BFRDP Projects

Securing access to appropriate farmland, developing necessary business skills, and acquiring capital for land access are major barriers for beginning farmers and ranchers in Oregon, especially socially disadvantaged farmers. During the first year of this project, we established a new farmland access hub in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, provided land access technical assistance to 28 beginning farmers and ranchers, provided an intensive business planning cohort for 13 new farms, provided land access networking opportunities for 42 land seekers and landholders, and provided education on succession planning, working lands easements, and leasing to 470 landholders and 422 agricultural service providers. Because of this work 32 new farmers are better prepared with financial and business skills to begin or expand their own farm operations, 55 beginning farmer land seekers are better prepared to locate land and work with landholders, and 470 landholders are better prepared for succession or providing leases. Over the course of the first year, the project helped 5 new farm businesses start up in Oregon. As the average age of farmers in Oregon is 60, new entry into farming is critical. With increased skills and opportunities in land access, business planning, and financial management, beginning farmers and ranchers will have a better rate of success in establishing viable and lasting businesses in Oregon. And as landowners in Oregon increase their understanding of succession, working lands easements, and leasing, as well as have opportunities to network with beginning farmers, they will make more farmland available to beginning farmers and ranchers entering the field.