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Interested in farming and looking to get started? Been farming for a few years and thinking of starting your own farm business? Looking for more resources? The following websites, publications, and organizations may be able to help answer your questions, whether you are exploring the idea of farming or have already started.  


Getting started in farming

- This Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) program can help guide you step-by-step through the process of starting a new farm business. The program includes three phases: 1) Learning the fundamentals of farming and business management (online course); 2) Putting your new farming knowledge into practice (in-person classes, farm training running a CSA, and developing a business plan); and 3) Putting your business plan into practice (with access to land, business, and assessment support). The program website also includes a page of resoruces for beginning farmers by topic.

- "Exploring the Small Farm Dream: Is Starting an Agricultural Business Right for You?" is a short course and a decision-making workbook that can help you decide if starting a new farm business is right for you. The course/workbook can help you identify and assess your values, goals, and ideas for a prospective new farm operation. During the course, participants discuss current opportunities in small scale agriculture, explore objectives, assess personal and financial resources, conduct preliminary market research, and develop an action plan for pursuing their interests in food and farming. For information on course offerings in New Jersey, contact (which often holds the course in February or March). For background information on the course or to obtain the self-study workbook, visit the website.

Beginning Farmer Resource Guides and Websites - Several organizations have created resource guides and wesbites for people looking to get started in farming. A selection of these guides and resources, which may have been produced by other states but are adaptable for NJ, includes the following:

  •  - Online , planning your farm , worksheets, and resources
  • - Resource Guide, Webinars, Links to additional resources by topic
  • - Online , new farmer resources by topic
  •  - New farmer resources by topic
  • - , policy reports, finding land course
  •  - New farmer resources, current news, and other information by topic
  •  - Guidebooks for beginning farmers, new farmer resources by topic, and other media and events
  • - New farmer resources by topic
  •  - New farmer resources by topic
  • - Workshops and legal resources by topic (workers, land, sales, value-added, business, insurance)

- This plain language guide was developed by the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (MA) for people who want to start a small farm business. This guide is designed to help you think about the benefits and challenges of owning a farm before you begin, and it introduces topics such as the skills you will need, resources for investing in your farm, making a farm business plan, and marketing your products.

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Business planning

- Business resources for planning, starting, operating, and growing a business from the State of New Jersey.

- This Cornell Small Farms Program resource includes includes Q&A, discusses the need for a business plan, provides business planning templates, worksheets, and sample plans, and considers funding, finance, and other planning questions.

 - This Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) publication provides an overview of the business planning process and includes sample plans and blank worksheets for farmers to use as the develop their own business plans. 

– This guide from the University of Maryland goes over business planning basics and includes worksheets that can be used to create a farm business plan.

  • – Rutgers’ Ultra-Niche Crops Project has a series of brief videos that highlight business planning basics, including developing a marketing plan and financial plan. 
  • – This Rutgers risk-management education program for women farmers includes resources on developing business and marketing plans. Two Annie's Project presentations address the questions of why should you have a business plan for your farm and what should the plan include:  and from the Annie's Project .
  •  – Rutgers Cooperative Extension county offices are staffed by County Agricultural Agents who can help to answer your questions about agricultural marketing, production, business planning, and more.

– Farm Credit East has farm business consultants available to help farmers create business plans and evaluate their operations. Farm Credit East also provides financial services and has a profitability guide, , which covers how to measure profitability in agriculture and is designed for farmers beginning a career in production agriculture who have minimal exposure to financial analysis, farm management, marketing, and economics. 

 - AgPlan is a free online tool farmers can use to create a business plan. The website has template plans for different types of farm operations, and each template includes an outline, links to additional resources, samples, and tips and questions to help farmers develop each section of the plan.

- New Jersey has a network of Small Business Development Centers around the state, some affiliated with counties and some with universities. SBDCs have consultants and programs that can help beginning farmers develop business plans and other business management skills.

– The Small Business Administration provides resources for starting or growing a business, including information on business plans and a free online tool for creating a plan.  

 

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Agricultural credit and financial resources

In additional to typical commercial lenders, two lenders that specialize in working with farmers are the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Farm Credit East.

- A federal government agency with offices in each state, FSA coordinates various loan and conservation programs, including programs that provide farm-ownership and direct-operating loans to qualified beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers. , visit the and , and see the following guides for more information on the types of loans available, the need for a business plan, and how the loan application and servicing processes work:

  • (National Young Farmers Coaltion publication)
  • (FSA publication)
  • (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition publication)

- Farm Credit East provides farm loans and a range of financial services for new and established farmers. Farm Credit East has two offices in New Jersey, in Bridgeton and Flemington, and partners with farm business consultants who are available to work with beginning farmers on creating business plans and managing risks, such as through crop insurance. Farm Credit East also has published a farm profitability guide, , which covers how to measure profitability in agriculture and is designed for students and/or farmers beginning a career in production agriculture with minimal exposure to financial analysis, marketing, and farm management economics.

- This program from Farm Credit East can help beginning farmers (with limited financial resources) access working capital for their farm business. Farmers, generally in their first few years of business, are eligible to apply for working capital loans of up to $75,000. A business plan is required, and each beginning farmer has the opportunity to work with an adviser who is knowledgeable in finanical management as they manage their business and develop a positive credit record.

 - NJEDA is a state agency with a few loan programs that beginning farmers and others may be able to access. NJEDA's support for includes a Small Business Fund (loans for business that have been in operation at least one full year), loan programs tied to creating full time jobs, and loans to local lenders (that can then offer loans to small businesses that do not qualify for traditional bank financing).

NJDA Grants Page - Note: agriculture-related grants that are available are typically for established farms and specific purposes – there aren’t grants for purchasing farmland or for operational expenses.  

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Site evaluation

There are many resources available to help with understanding and assessing the soil, water, and other natural resources and land characteristics of a property you own or may be interested in farming. The following are some resources that may be of assistance with evaluating farm properties.

Organizations that may be of assistance

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Lease Planning Worksheets - The SADC in collaboration with NOFA-NJ developed two leasing worksheets as companions to the "Leasing Farmland in New Jersey" guidebook. The worksheets are designed to help landowners and famers clarify their goals and needs, evaluate potential opportunities and properties, and plan for a lease.

 - NOFA-NJ developed a  to help landowners and beginning farmers make informed decisions about the suitability of land for different types of farming operations.

 - Web Soil Survey is an online tool provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that provides soil data and information on farms throughout New Jersey and the rest of the country. Farmers and landowners can use the website to identify a farm property’s soil types, perform soil mapping for the property, and access detailed information about soil types and their suitability for different uses.

 - Beginning farmers can use this mapping tool to learn more about specific land parcels, including preservation status, wetlands, parcel records, and more. The online tool is a collaboration of conservation non-profits, government agencies, and Rowan University.

- This short guide highlights areas to consider and questions to ask when starting a new farm business, such as evaluating your resources, assessing your finances, considering your experience, and researching marketing strategies. The guide is published by the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, which provides information and technical assistance to all members of the agricultural community. Additional publications on crops, soils, water management, and marketing, business, and risk management and more are also available on their website.   

 

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Access to land / Leasing resources

See the Farm Link Program's resources pages for more information on access to land and farming oppportunities, and leasing resources:

  

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Agricultural organizations in New Jersey

There are many agricultural organizations in New Jersey available to help beginning and established farmers. See below for more information on some of these organizations.

- Rutgers Cooperative Extension county offices are staffed by County Agricultural Agents who can help answer your questions about agricultural marketing, production, business planning, and more. The following are some Rutgers-related links for farmers:

New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) – NJDA promotes and protects the state’s agricultural industry. It is responsible for a variety of agricultural product, farm regulatory, plant and animal health, and food assistance programs. NJDA’s website has a general reference page, “Topics A to Z,” that farmers and others may find helpful when looking for more information on agriculture in New Jersey.

State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) – The SADC is the state agency that leads in the preservation of New Jersey’s farmland and works to help maintain a viable agricultural industry in New Jersey. The SADC coordinates the Farmland Preservation and Right to Farm Programs in partnership with local County Agriculture Development Boards (CADBs). The SADC also administers the Agricultural Mediation and Farm Link Programs. For preserved farms, it offers cost-share grants for implementing soil and water conservation practices and installing deer fencing. 

County Agriculture Development Boards (CADBs) – CADBs are county government entities and the SADC’s primary local partners in the Farmland Preservation and Right to Farm Programs. For Right to Farm questions and issues, CADBs are the primary local contact for farmers, residents, and municipal officials.

– County Boards of Agriculture are local, non-government affiliated organizations comprised primarily of farmers that typically meet monthly to discuss agricultural issues of interest. Farmers can visit a County Board of Agriculture’s monthly meeting to discuss issues they may be having and to obtain feedback and support. For more information on when a county board meets, contact your Rutgers Cooperative Extension county agricultural agent.

- The Farm Bureau is a membership-based organization that represents the agricultural industry in New Jersey and advocates on behalf of farmers.

- NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to farmers regarding the conservation and management of their soil, water, and other natural resources. Many farmers develop farm conservation plans for their farms with the help of NRCS, and financial assistance may be available for the implementation of conservation practices. NRCS has several local service centers and support offices in New Jersey.  and see "" and the for more information on NRCS and its conservation cost-share grant programs.

- NOFA-NJ is a membership-based organization dedicated to supporting organic agriculture in New Jersey through education, technical assistance, and advocacy. NOFA-NJ offers the Exploring the Small Farm Dream course and JourneyPerson mentorship program, sponsors farm tours and workshops, holds a monthly open house, coordinates an annual winter conference, and provides other support and resources.

- The Foodshed Alliance is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting sustainable farming and locally grown, fresh, healthy food in north Jersey. One of the organization's programs, the Sustainable Agriculture Enterprise (SAgE) Program, is designed to make farmland accessible to farmers through affordable long-term leases.

– The Food Innovation Center is a food business incubator that is part of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES). The Center supports start-up as well as established food businesses, including those with value-added agricultural products. The Center provides business, marketing, food safety, product design, and scale-up expertise within FDA and USDA-certified facilities to help companies successfully build and grow their businesses.   

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Additional resources outside New Jersey

Support for beginning farmers extends throughout the Northeast and rest of the country. The following resources, some of which are also noted above, may be of assistance to beginning farmers in New Jersey.

- Coordinated by the nonprofit GrowNYC, this program is designed for a wide range of participants looking to start farm businesses, including farmers with agricultural experience from their home countries, NYC urban farmers looking to scale-up to rural farming, and others. The program focuses on values-based goal setting, financial planning, marketing, access to land, capital, and legal requirements and considerations. It also includes mentoring opportunities, technical assistance, and field days and workshops.

- The Cornell Small Farms Program provides a range of resources for aspiring, new, and experienced farmers. Resources include online courses led by experienced educators and farmers, online tutorials to help you plan a new farm, farming resource guides, and in-person trainings and workshops. The mission of the program is to support farmers at all phases farm business development, from initial growth to optimization to maturity.

- The Rodale Institute, a nonprofit in PA dedicated to regenerative organic farming research, education, and outreach, offers beginning farmer training programs in organic agriculture and provides related resources.

 - The USDA beginning farmer site includes resource pages organized by topic, including how to start a farm operation, funding your operation, building your business, selling your farm products, maintaining your farm, and working with USDA (visiting your USDA service center).  

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Resources for urban agriculture

The following are some resources related to urban agriculture.

- The Rutgers Office of Urban Extension and Engagement is working with community partners to identify significant urban agricultural sites across the state, share information and resources, and aid urban growers across New Jersey. Their website includes resources for beginning farmers, agricultural production, farm planning, business management, technical support, and policy development.

- USDA assists urban, small-scale, and innovative producers with growing, processing and selling. It provides technical and financial assistance for a variety of growing operations, including community farms and gardens, rooftop, indoor, and vertical farms, and hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic facilities. These operations provide healthy, local food, encourage economic development, provide employment and on-the-job training, expand community greenspaces, foster community collaboration, build climate and disaster resilient communities, and are an essential part of a resilient diversified food system. Learn more at the following USDA pages:

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Organizations and programs - The following are some organizations and programs involved in urban agriculture in New Jersey:

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Resources for military veterans

The following websites, programs, and organizations may be of additional assistance if you are a military veteran and are considering getting started in farming.

 - The Cornell Small Farms Program provides a range of resources for aspiring, new, and beginning farmers, including online courses, farming resource guides, worksheets, tutorials, and FAQs. The Cornell Small Farms Program offers partial scholarships for veterans for the online courses, as part of its Farm Ops Initiative.

- Rodale's Veteran Farmer Training Program can help veterans prepare for a career change into organic agriculture. The program has options for different lengths and provides hands-on learning in all areas of farm operations. Training opportunities include vegetable production, beekeeping, marketing, composting, machinery/equipment use, soil health, and greenhouse and high tunnel production.

- The Farmer Veteran Coalition supports military veterans who are farming or interested in getting involved in farming. This includes the Homegrown By Heroes branding program, a Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund to help with accessing equipment, training, and other support, and links to additional farming resources.

- This USDA website includes resources to help military veterans get connected to training opportunities as well as program and career resources.

Homegrown By Heroes - Jersey Fresh - Homegrown By Heroes is a marketing/branding program that provides farmer veterans a distinctive label they may affix on their agricultural products to be displayed to the consumer at the point of sale. The label informs consumers that the product was produced in the United States by a veteran who served the country in the military. New Jersey is an official state partner in the Homegrown by Heroes program and promotes the label as part of the Jersey Fresh program. 

- In 2023, NOFA NJ established Veteran Farmers of New Jersey to engage and support veterans interested in agriculture & food systems through community building, networking, technical support, mentorship, educational opportunities & more.  

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Helping with farm stress

Running, managing, or working on a farm isn't always easy. Production issues, weather, and personal, financial, legal and other circumstances can lead to stress. There are resources that can help during difficult times. See below for some of these resources.

Farm Aid

  • - Farm Aid's hotline is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Eastern time, and is answered by Farm Aid staff. La línea directa en español está disponible de lunes a viernes de 9am – 5pm hora del este a 1-800-FARM-AID.
  • - Farmers also can reach out to staff online through Farm Aid's Online Request for Assistance form and get one-on-one assistance. They will get back to you by email or phone. They also can be reached at farmhelp@farmaid.org.
  • - This guide has information on hotlines, disaster assistance, and legal needs.

- The Lifeline provides 24/7 support and is ready to help. It is free and confidential. .

  • Dialing 988 will connect you with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7 free confidential support to anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis. Calls, texts, or chats to 988 will connect you with a trained counselor who will listen, understand, and provide support and access to resources to address your immediate needs as well as your ongoing care. staff serve you by answering 988 calls routed to New Jersey.

- NJ MentalHealthCares provides information and referral service for NJ residents. Their staff of specialists use their experience and understanding of the health system to provide emotional support for mental health related issues.

- NOFA-NJ provides resources and support for farmer health and well-being. Their Farmer Wellness Initiative works with community partners to offer workshops, trainings, and wellness-focused events. Their website has links to mental health resources, hotlines, and additional information.

- Farm Bureau's State of Mind page has resources and information for farmers and farm families experiencing stress and mental health concerns. The page includes a resource directory, hotlines, and additional information.

- Cultivemos aims to improve mental and behavioral health awareness, literacy, access, and outcomes for the agricultural community in the Northeast, including agricultural producers, workers, and their families. Visit their website for links to resources, service providers, financial/health literacy publications, hotlines, and podcast episodes discussing farm stress and mental health.

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Programs and events

The resources above include links to a number of programs and events that may be of interest to beginning farmers, e.g.:

Additional in-person or virtual events - Twilight meetings, field days, farm-based educational programs, and other trainings may also be offered by a variety of organizations in and around NJ (e.g., Rutgers, NOFA-NJ, Foodshed Alliance, NJ CRAFT, NRCS, PASA, Rodale, Penn State, CT-NOFA). Visit their websites and contact them for more information.  

New Jersey and other winter agriculture meetings - The following are some annual winter agricultural meetings that may be of interest to beginning farmers. These conferences typically take place between January and March, with their usual locations noted below.

  • (typically in November; Princeton)
  • NJ State Ag Convention and (Atlantic City)
  • (New Brunswick)
  • (Edison)
  • (PA)
  • (PA)
  • (DE)
  • (MD)


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