MSU Extension Beginning Farmer

Example Page Content:

• Description of the Beginning Farmer Resource & Decision-Making Guide
• Examples of the types of content being included in the guide
• Access to a Producer Feedback Survey

Guide Description

The Beginning Farmer Resource & Decision-Making Guide is joint project currently in development between MSU Extension and USDA. The guide is intended to be a centralized location of resources to support initiating new production systems of any size or type.

The target audience of the guide includes:

• All beginning producers
• New farm decision-makers
• Everyone!

To learn more, follow the linked below to a presentation slide deck overviewing the purpose and design of the guide:

Presentation on Overview of Purpose and Design of Guide

Guide Content Examples

The following is a preview of the table of contents currently planned for the guide. Within the table are example chapters designed to illustrate the types of content being included in the guide.

Animal Agriculture

• Introduction
• Animal Behavior
• Biosecurity
• Breeding Management & Reproduction
• Disease Management
• Equipment
• Health Management & Disease Prevention
• Housing & Facilities
• Land Use Requirements
• Manure Management
• Marketing & Sales
• Mortality Management
• Nutrition
• Pest Management
• Procuring Animals
• Veterinary Relationship

Plants

• Equipment
• Integrated Pest Management
• Marketing & Sales
• Nutrient Management
• Plant & Variety Selection
  • Seeds
  • Transplants & Grafting
• Site Selection & Preparation
• Structures
• Water Management

General Topics

• Business Planning
• Conservation/Environmental
• Farm Labor
• Financing
• Land Access
• Marketing & Sales
• Product Development & Management
• Regulations
• Tax Management
• Urban Farming
• Veteran Resources

Producer Feedback Survey

The organizers of the guide have put together a feedback survey. The purpose of the survey is to:

• Collect feedback directly from producers on knowledge needs
• Better understand our Beginning Farmer/Rancher population – who are you/what are you doing/what do you need?

Please click the link or follow the QR code to access the survey and provide your feedback.

Producer Feedback Survey Link