Goat Farming

Everything you need to know about raising goats for milk or meat including breeds, feeding, housing, and health in the U.S. and in India.

For information about Indian goat farming scroll down the page

GOAT FARMING RESOURCES

Featured: Fiasco Farm’s fantastic website about Goat Care, Health, and Husbandry,Cheese Making, and More… Check It Out!

– International Kiko Goat has compiled a wide range of publications and information on breeds, management systems, health, and much more.

– The University of Maryland has a free, comprehensive 412 page publication called the National Goat Handbook which covers a wide range of topics in detail.

– The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) publishes a 20 page Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goat Production; a 24 page guide called Goats: Sustainable Production Overview; a 32 page guide called Dairy Goats: Sustainable Production; a 24 page guide called Meat Goats: Sustainable Production; an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats ; an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Sericea Lespedeza;  an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles; and a 24 page Small Ruminant Sustainability Checklist and Comprehensive Resource Guide listing dozens of publications and links. All of these publications are free.

– A free .pdf publication from UC Davis called Small Meat-Goat Farms in California, with general information on goat farming and the current state of the industry (as of 2006) is also available.

– The American Dairy Goat Association Website contains articles, information on conferences, organizations, management, registration, recipes, and a whole lot more.

– The American Meat Goat Association Website is loaded with information about shows, articles, conferences, health, and more.

– The Maryland Small Ruminant Page offers a newsletter, classes, dozens of links, quick reference tables, forums, factsheets, power point presentations, research articles, and other resources.

– The Goat Kingdom (‘home of duh goat man’),  has loads of links to information about goats including associations and clubs, goat health, goat milk and cheese, feed and supplies, goat milk soap, magazines, books, and other publications; as well  has a comprehensive listing of goat farms by breed (http://duhgoatman.tripod.com/goatfarms.htm).

– Survival and Self Reliance’s Goat Farming Page has fantastic links to information on goat health, dairy goat production, breeding and kidding, forage, nutrition, and research reports.

– The Goat Source is another page with loads of information about all facets of goat farming, including information for beginners.

– The Boer and Meat Goat Information Center has lots of resources on goat farming including hundreds of articles, extensive links and tools, a breeders directory, goats for sale, catalogs, lists of auctions, and more.

– SheepGoatMarketing.info is a national resource for sheep and goat marketing which provides education, news, a marketing directory, producer directory, calendars, and links.

– The Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control has research information, publications, links, and lots of other information. – Langston University offers a Web-Based Training and Certification Program for meat goat producers.

– Information on goat farming classes in Virginia is available at: http://www.analagoatcompany.com/farming.htm.

– Eat Wild is a popular site with comprehensive information on grass-fed animals, health, pasture management, and a whole lot more.

Goat Farming

Everything you need to know about raising goats for milk or meat including breeds, feeding, housing, and health in the U.S. and in India.

For information about Indian goat farming scroll down the page

GOAT FARMING RESOURCES

Featured: Fiasco Farm’s fantastic website about Goat Care, Health, and Husbandry,Cheese Making, and More… Check It Out!

– International Kiko Goat has compiled a wide range of publications and information on breeds, management systems, health, and much more.

– The University of Maryland has a free, comprehensive 412 page publication called the National Goat Handbook which covers a wide range of topics in detail.

– The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) publishes a 20 page Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goat Production; a 24 page guide called Goats: Sustainable Production Overview; a 32 page guide called Dairy Goats: Sustainable Production; a 24 page guide called Meat Goats: Sustainable Production; an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats ; an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Sericea Lespedeza;  an 8 page guide called Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles; and a 24 page Small Ruminant Sustainability Checklist and Comprehensive Resource Guide listing dozens of publications and links. All of these publications are free.

– A free .pdf publication from UC Davis called Small Meat-Goat Farms in California, with general information on goat farming and the current state of the industry (as of 2006) is also available.

– The American Dairy Goat Association Website contains articles, information on conferences, organizations, management, registration, recipes, and a whole lot more.

– The American Meat Goat Association Website is loaded with information about shows, articles, conferences, health, and more.

– The Maryland Small Ruminant Page offers a newsletter, classes, dozens of links, quick reference tables, forums, factsheets, power point presentations, research articles, and other resources.

– The Goat Kingdom (‘home of duh goat man’),  has loads of links to information about goats including associations and clubs, goat health, goat milk and cheese, feed and supplies, goat milk soap, magazines, books, and other publications; as well  has a comprehensive listing of goat farms by breed (http://duhgoatman.tripod.com/goatfarms.htm).

– Survival and Self Reliance’s Goat Farming Page has fantastic links to information on goat health, dairy goat production, breeding and kidding, forage, nutrition, and research reports.

– The Goat Source is another page with loads of information about all facets of goat farming, including information for beginners.

– The Boer and Meat Goat Information Center has lots of resources on goat farming including hundreds of articles, extensive links and tools, a breeders directory, goats for sale, catalogs, lists of auctions, and more.

– SheepGoatMarketing.info is a national resource for sheep and goat marketing which provides education, news, a marketing directory, producer directory, calendars, and links.

– The Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control has research information, publications, links, and lots of other information. – Langston University offers a Web-Based Training and Certification Program for meat goat producers.

– Information on goat farming classes in Virginia is available at: http://www.analagoatcompany.com/farming.htm.

– Eat Wild is a popular site with comprehensive information on grass-fed animals, health, pasture management, and a whole lot more.

Funding Resources (Loans/Grants)

Funding Resources (Loans and Grants) are often crucial to starting a new farm business. This page contains comprehensive information about finding financial help for starting your farm business. It is also important to be aware that farm business planning is usually an essential component for obtaining funding, for either loans or grants for farm enterprise. We encourage you to visit our Farm Business Planning Page to learn more about how to develop a business plan.



How this Page is Organized:

1) We begin with a list of information resources about federal loan programs administered through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

2) Next we provide information about other federal funding options.

3) Then we list a number links to other public and private organizations which provide information about loans, grants and financial management both for farming and for research (on-farm and academic). Some are specific to beginning farmers, while others are not. And some are focused on particular geographical regions, while most are not.

4) The next section lists beginning farmer loan and development programs administered by individual States,.

5) We then provide information about the Farm Credit Cooperative system and how it may assist beginning farmers.

6) Finally, we have links to several private lenders, several of which offer loans specifically geared toward beginning farmers.

1) USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Loan Programs:

General Information on all FSA Loan Programs
Microloans Factsheet
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Loan Program Factsheet (Also see: Center for Rural Affairs: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program)
Youth Loans
Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher Contract Land Program
Emergency Loans
The Plain Language Guide to Applying for a Farm Service Agency (FSA) Loan published by Tufts University’s New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
2) More on Federal Financing Options

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Guide to USDA Funding for Local and Regional Food Systems is a great resource which discusses Grants and Loans from: the Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program; Specialty Crop Block Grants; Farmers Market Promotion Program; Federal State Marketing Improvement Program; Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (also see above); Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program; Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE); Value Added Producer Grants; Rural Business Enterprise Grants; Rural Business Opportunity Grants; Rural Cooperative Development Grants; Community Facilities Grant Program; Small, Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grants; Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Programs; Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers; as well as Regional Resources.

The Conservation Stewardship Program, administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides important funding opportunities for landowners with areas that are not in agricultural production. And a list of all NRCS programs which provide funds for a wide variety of conservation projects, initiatives, and activities, can be found at:http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/

The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) provides a list of federal, state, and local grant programs, regional funding sources, private lenders and more (listed in calender form) at: http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/funding.php

The USDA National Agricultural Library has links to articles on small farm funding, finances and planning, as well as a General Funding Resources Page.

Find a list of USDA Rural Development Grants at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_Grants.html

Also see the Grants, Loans, and Support Page of the USDA’s new Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Website for an overview of federal grant and loan programs.

Search for Grants from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

GovernmentLoans.gov is a gateway to Federal agricultura

Starting A Farm

Are you’re thinking about starting a farm? This guide is here to help you take initial steps.

We provide an overview of the topic of starting a farm and point you in the direction of free information and resources to help you get started.

Starting A Farm
This guide is primarily oriented toward small farm operations.



The Quiz: Before we begin, are you wondering whether farming is the right career choice for you in the first place? Consider taking this little quiz produced by Taylor Reid, founder of beginningfarmers.org. It incorporates his experience of what it takes to be a successful farmer into a fun tool that gives you a score. While we cannot guarantee accuracy, the quiz has received a lot of positive feedback.

The Question: Lots of people write us at beginningfarmers.org excited to start a farm, asking for advice. We wish we could reply and say: “no problem, just do these things and you should be on your way.” Unfortunately, it’s not that simple! So, we’ve compiled this resource to help you make your own informed decisions.

It’s Complicated!: Starting a farm is complicated because it encompasses so much. In no particular order, farmers must consider business planning, finding land, securing financing, marketing, production knowledge, securing equipment, developing or securing infrastructure, and their vision for their farm, a product of their values, knowledge and experience.

What to Consider?

Vision and Values: A farm is both an extension of the vision and values of the individual(s) who start(s) it, and it has to be carefully planned to make sure that it fits within that vision as well as within the particular confines of the place where it is established.
Place Matters: Direct market farms typically aren’t well suited for the rural heartland, and rice farming is not going to be successful on the arid plains of Eastern Washington. These are extreme examples, but there are important subtleties to every market and every plot of land.
Planning: New farms need to have a well designed business plan that takes into consideration individual infrastructure and financial needs, the viability of marketing strategies, and the farmer’s production capacity and knowledge.
Education and Experience: Preparation, knowledge, and training are essential. But so is being able adapt quickly to the unexpected, to persevere when factors beyond one’s control conspire against you, and knowing how/when/what/where to expend time, energy, and resources.
Managing risk: It is helpful to plan careful to manage risk through diversification, financial management, and the ability to withstand a couple of bad years.
Start small: For most beginning farmers, we advise starting small to allow time for details to be worked out, for additional learning to occur, and to mitigate the size and scope of problems that will inevitably arise.
The above is offered here not to discourage, but to encourage careful, thoughtful planning.

The many links above suggest that “starting a farm” is a topic too large to be contained a single webpage, in a single resource. But this is a great place to start. And the resources listed below should help prospective farmers develop a viable farm plan, and assist existing farmers to scale up, diversify, or modify their operations.