Tools & resources
Everything you need to start and grow a farm — free programs, funding, education, supplies, and support, curated for Arkansas urban farmers.
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Brand new to farming? These first steps will save you months.
USDA Beginning Farmers Hub
The official one-stop guide for anyone farming fewer than 10 years — a step-by-step "how to start a farm" path plus links to loans, land, and your state coordinator.
Visit farmers.gov →Free Soil Testing (UAEX)
Soil testing is completely free for Arkansas residents. Drop a sample at any county Extension office and get results by email in about two weeks — do this before you plant anything.
How to submit a sample →Arkansas Vegetable Planting Dates
Exact spring and summer planting windows for Arkansas — days to maturity, spacing, and seeding depth for every common vegetable, straight from the Cooperative Extension.
See planting dates →Farm Answers
A free USDA-funded library of 5,000+ courses, videos, budgets, and guides built specifically for beginning farmers. Search any topic and start learning.
Browse the library →Funding & Grants
Money to get started — loans, grants, and crop insurance built for small and beginning farms.
USDA FSA Microloans
Simplified loans up to $50,000 designed for small and beginning operations — including market gardens, CSAs, and hydroponic farms — with less paperwork and relaxed experience requirements.
Learn about microloans →Southern SARE Producer Grants
Up to $20,000 to test a sustainable-agriculture idea on your own farm. Applications open each September; requires at least $1,000 in documented farm income.
Grant details →USDA Urban Agriculture Grants (UAIP)
Competitive federal grants supporting urban farms, community gardens, and ag education — the flagship funding program for urban producers.
UAIP grants →Brighter Future Fund (American Farmland Trust)
Simple-application grants (typically up to $10,000) for equipment, infrastructure, and planning, with a strong track record of funding new and beginning farmers.
Apply info →Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund
$1,000–$5,000 equipment and supply grants for military veterans in their beginning years of farming. Pairs well with the Armed to Farm training below.
Fellowship details →Communities Unlimited Small Farm Loans
An Arkansas-based nonprofit lender making flexible loans for equipment, supplies, and working capital to small farmers who've been turned down by traditional banks.
Loan info →Crop Insurance for Urban Farmers
USDA's Micro Farm and Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policies — insurance options sized for small, diversified urban operations.
Insurance options →Education & Training
Schools, programs, videos, and manuals — most of them free.
UofA Farm School (CAFF)
The Center for Arkansas Farms & Food runs an immersive farm school plus workshops on crop management, soil health, and farm business development.
Farm School →UAPB Small Farmer & Rancher Program
Education and one-on-one technical assistance for small-scale farmers and ranchers, with a focus on underserved communities — workshops, business help, and youth programs.
Follow on Facebook →Cornell Small Farms Online Courses
Dozens of practical online farming courses, including a free self-paced farm start-up planning course, with income-based pricing for the rest.
Browse courses →Heifer USA YouTube Library
Free video library on regenerative agriculture, soil health, livestock care, and farm business — much of it filmed at Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AR.
Watch on YouTube →Armed to Farm (NCAT)
A week-long, hands-on sustainable farming training built for military veterans — farm tours, mentorship, and business planning, all free for accepted participants.
Armed to Farm →Urban Ag Resource Manual
A practical urban agriculture and community garden manual created by Dr. Stephen Grace at UALR.
Download PDF →Soil Health Manual
Soil management and fertility resources compiled by Dr. Stephen Grace at UALR.
Download PDF →Support Organizations
Agencies and nonprofits with free technical help for small farms.
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Farm loans, disaster assistance, and conservation programs — the front door to USDA financial services for small farms.
Visit FSA →USDA NRCS — Arkansas Urban Ag
Free technical assistance plus cost-share programs (EQIP, CSP) that help pay for high tunnels, irrigation, and conservation practices on your land.
NRCS Arkansas →UofA Cooperative Extension Service
Research-based help on everything: crops, pests, irrigation, soil, and farm business. Your county Extension agent is one of the most valuable free resources you have.
Visit UAEX →NCAT / ATTRA
Publications, webinars, and one-on-one help for adopting sustainable practices — plus the ATTRA hotline where you can ask a sustainable-ag specialist anything.
Visit NCAT →Business & Marketing
Plan the business side and find customers for what you grow.
AgPlan Business Plan Builder
A free online farm business-plan builder with templates, samples, and the ability to share drafts with mentors — over 100,000 plans created.
Build your plan →SARE: Building a Sustainable Business
A free 280-page guide with worksheets that walks you from goals to a lender-ready business plan.
Get the guide →AR Dept of Ag — Farmers Market Programs
State programs for market vendors, including the Farmers Market Vendor Guide covering the rules for selling at Arkansas markets.
Market programs →Arkansas Grown
List your farm for free in the state's official producer directory — includes a farmers market map and the Homegrown by Heroes program for veteran farmers.
Get listed →Seeds, Supplies & Irrigation
Trusted suppliers used by farmers in our network.
Food Safety
Know the rules before you sell — most of these are Arkansas-specific.
Arkansas Food Freedom Act
What you can sell direct-to-consumer without a Health Department permit — plain-language guide from UofA Extension.
Read the guide →Arkansas Produce Safety Portal
The state hub for on-farm food safety: rules, checklists, and who needs what certification.
Visit portal →Grower Food Safety Trainings
Upcoming Produce Safety Alliance grower training dates across Arkansas.
See training dates →FSMA Produce Safety Rule (21 CFR 112)
The federal standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce.
Read the rule →Produce Safety Video (UMN Extension)
A quick video introduction to on-farm produce safety practices.
Watch →Pest Management
Identify problems and choose safe, effective treatments.
UAEX Pest Management Portal
Arkansas Extension's hub for insects, weeds, and plant disease identification and control.
Visit portal →MyIPM App
A free phone app that helps identify pests and diseases and recommends both conventional and organic treatments.
Get the app →Pest Control Comparison Charts (Johnny's)
Side-by-side comparison of organic pest and disease control products — which product treats which problem.
View charts →Land Access
Finding and keeping land is the #1 hurdle for new farmers. Start here.
Center for Rural Affairs
Beginning-farmer guides, a farmer helpline, and a maintained national list of land-matching (land-link) programs.
Explore resources →Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Land retention help for Black farmers and landowners across the South since 1967 — heirs' property assistance, estate planning, and cooperative development.
Visit →Community & Networking
Farming is easier with people who've done it before.
Growing Urban Farmers Discord
Our free community chat — ask questions, share wins, and swap solutions with other Arkansas farmers. All the resources on this page and more live there too.
Join free →National Young Farmers Coalition
A national network for young and beginning farmers — chapters, fellowships, discounts, and a free Finding Farmland course.
Visit →Arkansas Women in Agriculture
A statewide support network for women in farming, with an annual conference and scholarships.
Visit →National Black Food & Justice Alliance
A coalition of Black-led farms and organizations supporting Black urban and rural growers with a farm directory and land justice programs.
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