posted regularly.

 

AgPlan

AgPlan is an easy business plan app that anyone can use. Develop your own business plan, learn what you need to include in your plan with tips & resources, and view sample business plans for ideas. You'll also have the ability to share your plan by downloading and printing it.

 

Ag Decision Maker 

This platform from Iowa State University has a variety of information files to help you with financial planning, understanding key concepts of financial management, and more.

 

Idaho Small Business Development Center

The Idaho Small Business Development Center's mission is to accelerate Idaho's business success. The SBDC provides trainings, resources, and business consultations at no-cost to Idaho businesses.

Financial Assistance

Business Basics for Beginning Farmers

If you’re interested in starting a farm enterprise, this webinar covers business management concepts important for beginning farmers.

Farm Service Agency – Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans

America’s next generation of farmers and ranchers are supported by several FSA loans: Farm Operating Loans, Microloans, Farm Ownership Loans, and Guaranteed Farm Loans.
  • Click here for an overview of all loans offered by the USDA Farm Service Agency.
  • The State Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator for Idaho is Mindi Rambo. She can be reached at mindi.rambo@usda.gov.
  • The USDA Discovery Tool will help you access resources for your specific needs.

 

Idaho State Department of Agriculture Development Loan

The ISDA Development Loan offers financing and assistance to individuals and organizations in Idaho whose agricultural projects or efforts will provide for Rural Economic Development in Idaho. The Development Loan focuses on individuals and organizations who cannot obtain credit from conventional sources. Click the link above for more information!

 

Idaho Bankers Association

The Idaho Bankers Association is comprised of various member institutions throughout the state of Idaho that offer loans and financial assistance to new farmers and ranchers.

 

AgWest Farm Credit Young, Beginning or Small Program

This program is hosted by AgWest and available to young, beginning and small producers. The program offers financing options, and additional service features.

 

AgWest Farm Credit New Producer Grants

This grant opportunity celebrates the ingenuity and passion of new producers and helps their dreams come to fruition. This program was developed for those who have a vision for their operation but lack the funds to put their plans into action. The application period for this grant program closes on August 31.

 

Ag Credit AgStart program

This program is designed to meet the needs of young, beginning, small, minority, female, or veteran farmers and ranchers. Visit the program website to see if you qualify to receive financial assistance.

 

KeyBank Agribusiness

Find a banking expert to help you find the financial resources you need specific for your farm or ranch.

 

Industry Innovation Association

Industry Innovation Association specializes in finding resources that help innovate industries. Find the Agricultural Loan guide with the link above!

Education and Training

Sweet 16 Financial Indicator calculations - This handout gives an overview of the Sweet 16 financial indicators promoted by the Farm Financial Standards Council.  These indicators focus on liquidity, solvency, profitability, debt repayment capacity, and efficiency.

Crop Budgets - Crop enterprise budgets can be used by producers, lenders and others to estimate costs and returns for many crop enterprises. Budgets are updated in odd years and are available in PDF and Excel format.

Livestock Budgets - Livestock enterprise budgets can be used by producers, lenders and others to estimate costs and returns for many livestock enterprises. Budgets are updated in even years and are available in PDF and Excel format.

Farm Financials Statements - The financial position and performance of a farm business can be summarized by four important financial statements - net worth statement, net income statement, statement of cash flows, statement of owner equity.

Farm Income Statement - A farm income statement (sometimes called a profit and loss statement) is a summary of income and expenses that occurred during a specified accounting period, usually the calendar year for farmers.

 

University of Idaho Extension - Idaho AgBiz

This program contains resource for budgets, regionally specific market information, publications and decision aids. Idaho AgBiz concentrates on Idaho specific agribusiness and farm management information.

 

Idaho Young Farmers and Ranchers

This program provides a blend of training, networking, leadership opportunities, and good old-fashioned fun for Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18-35. Each Farm Bureau district in Idaho has a YF&R committee chair that helps organize events and activity in their region.

Click here to join Idaho YF&R!

 

Cultivating Success - University of Idaho Extension

Cultivating Success offers a variety of educational programming including courses, workshops, webinars, and on-farm learning. Programs are open to experienced and beginning farmers.

 

 

 

This list includes private sector service providers, is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal, financial, or any other kind of advice on any subject matter. This list may not reflect the most current legal or financial developments, nor may this list reflect the most current licensing status of any of the providers listed. These materials are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal or financial advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. This list is not intended to guarantee a result or outcome. Your own results or outcomes are beyond ISDA’s control and depend on a variety of circumstances. This list contains links to web-sites operated and maintained by third parties. These links are provided solely as a convenience to you. The presence of such a link does not imply a responsibility for the linked site, or an endorsement or advertisement of the linked site, its operator, or its contents.