AMES, Iowa – Adding value to farm commodities, raising specialty crops or livestock, or using new marketing avenues can help young farmers develop stable, profitable businesses. Iowa State University Extension Value Added Agriculture Program recently developed resources to assist beginning farmers research new opportunities.

The Value Added Agriculture Program brought together a group of established farmers with value-added aspects of their farm businesses interested in the next generation of farmers. This group will mentor beginning or aspiring farmers by telephone or email.

“No matter the path to a farming business or the type of farm enterprises involved, good information is important for the success of these new start-ups,” said Margaret Smith, Iowa State University Extension, value-added agriculture. “We recognize that some information gathering is best done through a real-life example, giving these beginning farmers an insight to the operation and the opportunity to pose questions.”

Farms and farmers are grouped by either the agricultural enterprise, farm type or marketing method. Names of volunteer mentors, their contact information, general location, some detail about the farm, and marketing methods employed are provided in the database.

Additionally, the Value Added Agriculture Program developed an “Information Toolkit” for beginning farmers. Included is general information about farm leases and farm management, new farmer loan programs, beginning farmer training programs, mentoring programs for beginning farmers and more specific information about developing agricultural business and marketing plans.

The Mentors for Iowa Beginning Farmers Interested in Value-added Agricultural Enterprises and the Information Toolkit for Beginning Farmers programs are available online at http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/beginningfarmer.htm. Additionally, a paper copy of the mentor list is available from the Value Added Agriculture Office at 1111 NSRIC, Ames IA 50011 or by calling (515)294-0588.

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