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.

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

​
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]
​
​Sign up for our newsletter to receive information on future incubator announcements

This work is generously funded by the following agencies and organizations:

---