Project Products

Selling at a Farmers Market

This plain language guide guide explains how to begin selling at a farmers' market, including choosing a market, applying for space, designing displays, setting prices, making sales and keeping records.

Applying for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

This plain language guide introduces readers to the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and explains eligibility for EQIP, how to apply and how the money can be used.

Dairy Your Way

This publication was created to provide information that will help producers explore the many choices available for today’s dairy farms. This book is not intended to be a how-to dairy guide or manual. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer for dairy farmers seeking success as milk producers, there are many options that can be profitable and satisfying.

High Tunnels

This manual on using high tunnels or hoop houses for season extension includes case studies, a supplier list and chapters on marketing, site selection, construction and types, and soil, pest and environmental management.

Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Systems for Organic Vegetable Production

This information sheet captures research by Virginia Tech and the Virginia Association for Biological Farming to develop cover crop-based, reduced-tillage systems for organic vegetable production.

Farm to School Training Toolkit

Resources for ag educators and community leaders who are starting a farm to school program.

Managing Risks on the Small Farm

This plain language guide explains the five types of risk—production, marketing, worker, legal and financial—and provides worksheets.

Harvesting Crops for Market

This plain language guide has information on when to harvest vegetables, how to prepare produce for harvest, and safe handling of produce after harvest.

Financing the Farm: Applying for an FSA Loan

This plain language guide has information on the types of FSA loans available, and includes instructions for applying and developing a business plan.

Guide to USDA's NASS End of Season Fruit and Vegetable Inquiry

This plain language helps farmers complete the USDA-NASS End of Season Fruit and Vegetable Survey. The guide explains the survey's purpose and step-by-step instructions for completing the forms.

Using Manually Operated Seeders for Precision Cover Crop Plantings on the Small Farm

This information sheet describes research in Virginia on using inexpensive, manually operated seeders to establish consistent cover crop stands.

Cover Crops for All Seasons

This Virginia Association for Biological Farming information sheet provides research-based information on a cover crop “toolbox” from which growers can select cover crops most suited to their regions and production systems.

Cover Cropping: On-Farm, Solar-Powered Soil Building

This information sheet gives an overview of how to use cover crops to maintain good levels of nutrients and organic matter in the soil.

12 Aprils Grazing Dairy Program

Tom Trantham's Twelve Aprils grazing program has been part of three Southern Region SARE projects. Tom has influenced scores of experienced and beginning dairy farmers through presentations at conferences and magazine stories. This online manual addresses the most often asked questions about his system.

Greenhouse IPM with an Emphasis on Biocontrols

This in-depth manual was designed to help commercial greenhouse growers implement biological control and integrated pest management (IPM).