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INVESTIGATOR: Rippon-Butler, H. M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION, INC
228 WARREN ST
HUDSON, NEW YORK 12534

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK: A LAND AFFORDABILITY CALCULATOR & NATIONAL LAND ACCESS TRAINING SERIES TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS SUCCEED

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: In the next two decades, more than two-thirds of privately held U.S. farmland will change hands, creating great potential opportunity for beginning farmers. Many of these are first-generation farmers from non-farm backgrounds, who need support to determine how land tenure decisions will impact the financial health of their farm businesses. Although there are a number of financial planning tools available, none are specifically focused on financial decision-making for land access.The overarching goal for this BFRDP Standard Project is to enable beginning farmers and ranchers across the country to make informed financial decisions during the process of accessing land so that they will have a solid framework on which to build strong, sustainable farm businesses.This project will allow farmers throughout the country to navigate land access options--including long-term leases, land trust partnerships, mission-driven farmland investor opportunities, and traditional farm loans. The project would create an interactive Land Affordability Calculator Tool (both online and print workbook versions), and include a series of 10 webinars and 8 in-person trainings. The project resources will reach thousands of beginning farmers through our extensive email, social media and partner networks. We will measure the success of the project by demonstrating improved financial literacy of project participants. Additional project partners include Fathom Information Design, Equity Trust, CA FarmLink, Dirt Capital Partners, the Carrot Project, Land for Good, Local Farms Fund, RSF Social Finance, Farm Credit East, the Farm Credit Council, as well as individual farmers, and others.

OBJECTIVES: The overarching goal for this BFRDP Standard Project is to enable beginning farmers and ranchers across the country to make informed financial decisions during the process of accessing land so that they will have a solid framework on which to build strong, sustainable farm businesses.This proposal addresses the following BFRDP priority topics:(C) Entrepreneurship and business training;(D) Financial and risk management training; and,(K) Assisting beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from retiring farmers and ranchers.We aim to achieve this by providing farmers with an interactive tool along with in-person and online educational opportunities to help them analyze the financial implications of their land access decisions. With this tool, farmers will be able to evaluate the questions such as the following in a simple, visual format that allows them to see impacts over time and links them with resources:QuestionsFactors1. What will my monthly payment be based on:1a. Acreage, purchase price, down payment, length of loan, interest rate, taxes, maintenance, insurance, FSA loan terms, federal beginning farmer programs2. How might the following affect my payments:2a. Farmland conservation: Working Farm Easement, Conservation Easement, Ground leasing and other options2b. Working with a mission-driven investor3. Is buying a good decision based on:3a. Anticipated monthly income3b. Comparison with rental & other opportunitiesWe estimate that as a result of this project, more than 120,000 beginnings farmers and ranchers in all fifty states will access in-depth financial decision-making resources. We will track project outcomes and farmer success through quantitative and qualitative evaluation metrics over the three-year project. The outcomes and deliverables of our project will be shared widely with partners through our regional and national networks.Objective 1: Provide all farmers with an interactive decision-making tool to help them assess the basic financial implications of buying or renting land, as well as the financing, conservation, and investment opportunities that may make land more affordable.Objective 2. Teach farmers how to use the Land Access Affordability Calculator, and educate farmers on financing, conservation, and investment variables/opportunities.Objective 3. Coach beginning farmers and ranchers on the financial implications of land access decisions with in-person meetings and regional experts.