Planning & Management

Small farms face serious problems in this complex and dynamic production and marketing system. These farmers often make management decisions without fully considering such components as cost of production, financing, market demand, associated farm risk, and profitability of return on investment. Knowledge about and integration of all levels of production and marketing systems are required to improve profitability and viability. More...

• Getting Started
  Taxes, budget planning, financial management, equipment, sustainability, and alternative enterprises.
• Agriculture Loans and Grants
  USDA loans and grants, cost share programs, and SARE funding opportunities.
• Community Supported Agriculture
  Resources for Community Supported Agriculture
• Enterprise Budgets
  Guides and information on budgets
• Farm Safety
  Children, animals, food, and equipment.
• Farmers' Markets
  Bylaws, rules, insurance, accepting food stamps, and farmers' markets on the Web.
• Marketing
  Price reports, marketing strategies, direct marketing, and value-added agriculture.
• Postharvest Handling
  Food safety, handling, packaging, cooling, and storage.
• Regulations
  Labor regulations, direct marketing regulations, and risk management regulations.
• Success Stories
  Cultivating schools as customers and establishing credit.