Self-Assessment - Cooperative Extension: New Farmers - University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Perhaps you have long thought about moving to a farm and wonder whether it’s really the right life for you and your family. Maybe you once lived on a farm and are thinking of going back. Maybe you’re a young person starting out and are intrigued with the possibilities of life on a farm.

The questions in this self-assessment will help you decide whether farm life is right for you. The purpose of the questionnaire is not to give you a particular “score,” but rather to cover some of the realities of farming in Maine. The questions will give you some guidance as you search for more information. They should help you find areas where you need more data.

If you can answer “yes” to most of the questions, then you probably will have a fairly good chance of success in farming. But of course you will want to gather many more facts before you proceed further.

It usually is advisable to consult several different experts, including USDA agency representatives; seed, fertilizer and implement dealers; bankers; farmer cooperative officials, and others before you commit yourself to a major action, such as buying land. In many cases, it makes much more sense to rent or lease the land you want to farm.

If you truthfully answer “no” or “don’t know” to most of the questions, then you probably shouldn’t think about moving to a farm unless you are motivated by strong personal reasons. If you are strongly motivated, you will want to prepare yourself thoroughly by getting more answers. You’ll find some suggestions on the last page about where to look or write for help. You will be asked to submit your contact information to receive your score.

Basic Decision Questions

Have you determined whether you want to farm full-time or part-time?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Do you plan to start farming with an established farmer, either in a partnership, in a closely held corporation, or, do you have prior experience, as a farm hand or manager-trainee?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Do you have a plan for producing and marketing the particular commodity you are interested in?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Has someone knowledgeable in the field of agriculture reviewed your plan?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Financial Questions

Have you chosen a farm location suited to your family, and found out the rental charge per acre or how much land costs if you want to buy it?*

Yes
No

If you want to farm full-time, can you raise sufficient capital in loans or assets, or be willing to begin part-time with less capital and investment?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

If you have a farm picked out, do you know how much property taxes you would have to pay? Is there an agricultural infrastructure in the area? Is there interest in farmland or open space?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

If you will be living on a retirement income, will it support you on the farm in case you make no net profits from farming?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

If you want to do less than full-time farming, are you willing to take an extra part-time job at rural pay rates as a way to make ends meet, assuming you do not have a steady income from other sources?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Assuming a “normal” farm year, have you made out a budget of your expected sales, farming expenses, family living expenses and net farm income, and found that you can make out all right on farm income and income from other sources?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

(For sample budget, contact Tori Jackson.)

Have you looked ahead to when you might leave farming, and have you thought about related tax matters, such as capital gains and/or inheritance taxes?*

Yes
No

Personal/Management Questions

Are you flexible and “tough” enough so you don’t mind taking risks with your own money?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Are you a “self-starter”? Can you plan and do your own work on schedule?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Are you able to get members of your family interested in working together at chores or special projects, and can you comfortably direct the work of others whose help you may need from time to time?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Can you say you like to work with your hands and don’t mind physical work outdoors in all kinds of weather?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Are you looking forward to farming to get away from indoor confinement, busy offices and crowds, and city noises and smog—in exchange for other kinds of problems such as greater isolation and distance from facilities?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Have you observed that, despite its placid image, farming is a very stressful business because the farmer is self-employed and is under pressure to keep up with the work and cope with constant changes in weather, market conditions, technology and uncertainty of income?*

Yes
No

Are you aware farming is among the most dangerous occupations, along with mining and construction, according to the National Safety Council?*

Yes
No

Have you thought about health insurance costs?*

Yes
No

Are you ready for the social life of country living, which may include fewer, or different, recreational and social events than the city?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Would you enjoy getting involved in farm community activities, and do you know about your prospective locality’s civic organizations, Extension 4-H and Homemakers' clubs, service clubs or other groups you might find interesting?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Do you have mechanical ability and like doing odd jobs around your home, such as fixing faucets or a broken water pipe, doing carpentry work, painting, fixing autos or tractors?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Are you familiar with computers and farm management recordkeeping systems?*

Yes
No

If you plan to produce your own milk or maintain poultry or livestock, have you considered that you must be at home for the milking and/or feeding chores twice a day, seven days a week, and that it often isn’t easy to find someone to relieve you on short notice unless you have relatives close by?*

Yes
No

Do you appreciate the crucial importance of having your market thoroughly thought out before you begin planting and or producing a perishable product? Do you plan to research the market for your proposed enterprise before you begin?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Have you had what you feel is enough on-farm experience similar to the work on the type of farm you plan to operate?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

If you plan to raise livestock or poultry, are you aware of the proper manure handling procedures and possible runoff problems in the farming area you have in mind?*

Yes
No

Are you reasonably certain that your farm is not planning to operate in an environmentally sensitive area (lakes, marine estuaries, aquifers) that might limit your farming practices?*

Yes
No

Would you be able to handle the stress of replanting your major crop after a killer frost or rebuilding your herd or flock if it is “wiped out” by a disease?*

Yes
No

Miscellaneous Questions

Have you studied the farm area (soils, environment, climate) where you plan to live and know what kind of enterprise it would best support?*

Yes
No

Have you evaluated various types of farming to see how they match up with your family goals and capabilities?*

Yes
No

Would you enjoy getting technical farming advice from others, and know how to get advice from specialists such as county Extension educators, entomologists, pesticide applicators, soil scientists, fertilizer experts, engineers, conservationists, and others?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Would you enjoy shopping around to get the best price and make the best deal for fertilizer, fuels, feed, seed, and equipment?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Do you know something about market reports, and would you enjoy searching out the best markets to sell your farm products?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

Are you familiar with these agencies: USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), FSA (Farm Service Agency), NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service), and various non-USDA agencies such as SBA (Small Business Administration)? Do you know what each might have to do with your selected or potential farm operation?*

Yes
No

If you need help on your farm, do you think you can hire farmworkers, and do you know whether custom hiring services are available?*

Yes
No
Don't Know

If you need to hire farmworkers, are you familiar with state and federal laws concerning the safety and well-being of your employees, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Hazardous Occupations Law, Social Security Tax Law, Federal Minimum Wage Law and Workers’ Compensation Laws?*

Yes
No

Do you know that a farm employer can be held liable for negligent acts of his or her employees and that you are liable for your negligence regarding the safety and health of your employees?*

Yes
No

If you are going to raise livestock, are you aware of the need for, and the cost of, a good fence of the type your neighbors are likely to insist upon?*

Yes
No

If you plan on processing food for sale, do you realize that you need your home/ kitchen inspected regularly by the Maine Department of Agriculture?*

Yes
No

Are you familiar with Maine state laws dealing with air and water pollution, pesticide control, wetlands regulations and the “Right to Farm Law”?*

Yes
No

Do you know that if you sell plant materials you need a license from the Department of Agriculture and are subject to inspections?*

Yes
No

If you plan to raise livestock, do you realize you may need to develop a nutrient management plan before you begin?*

Yes
No

Personal Information

Submit your contact information to receive your score.

Name*

Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

County*

State*

Phone*

Format: (###)###-####

Would you like to be contacted by a UMaine Extension educator for a phone or in-person conversation?*

Yes, I would like to be contacted.
No

If you choose yes, a UMaine Extension educator will contact you by email to set up a time to meet.

Comments

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