www.sare.org publications transitioning-to-organic-production business-planning Business Planning As with any type of farming venture, your success with an organic operation will depend on your ability to be a good business manager. To be successful through the transition, you’ll want to be clear about your goals, the strategies that you put in place when making the switch and your ability to manage unexpected […]
www.sare.org publications transitioning-to-organic-production the-national-organic-program The National Organic Program In brief, the history of organic agriculture in the United States can be traced to traditional agricultural systems in India and their emphasis on maintaining soil health through the use of compost, green manures and deep-rooted crops. These systems were studied by the British scientist Sir Albert Howard, and the principles and practices were first […]
www.sare.org publications transitioning-to-organic-production why-go-organic Why Go Organic When farmers explain why they decided to make the transition to organic, they typically mention the importance of price premiums, environmental stewardship, health concerns related to antibiotic and pesticide use, and personal values. Charlie Johnson, who has been farming organically for decades near Madison, S.D., says he inherited his father’s principles when he took over […]
www.sare.org publications managing-stress sustaining-the-human-spirit-in-farm-country Sustaining the Human Spirit in Farm Country A course in skills-based suicide alertness prepared Ruth Linkenmeyer-Meirick for a desperate call from a friend. “She was going through a divorce, and she was so overcome by grief and sadness it was hard to talk with her,” says Meirick. “Had I not taken the course, I wouldn’t have known what to do.” Meirick was […]
www.sare.org publications scaling-up-your-vegetable-farm-for-wholesale-markets introduction Introduction With the popularity of local foods now spreading to even the largest retailers in the country, many farmers who have experience marketing their products directly to consumers are sensing an opportunity to grow. Working with new partners in the supply chain to distribute your products more widely can certainly come with its rewards, but it […]
www.sare.org publications scaling-up-your-vegetable-farm-for-wholesale-markets wholesale-marketing Wholesale Marketing Determining which markets and marketing strategies will work best for you is something you should thoroughly explore before investing in farm expansion. While buyers in the wholesale market share general characteristics as far as their emphasis on higher volumes and greater consistency of product quality and delivery compared to direct market channels, individually they’re unique […]
www.sare.org publications scaling-up-your-vegetable-farm-for-wholesale-markets assess-your-readiness-to-scale-up Assess Your Readiness to Scale Up The intention with this guide is to offer a brief look at the key issues to consider when thinking about scaling up to wholesale markets. You’ll need to explore much further by carefully assessing your position, conducting market research and talking with knowledgeable professionals. As you go forward with planning, take time to speak with […]
www.sare.org publications scaling-up-your-vegetable-farm-for-wholesale-markets clarify-your-mission-vision-and-goals Clarify Your Mission, Vision and Goals Before you go about studying specific market opportunities in your area and making contact with potential buyers, you should have a clear idea of what’s required when scaling up to wholesale and whether it aligns with the overall direction you want to take your farm. Like any major change you’re considering, you should make the […]
www.sare.org publications farmers-guide-to-business-structures chapter-3-sole-proprietorship-and-general-partnership-fundamentals implementing-best-practices-for-your-sole-proprietorship-or-general-partnership Implementing Best Practices for Your Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership Obtain required licenses and permits As mentioned above, certain registrations, licenses and permits may be required for sole proprietorships and general partnerships. These include the DBA registration form with your state or county agency, should you choose to usea name other than the name of the owners. In addition, most cities and many counties require […]
www.sare.org publications farmers-guide-to-business-structures chapter-3-sole-proprietorship-and-general-partnership-fundamentals preparing-a-partnership-agreement-for-a-general-partnership Preparing a Partnership Agreement for a General Partnership Sole proprietorships do not have organizing documents. This would be rather futile–there’s just one owner, so they get to make all the decisions for how to run the operation and don’t need guidelines on voting and such. However, partnerships have the option to create a partnership agreement to outline the relationship. The partnership agreement allows […]