“How do I get money to start a new farm?”

-Financing a new farm operation is one of the hardest aspects of starting out.  In general, grants or loans are difficult to find or obtain.   A good business plan, a few years of experience and financial records are a must before most financial institutions will consider your application.  My best advice is to start small, self finance and keep good records of production and financial performance.  Reinvest in your farm business and keep at it…once you have a successful, profitable farm you will be more likely to be able to obtain outside financing.

“How do I become a Farmer?”

-When you decide to start a small farm and produce crops or livestock to sell in a business like manner, you have essentially become a farmer.   In some localities there are land use regulations about a minumum acreage necessary for agricultural use, usually 7 acres.  For more information, the Guide to Farming in New York  is available online.