Starting a new farm often requires large capital investments to purchase or rent farmland, access farm equipment and set up storage facilities. Beginning farmers can expect to invest more than $800,000 in their farms in the first few years. On average, it takes about five to seven years for farms to become profitable. In the meantime, beginning farmers are often saddled with massive debt. They are trying to meet large loan payments and working on the farm as well as an off-farm job to make ends meet. Farm incubators provide a way for beginning farmers to learn how to start a successful farm business and gain access to farmland and farm equipment without massive initial capital investments.

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