New Entry Farm Business Training Program — New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (Tufts University)

Eight-week course that walks you from farm idea to a written business plan: mission and goals, enterprise budgets, marketing plan, recordkeeping, and financing options. Offered online so growers anywhere can join.

Typical award: Low-cost tuition; scholarships commonly available
Deadline: Annual cohorts, usually winter — watch the site
Type of support: Technical assistance · Business planning & training
Who can apply: Individual producer, Beginning / underserved, Non-profit
Fits these operations: Vegetables & produce, Cut flowers, Mixed / diversified, Value-added & food business, Urban farm

Am I eligible?

Aspiring or beginning farmers (generally under 10 years farming)
Existing farmers planning an expansion or new enterprise

How to apply

1Review the current course schedule and tuition
2Apply online and request a scholarship if needed
3Attend weekly classes and complete plan sections as you go
4Finish with a lender-ready business plan draft

What you'll need

Rough production and sales numbers or projections
Notes on the markets you want to sell into

Timeline & contact

8 weeks

Get help: New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell MA

Ready to apply?

Applications go through New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (Tufts University), not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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