Beginning Farmers

Cornell Cooperative Extension works with beginning farmers as well as established farm businesses. We reference many of the planning materials on the Cornell Beginning Farmers website, which features planning tutorials, the Guide to Farming in NY, a guide to Livestock Processing Regulations, and videos full of practical farmer-to-farmer advice and production tutorials. The website also has the schedule for Cornell’s on-line beginning farmer classes.

Our team members are also available to consult one-on-one with prospective farmers, reviewing business plans, “vetting” ideas for soundness, and directing you to more in-depth resources as needed. We live and work in the southern tier of NY, so we have practical experience and advice to offer for both production and for marketing plans.

This video is one in a series produced by SARE titled Practical Tips for Beginning Farmers. Based on their own experiences when starting out, farmers from across the country share advice about common challenges facing beginning farmers in today's agriculture. To view the entire series, visit www.sare.org/resources/practical-tips-for-beginning-farmers/

Last updated January 9, 2026