About the Start Farming Program
Penn State Extension educators, led by Tianna DuPont, launched the Start Farming Program in 2009, responding to increasing interest in farm start-up businesses from community members. The Program aims to enhance the success of beginning farmers by providing education and hands-on training in: production, marketing, financial management, land acquisition, and other resource acquisition.
The Seed Farm offers a new farmer training program consisting of an apprenticeship program, a stewardship program, a market garden demonstration, and specialized vegetable production equipment trials. The one-year apprenticeship program features both formal courses taught by Penn State Extension and hands-on training in business and crop planning, equipment use, crop management, and marketing. The stewardship program, open to apprenticeship program graduates, provides beginning farmers with access to land and equipment rental at reduced rates, as well as continued mentoring from The Seed Farm manager and other local farmers.
Pennsylvania Farm Link offers a one-day, intensive workshop entitled, "Breaking the Barriers - Land, Equipment & Capital" to help beginning and aspiring farmers overcome the challenges to starting and sustaining new farm enterprises.
The Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension; and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant #2009-49400-05869 provide funding for the Penn State Start Farming Program.
