Start Your Transition
Do you raise chickens, pigs, or other animals and want to grow plants instead?
The Farmer Toolkit is a partnership between Transfarmation and Animal Outlook. If you enroll in a farm-transition program through a Farmer Toolkit partner organization, you will have access to additional resources: crop profiles, how-to guides for converting animal-farm infrastructure for plant production, enterprise budgets, webinars, hands-on learning opportunities from consultants and other experts in various plant industries, and more. Each partner offers unique transition services for farmers. To receive help with your transition from one of our partner organizations, contact them directly through their website.
Animal Outlook is a nonprofit organization with a mission to build a better tomorrow for all animals. One of our core focus areas is supply-side corporate and food system reform. We engage with corporations to increase their vegan offerings and work with farmers to provide them the complete direct assistance and resources they need to successfully shift from animal farming to farming plants for food.
Email contact: [email protected]
Transfarmation™ is a project of Mercy For Animals that helps farmers transition out of industrial animal agriculture and into plant-focused operations by providing technical guidance, financial counseling, and marketing assistance. We are currently working with poultry and hog farmers in the United States. Working directly with farmers pursuing farm transitions, such as converting a poultry or hog barn into a greenhouse or specialty-mushroom operation, enables Transfarmation to publish a growing list of resources on our “Farmer Resources” page, including conversion plans, crop guides and enterprise budgets, and business resources.
Email contact: [email protected]
Additional Resources
University of Delaware
The University of Delaware has produced resources for poultry-house conversion in response to a national trend of converting warehouse-type structures into facilities for vegetable production and growing interest in repurposing former poultry houses. These resources include the Remediation of Abandoned Poultry Houses guide, the article Converting Poultry Houses into Indoor Growing Facilities, and an impact statement on converting poultry houses into indoor growing facilities.
Socially Responsible Agriculture Project
The Socially Responsible Agriculture Project works to protect rural communities, farmworkers, public health, the environment, and animals from the harms of industrial agriculture. SRAP provides resources for current and former contract growers, as well as important considerations for those interested in becoming contract growers. The organization’s contract grower resource guide offers help or referrals for farmers struggling in the system regarding their rights under the Packers and Stockyards Act, contract and loan issues, legal matters, and transitioning to other types of farming.
Stockfree Farming
Stockfree Farming is a farmer-founded organization committed to helping farmers adapt and thrive. While the organization is Scotland-based, their list of 100 stock-free initiatives provides an excellent starting point for farmers anywhere who are looking for alternatives to livestock farming. They provide multiple case studies highlighting each of the three paths toward stock-free farming: growing crops for human consumption, restoring native trees and ecosystems, and starting diversification enterprises.
Farmland Commons
The Farmers Land Trust explores a new kind of land trust, called a commons land trust. Their website overviews the model and structure of a farmland commons and the importance of connecting local and national nonprofits to provide a durable framework to support the individual farm, local community, and national network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this toolkit designed for?
The Farmer Toolkit is designed to provide resources for farmers interested in transitioning from animal agriculture to plant-focused operations. Our resources are tailored to farmers exiting the contract growing system. Some tools and resources are useful for beginning farmers or farmers transitioning from other enterprises.
If you’re interested in receiving help with your transition through one of our programs, contact one of our partner organizations.
How can I transition my farm?
The Farmer Toolkit provides tools and educational resources for creating a farm transition plan. We recommend that you start with our map page to explore crop information for your state, and then check out the funding sources page to learn about financial assistance that may be available.
If you’d like tailored support, please consider joining one of our transition programs.
What crops can I transition to?
We are excited to support farmers in transitioning to the crops of their choice, with the exception of animal feed. So far we’ve helped farmers transition to specialty mushroom, vegetable, microgreen, and hemp production, but we are expanding the crops and crop consultants we work with.
Can you connect me to farmers who have gone through the process?
Please reach out directly to our partner organizations. Tell us which kind of farm transition you want to learn more about, and we’ll do our best to connect you to a farmer with specialized experience.
What happens to waste-management operations on my current farm?
You’ll want to create a plan for managing your farm’s animal waste before you transition. You may be responsible for certain remediation efforts once you are no longer under contract with an integrator. You may also need to reconsider existing contracts for waste disposal. We suggest that you contact your local extension office for their recommendations on waste management.
What happens to my contract if I begin to transition?
Farm transitions are intended to provide pathways for farmers to permanently exit the contract livestock, poultry, or dairy system. But you can begin transitioning your farm before ending your current contract. Many farmers explore plant-focused ventures or other options while still operating under contract with their integrators or processors. We recommend that you assess your specific contract with a legal professional before finalizing your transition plans.
What resources do you have for transitioning my farm?
The Farmer Toolkit contains information about the nuts and bolts of a farm transition, including an overview of funding and financing sources, guides to growing certain crops, and guidance on marketing a crop.
If you choose to enroll in a farm transition program, you will have access to crop profiles, how-to guides for converting animal-farm infrastructure for plant production, enterprise budgets, webinars, and more.
Where can I see examples of farms that have transitioned?
You can read stories of successful farm transitions here.
Do you offer financial assistance?
While we do not provide direct financial assistance for farm transitions, our funding sources page offers a robust list of available funding options.