Budgets, selling what you raise, records and the rules that come with it. Every guide lists its sources and who to ask locally.
- Starting a Small Farm BusinessA first-steps guide to turning a hobby farm into a business: test the idea, check local rules, set up records, and ask…
- Farm Business Plan BasicsHow to write a simple farm business plan: goals, products, markets, labor, equipment and cash flow, and how to use it…
- Choosing a Farm Enterprise MixHow to choose and combine farm enterprises, from vegetables and eggs to livestock and value-added goods, based on…
- Pricing Farm ProductsHow to set prices for farm products by knowing your costs, researching your market, and adjusting without guessing or…
- Cost of Production for VegetablesWork out what a vegetable crop really costs, from seed and soil to labor and packing, using categories and records…
- Cost of Production for EggsWork out what a dozen eggs really costs by counting feed, housing, replacement birds, losses, packaging and your own…
- Cost of Production for MeatBreak down what raising meat animals really costs, from feed and housing to processing, losses and labor, so you can…
- Record Keeping for Small FarmsWhich records a small farm should keep, how to set up simple systems for money, production, animals and compliance…
- Farm Bookkeeping BasicsA plain guide to farm bookkeeping: separate accounts, categories, cash and accrual ideas, monthly routines and when to…
- Farm Accounting Software OptionsCompare the types of farm accounting tools, from paper ledgers and spreadsheets to general and farm-specific software…
- Schedule F Tax BasicsA plain-English orientation to Schedule F, the federal form for farm income and expenses, with the questions to take…
- Farm Deductions and ExpensesHow to track farm expenses by category, keep proof for each one, and bring the right questions about deductions to a…
- Quarterly Taxes for Small FarmsWhy farm income can mean estimated tax payments, how to plan cash for them, and what to ask a tax professional.…
- Farm Insurance BasicsHow farm insurance works in general: what homeowner policies may leave out, kinds of coverage to ask about, and how to…
- Liability Risk on Small FarmsUnderstand common liability risks on small farms, from visitors and animals to food sales, and how to reduce them.…
- Selling at Farmers MarketsHow to get into a farmers market, what to ask the manager and local offices, how to choose products and sell well…
- Farmers Market Booth SetupPlan a farmers market booth that is quick to set up, easy to shop and secure in wind, with a packing list and a…
- CSA Models for Small FarmsCompare common ways to run community supported agriculture, from traditional shares to flexible credits, and see which…
- Running a CSA SuccessfullyPractical steps for running a CSA season well: planning crops, packing shares, talking with members, handling…
- Farm Stand BasicsHow to start a roadside farm stand: location, local rules, safe food handling, honor-box payments, signs, stocking and…
- Roadside Stand RegulationsLearn which local and state offices set the rules for a roadside farm stand, what to ask them, and how to plan a stand…
- Online Sales for Farm ProductsA practical look at selling farm products online: choosing a model, handling payments, shipping and delivery, and…
- Building a Farm WebsitePlan a simple, useful farm website: what to include, how to keep it current, and how to avoid common mistakes that…
- Social Media Marketing for FarmsPlan a manageable social media routine for a small farm: choose a platform, decide what to post, protect your time and…
- Farm Branding BasicsUnderstand what a farm brand really is, how to define it, and how to apply a name, logo and story consistently without…
- Photography for Farm MarketingTake clear, honest farm photos with the camera you already own: lighting, subjects, safety, permissions and a simple…
- Writing Product DescriptionsWrite clear, honest farm product descriptions that answer buyer questions, follow label rules and avoid vague or…
- Customer Communication for FarmsBuild simple habits for communicating with farm customers: set expectations, send timely updates, handle problems and…
- U-Pick Operation BasicsPlan a u-pick farm: choose crops, set up parking and picking rules, manage safety and liability questions, and check…
- Agritourism BasicsLearn what agritourism is, which activities fit a small farm, and how to plan for rules, liability, safety and visitor…
- Farm Tours and EventsPlan farm tours and events with a clear purpose, safe layout, realistic staffing and the right checks on permits…
- Selling to RestaurantsLearn how small farms can approach restaurant buyers: what chefs expect, how to price and deliver, and what food…
- Selling to Grocery StoresWhat small farms should know before selling to grocery stores: buyer expectations, pricing, packing, food safety and…
- Food Hub BasicsUnderstand what a food hub does for small farms, how to evaluate one, and what questions to ask about pricing…
- Cooperative Marketing for FarmsLearn how farm marketing cooperatives work, what they offer small farms, and what to ask about governance, costs…
- Wholesale Pricing for Small FarmsSet wholesale prices that cover your real costs: know your cost per unit, understand buyer margins and build terms…
- Packaging and Labeling RulesUnderstand how farm product packaging and labeling rules work: why they vary, which offices to ask, and what…
- Food Safety for Market FarmsBuild basic food safety habits for a market farm: hygiene, water, soil amendments, cleaning, cold chain, records and…
- GAP Certification BasicsLearn what Good Agricultural Practices certification is, why some buyers ask for it, and how small farms can decide…
- Cottage Food Business BasicsUnderstand how cottage food rules work for home-made foods: why they differ by state, what to ask, and how to plan…
- Value-Added ProductsThink through value-added farm products: choosing what to make, understanding the rules, planning costs and testing…
- Starting a Small CreameryUnderstand the steps, rules and costs of a small on-farm creamery: planning, regulators, facility, milk quality…
- Starting a Small Poultry BusinessPlan a small poultry business: choose eggs or meat, check processing and sales rules, protect flock health and budget…
- Starting a Small Meat BusinessPlan a small meat business: understand inspection categories, custom processing, labeling, sales channels, costs and…
- Starting a Flower FarmPlan a small cut flower farm: choose a site and crops, work out markets and costs, handle postharvest basics and check…
- Starting a Herb BusinessA practical guide to starting a small herb business: choosing products, picking herbs, listing startup costs, checking…
- Starting a Beekeeping BusinessThinking about turning hives into income? Learn the steps, costs, rules and skills to check before you start a small…
- Starting a Mushroom BusinessA grounded look at starting a mushroom business: production methods, space, startup cost categories, food safety rules…
- Starting a Nursery BusinessConsidering a plant nursery on your land? Learn how to choose a niche, plan space and water, list costs and check…
- Starting an Egg BusinessWant to sell eggs from your flock? Understand the cost categories, local egg sales rules, flock planning and handling…
- Equipment Financing for Small FarmsHow to think about financing tractors and farm equipment: compare buy, lease, used and shared options, understand loan…
- Farm Loans BasicsA plain guide to how farm loans work: types of lenders, what they ask for, how to prepare an application and how to…
- Grants for Small FarmsWhat to know about farm grants: where they come from, how to find real ones, what to prepare and why they are slower…
- Cost-Share Programs for Small FarmsLearn how cost-share programs help pay for conservation and farm improvements, who runs them, how to apply and what to…
- Budgeting for Farm ProjectsA step-by-step way to budget a farm project, from listing every cost and getting quotes to adding contingency and…
- Cash Flow Planning for FarmsLearn how to build a month-by-month cash flow plan for a small farm so you can see shortfalls early, time purchases…
- Break-Even Analysis for Small FarmsA plain-English guide to break-even analysis: what it measures, how to figure break-even price and volume from your…
- Farm Profitability BenchmarksWhat farm profitability benchmarks are, where to find reliable ones and how to compare your small farm fairly without…
- Managing Farm DebtA calm guide to managing farm debt: list what you owe, set priorities, talk with lenders early and find qualified help…
- Farm Succession BasicsAn introduction to farm succession: why to start early, how to talk with family, what to sort out about land, money…
- Hiring Farm EmployeesWhat to settle before hiring help on a small farm: whether you need an employee, the rules to check, how to find and…
- Managing Farm InternsHow to run a farm internship that is fair and workable: the legal questions to ask, structuring learning, housing…
- Farm Labor EfficiencyPractical ways to get more done with the same hours on a small farm: tracking time, fixing layout, batching tasks and…
- Time Management on HomesteadsPractical time management for homesteaders: separating daily chores from projects, planning by season, protecting rest…
- Prioritizing Farm ProjectsA simple method to rank farm and homestead projects by safety, animal welfare, cost, payoff and effort so you spend…
- Farm Inventory ManagementHow to keep track of feed, seed, supplies, tools and products on a small farm with a simple system that prevents…
- Buying Supplies WholesaleHow small farms can lower supply costs by buying in bulk, joining buying groups and using distributors, and when bulk…
- Reducing Farm WastePractical ways to cut waste on a small farm: unsold product, packaging, feed losses, worn tools and manure, with safe…
- Farm Energy Cost ManagementA practical approach to managing farm energy costs: measuring use, finding the biggest loads, low-cost changes…
- Marketing Calendar for FarmsHow to build a simple year-round marketing calendar for a small farm, tying messages and tasks to your growing season…
- Seasonal Sales PlanningPlan your farm's sales around the growing year: map what you will have, when, where it sells best, and how to fill the…
- Customer Retention for FarmsKeep customers coming back to your farm with reliable quality, simple communication, honest feedback and small habits…
- Handling Complaints and ReturnsSet a fair complaint and return policy before you need one, so a bad egg, a wilted bunch or a missed pickup is handled…
- Farm Business Insurance ReviewReview your farm insurance once a year: what is covered, what is not, how sales and visitors change your risk, and…
- Legal Basics for Farm SalesKnow which offices to contact before you sell food or farm products: licensing, labeling, zoning, taxes and liability…
- Contracts for Farm ProductsLearn what belongs in a written agreement for selling farm products, how to read a buyer's contract, and when to ask a…
- Invoicing and Payment SystemsSet up simple invoicing and payment habits so wholesale buyers pay on time and your records stay clean for tax season…
- Accepting Cards at MarketsLearn the basics of taking card and benefit payments at a farmers market: equipment choices, fees, rules and how to…
- Farm Business Exit PlanningPlan how you will step away from your farm business, whether by selling, passing it on or winding it down, and start…
- Annual Farm Business ReviewSet aside time each year to review your records, costs, sales and goals, and decide what to keep, change or drop for…