Beginning Farmer News: A smorgasbord of PFI beginning farmer events!

A smorgasbord of beginning farmer events!

And don’t think we forgot the actual smorgasbord!

(Past photos from the PFI Dinner during the annual conference - the Dinner and Pickles & Preserves Potluck is back in 2023!)

Save the Date! PFI’s Beginning Farmer Summit is Feb. 13 in Ames

Are you a beginning farmer? Are you thinking about starting a farm? Are you a landowner with notions of getting a beginning farmer on your land?

If you said “yes” to any of those questions, join us at the Beginning Farmer Summit! This summit has four tracks of sessions designed to meet the different needs and interests of beginning farmers, aspiring farmers and non-operating landowners. Plus, time built in specifically for networking with others, and meeting with service providers.

The Beginning Farmer Summit is FREE for everyone, but registration is required for lunch.

Event details and registration will be on the PFI website beginning Dec. 19

Are there beginning farmer-specific sessions at the PFI annual conference?

You bet! Plus, lots of time to meet other aspiring and beginning farmers during breakfast hour affinity groups and the PFI Dinner Party (and Pickles & Preserves Potluck!). Join us Jan. 20-21, 2023 in Ames!

Beginning Farmer Sessions

Getting Started With Pasture-Finished Pigs | Dayna Burtness, Nettle Valley Farm

Opportunity Assessment for Farm Businesses | Julia Shanks, author of “The Farmer’s Office”

When Will This Purchase Pay for Itself? | Ellen Polishuk, author of “Start Your Farm”

Global Greens Farmers Share Their Experiences and Visions for the Future | Multiple presenters

Are Tomatoes Worth It? Evaluating Profitability Crop by Crop | Liz Graznak, Happy Hollow Farm

Planting, Cultivating and Harvesting the Seeds of Urban Farming | Donna Pearson McClish, Common Ground Mobile Market

The Journey to a Regenerative System at Organic Compound | Wil Crombie, Organic Compound

Getting Started in Bison, From Range Management to Handling Facilities | Zanen Pitts (left) & Cody Howerton (right), Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes

Farmer-to-Farmer: Women Raising Pigs – the Challenges and Joys | Kate Mendenhall (left), Okoboji Organics & Kristten Buttermore (right), Uncle G’s Farm

Are you a Farm/Household Member of PFI? Members with a Farm & Household ($60) membership may register themselves and all individuals covered under their membership (their household and farm employees up to 10 people) with the purchase of just one ticket (yes, one ticket).

Learn more & register here

Couch time: PFI's Farminar season begins Jan. 10!

Farminars are Practical Farmers’ version of a webinar – a farmer-led webinar! These 90-minute, online presentations are FREE for everyone, and we encourage attendees to come with questions for the chat box!

Farminars are held Tuesdays, 12-1:30 p.m. Central Time, from January to March.

Farminar Sneak Peak: Akello Karamoko of Keep Growing Detroit (left) and Stefanie Steele (right) of Xerces Society will present “Creating Space for Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Habitat on Small Urban Farms” on Jan. 31.

See the full Farminar line-up & register here beginning Dec. 16

BEGINNING FARMER RESOURCES

Check out these additional resources for beginning farmers

Produce Safety Cost-Share Enrollment Through Dec. 15

PFI is excited to announce the opening of our Produce Safety Cost-Share for fruit and vegetable farmers seeking to make on-farm food safety improvements. To receive cost-share, producers must complete the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training (or already hold the PSA certificate). PSA Grower Trainings through ISU Extension are offered in-person and online during December and January for only $20. See the list of trainings here.

USDA Micro Farm Eligibility Self-Assessment Tool

The Carrot Project has created this tool that is designed to help you determine your eligibility for USDA’s newest insurance program. Micro Farm insurance is a new insurance program available from the USDA, made specifically for small-scale, diversified growers making up to $350,000 annually. This self-assessment tool should take less than five minutes to get through (it’s just eight questions long) and provides general guidance.

If you have any questions or need assistance using this tool, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Amanda Chang, Outreach Coordinator at The Carrot Project, at achang@thecarrotproject.org or at 617-674-2371 x 10.

Beginning Farmer Institute

The National Farmers Union’s Beginning Farmer Institute is currently accepting applications until December 16. This is a free, year-long training program intended to improve the business health of participants’ operations. It is tailored for all types of producers and those either starting their own operations or taking over family businesses.

Fund-a-Farmer Grant

FACT awards competitive grants of up to $3,000 to working, independent farmers located in the 50 United States and five major U.S. territories who raise beef cattle, bison, broiler chickens, dairy cows, ducks, geese, goats, laying hens, pigs, sheep and/or turkeys. The deadline for livestock and poultry farmers to apply is January 10, 2023. Grants will be awarded in March 2023.

National Farmers Mentoring Program

After attending one of National Farmers’ farmer educational seminars or online learning series, you are eligible for a mentorship. You can interact with your mentor through the two field days a year, and via telephone calls, text or email messages, depending on what works for the mentor.

Contact Austin Geist at ageist@nfo.org or (641) 750-7871 to apply.