Take time to visit a USDA Service Center and introduce yourself to staff at Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA). You may be eligible for free conservation planning and technical assistance with NRCS. Be sure to complete eligibility paperwork with FSA as a first step toward accessing financial assistance for conservation practices. FSA can provide free maps of the property you are farming.
*TIP: Starting in your first season, be sure to record your production history, including the number of acres farmed, pounds harvested, and dollars generated. This will be very helpful in future years as you begin to explore agriculture loans, grants, and insurance that may require your crop history.
Business Assistance
The CT Agricultural Business Management Guide is a comprehensive business planning and management tool prepared by UConn Extension. A clear business plan will be required for most loans and grants. UConn Extension’s Farm Risk Management program has business planning resources.
The Carrot Project - support agricultural businesses securing their futures by breaking down financial barriers, and build their path to sustainability. We do this as business advisors and through education, advocacy, and research.
Generation Next is a series of seminars, hosted by Farm Credit East, designed to advance your management skills and business knowledge. Each seminar includes group discussions, idea sharing and networking opportunities.
Connecticut Small Business Development Center’s trained and experienced full-time advisors work with a variety of small businesses in all industries and stages of development by providing no-cost advisory services. They can assist with business plan writing which is often asked for when applying for grants and other financing opportunities.
Match up with a business mentor through SCORE to help you through the process of starting up and maintaining a new business. USDA and its partners across rural America are working with SCORE to support new farming and ranching operations, and identify and recruit mentors with a wealth of agricultural experience.
Legal Assistance
Access free legal assistance from Legal Food Hub for issues such as business entity formation and contracts.
Additional Resources
Take advantage of new farmer training programs for adults in the state, including: