Maine New Farmers Project
Welcome New Farmers! Is Farming the Career for You?
University of Maine Cooperative Extension can help you decide if farming in Maine is right for you.
Have you been farming for fewer than 10 years? Are you a farmhand? Do you own your own farm? Do you hope to own or lease your own farm? The University of Maine Cooperative Extension can help!
Have you had a life-long dream of being a farmer in Maine and wonder if you and your family can make it work? Maybe you grew up on a farm and now want to run your own. Or are you intrigued with the possibilities of life on a farm and looking for an apprenticeship? UMaine Extension has been helping Maine farmers for over 90 years. We can help you, too!
UMaine Extension’s Maine New Farmers Project is here to help beginning farmers get their farms or farming careers started. “Beginning or new farmers” refers to any farmers who have been farming for 0-10 years. So, whether you are thinking about getting a job at a farm, or you have an established farm that has been around 10 years (or anything in between)…we are here for you!
Questions? Contact Chris Howard, Maine New Farmers Project Manager christina.howard@maine.edu
New Farmers - Build Your Skills!
Whether you’re seeking opportunities to learn with other farmers from an expert in a field, or exploring self-study options, we’ve provided a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate list of training opportunities for all to explore. Click a slider image, below, for more information.
Farm Sitters in Maine
Are you interested in Farm Sitting, but don’t know where to start?
Our Maine Farm Sitting Course will be in the Fall of 2023. Let us know if you are interested and we’ll let you know when registration opens up!
Partner Organizations
Click on the link beneath the partner logo to visit each of our partners’ websites for more New Farmer programming and resources.
UMaine Extension is Making a Difference!
“As organic farmers, we value University of Maine Cooperative Extension as our top agricultural resource here in Piscataquis County. Being new farmers, we especially benefit from the Piscataquis County Extension office’s focus on facilitating networking and skill-sharing between farmers, gardeners, and community members alike through programs such as the Maine Highlands Farmers, the You Can series, and more.
Extension’s soil testing and pest and disease identification services are invaluable to our ability to grow healthy crops for the dozens of local families that rely on us for their seasonal veggies. Piscataquis County Cooperative Extension is truly an extension of our farm!”
— Eugene and Mary Margaret Ripley, Ripley Farm, Dover-Foxcroft
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This is a Maine-based New Farmer peer-to-peer network to provide new farmers in Maine with increased opportunities to connect with each other. As part of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, we will provide the latest research-based information and learning opportunities throughout the state.
New farmers have been farming for 0-10 years and this public forum is for all.
UMaine Cooperative Extension is hosting this group with funding from USDA NIFA Grant #2021-70033-35716.
