The agricultural sector in the United States is at a critical juncture. The future of this farmland is uncertain, because unlike in generations past, many senior farmers do not have an heir to take over the farm. Meanwhile, the future of farmers is also uncertain. While the number of beginning farmers has been rising over the past decade, the high cost of land and upfront capital required to start a farm prohibit many would-be farmers from entering the sector. Additionally, lack of access to and knowledge of critical USDA technical support and financing programs, climate volatility, and entrenched patterns of racial and socioeconomic discrimination all contribute to the precarious conditions that the next generation of farmers face.

Viva Farms, a non-profit farmer training organization based in Washington State, believes that a different future is possible for the agricultural sector. VF’s mission is to empower the next generation of farmers to build resilient farm businesses. Through its nationally-lauded Farm Business Incubator and Training Program, VF has a 13-year track record of providing beginning and historically underserved producers with foundational agricultural and business technical support, along with access to farmland, essential equipment and infrastructure, marketing services, and capital access support.

VF believes that a vibrant agricultural future requires that farmers everywhere have access to the technical support and resources they need to thrive, and that farmland across the nation is preserved for their use. Through this project, VF will collaborate with public- and private-sector partners, farmer stakeholders, and USDA representatives to assert a Farm Viability Model that provides a clear pathway for underserved producers to achieve agricultural and economic resilience, benefit from equitable access to and participation in critical USDA programs, and access sufficient land and capital.