Beginning Farmer Training Programs vary from formal to informal, and from long and intensive to short and basic. Find the right program for you on this page.
‘Educational and Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture‘ (19th Edition, 2009) is a comprehensive state by state and international directory of complied by the USDA Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
College/University-Based Programs: (These are not necessarily for college credit but are affiliated with a college.)
The Farming for Credit Directory by NewFarm of the Rodale Institute is mainly focused on college and university programs.
A Directory of Student Farms in the U.S. and Canada has been put together by the Sustainable Agriculture Education Association.
Individual programs include:
The University of Maine Sustainable Agriculture Program
The Michigan State University Student Organic Farm Certificate Program, a 9 month intensive training program in year round organic farming.
Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers, Madison, WI & Satellite Locations.
Missouri Beginning Farmers University of Missouri and Jefferson Institute.
University of Vermont and the Intervale Center’s Farmer Apprentice Program in Burlington, Vermont.
Farm-Based Training Programs:
To learn about internship programs and offerings as well as farm jobs, visit this page: http://www.beginningfarmers.org/internship-and-employment-opportunities/.
C.R.A.F.T. (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) programs in North America organized by region. (click for an updated listing).
The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, East Troy, WI offers training programs for beginning farmers including Whole Farm Workshops
The Farm School, North Orange, Massachusetts has a One Year Learn to Farm Program
Foundation Farm School, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Greenbank Farm Ag Training Center is a 7-month residential, farm-based training program in Washington state.
Jefferson County FIELD (Farmer Innovation, Education, and Leadership Development) Program, Jefferson County, Washington (Olympic Peninsula)
The New Farmer School is an offshoot of Thompson Small Farm, a horse-powered initiative begun in 2007 by Andrea Thompson and Jonathan Wright with the goal of providing locally, sustainably produced food and an example of a human-scaled, alternative way of doing things.
Biodynamic Training & Apprenticeships are available at the North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program Opportunities from the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association
Mentorship/Part-Time Programs:
The Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings Program, based in Minnesota is one of the best know and most respected programs in the country: Contact information for Minnesota based programs is available.
Click here to find contact information for Farm Beginnings Programs in Other Regions, Greenview, IL; Evanston, IL; Caledonia, IL; Two Harbors, MN; Auburn, NE; Lincoln, NE; Ghent, NY; Medina, ND; & Brookings, SD.
The Michigan Land Use Institute’s Get Farming! Programs, Traverse City, MI
Groundswell: Center for Local Food & Farming, Ithaca, NY
Urban Farming Programs:
Farm School NYC, New York City
Earthworks Agriculture Training, Detroit
Beginning Urban Farmer Apprenticeship Program, Oregon
Online Programs:
Beginning Farmer Resource Center is a part of Cornell University’s New York Beginning Farmer’s Project.
Practical Farminars of Iowa Hosts lots of great Farminars, and archives them too.
Washington State University offers an online certificate in organic agriculture.
Also Check out the Penn State Cooperative Extension Beginning Farmer School, Online.
-C.R.A.F.T. (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training)
The Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a farmer-led coalition organized by sustainable agriculture farmers in a self-selected geographic region. Participating farmers offer up their time, talents and experience to help prepare the next generation of farmers. The secret to CRAFT’s success is simple — farmers learn most effectively from other farmers. CRAFT provides farmer-to-farmer learning and access to the social network and culture of local farmers. To learn more, visit the CRAFT Website at: http://www.craftfarmers.org/
CRAFT Programs in North America organized by region:
- Chesapeake CRAFT (Maryland)
- CRAFT in the Hudson Valley, Berkshires, Pioneer Valley (NY)
- CRAFT in Western Connecticut
- CRAFT Ontario
- Eastern Massachusetts CRAFT
- Finger Lakes CRAFT
- Kentucky CRAFT
- Mid-Hudson CRAFT
- Northwest Lower Michigan CRAFT
- Sierra CRAFT (CA)
- Snoqualmie Valley CRAFT (Western Washington State)
- Upper Midwest CRAFT (Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin)
- Western NC CRAFT
