About Northeast New Farmers

How do we characterize new farmers?

Each new farmer enters farming with some combination of attributes and ideas about farming. Here is a framework developed by several collaborating organizations* to help understand the new farmer and his or her service needs:

New farmers current situation (who they are and what they bring to farming)

Background and expertise

Farming skills and knowledge
Farm management expertise
Farming background

Assets and resources

"stage" of commitment to farming
family and community support and networks
resources (land, capital, infrastructure)

New farmers vision (where they are going and what they want)

Livelihood goals

Desired amount of time spent farming
Desired family standard of living
Desired decision-making and risk role

Farm operation and enterprise goals

Production system and philosophy
Income from farming
Marketing strategy

For more information about new farmers, please see our publication, Listening to New Farmers: Findings from New Farmer Focus Groups. You will find it, along with many other interesting publications, on our Tools & Resources page.

GNF is grateful to this Sponsor for its support. Click the logo to find out more about how this Sponsor supports new farmers.