2027 Application
Opens: October 15, 2026
Closes: December 21, 2026

STATUS: OPEN

Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into the New and Beginning Farmer Program. Accepted applicants will be notified by January 29, 2027. Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to notify applicants who are not accepted.
If you do not receive an acceptance email by this date and would like feedback on your application, you are welcome to email OfficeofAG@howardcountymd.gov to request feedback. Please include the name and phone number listed on your application.
Thank you for your interest in the program!
Launched in 2025, the County’s NBF Program aims to support aspiring farmers as they build profitable and sustainable farm businesses in Howard County. Designed to address some of the biggest barriers facing new farmers, including access to affordable land, equipment, infrastructure, and technical knowledge, the program provides participants with:
• Access to farmland
•Shared equipment (including a shard greenhouse)
• Hands-on production experience
• Business development support.

For its 2027 NBF Program application, interested applicants will have the option to choose from two program pathways, the New & Beginning Farmer Direct Pathway OR the Emerging Farmer Pathway.

The New & Beginning Farmer Direct Pathway is geared towards beginning farmers who already have some hands-on farming experience, such as completing a farmer training course or working on a farm for a period of time. Direct Pathway participants will receive their own plot and operate their own farm businesses while receiving mentorship, education, and access to resources designed to help them strengthen their skills and grow their businesses.

The Emerging Farmer Pathway is geared towards individuals who require additional hands-on experience before taking on a plot of their own. This pathway provides participants with apprentice training with a current farmer in the program, learning opportunities at OoA’s Teaching & Learning Farm, and mentorship. Emerging Pathway participants will gain the skills, confidence, and experience needed to establish and grow their own farm business and, once complete, may be able to transition into the New & Beginning Farmer Direct Pathway and obtain a plot of their own.

Program Eligibility: Open to Maryland residents, with preference given to Howard County Residents.
If you are interested in participating in the 2027 NBF Program, complete the application and add all supporting documentation.
Please answer all questions completely. Incomplete applications may negatively affect your eligibility for selection, as the selection process is highly competitive. Thank you for taking the time to provide thorough responses.

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1. Applicant legal first and last name (do not use nicknames)

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2. What is your current employment status? Please provide the company name, your job title, or occupation, and whether you work full-time or part-time (including self-employment) If you are not currently employed, please type N/A.

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3. Farm or Business Name

If you have not yet established a farm or business name, please enter the name you are considering or type N/A.

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4. Home address

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6. Phone number

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7. Farm/business website or social media, if applicable.

Farming Experience

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8. Please describe your farming experience, including any farming, gardening, livestock, agricultural employment, apprenticeships, training programs, or production experience.

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9. Approximately how many years of hands-on farming experience do you have?

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10. Have you completed a farmer training program, apprenticeship, agricultural course, or other structured agricultural education?

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11. If yes, please identify the program and year completed.

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12. Have you previously managed your own production area or farm plot?

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13. If yes, please describe the size, what you produced, and your responsibilities.

Farm Business Vision

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14. Why do you want to operate a farm business?

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15. What do you believe will make your farm business financially sustainable?

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16. What products do you currently sell, or what do you plan to sell during the 2027 growing season?

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17. Who is your target customer?

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18. Where do you currently sell, or where do you plan to sell your products?

Business Planning

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19. Do you currently have a written farm business plan?
*If you have an existing farm business plan, the Office of Agriculture may contact you via email to request a copy as part of the application review process.

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20. If you answered "no" or "in progress" to the previous question, briefly describe how you are currently planning your farm business, including anticipated products, customers, expenses, and revenue sources. All other applicants (who answered "yes" to the previous question) should type "I have a business plan"

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21. Have you prepared a farm budget or financial projection?
*If you have an existing farm, budget or financial projection, the Office of Agriculture may contact you via email to request a copy as part of the application review process. Ideally, this information should be included in your business plan.

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22. What do you anticipate will be your three largest farm business expenses during the 2027 season?

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23. How do you plan to finance your farm business?

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24. Have you identified any grants that you intend to apply for? If so, list below:

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25. Briefly explain your financial plan for operating your farm during the 2027 season.

Crop / Production Planning

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26. Do you currently have a written crop plan or production plan?
*If you have an existing crop or production plan, the Office of Agriculture may contact you via email to request a copy as part of the application review process. Ideally, this information should be included in your business plan.

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27. What crops or agricultural products do you plan to produce during the 2027 season?

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28. How did you determine what you plan to grow or produce?

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29. How does your production plan connect to your intended customers or markets?

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30. How do you plan to determine how much of each crop or product to produce?

Farm Operations and Resource Readiness
Program participants are expected to operate their plots as independent farm businesses. The Office of Agriculture provides land access, water, certain shared infrastructure, and some shared tools and equipment. Participants are responsible for obtaining and managing most of the supplies, materials, inputs, equipment, and other resources needed for their individual farm operations.

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31. Which of the following resources do you currently own or have access to? Check all that apply.

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32. What additional supplies, equipment, or resources would you need to operate your farm during the 2027 season?

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33. How do you plan to obtain or pay for these resources?

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34. Are you prepared to independently purchase and manage the supplies and materials required for your farm business?

Business Management

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35. How do you currently keep, or plan to keep, farm business records?
Examples may include:
• Expenses
• Sales
• Inventory
• Production records
• Customer information
• Harvest records

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36. Have you established any of the following for your farm business?

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37. Please describe any additional steps you plan to take to establish or formalize your farm business.

Market Development

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38. Have you previously sold agricultural products?

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39. If yes, please describe where you sold your products and what you sold.

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40. Have you identified potential customers or buyers for your 2027 products?

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41. What steps have you already taken to identify or develop markets for your products?

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42. What type of market-development support would be most helpful to your business?

Time and Operational Commitment

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43. How many hours per week do you expect to dedicate to your farm business during the growing season?

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44. Who will be primarily responsible for managing the farm operation?

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45. Will anyone else regularly work with you on the farm?

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46. If yes, please explain their role.

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47. What other work, school, family, or business commitments will you be balancing while participating in the program?

Pathway Readiness

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48. Which pathway do you believe best matches your current experience and needs? Please refer to the pathway descriptions above for details.

Your input will help us understand your experience and goals. The Office of Agriculture will determine the pathway that best aligns with your application, experience, and program needs. Note: Farmers in the Emerging Farmer Pathway may eventually transition to the Direct Pathway as they gain experience and develop their farming skills.

The New & Beginning Farmer Direct Pathway is geared towards beginning farmers who already have some hands-on farming experience, such as completing a farmer training course or working on a farm for a period of time.

The Emerging Farmer Pathway is geared towards individuals who require additional hands-on experience before taking on a plot of their own (as applicable).

The full descriptions are listed at the top of the application.

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49. Please explain why you believe the pathway you selected is the best fit for your experience and goals. If you selected "I am unsure," please explain what additional information you would need to select an appropriate pathway or why you selected, "I am unsure"

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50. If you are selected for the Emerging Farmer Pathway, are you willing to participate in apprenticeship, mentorship, training, and smaller-scale production activities before becoming eligible for an independent production plot?

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51. If you are selected for the Direct Pathway, are you prepared to independently plan, finance, manage, and operate your assigned production area as your own farm business?

Goals and Program Expectations

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52. What are the three most important things you hope to accomplish through the New & Beginning Farmer Program?

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53. What do you believe will be your greatest challenge in operating a successful farm business?

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54. What skills or knowledge do you most need to develop?

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55. Where would you like your farm business to be three years from now?

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56. What does operating a farm as a business mean to you? (Required.)

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57. What information, or topics would you have liked to see included in this application that were not addressed? Please share any questions or suggestions that would help you better understand the program, opportunities or expectations.

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58. Please type your first and last name in the box below to acknowledge that you have read and understand the following information:
Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into the New and Beginning Farmer Program. Accepted applicants will be notified by January 29, 2027. Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to notify applicants who are not accepted.
If you do not receive an acceptance email by this date and would like feedback on your application, you are welcome to email OfficeofAG@howardcountymd.gov to request feedback. Please include the name and phone number listed on your application.
Currently, there is no fee for the use of the farmland provided in the NBFP; however, participants are still financially responsible for the cost of operating their farm businesses. A nominal land-use fee may be introduced in future program years. Active participants in the program will be notified well in advance of any changes.
Thank you for your interest in the program! (Required.)

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