Farmer Resource Library

New Entry's farmer library has hundreds of resources on sustainable farming, marketing, and operating a successful small business. Our physical library at our office in Beverly, MA contains books, CD's, DVD's periodicals, pamphlets, and videos in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Khmer. You can also search the directory below for downloadable digital resources, helpful web sites, and online farming videos.

Please visit or call our office at 978-654-6745 if you can't find what you're looking for here. Sometimes we are out in the field, so it's best to let us know if you're planning on stopping by.

ALBA Yearly Farmer Survey

Media:

  • Digital Download

ALBA's annual farmer survey tracks a wide range of outcomes for incubator farm program participants. See what indicators you can use to measure farmer success on your program.

ALBA/NIFTI Webinar 12 Incubator Land Management and Teaching Ecological Land Use

Media:

  • Video

Presented by NIFTI and the Agriculture and Land Based Training Association (ALBA)

This Webinar features

Nathan Harkleroad, Outreach and Education Program Manager at ALBA, who shares how ALBA defines sustainable land management, and how this informs farmer policies and plays out in farmer practices. Nathan will discuss the challenges and lessons learned while implementing a sustainable land management plan with 40 farmers on 150 acres. He will also cover how sustainable land use is incorporated into ALBA's farmer education curriculum.

Dr. Peter Walker, Dean of the Falk School of Sustainability at Chatham University, who focuses on how Chatham incorporates farm and woodland into the campus and educational agenda at Eden Hall, Chatham University's brand new, 388 acre fully sustainable campus. His presentation will describe just what it means to be a sustainable campus, how Chatham is trying to integrate the farm into the teaching, research, innovation and entrepreneurial agenda, and what Chatham hopes to do in the future.

Eero Ruuttila, Technical Assistance and Incubator Farm Manager at New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, who presents on fertility management on the incubator site, including specific strategies that he has developed over his 35 year career as an organic farmer and organic food advocate. He will also discuss approaches and challenges related to planning for and teaching long-term soil/fertility management with multiple farmers that have finite time on the farm site.

An Entrepreneur's Guide to Farming in Massachusetts

Media:

  • Digital Download

Are you thinking of starting a farming business in Massachusetts? Are you currently farming and interested in expanding the crops you grow, accessing new marketing outlets, or making your business more profitable? This resource guide is a collection of 35 independent fact sheets that can be used separately as needed or together as a complete set. Topics include land access, farm infrastructure, risk management, business planning, livestock processing, organic certification, and much more. It may be helpful for you to use this series with someone who can guide you to more farming information, such as an experienced farmer, a Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources employee, a United States Department of Agriculture employee, or other service provider. 

An overview of FSMA's Produce Safety Rule

Media:

  • Digital Download

This presentation can be used to introduce yourself to FSMA's Produce Safety Rule.  It is used in conjunction with New Entry's Farm Business Planning Course.  

Annual Farmer Survey Interview

Media:

  • Digital Download

Beginning farmer survey written by Agricultural Land Based Training Association (ALBA) to confidentially learn how farmers are doing after receiving one year of services from ALBA. Survey includes questions on experience with ALBA, growing practices, and business finances.

Applying for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Funding

Media:

  • Digital Download

This guide explains who is eligible to apply for this Natural Resoures Conervation Service (NRCS) cost-share program.  It also describes the types of conservation improvements on farms that qualify for funding.  Step-by-Step instructions for applying are outlined.  

Approaches for Accessing Land for Gardens and Farms

Media:

  • Digital Download

Word document for trainers or farmers covering factors necessary to find land for farms and gardens.  Includes land factors, such as irrigation, location and soil, types of leasing options and methods of accessing the particular land.  All Regions. English Level: Advanced. Farming Level: beginning. Literacy Level: Advanced. Key Words: finding land, planning.

April 2017 Record Keeping Strategies for Organic Certification Webinar

Media:

  • Video

This one hour online webinar, hosted by the New Entry Sustinable Farming Project and led by Laura Davis, will cover all you need to know about farm record-keeping for organic certefication. Specefic topics include simplifying records on your farm for efficiency and organic certification requirements as well as compost production records needed to gain approval for use on certified organic farms.

About the instructor: Laura Davis owns and operates Long Life Farm in Hopkington MA. Long Life Farm strives to grow nutrient dense food by utilizing organic, biological and mineral balanced farming techniques, it is also certified organic by Baystate Organic Certifiers. Laura has also served as the Organic Certefication Assistance Coordinator for NOFA/MASS and a Organic Inpector.

This material is based upon work supported by the Northeast Extension Risk Managment Education and USDA/NIFA under award number 2015-49200-24225

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsmG_hmVl_8&t=338s

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