starting a small home business: Farm Bill programs to a farm family

The USDA has several programs to help family farmers.
To meet the challenges facing family farms in America, a series of Farm Bill programs have been introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The family farm is an important tradition in America that has been increasingly threatened as many families in the cities for work. Family farms today can enjoy several programs to keep their land viable and financially profitable.

Conservation Stewardship

The Conservation Stewardship Program provides eligible farmers with financial incentives to improve their land stewardship. Participants must meet the concerns of conservation of resources such as the improvement, maintenance and management of existing conservation and undertake additional conservation. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide technical assistance to program participants. Examples of eligible lands are cultivated lands, grasslands, prairies and pastures. Family farms where non-industrial private forest land grows can also participate and be paid for conserving forests. If you are interested in participating in the Conservation Stewardship Program, contact the nearest NRCS office to see if you qualify.

The Beginning and socially disadvantaged Farmer Contract Land Sales is a program that allows retiring farmers to be eligible for federal loan guarantees when they self-finance the sale of their farm to someone who is socially disadvantaged. The program allows a degree of protection for the seller so that if the purchaser misses a scheduled payment the USDA's Farm Service Agency provides the scheduled payment. The seller is also protected under a price guarantee in case there has been a decline in value of the farm at the time the contract was defaulted by the buyer.

Family farmers can take advantage of the Farmers' Market Promotion Program to enhance the avenues between themselves and the consumer. Program initiatives include helping to improve and expand local farmer's markets, roadside stands, community-supported agricultural programs and agricultural tourism activities. Family farmers can make more money when they sell directly to the consumer. The Farmers' Market Promotion Program provides grant money to farmers for them to use to enhance their ability to sell their products, such as establishing electronic payment services at farmer's markets and creating agricultural marketing cooperatives.

Starting a small business from home