Hello NY ag women!

Just wanted to share an announcement with you about a
new web resource for beginning farmers. Please pass
this on to friends and farmers in your area:

New Website Caters to Beginning Farmers

“What are my marketing options?” “How can I finance my
farm start-up?” “What should I grow on my land?” If
you have questions about starting a farm or are
considering diversifying your farm enterprises, the
new NY Beginning Farmers Resource Center at
http://beginningfarmers.cce.cornell.edu can offer you
information and inspiration to help you begin.

This interactive website offers a forum where new
farmers can swap ideas and stories and ask specific
questions.

It also contains lessons that walk new farmers through
the steps of starting a farm business, including
setting goals, evaluating land, and learning about
markets and regulations. Online worksheets embedded in
the farm planning lessons allow new farmers to respond
to questions and apply what they learn to their own
situation, then download their completed worksheets
for later use in a business plan if desired.

The Frequently Asked Questions section is a treasure
trove of information on the farm-start-up process,
with responses to the most commonly-asked questions
like “Where can I find a grant to start my farm?” and
“What regulations apply to me?”

Visitors can also peruse the events calendar, get
connected with agencies that can provide personalized
assistance, download the Guide to Farming in NY, and
find production information on our sister site at the
Cornell Small Farms Program. Visitors seeking advice
and inspiration will find it in the Voice of
Experience section, which contains articles by and
about successful farmers in NY.

The site was developed by the NY Beginning Farmer
Project, which is working to build the Grow Local
movement to support the Buy Local movement. The NY BFP
is funded by the NY Farm Viability Institute and
Cornell Cooperative Extension and is a project of the
Cornell Small Farms Program. Please visit the NY
Beginning Farmer Resource Center online at
http://beginningfarmers.cce.cornell.edu.

Cheers,
Erica