Melissa Blindow
NH Field Agent & Project Coordinator
Land For Good
603-357-1600
melissa@landforgood.org
New, Young & Beginning Farmers Rap Session
Join us on February 8, 2014 as new, young and beginning farmers learn about the challenges and opportunities faced in starting a farm in NH. Professionals in the local farming community will answer questions about how to plan, evaluate, buy or lease, get access to capital and health insurance, infastructure, distribution, markets, regulatory environment, and more.
New, young and beginning farmers face tremendous barriers in starting a farming career. This is your chance to voice your unique challenges, talk through solutions and share resources.
Here are a few of the challenges we've heard from farmers. Some may sound familiar!
- My net income isn't supporting me despite how well I plan and produce, and how good it looks on paper. I have a 3 - 5 year business plan, and I am producing $100,000/year in vegetables (as planned), but I can't sell it all, so my net income is not supporting me. My CSA isn't gaining the traction I hoped it to in my community, and I can't sell enough at the farmers markets to make ends meet. What are my options?
- I've been analyzing my various enterprises, cutting and curbing inefficiencies accordingly, and am selling a lot of product, but I never seem to make the profit calculated in my projections.
- I raise chickens and ducks for meat and really want to add restaurants and small retail stores to my list of buyers, but the costs of doing USDA processing really impact my bottom line and I can't justify the cost.
- I'm reading about all these innovative practices in organic farming but I don't know where to go to learn about them. Where can I find information about who is doing what in NH? How can we get more production education going in my region of NH?
- I am currently leasing land from a neighbor but the land isn't ideal. I need to find a more permanent place to grow into. How do I find land that will work for my operation? How do I determine whether to buy or lease?
- Every season, I have fairly serious cash flow issues in June-just when the labor demand is greatest and the production is just swinging into full gear. Where can I find support during this financially stressful time?
- I've heard a lot about the Food and Safety Modernization Act but haven't really studied it. I'm not sure it will impact me but because so many people are up in arms, I figure I should better understand it. Where can I go for comprehensive information about the Food and Safety Modernization Act, knowing I can't take the time to real the actual rules?
This workshop is part of the NH Farm & Forest Expo. Admission price to the Expo is $7 per person; under 16 years of age are free. Admission offers full access to the NH Farm & Forest Expo. Save $1 off admission by bringing 2 non-perishable food items to benefit the NH Food Bank.
Register now to reserve your seat.