Extension > Food > Small Farms > About
About the Small Farms program
Helping Minnesota's small farm owners succeed as stewards of the land
Addressing a growing need
The face of farming in Minnesota is changing with new urban farmers, young individuals and families, and recent immigrants. Increased demand for local and organic foods is bringing more awareness to small farms—but a small farm does not mean a simple farm. Small farm owners are expected to be experts in everything from growing crops to marketing.
Our statewide network of educators supports new farmers who didn't grow up learning the trade, those moving from hobby to career, and small farm owners building on generations of experience.
Agriculture has always been at the heart of Minnesota's economy. The small farms program builds on more than a hundred years of experience that Extension has working with farmers to meet the changing needs of Minnesota small farm owners.
What we offer
Our programming efforts are aimed toward Minnesotans owning 1 to 40 acres, agriculture entrepreneurs of all stripes, and Minnesotans new to land ownership.
Discover more
Farm Information Line, 1-800-232-9077, fil@umn.edu, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., M–F
Betsy Wieland, Extension educator, agriculture production systems, 612-596-1175, eliza003@umn.edu
Nathan Winter, Extension educator, agriculture production systems, 320-484-4334, wint0146@umn.edu
