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livestock incubator Farm program

Farmers Rising equips new and beginning farmers with immediate and long-term strategies to help build financial resilience and address risks inherent to farming.
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Ready? APPLY HERE

Costs
  • Graduated annual cash rent
    • [(Tenure year; 1-4) x (graduation unit; 0.25) x (annual per acre rent cost)] x (number of acres rented)
  • Small tool and TA support fees
  • Security deposit for pasture renovation, as needed
    • [(half; 0.5) x (annual cash rent)]
  • Livestock purchases
  • Feed, supplements, medicines
  • Equipment, material, and infrastructure as needed
  • Livestock processing fees
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Estimated One Acre Rental, Year One
  • Total for year one = $712.50
    • Annual cash rent @ $300 / acre = $75
    • Small tool rental fee = $100
    • TA support fee = $500
    • Security deposit = $37.50
Expectations​
  • Read and follow the Livestock Incubator Handbook
  • Enroll in and complete Farm Beginnings®
  • Develop and use:
    • Learning plan
    • Enterprise budgets
    • Business plan
    • Marketing plan
    • Grazing plan (if needed)
    • Planting schedule (if needed)
  • Attend regular farmer meetings
  • Adhere to regenerative agriculture standards
  • Follow food safety and biosecurity protocols
  • Practice humane animal treatment
Benefits
  • Waived cost of Farm Beginnings® enrollment
  • Graduated land rent rate
  • Included, limited tractor work (e.g mowing)
  • Equipment and infrastructure, including:
    • Six acre paddock with no-climb, woven wire fencing
    • Three acre pasture for vegetable and livestock production
    • ​Four acre wooded paddock for silvopasturing
    • Small ruminant handling system
    • Electronet portable fencing
    • ​Port-A-Hut livestock shelters
    • Chicken Ranger tractors
    • ​Dedicated well, and four hydrants​
    • ​Shared storage shed
    • Short term, limited camping on-site
Eligibility 
  • Farmers looking to develop a livestock-based farm business are eligible to apply. Diversified livestock + vegetable businesses which are 50% livestock focused are eligible.
  • Are prepared to start and manage a farm business
    • Purchase livestock
    • Be on-site to provide timely care and do chores, daily
    • Purchase feed, supplements, medicines as necessary
    • Process livestock / cover processing fees
  • Eligible livestock enterprises:
    • Sheep, goats, and poultry
    • Beekeeping
  • Eligible livestock keeping / grazing practices:
    • Rotational, management intensive, or similar practices
  • We will prioritize historically disadvantaged farmers - beginning, socially disadvantaged (including LGBTQ+), military veteran, and limited resource farmers
  • Our mission is to lift up farmers of all kinds, especially those who have been unjustly denied access to land, capital, and resources​ ​
Questions? [email protected]
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​Sign up for our newsletter to receive information on future incubator announcements
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This work is generously funded by the following agencies and organizations:
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Events
Contact Us
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​1936 Rockton Rd. | Caledonia, IL 61011
815-389-8455 | [email protected]
​© Farmers Rising. All rights reserved.
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  • ABOUT US
    • We Are Farmers Rising
    • Staff & Board
    • Annual Report & Funders
    • Newsletter & Blog
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • Farmer Training
    • Take Root
    • Livestock Incubator Farm Program
  • Events
  • Community Programs
  • Farmers Rising Rockford CSA
  • Donate