Veterans

Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund

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https://www.farmvetco.org/2019/01/17/2019-fellowship/

The Farmer Veteran Coalition has an exciting grant program that will be open for five weeks beginning February 1st, 2019 at 8 a.m. PST and closes on March 8th, 2019 at 5 p.m. PST.

What is in it for you?

The grant program will provide veterans with awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to make purchases to help with launching of their farm business.

What do you need to do?

  1. Go to the link posted on the Fellowship Fund page at www.farmvetco.org/fvfellowship. between February 1st and March 8th, 2019.
  2. Complete the application. (The application consists of both short answer and essay questions and requires veterans to submit a business plan.)
  3. Submit Application.
  4. Wait for the award announcements in April.

Webinar

A webinar to review the application followed by a Q&A session will be held Wednesday, February 13 at 2:30 p.m. PST. Registration is limited to the first 500 participants, but a recording will be posted to the Fellowship web page after it’s completed. To register, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8095158054240674827.

Have any questions?

For eligibility and requirements, visit www.farmvetco.org/fvfellowship.

View a list of frequently asked questions by visiting www.farmvetco.org/fellowship/faq.

If you have any further questions you can call the Legal Aid of Nebraska’s Rural Response Hotline at 1-800-464-0258 or visit www.farmerandrancher.org.

To find more resources and programs for beginning farmers and ranchers please visit www.farmanswers.org, a component of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and www.usda.gov/newfarmers

What’s in the Farm Bill for Beginning Farmers?

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This post does not promise to be a comprehensive review of all the new programs and funding in the new Farm Bill.  Rather, it is a short review for you to begin to think about ways in which you can potentially use some new programs or additional funding in the Farm Bill for your own operation.  (For a thorough review of the beginning farmer initiatives, click here.)

So what’s in there?

  • Additional funding for beginning farmer and rancher training and outreach programs.  This website and program is funded via the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.  That program has received additional funding with a new emphasis on military veteran farmers.
  • Enhanced premium subsidies for crop insurance.  The enhanced subsidy of 10 percent points is only for a beginning farmer in the first five years of his/her farming career.
  • The Farm Service Agency’s microloan program becomes permanent.  For beginning and military veteran farmers, microloans will no longer have a term limit.
  • Additionally, the FSA will continue to prioritize beginning farmers in its direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loan programs.
  • NRCS’ EQIP program will continue to cost-share with beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers.  Additionally, while a farmer can current receive up to 30% of a project’s cost in advance, the new farm bill increases the possible cost-share to 50%.
  • Land access is obviously an important topic and there are some new initiatives for beginning farmers.  The FSA Down Payment Loan Program increases the value of land eligible from $500,000 to $667,000. A new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, per the Land Trust Alliance:

The Agricultural Lands Easement program (ALE) combines the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) and Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). ALE is part of the larger Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which also contains the former Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).

  • There are some additional provisions, such as conservation funding and a return of the Transition Incentive Program (with an increase in funding) administered by the FSA.  There are also some clarifications within the Value Added Producer program defining beginning farmer status in multi-applicant applications.

Overall, there are some interesting opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers in the new Farm Bill.  As the new programs, additional funding, and more details become available, we’ll know more about how to maximize use of the programs for specific types of operations.  But as of now, there appears to be a significant amount of promise in the new Farm Bill for beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers, and veteran farmers.

 

Beginning Farmers and Veterans

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Because yesterday was Memorial Day, it is appropriate to discuss unique programs for veterans who are also beginning farmers.  If you are interested in the types of programs starting across the country, the National Young Farmers’ Coalition has a good overview.

In Nebraska, The Center for Rural Affairs spearheads the Veteran Farmers Project.  The Veteran Farmers Project provides training on farming topics and financing, individual consultants, and a HelpLine.

There is also the Farmer Veteran Coalition which lists various veteran farms and employment opportunities.  It also has an equipment donation program for farmers in Iowa.

And remember our conversation about the Farm Service Agency’s new microloans?  Microloans are also available to veterans.  Keep in mind that the Small Business Association also provides microloans up to $50,000 through non-profit intermediaries.  The SBA loans are similar to the FSA loans — you may purchase equipment or machinery, provide working capital, purchase inventory or supplies, and/or furniture and fixtures.  Of note, the microloan from the SBA cannot be used to purchase real estate. A listing of participating intermediaries by state is here.

Don’t forget, in Nebraska and South Dakota, Legal Aid of Nebraska can provide assistance to veterans who are also beginning farmers.  We’re happy to help so feel free to contact us at any time!