Adapting to a Covid-19 World

Beginning farmers all around Indiana are adapting to the realities of selling local food amidst these wild times. We are impressed with all of your creative and safe solutions, from drive-thru farm stands to pop-up markets, brand-new online stores to crystal-clear communication with your supporters about how they can support local farms and eat good food during this uncertain time. Good work, team!

If you want to hear how other farmers in Indiana are adapting, check out our 9 farmer-to-farmer webinars that have happened this May and June (one left this week, with FAITH Farms). Even if you're already selling online, we think you'll find value in these conversations.

If you need more info on the nuts and bolts of how to add online sales, these resources might be for you!

Covid-19 Response from Our Friends at the National Young Farmers Coalition

NYFC has put together a response fitting of a farmer-focused organization (that is: practical). Click here for their resource page.  

 Webinar on Covid-19 from PASA Sustainable Farming

Here's a super webinar about how to adapt to selling local food in amidst the Covid-19 outbreak.

Covid-19 Guidance from Purdue Extension

The good folks who bring you the Small Farm Conference and serve as resources year round via the Diversified Food and Farm Systems team have put together excellent guidance:

(FREE!) Resources for Learning  - - Did we mention that they are Free?

These folks have a heart of gold: they know you might be trying some new production methods, crops, marketing, etc. to adapt, so they are taking down their paywalls to help farmers learn:

Know of other resources that we should share? Email us at info@hoosieryfc.org, and we'll get the word out to other young farmers!

Check back for additional resources - and follow us on Instagram and Facebook as we share ideas about adapting to a Covid-19 world.

Resources for Beginning Farmers
Starting a farm is, well, kind of a big deal. We’ve compiled a few of the resources that have been especially useful to members of the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition.  

Land!

Land access is often the biggest hurdle that young farmers face. If you're looking for land in Indiana, try our Classifieds page!

Here are a few new tools from NYFC:
1. A list of "land-link" programs that help young farmers find land.
2. The Land Affordability Calculator - an online (and free!) calculator to help potential farmland buyers make sure they're getting the best deal possible.


​Partners!



​We're all in this together - and lots of folks are cheering young farmers on. Here are some groups that want to help:

Gleaning
Want to see your extra produce help feed people in Indiana? The Society of St. Andrew's is here to help. Check out their Young Farmer Classifieds Ad or contact Ann Radke at in-glean@endhunger.org or at 317-607-0004

SNAP + Farmers
Hoosier Action is pulling together SNAP users and farmers to work on farm policy. For more info, email Chi Coppinger at chi@hoosieraction.org

Knowledge! Connection!

Purdue University's Diversified Farming and Food Systems Team 

This is the go-to resource for farm tours, the annual Small Farms Conference, and resources about small-scale farming in Indiana. This small, dedicated team stands ready to help you start your sustainable farm. Check out their website today!

The National
​Young Farmer's Coalition

Joining NYFC is an easy way to connect to other young farmers nationwide, get incredible discounts on the things you need for your farm (irrigation! fencing! seeds!), and support the policy we all need for young farmers.

Purdue University's
​ Extension Agents

Many counties have fantastic Extension Agents who are focused on local food and small, sustainable farms. Click here to find the agent near you!

Another great option? Try the new resources about Organic agriculture.

Money!

Hoop Houses, Fencing, Loans...

You've got a friend at the NRCS and FSA Offices. If you don't speak alphabet soup, those stand for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency. Most counties have a "USDA Service Office," where these agencies are housed. Inside the doors, you'll find government employees who are paid to help beginning farmers! They can help with planning and, sometimes, finances. Talk with them about their many offerings, from loan programs that help you buy land to high tunnel funding and incentive payments for converting cropland to more sustainable farming practices.

They put out this neat guide to resources - and this one - for small farms.

The National Young Farmers Coalition has just released a fantastic guide to FSA loans, specifically for young farmers, so check it out and put it to use.

Grants for On-Farm Research

Let's say you have an innovative idea, but you need some help funding the on-farm trial. Or you want to see what other small farmers have learned in the last 30 years.

SARE is just the resource for you. They're the "Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education" program. They have grants each year for farmers to conduct trials, test out new ideas, and educate the public (and farmers).

​The application is just five pages (5!) and you're only competing against other Midwest farmers, so if your idea is truly innovative and useful to other farmers, you've got a solid chance.

SARE funded the launch of the Hoosier Young Farmer's Coalition, so you can see that we're big fans. 

Business Planning

It's time to put pen to paper. How are you funding your farm startup or that new enterprise? How are you going to sell your meat, veggies, fruit, wool, etc.? What's your market like?

You can answer all of these questions when you write your business plan...but that doesn't mean it's easy.

Get a helping hand from the Indiana Small Business Development Center. They offer free training and planning assistance for beginning farmers. 

We've also just heard about SCORE, another free business-planning program.

Legal Help for Farmers!

Starting a CSA? Hiring your first workers? Or maybe you have other farm-specific legal questions. Farm Commons is the resource for helping you navigate the legal world.
Proudly powered by Weebly