NCFTN is committed to helping beginning farmers get established in farming.  NCFTN's Landlink program of networking, education and assistance includes helping beginning farmers understand and overcome land access challenges, locate skill-developing employment and education opportunities, and build relationships with farm operators willing to serve in a mentor capacity.  This section also contains links to farm opportunity listings, job postings, and other beginning farmer resources and networking opportunities.

NCFTN's LANDLINK Database

If you are interested in joining the Landlink Opportunities Database, send us an email to abranan@gmail.com with your contact information and some information on what you are looking for (e.g., farm employment, a farm to rent or purchase, land for pasture, etc.).  The Landlink Database allows us an avenue to advertise available farmland as well as internship, apprenticeship, employment, and other business opportunities for beginning farmers.

Farm Opportunity Sources

Farms for Sale

• Available farms posted by other organizations and websites:

The Conservation Buyers Network (Conservation Trust for NC)

Ag Review Classifieds (NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)

LandAndFarm.com (North Carolina listings)

• Farm Auctioneers:

(a national directory of auctioneers dealing with farm property and equipment)

Finance Resources

• Ag Lenders

Farm Service Agency Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loans

Carolina Farm Credit

Ag Carolina (formerly East Carolina Farm Credit)

Cape Fear Farm Credit

North Carolina Agriculture Finance Authority (contact Dr. Frank Bordeaux,  (919) 790-3949 or frank.bordeaux@ncmail.net)

• Other Resources

The Farmers Guide to Agricultural Lending (published by RAFI USA)

USDA Rural Information Center Small Farm Funding Sources (offers links to planning resources related to acquiring farm financing)

Young and Beginning Farmer Education Programs

Sustainable Agriculture Program at Central Carolina Community College

The Agriculture Institute at North Carolina State University

Agricultural and Natural Resources at Wayne Community College (Offering an Associates Degree in Livestock and Poultry Technology)

Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at Mt. Olive College

Young and Beginning Farmer Networks

(coordinated by the North Carolina Farm Bureau)

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (among other resources, an INTERN referral service, and a lot more)

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (be sure to sign up for their listserv, a great resource for grower education opportunities, resources, and available farmland in the Appalachian region)

Growing Small Farms (Chatham County website, also with a good information listserv for locating resources, education and available farmland in the Central Piedmont.)

Organic Growers School (including a great education and networking workshop held every March in Flat Rock, NC)

Business Planning Resources

SCORE (The Service Corps of Retired Executives, a national non-profit network of retired business executives, offering business planning advice.  North Carolina has 17 offices.)

Small Business Center Network (Small Business Centers at area Community Colleges, assisting entrepreneurs in small business development)

Small Business and Technology Development Center (North Carolina State University, Raleigh campus)

Agricultural Business Planning Templates and Resources (National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service)