Beginning Farmer & Land Access
Land Access Guide for Beginning Farmers
A guide to the ways beginning farmers can gain access to farmland. It covers buying, leasing, and sharing land, and what to ask before agreeing to any arrangement.
Download free PDF1 page, US Letter, prints clean in black and white
GuideBeginning Farmer & Land AccessFree PDF
The steps on this page
- Decide how much land you need
- List must-have land features
- Search listings and land link programs
- Ask neighbors and landowners directly
- Compare buying with leasing
- Visit and walk each parcel
- Review soil and water information
- Get any agreement reviewed by an attorney
How to use this guide
Follow the steps in order and write down any changes you make. Where your equipment or product has instructions, those come first.
Where to check the details
This sheet is a general template, so confirm specifics with your own manuals, labels and local rules. For current official guidance, start with USDA Farm Service Agency and eXtension.
For more in this area, see the Farm Money and Grants. Between chores, farm.FM has farm humor, including Farmers Are Land Rich, Cash Poor and Screwed in Between, and agribusiness farm stories.