We get several calls, letters, and emails each week from beginning farmers and ranchers asking for information, advice, money, land, and validation. We answer each one with encouragement and sources of information to help them make a sound start to their business. Here are some recent questions.
Q. I want to start a farm, raise my family there, and provide quality food for people. Please send me anything that will get me started.
A. Congratulations for planning to start farming or ranching! There are lots of opportunities today for people who look beyond typical commodity crops and who build solid businesses. The quality of life in raising a family on a farm has tremendous benefits as well.
The short answer to your question is to treat your farm as a business so you have enough profit to stay on it, and to learn from people who are already doing what you want to do. ATTRA (below) has lists of organizations and internships that provide learning opportunities in each state.
Q. I want to make my living from a small farm. Is that still possible?
A. There are literally hundreds of enterprises you can run from a farm or ranch based on the natural resources, history, or culture of the area or based on your skills and interests. Farm/ranch startups need high-margin enterprises and limited risk, particularly those that entail skilled labor and management.
A recurring recommendation for highest profit is with certified organic crops; low-cash-input enterprises reduce risk, such as grass-based livestock, dairy, and poultry operations. The most efficient approach is to “stack” enterprises that feed each other, using the same land base or facilities. That’s obviously not limited to startups, as crops and livestock are integrated enterprises on many farms.
ATTRA is the sustainable ag information clearinghouse for enterprise ideas, production practices, and marketing; check its website for online documents and references:
www.attra.org. The USDA SARE program also has a number of publications that can help with marketing or raising crops and livestock:
www.sare.org. The USDA National Ag Library Alternative Farming Center has lists of resources for many farming topics:
http://afsic.nal.usda.gov. Your local Extension office can also link you with publications and experts for your area.
Q. How do I get the money to buy farmland or start farming/ranching?
A. First, treat your farm/ranch as a business. Make a budget and cash flow projection to be sure all your decisions lead to profit BEFORE spending any money. Any lender will want to know that as well, so they can be assured of getting repaid.
Second, don’t expect free money. There are no grants for farm startup, but there are a number of loan programs. Start with the USDA Farm Service Agency, with offices in most counties. Look at our financial resources document:
www.cfra.org/resources/beginning_farmer . Resources in many states are listed here:
www.stateagfinance.org/types.html.
Third, consider other options to debt. Starting small, creating a work-in arrangement, or running a subscription market garden can reduce your need for cash. Look on these websites for examples:
www.cfra.org/resources/beginning_farmer/success_stories and
www.farmprofitability.org (a series of case studies).
Contact: Wyatt Fraas for more information,
wyattf@cfra.org or 402.254.6893.
Dakota Rural Action has been a close ally of the Center for Rural Affairs since the South Dakota grassroots organization was established. In particular, Dakota Rural Action is a key ally in South Dakota on livestock market reforms, beginning farmer and rancher initiatives and on anti-corporate farming laws. Visit them online today. 
