Finding Farmland Course and Calculator

Are you seeking secure access to land? Buying or leasing farmland may be one of the biggest investments you will make in your career, but it can be incredibly risky, complex, or out of reach entirely. To help you understand your options and navigate the process, the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) has created two free, online resources, with versions of both available in Spanish: the Finding Farmland Course and Calculator.

While tools alone cannot make land access a possibility for everyone, or entirely eliminate the risk of leasing or buying land, we hope that they demystify the steps you can take and help you feel more confident in your search.

The Finding Farmland Course includes articles, videos, podcasts, activities, and resources, and was created in partnership with a nationwide network of farmland access organizations. Topics include:

• Setting holistic farm goals
• Land tenure options
• Financial planning
• Financing options for farmers
• Partners in land access
• Leasing, buying, and transitioning farmland

The Finding Farmland Course is free and can be started any time, on your own schedule, and at your own pace.

Once you’re ready to start comparing properties, the Finding Farmland Calculator will be your go-to tool for calculating purchase costs and understanding affordability. The Calculator is a free tool for comparing properties, calculating purchase costs, learning about financing options, and understanding affordability. Young Farmers designed the Calculator to help you prepare to meet with a loan officer, and to use as a reference tool throughout your farmland purchasing process. Try it out, or learn more, today!

Do you work with Spanish-speaking farmers? The National Young Farmers Coalition is dedicated to expanding the reach and accessibility of our programs and resources, and we are excited to offer a version of the Course and Calculator in Spanish. Please see the NYFC website for more information and templates for sharing these resources with your networks.

If you have questions about the Finding Farmland Course and Calculator, or about accessing farmland in general, reach out to the NYFC Land team by emailing land@youngfarmers.org.

This project was supported by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and with support for outreach from Farm Credit.