Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) provides beginning farmer education for adult and young audiences in the United States can generally be traced back to the advent of the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land-Grant Acts.

But, for the first time, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub .L. No. 110-234, Section 7410) appropriated $75 million for FY 2009 to FY 2012 to develop and offer education, training, outreach and mentoring programs to enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers.

Center for Rural Affairs National Farmer and Rancher Linking Programs

Farm Beginnings is a Land Stewardship Project (LSP) initiative that provides participants a wide range of opportunities to learn firsthand about low-cost, sustainable methods of farming.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) Guide to Farm Loan Programs

Farmer Veteran Coalition assists veterans to become the future of American agriculture.

Finding Land to Farm Landlinks by State 

The MOSES Farmer-to-Farmer Mentoring Program pairs experienced organic farmers with transitioning organic farmers to promote the successful adoption of organic methods through one-on-one interaction.

Women, Food and Agriculture Network is a community of women involved in sustainable agriculture.  Women own nearly half the farmland in the US today, but are rarely represented on the boards of policy-making bodies.

America's New Agrarians: 
Policy Opportunities & Legal Innovations to Support New Farmers

23 Pages Posted: 8 May 2012 Last revised: 8 Aug 2012

Neil D. Hamilton

Drake University - Law School

Date Written: March 16, 2012

Abstract