Northwest Iowa — Beginning farmers in northwest Iowa have just a few more days to apply for what’s billed as one of the country’s most effective beginning farmer programs.
Greg Van Den Berghe, of Practical Farmers of Iowa, says a dozen new farmers are accepted every fall into the Savings Incentive Program. One of the first steps is to pair them up with an experienced farm mentor and a peer network.
Van Den Berghe says the new farmer is urged to sock away one-hundred dollars a month for the duration of the two-year program, at the conclusion of which, they’ll double their saved money.
He says another key element of the program is providing support for developing a business plan for the fledgling farmstead.
Since the program first launched in 2009, more than one-hundred beginning farmers have taken part in the program, with a collective $124,000 in matching funds. The deadline to apply is this Friday, October 7th.
Fore more information, visit the Practical Farmers of Iowa website.
