Articles On New Farm Start-up
Words of wisdom from successful farmers and ag professionals (see "Voices of Experience" video series for more). Many of these articles recommend asking yourself hard questions about your goals, resources, markets, and financing. You can use the online worksheets built into the lessons on this website to start working through these questions for your farm.
Please note: Most of these articles were first published in the award-winning Small Farm Quarterly. Please see the Small Farm Quarterly archives for more articles.
General
- Making it in Farming - by Gerard Monnat, farmer and writer
- Doing a Lot with a Little--Starting on Shoestring - by Nancy Glazier, Cornell Coop. Ext (CCE) - Genesee Cty. and Bill Henning, farmer and former Small Farms Specialist
with PRO-DAIRY/CCENWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Team
- Making New Ventures Less Risky - by Molly Ames, Cornell Cooperative Ext - Jefferson Cty.
- Getting Started in Farming--Make a Marketing Plan - by Steve Richards, formerly NY FarmLink
Livestock
- Livestock Farming as a Second Career - by Carol McGee, McRey Farm
- Is Poultry Production the Right Enterprise for You? - by Lynn O'Brien, CCE - Allegany Cty.
- Getting Started with Meat Goats (2nd page) - by tatiana Stanton,
Cornell Sheep & Goat Program
- Low-Risk Start-up? Think Sheep - by Julie Berry, NY Animal Agriculture Coalition
- Organic Hog Production - by Karma Glos, Kingbird Farm
- Trials and Tribulations of a New Grazier - by Billie Best, Regional Farm and Food Project
Dairy
- Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery - by Chanda Lindsay, formerly Cornell Cooperative Ext - Cayuga
- Planning a Farmstead Cheese Operation - by Fay Benson, Cornell Small Farms Program and CCE - Cortland Cty.
- Seasonal Dairy Start-up - by Fay Benson, Cornell Small Farms Program and CCE - Cortland Cty.
Vegetable/Forestry
- Getting Started in Christmas Tree Production (2nd page) - by Elizabeth Lamb, NY IPM Program
- Big Bucks from Small Spaces - by Erica Frenay, Cornell Small Farms Program
More Profiles of Successful Farms in NY
Reading stories about those who have successfully done what you've been dreaming of is both inspiring and motivating. Visit the Small Farms Program's collection of profiles of NY farmers.
