new england young farmers, get on this list serve!

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder that our next YFN is TOMORROW!  All are welcome – don’t let the “Young” part of “Young Farmer Night” keep you away!!

We will be meeting at 6pm at the Anawan Grange, 118 Bay State Rd, Rehoboth, MA.  There will be a meet & greet, potluck, and panel discussion featuring folks involved with organizations such as the Farm Bureau, RI Agricultural Partnership, National Young Farmers’ Coalition and the New England Farmers’ Union.  Please bring a potluck dish to share and your own plate & fork!

Carpool update: 

Rides needed from Boston and Berkley, MA

Rides offered from South County (leaving from Richmond, RI) and Providence

Reply to this email and post on the Facebook page if you need a ride or have one to offer!

Hope to see you all there!

-Becca, Margiana & Tess

COMPLETE YFN 2013 SCHEDULE

big young farmer track at winter confrerence

Beginning Farmer Track at the NOFA Summer Conference
August 10-12, 2012, UMass Amherst

Register Now Online!

And click here to read descriptions of the following workshops in the Beginning Farmer Track:

4) Cooperative Farm Labor Structures
Ryan Karb, Many Hands Farm Corps, Pelham, MA

10) Introduction to Soil Fertility
David Forster, Forster Soil Management, Newington, CT

27) Growing Winter Greens
Nancy Hanson, Hampshire College CSA, Amherst, MA

good news from the carrot project

We are excited to announce the Greater Berkshire Agricultural Fund partnership with Salisbury Bank to assist farms and farm-related businesses. Eligible businesses may apply for loans in amounts up to $75,000. These funds will help farmers and related businesses finance capital investments and meet operating costs. 

The Fund serves businesses located in the 4-county region that includes Berkshire County, MA, Litchfield County, CT, and Columbia and Dutchess County, NY. Funds can be used for working capital, capital needs such as equipment or buildings, operations, or other improvements for production or value-added enterprises.

farmer and market outreach coordinator

for Animal Welfare Approved

Animal Welfare Approved seeks a Farmer and Market Outreach Coordinator based in the Northeast region to cultivate, recruit and support farmers seeking a third-party certification for their sustainable, pasture-based farming operations. This is a full-time, exempt position with benefits. The Coordinator will work from a home-based office accessible to New York City.

Animal Welfare Approved is a national nonprofit organization that audits, certifies, supports and promotes pasture-based farmers raising their animals with the highest welfare standards.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Working within assigned region, the primary focus of this position is to identify, educate and recruit pasture-based farmers to apply for AWA certification, to deliver AWA services to farmers in the program, and to build awareness of the benefits of AWA.

read the full job description HERE

farm aquisition course

A new offering from Land for Good: “Acquiring Your Farm.” 

Access to land is one of the biggest challenges facing farmers - especially beginning farmers. Will you acquire your farm by leasing, purchasing, or a combination?  How much can you afford and how will you pay for it?  How will you determine the right property for you?  How will you work with landowners, landlords and community resources?  These are big questions for all farm seekers.

This online course will help you find the answers that are right for you.  As you go through the course, you will build your own action plan.  You will have new information and be better prepared to make sound land acquisition choices.

To get the most out of this free course, please read these directions.

1.   Register:  By registering, you’ll let Land For Good know about you.  We will send you updates on this course – new information, stories, tools.

a shout out for the carrot project

and their  Farm Financing resources!

The Carrot Project is proud to be able to offer financing to farmers in Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont and soon in the Greater Berkshires. Some programs also serve farm-related businesses. For more information about each program, please click on the  appropriate link.

 Greater Berkshires     Maine     Massachusetts    Vermont

farm loan funds in new england

Courtesy of The Carrot Project.  Deadlines for some of these are right around the corner!

• The Carrot Project Agriculture Loan Fund

  The Carrot Project Agriculture Loan Fund serves the state of Vermont and is administered in partnership with the Vermont Community Loan Fund, a non-profit community development financial institution. This program offers loans of up to $35,000; a volunteer loan review committee, which includes farmers and agricultural lenders, supports the work of the fund program. Learn more

• The Greater Berkshire Agriculture Fund

  The Greater Berkshire Agriculture Fund, our newest program, will serve the Berkshire region and will be assisted by a volunteer loan review committee that includes farmers and agricultural lenders. The maximum loan amount will be $75,000. Learn more.

mentorship in new england

the deadline to apply is April 30th.

Beginning Farmer Institute
A Partnership between New England Farmers Union and National Farmers Union

New England Farmers Union is providing a unique opportunity for individuals who are contemplating starting a farm operation to receive valuable training through the Beginning Farmer Institute. The program is also open to those in our region who have been farming for less than ten years.