Workshops for Maine’s Beginning Farmers to be held January 13-14 at Ag Trades Show

Are you a new farmer? Are you transitioning to a new agricultural endeavor or planning for farm succession? Do you need help navigating the process of setting up your business or finding out who can help your new farming business succeed? The Beginning Farmer Resource Network (BFRN) of Maine can help!

BFRN – a coalition of Maine agriculture agencies and organizations – will be conducting workshops on various topics for new farmers during the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's 2016 Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center on Jan. 12-14, 2016.

Included in the line-up are presentations on: “Financing Your Farm Business”; “Planning for Farm Succession”; “Farmer Veteran Networking”; “Holistic Management; Beyond the Field Edge”; “Farm Safety”; “Cover Crops and Soil Health”; and many more.

The workshops will be held from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13 in the Hancock and Lincoln/Oxford rooms, and from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Hancock, Lincoln/Oxford, and Sagadohoc rooms. The Farmer Veteran Coalition of Maine will have programs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Somerset Room. In addition, the BFRN networking room, located in the Knox Room, will be open all day Tuesday through Thursday to give farmers an opportunity to have an informal talk with a BFRN representative. The complete schedule, topics, and locations for these workshops can be found in the Agricultural Trades Show program brochure at the BFRN website at http://umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network/events/ or the Get Real Get Maine website at www.getrealmaine.com.

The Beginning Farmer Resource Network, established in 2012, is a group of federal, state, and local farm service providers who have joined together to assist aspiring and beginning farmers, and farmers interested in farm succession and transfer planning, by providing information and technical assistance on everything from soil health to business planning. BFRN is dedicated to helping the whole farm community – including agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry – succeed, as well as ensuring that agriculture stays prosperous in the future.

The BFRN website at umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network has resources and assistance available, including topics like “What to Consider First, Financing Your Farm Business,” and “Balancing Farm and Family.” The site also has specific resources for military veterans, health and safety issues, and many other topics. Each area of the site provides resources, publications, and contacts to help you make informed decisions in starting and succeeding in your farm business, and links to all of the agencies and organizations that serve as the leadership council. These resources comprise a “toolbox” of information on important issues and concerns that farmers should think about when starting their business.