FarmStart

FarmStart is a lending program designed specifically for startup farmers and cooperatives. Young farmers and cooperatives typically encounter barriers to finding the capital they need to get started, grow, or expand. Because they often lack a business track record or credit history, new agricultural businesses often have very few sources of working capital during their beginning production cycles. That's why FarmStart was created. FarmStart invests up to $50,000 in beginning agricultural enterprises, which is expected to be repaid within five years. After five years, FarmStart businesses should be positioned to graduate into a conventional line of credit with Farm Credit East, FSA, or a commercial bank. More than just a source of capital, FarmStart participants receive substantial coaching and mentoring during their first few years.

Service Provider: 
Farm Credit East
Contact:
Chris Laughton
860-741-4380
Frequency: 
Ongoing
Cost: 
Other
Location: 
New England, New York and New Jersey
Counties Served: 
Barnstable
Berkshire
Bristol
Dukes
Essex
Franklin
Hampden
Hampshire
Middlesex
Nantucket
Norfolk
Plymouth
Suffolk
Worcester
Resource Type: 
Loans
Technical Assistance or Consulting
Resource Category: 
Business Planning
Financial
Enterprise Type: 
Dairy
Floriculture
Forest Products
Grains
Greenhouse Production
Hay
Livestock
Nursery
Orchard
Poultry
Sugaring
Vegetable Crops
Skill Level: 
New to farming
Planning to farm
Farmer start up