Young farmers Amy, Patrick & Amanda of Yarrow, British Columbia, share their experience of starting up a market garden vegetable farming operation in BC's Fraser Valley region.
Video production by Kate Bradford for the BC Ministry of Agriculture
Starting A New Farm
Unlock the potential of your dream by following the proper steps to get started.Starting a new farm is about asking yourself the right questions - in the proper order.
The guide helps you explore the passion, interest and skills you bring to a new farm operation. To be successful the passion and interest must be guided by a comprehensive farm business management plan. The New Farm Start-Up Guide will help you ask the relevant questions when building your farm business management plan.
Emerging Opportunities
It is important to recognize opportunity and risk go hand in hand.
Emerging opportunities are generally markets that surface as a result of changing trends in consumer demand, new product development, changes in government policy, or recent scientific discoveries. While there is increased opportunity in these new markets there is also considerable risk. Many producers, both experienced and new, have lost the farm by gambling on an emerging opportunity that didn’t pan out. That is not to say the opportunities shouldn’t have been considered, but when you are jumping into a new endeavour you would be well advised to do extensive research and due diligence on the viability of the operation before committing your limited resources. Even then only commit what you can afford to lose. Intelligent risk taking and innovation have made many fortunes, but uninformed risk taking often leads to disappointment.
If you are interested in exploring this option, independent information from the CAHRC is available.
News
Meet Successful New Farmers
Rise & Shine on Skeeter Farm
Rise & Shine on Alderlea Farm
New farmers John and Katie Ehrlich share their story of starting up a biodynamic farm in the Cowichan Valley region of British Columbia.
Video production by Kate Bradford for the BC Ministry of Agriculture. Silver winner of Kudos Video Adwards 2012.
Rise & Shine on Windhover Farm
New farmers John and Andrea Burch of Courtenay, British Columbia, share their experience of starting up a mixed farming operation on BC's Vancouver Island.
Video production by Kate Bradford for the BC Ministry of Agriculture
The City of Kamloops is partnering with Community Futures Thompson... |
Over the next while we will be doing some spring cleaning on... |
Agricultural producers are invited to attend a... |
These workshops are intended to help farm owners & their managers... |
Sources of Funding
Connect with the AgriFoodBC Project Funding Database. For financing check with lending institutions or private equity financing may also be available. 
For financing check with lending institutions or private equity financing may also be available.
Government Programs
Whatever your level of farm operation, considering accessing Farm Business Advisory Services is a good place to
start. 
BC Statistics for Agriculture
Access BC Ministry of Agriculture Statistical Information to assist 
in your research.
