The South Dakota Department of Agriculture has introduced a new program that connects beginning farmers and ranchers with retiring farmers and ranchers.

The Farm Link program is designed to help beginning farmers and ranchers gain access to the land, financing, knowledge and skills they need for a successful start.

"One of the greatest challenges to anyone entering agricultural production is finding affordable land," said Jon Farris, South Dakota's Acting Secretary of Agriculture. "This program is intended to help facilitate that endeavor."

After receiving an application, Farm Link matches the interests of beginning farmers and ranchers with the characteristics of operations for sale.  SDDA will send contact information to the applicants, but it is their responsibility to contact each other.  After a successful partnership is completed, participants need to contact SDDA to be removed from the database.

Requirements for beginning farmers and ranchers are:

Net worth of $300,000 or less

May not have previously owned a substantial amount of farmland.  Substantial farmland is a parcel larger than 30 percent of the median size farm in the county where the parcel is located and its fair market value exceeded $125,000 when the person held an interest in it

For an application form or more information contact Dawn Letellier or Michael Schelske at 605-773-5436 or visit the SDDA website: sdda.sd.gov/AgDevelopment/FarmLink/default.aspx

Agriculture is South Dakota's No. 1 industry, generating more than $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 173,000 South Dakotans.  The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve the industry for today and tomorrow.  Visit us online at sdda.sd.gov .

Source: SD Department of Agriculture