Beginning Farmer Programs and Resources
NOFA/Mass is committed to supporting the next generation of farmers in Massachusetts. Â
Whether you are preparing for your first season working on a farm, or looking to access technical farming skills and farm business resources, there are programs and guides available to you here.Â
We support programs that help build food sovereignty and create sustainable livelihoods for future generations.
Beginning Farmer Training in partnership with the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust
NOFA/Mass is proud to be partnering with the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust (PPLT) to support beginning farmers in Massachusetts with funding from the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). Our shared focus with PPLT is on supporting BIPOC beginning farmers in their work building food sovereignty and sustainable livelihoods for all. We are doing so through expanded Soil Health, Farm Finance, Grant Writing, and Technical Assistance to beginning farmers in 2024 and beyond.
This program is open to all beginning farmers and includes:
-
- Beginning Farmer Soil Health Training – A series of on-farm soil health workshops covering the fundamentals of soil health and practices to build soil health over time.Â
- Financial Literacy 101 for Beginning Farmers – A seven week course where course content will be integrated through collaborative work and project-based learning. Helps farmers gain the tools they need to improve financial literacy, business goals, farm management, and leave with a budget to use for their future.
Technical Assistance for Beginning Farmers
NOFA/Mass offers a range of Technical Assistance for farmers. These include:
- Soil Health Technical Assistance – affordable technical assistance including soil lab analysis and inputs recommendations, soil health analysis, and more. NOFA/Mass Members receive 25% off Soil Health Services
- Climate-Smart Technical Assistance – financial and technical support for farmers who want to implement climate-smart practices such as agroforestry, cover cropping, prescribed grazing, and reduced tillage. Apply on climatesmart.org
- Transition to Organic Partnership Program – provides mentorship for farmers transitioning to organic, free training and community building events, and helps fund technical assistance. Learn more on the TOPP website
Upcoming Events
Additional Resources
-
Farm owners in the state of MA qualify for sales tax exemptions for the purchase of many items. Read more here.
-
A collaborative effort across NOFA chapters with 30 organic vegetable farmers to determine the cost of production of vegetable crops commonly grown in the Northeast. Includes a dynamic ‘Cost of Production’ workbook to download and use.
- High Tunnels Resources for Organic Growers
A NOFA/Mass project funded by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources over a three-year period. A collaboration with NOFA/Mass and partner farmers to create six fact sheets about the innovations that growers are implementing in their season extension and high tunnels practices.
- Racial Equity Resources
A curated reading list on injustice and equity geared towards food systems professionals.
