MSU Extension And USDA Launch New Beginning Farmer Resource

By Jonathan LaPorte

Running a farm business involves passion, vision and drive to be successful. These qualities are especially important for new or beginning farm managers as they face a number of challenges early in their careers. Common challenges include knowledge of production, finding land, constructing or retrofitting housing facilities and financing. Recognizing the significance of these and many other farming challenges, a new resource to assist beginning farmers has been developed by Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with support from GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

The "Beginning Farmer Resource and Decision-Making Guide" provides a pathway to resources a new farmer or decision-maker may need to get started and support their production journey. Starting with production in mind, resources give farmers an introduction to important farming topics and direct them to education and decision-making tools and how to connect with agricultural partners.

The resource guide can be reviewed in multiple ways. First, as a single, complete guide with all of the chapters and sub-sections. Alternatively, individual content sections of the resource guide can be downloaded.

Content areas include:

• Bees and livestock
• Equipment
• Organic practices
• Plants
• Soil health
• Water management
• General topics (including marketing, setting up a business, tax management and more)