The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food (CAFF) Incubator exists to lower the barrier to entry for beginning farm business ownership. This 3-year program connects beginning farmers to land, equipment, and materials for very affordable rates. Farmers get the independence of running their own business within a supportive environment provided with on-demand technical assistance from experts in the field.

Incubator farmers will learn how to plan, produce, market, and sell fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers as independent farm business owners. Farmers will gain significant experience in:

• Skills for commercial vegetable and fruit crop production
• Business planning, cash flow management, and legal requirements for business incorporation
• Market identification and marketing essentials
• Equipment operation
• Farm management including recordkeeping and certification adherence

Applicants to the Farm Incubator should have no less than one year of farming experience.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and currently reside in the United States. Ideally, applicants will have graduated from the CAFF Farm School or have other extensive farmer training.

Farming is a physically demanding job, incubator farmers will be expected to:

• bend, kneel, squat, sit, and stand for repeated or extended time periods of time
• walk over farm obstacles and maneuver through uneven terrain
• move from a squat to a standing position unaided
• repeatedly lift and carry 20-50 lb

Environmental risk includes exposure to: 

• ticks, chiggars and other insects;
• dust and pollen;
• pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides;
• high temperature, humidity and winds;
• high UV exposure.

Applications open August 1 and close September 30. Space is limited. Candidates are selected by October 15.

If you require application accessibility assistance, contact CAFF.

Have a question? Connect with us. CAFF@uark.edu 

This program is located at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 1005 Meade, Fayetteville AR, 72704.

Enrollment ends on November 10, 2025. The Incubator field season will begin on March 15, 2026, and end on or about November 15, 2026.  For more information, please access the Incubator Handbook for a full program timeline

The program is currently offered at a deeply discounted rate. For a full description of fees, please access the Incubator Handbook.