The business side of farming can be a steep learning curve.
Let's face it: in Connecticut, even the biggest farms are small.
"We really benefit by having this specific commitment in the federal government, in the Department of Agriculture, to support small farms, because that's who we are in Connecticut," said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy.
The commitment he's talking about is $5.6 billion in newly packaged USDA funding.
While smaller farmers can often get drowned out by bigger farms when applying for grants, Murphy said this money is specifically targeted to help small farmers. It will do that through things like low-interest loans and technical training.
"Across the nation, there is this renewed interest in beginning farmers because there is such an aging population in the farming community," said Susan Mitchell, owner ofCloverleighFarm in Mansfield. "I only farm on two acres. I'm not a big operation. I don't need hundreds of thousands of dollars."
Mitchell said, though, that any financial assistance, no matter how small, can make a big difference to new Connecticut farmers, who are juggling not only growing crops, but growing a business.
"Even now, we're working on a hundred things at a time," said Jonathan Janeway with Sweet Acre Farm in Lebanon, which just finished its fifth season.
Janeway said that when he and his co-founder Charlotte Ross started their farm, it was challenging and exciting, but the business side of farming was also a steep learning curve.
To that end, the USDA also just launched a new website that will go beyond typical "hands-in-the-dirt" training for new farmers. It outlines things like disaster plans, insurance policies, and resources to connect farmers with proper business advice and support.
There's also the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance, a state group which helps rookie farmers organize, share ideas, and advocate for legislation targeted at helping out new growers in the state. Both Janeway and Mitchell are members.
"We are excited that the USDA is continuing to commit itself to helping new farmers enter agriculture, especially as the average age of U.S. farmers is at a record high of 58," wrote Morgan Osborn, coordinator at New CT Farmer Alliance, in an email. "Funding is always important, but we also hope that the USDA is able to support it with the technical assistance that new farmers need in order to access these programs."
