Farm Links
Below is a collection of resources from the internet with a focus on getting started in farming, connecting with the greater farming community, and managing your farm operations.
Getting Started
Work
ATTRA Internships – Farm internships listed through the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
GrowFood.org – Connects farmers willing to teach with volunteers and interns
WWOOF – International farms that accept volunteer workers
Sustainable Food Jobs – Blog with regular updates on open farm jobs
Learn
Beginning Farmers 101 – Online course from Cornell
Organic Transition Course – Free online course from Rodale Institute
ETOSA – Comprehensive list of university sustainable agriculture programs
Beginning Farmer Project – Resources from Cornell’s Small Farms Program
Your Land
USDA Soil Web Survey – Create an online map of the soil types on your farm
FEMA Map Service Center – Find out if your farm is in a flood plain
Agricultural Appraisals – Learn about agricultural tax appraisals on Texas land
Property Taxes in Texas – The basics of Texas property taxes
Getting Connected
Texas Farming Connections
Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship – TCRE provides support for rural business development
Feed Texas First – Supports food security in North Texas
FARFA – Austin-based agency that advocates against the National Animal Identification System
Texas A&M SARE – TAMU’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education site
National and Regional Farming Connections
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition – Voice for sustainable agriculture in the federal policy area
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group – SSAWG works towards a sustainable agricultural system in the Southern United States
American Farmland Trust – AFT has multiple programs for sustainable farms and communities
Organic Center – Organization dedicated to research on conversion to organic farming
Farmpolicy.com – A daily updating of news related to U.S. farm policy
eXtension – University extension research portal
Farm Planning and Management
Farm Enterprise Development
Holistic Management – Sustainable ranch management organization based in Texas
Farm Beginnings Program – Farmer-led training for farm enterprise planning
Whole Farm Planning (14.8mb PDF) – complete publication from Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
Organic Whole Farm Planning – Introduction to concepts by OEFFA
Business Plans
Farming Alternatives: A Guide to Evaluating the Feasability of New Enterprises – Workbook from NRAES
Building a Sustainable Business – A guide to developing a business plan from SARE
Small Business Administration – Resource for writing business plans and online tutorial
Center for Farm Financial Management – Business planning training materials from the University of Minnesota
Financial Management
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Resources – Farm bookkeeping and records management resources
Funding and Financing
Grants
ATTRA – Listing of current grant opportunities
American Farmland Trust – Grant opportunities
TDA Young Farmer Grant – Up to $10,000 grant to young farmers in Texas
Beginning Farmers – Links to funding sources for various farmers and circumstances
Loans
Beginning Farmer & Rancher Individual Development Account - BFRIDA is a matching savings account and education resource for begining farmers and ranchers of limited means
FSA Farm Loan Program – Farm Service Agency Loans
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loan – Loans from the Farm Service Agency for beginning farmers
National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs – State-by-state loan programs
Farm Credit Service of America – Beginning farmer loans
TDA Agricultural Loan Guarantee Program – Texas loan guarantee program to establish or enhance farm
TDA Interest Rate Reduction Program – Texas Agricultural Finance Authority program that can potentially provide below-market interest rates
TDA Young Farmer Interest Rate Reduction Program (PDF)- Provides even greater interest rate reductions than TAFA’s IRRP.
Marketing
General
Small Farms – Marketing resources from the Cornell’s program
Organic Farmers’ Agency for Relationship Marketing – OFARM coordinates the efforts of producer marketing groups
Farmers’ Markets
Growing for Market – Advice and resources for market farmers
Community Supported Agriculture
Robyn Van En Center – CSA resource site
CSA – A publication from ATTRA
Community Supported Agriculture – Resources from the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Organic Grains
Marketing Organic Grains – MOSES fact sheet on organic grain marketing
Marketing Organic Grains – ATTRA publication on organic grains
Meat Marketing
Sheep and Goat Marketing — A project to improve the marketing infrastructure for sheep and goats
Beef Marketing Alternatives – ATTRA’s guide for small-scale beef producers
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center – Information and resources for organic beef beef producers
