This is a guidebook written by young farmers, for young farmers. It is written to help you plan your professional trajectory into the field of sustainable agriculture. In this 30-page guide, we cover some of the major areas of institutional support for young farmers, some likely venues of learning and useful references. You should come away with a sense of how to approach the many hurdles with style, persistance, and improvisational zip.

It's a collaboration of Greenhorns, affiliated greenhorns, and those who have contributed online to: foryoungfarmers.wikispaces.com

Challenges Faced by Young, American Farmers and a National Strategy to Help Them Succeed.

The National Young Farmers' Coalition conducted a survey of 1,000 young and beginning farmers to identify obstacles to their success and evaluate policies to address those issues. This report presents a vision of policy change and achievable recommendations to help the next generation of American farmers thrive.

Land. Liberty. Sunshine. Stamina. A mini compendium of resources for beginning farmers on the topic of finding sustainable land tenure.

This compendium was put together for our Land Access Forum for beginning farmers in the Hudson Valley on September 29, 2010 at the Pfeiffer Center in Chesnut Ridge, NY. We give incredible thanks to the many organizations who contributed resources for the Forum and were willing to share their materials with us.

A Guide to Seed Saving, Seed Stewardship & Seed Sovereignty

The Seed Ambassadors Project’s Guide to Saving Seeds comes from a group of folks who have recognized that saving seeds is the foundation of developing durable and resilient locally based food systems. We encourage others to join them in this important work. In our eyes every seed saved is a socially healing, community creating event. Please see their website (www.seedambassadors.org) for an extensive rundown of the Project and their adventures so far.

The Greenhorns Spotlight: A Primer on the Dairy Crisis. Issue 1: June 2011.

A primer on dairy. It's important. Read up, greenhorns, it's written by one of us.

Health Care

This double-sided 7x5 postcard was created to raise awareness about how deeply critical our own health is to the viability of the farm. When the operation of a regional sustainable food system relies for its viability on the physical strength and resilience of an individual body, the body of the young farmer turns out to be one of the
weakest links in the new food system. We need healthcare!

A primer on federal programs

Created in partnership with the National Young Farmers Coalition.

(Un)paving the way for urban food production

By Kristen Loria. In conjunction with a Greenhorns event held Sept. 15, 2011 called
"Next Level Thinking and Practice for Urban Farming in Baltimore."

Six Ways to Secure Farmland

A publication of ATTRA--the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service--and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). This publication can also be found in the Greenhorns Mini-Compendium on Land Tenure Resources.

A Food System Blueprint that Advances the Health of Iowans, Farms, and Communities

A publication of the Iowa Food Systems Council. By Angela Tagtow and Susan Roberts, Feb. 2011.

Incorporating Data from the 2007 Census of Agriculture

A publication of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Written by Adam Diamond and Ricardo Soto, May 2009.

A Presentation of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

Presented by Jim Barham, Agricultural Economist of the Farmers Market and Direct Marketing Research Branch, Marketing Services Division, to the Young Farmer Expo on Feb. 7, 2010.

Proceedings of a Special Session at the 2008 USDA Partners Meeting

This report summarizes one of the panel discussions held as part of the August 2008 USDA Fifth Annual Partners Meeting, sponsored by the USDA Office of Outreach. The annual event supports a dialogue between USDA and community-based organizations that work with socially disadvantaged farmers.

A Fact Sheet from the USDA

The basics on USDA loan programs.

A Report by the Glynwood Institute

Seeking to protect and enhance farming in the region by marshalling good information that shows the positive impacts of farming, and by gathering data that illustrates the trends, challenges, and opportunities for farmers in the Hudson Valley.

From the Iowa Department of Agriculture

Iowa has a tax credit designed to encourage owners of capital agricultural assets to lease them to qualifying beginning farmers. There is talk that this might be a good model for other states to adopt.

Useful Links to the 2008 Farm Bill and Relevant Provisions

Read up about the last Farm Bill and get ready to make your case for Beginning Farmers in the 2012 bill.

Fact Sheet from the New England Farmers Union

The Farmers Union has a long history of supporting the development of farmer owned co-ops.

Adopted by members of NEFU

The vision, mission, and policies of the New England Farmers Union.

Farming Opportunities

This is a listing of places to find farm jobs, paid management positions, farm apprenticeships and land opportunities, particularly in the Northeast Region. This resource was made possible by the Northeast Beginning Farmer Network, a project funded by a grant from the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and administrated by Cornell University Small Farms Program.

We are building a recommended reading list for you to access on this website. Books on finding land, writing a business plan, saving seed, animal husbandry, agroecology-biological control/insect management, starting a CSA, food processing, workbooks on USDA/ATTRA programs and grants, and pleasure reading for young farmers (Roman Agronomy textbooks, dried flower instructions...) While we construct, we are also adding book reviews to our blog, The Irresistible Fleet of Bicycles.