NIFTI Training Materials

The National Incubator Farm Training Initiative (NIFTI) offers over 200 resources compiled from dozens of organizations across the country related to best practices for Incubator Farm Projects.

From sample curricula, to farmer leases and manuals, to site management protocols, NIFTI's library contains a wide range of tools to help your organization better serve beginning farmers.

If you have a resource you would like see, or one you would like to share with other incubator farm community of practitioners, contact nesfp@tufts.edu.

Intervale Farmer Equipment Company - Fact Sheet

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  • Digital Download

A fact sheet from the Intervale Center about their highly regarded “Farmer Equipment Company” a.k.a. IFEC. Farmers who participate in the Intervale's Farms Program cooperatively own and manage equipment and infrastructure on site. This fact sheet explains the history, membership, management, and operations of this innovative model in a concise and accessible format.

Land Access Evaluation Form

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  • Digital Download

Land access evaluation form for small scale production. Evaluates size, water access, transportation, ownership, previous use, zoning, and adjacent properties.

Land Allocation Rubric

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  • Digital Download

Spreadsheet that will determine scoring for farmers' land use practices through New Entry. Scored categories include fees and debts, storage, building structures, trash removal, parking, visitors, community relations, and water/ equipment use.

Land Matching and Acquisition NIFTI 2015

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  • Digital Download

A presentation from the 2015 NIFTI National Field School on Land Matching and Acquisition by Noelle Fogg of New Entry.  

Learn about the New Entry Farmland Matching Service's three-pronged approach to helping beginning farmers access farmland outside of the incubator farm: systems, hands-on technical assistance, and partnership building. This presentation explores what makes a “successful” farmer-farmland match, and best practices for managing a farmland matching service. 

 

 

Land Use Protocols

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  • Digital Download

Document from the Intervale Center that outlines the land use protocols that all farms in the Intervale must follow. Includes specifics on cover crops and rotation, compost application, weed/ insect/ disease management, irrigation, testing, reporting, and buildings/ improvements.

Livestock Training for New Farmers

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  • Digital Download

A brief overview of New Entry's livestock training program, designed for beginning farmers—particularly those with limited resources—who wish to start or scale up a small pasture‐based livestock or poultry enterprise.

Marketing and Sales Lesson Plan

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  • Digital Download

New Entry's lesson plan on marketing and sales. Includes an overview of marketing options, creating a marketing plan, identifying customers, and identifying competition.

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