Resources for Farmers

Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)

CISA is a non-profit organization working to sustain agriculture in Western Massachusetts through farm profitability, creating farmer/consumer relationships, buy local food campaigns, farmer's markets, and more...

FarmStart Seed Capital

FarmStart is a new venture with a mission to provide investments of working capital in farm businesses and farmer cooperatives that show sound promise for business success.

FarmStart can invest up to $50,000 for working capital purposes for a young or beginning farmer, e.g., insurance, workers compensation payments, fuel, vet expenses, seed, fertilizer, greenhouse materials, containers, and anything else required to produce the first year’s crop or livestock product.

Applicants are required to provide a detailed business plan that demonstrates their ability to successfully use the investment and to repay it in full within five years. Its goal is to not only provide the initial working capital investment but to also enable the start-up farmer to establish a positive business and credit history during this phase of his/her business career. Within five years time, recipients should be positioned to “graduate” to a conventional line of credit.

Organic Farming Research Foundation

The Organic Farming Research Foundation mission is to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming practices through:

* Grants for research related to organic farming;
* Advocate for policies that support organic farming;
* To sponsor research related to organic farming;
* To educate farmers and the public about organic farming.

Food Processing Center

The Franklin County Community Development Corporation operates a commercial kitchen, walk-in cooler and freezer, dry storage space and a packaging area. The food processing center is open to farmers and food processing businesses in Western Massachusetts.