Beginning Farmers
More and more, the growing demand in Virginia communities for locally-grown products has resulted in an increasing number of people interested in starting new farming enterprises. Yet, as with any business undertaking, there is a lot to think about before beginning a small farm venture. Our work has focused on developing whole farm planning tools to help new farmers make informed, educated decisions for their farm enterprises.
Whole Farm Planning is a holistic approach based on the short and long-term vision you and your family has for itself and the farm. Following the whole farm planning process actively helps beginning farmers tailor farming goals and actions over time to best fit needs and preferences for long-term viability.
The whole farm plan is a process for short-term and long-term decision making and evaluation that takes into consideration the whole farm. The diagram below illustrates the dynamic whole farm planning process:
If you are interested in more information about whole farm planning, or want to learn more about the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project and the whole farm planning curriculum and other coalition initiatives, please visit: