Budgeting Tools
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center – Enterprise Budgeting Tools (scroll down to find vegetable & fruit budget tools. https://www.agmrc.org/business-development/operating-a-business
Specialty Crops Budget
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
The National Agricultural Statistics Service provides timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture.
Business Planning
Planning is essential to any business, no matter how large or small the inventory, payroll, and bank account. To be successful, farm operators must know their current position and future plans. Thinking about your plans is not enough! Taking time to formulate ideas, evaluate your business, devise a strategy, and anticipate possible problems will help your business be successful. This workbook was designed so that the thoughts and objectives for your business can be organized and thoroughly documented. In the long run, your business plan will serve many purposes, such as: defining a new business, setting goals and planning steps to achieve them, evaluating the effectiveness of business and marketing strategies, setting a direction for the business for the next five years, planning, growth and development for established businesses, and supporting a loan application.
California Farm Link https://www.californiafarmlink.org/resources/create-a-farm-business-plan/
Cornell Small Farms Program http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/plan-your-farm/planning-funding-your-farm-business/
Kansas State University – Building a Business Plan for Your Farm: Important First Steps http://www.agmanager.info/finance-business-planning/farm-business-transition-planning/building-business-plan-your-farm
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Farming (MISA) – A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses https://www.sare.org/publications/business/business.pdf
SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis is a tool that helps you evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) involved in any business enterprise, including farms and ranches.
University of Maryland https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/mredc/FarmBusinessPlanning-WEB.pdf
University of Minnesota – Ag Plan https://agplan.umn.edu/
Conservation
NRCS – Steps to Assistance https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/home/?cid=stelprdb1193811
Equipment, Seeds and Tools
Burpee Seeds https://www.burpee.com/
FarmTek https://www.farmtek.com/
Four Season Tools https://www.smallfarmtools.com/post-harvest
Gardener’s Supply Company https://www.gardeners.com/
Gempler’s safety equipment https://gemplers.com
Grainger replacement motors etc. https://www.grainger.com/
Green Heron Tools for Women https://www.greenherontools.com/
Harris Seeds http://harrisseeds.com/
Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Supplies, Tools and Tunnel Equipment https://www.johnnyseeds.com/
Kennco Manufacturing Inc. Small scale farm equipment https://ussmallfarm.com
Nolt’s Greenhouse Supplies LLC http://noltsgreenhousesupplies.com/
Nolt’s Produce Supplies LLC www.noltsproducesupplies.net/
Northern Tool Company https://www.northerntool.com/
Park Seed https://parkseed.com/
Tools for Small Scale Crop Production Video https://attra.ncat.org/tools-for-small-scale-crop-production/
US Small Farm Equipment Co – small farm potato equipment. https://ussmallfarm.com
FMNP
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture – FMNP Farmer information
Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program
https://wic.health.pa.gov/pawic/FarmerMarketNutritionProgram.aspx
Food Safety
Center for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/steps-healthy-fruits-veggies.html
Center for Produce Safety https://www.centerforproducesafety.org/
FDA – US Food & Drug Administration – https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma
Field and Harvest Procedures Video https://attra.ncat.org/field-and-harvest-procedures/
Food Safety A Farmer’s Perspective Video https://attra.ncat.org/food-safety-a-farmers-perspective-2/
Packing Shed Set Up and Wash Procedures Video https://attra.ncat.org/packing-shed-set-up-and-wash-procedures/
FSMA
FDA – USDA Food & Drug Administration) – Food Safety Modernization Act
Safe Food Alliance – the essential guide to FSMA
https://safefoodalliance.com/food-safety-resources/what-is-fsma/
Penn State Extension – FSMA website
https://extension.psu.edu/fsma
GAP (Good Agricultural Practices)
Internal GAP Audit Overview Video https://attra.ncat.org/the-internal-gap-audit-overview/
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CFSA_2019-FoodSafetyManual_Final.pdf
National Ag Law Center https://nationalaglawcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/articles/rrumley_foodsafety.pdf
Penn State Extension – FSMA Explanation https://extension.psu.edu/fsma
The Internal GAP Audit: General Questions Video https://attra.ncat.org/the-internal-gap-audit-overview/
The Internal GAP Audit: Scope Four the Storage and Transportation VIdeo https://attra.ncat.org/the-internal-gap-audit-scope-four-storage-and-transportation/
The Internal GAP Audit: Scope Three House Packing Facility Video https://attra.ncat.org/the-internal-gap-audit-scope-three-house-packing-facility/
The Internal GAP Audit: Scope Two Field Harvest and Field Packing Activities Video https://attra.ncat.org/the-internal-gap-audit-scope-two-field-harvest-and-field-packing-activities/
The Internal GAP Audit: Scope One the Farm Review Video https://attra.ncat.org/the-internal-gap-audit-scope-one-the-farm-review/
Grower information
Carolina Farm Stewardship Program – Great posts for farmers with excellent information https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/forgrowers/
Heat Recovery Ventilation in Winter High Tunnels Video https://attra.ncat.org/heat-recovery-ventilation-in-winter-high-tunnels/
High Tunnel – Cluster Grape Thinning Video https://attra.ncat.org/high-tunnel-grapes-cluster-thinning/
High Tunnel Grapes – Trellising and Training Video https://attra.ncat.org/high-tunnel-grapes-trellising-training/
High Tunnel – Grape Winter Pruning Video https://attra.ncat.org/high-tunnel-grapes-winter-pruning/
High Tunnel – Tomato Production https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seasonal-High-Tunnel-Guide-for-Organic-Tomato-Production.pdf
High Tunnel Micro Irrigation Guide https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/High-Tunnel-Micro-Irrigation-Guide.pdf
Infrastructure Tool Kit – Expansion information and financial resource information https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/InfrastructureToolkit_FINAL.pdf
Zimmerman’s High Tunnels and Greenhouses zimmermanshightunnels.com/
Hydroponics
Hydroponic Greenhouse Production Resource University of Massachusetts Amherst https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/hydroponic-systems
Hydroponic Greenhouse Virtual Field Day University of Florida http://vfd.ifas.ufl.edu/hydroponic-greenhouse.shtml
Hydroponic Grow Supplies Hydrobuilder https://hydrobuilder.com/hydroponics.html
Hydroponics Store HTG Supply https://www.htgsupply.com/
Hydroponic Supplies, Aguaponics Supplies FarmTek https://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1a;ft_hydroponic_supplies.html
Hydroponic Systems University of Massachusetts Amherst https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/hydroponic-systems
HYDROTEK HYDROPONICS Hydroponic Equipment Distributor https://www.hydrotekhydroponics.com/
Opportunities in Hydroponics Purdue University https://ag.purdue.edu/hla/fruitveg/Presentations/Langenhoven_Hydroponics_IVGS2016b.pdf
The Vertical Farm Feeding the World in the 21st Century Dr. Dickson Despommier, Environmental Health Science of Columbia University http://www.verticalfarm.com/
Vertical Farming https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/download.php?id=512
Incubators and Apprenticeships – new grower training opportunities
Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship – https://pasafarming.org/soil-institute/farmer-training-development/dva-home/
The Horn Farm Center for Agriculture Education – https://hornfarmcenter.org/
The Seed Farm – http://shfblv.org/theseedfarm/?fbclid=IwAR2wi0wXKs6eAxR59uwE-SmZ4k-7g9T7fwtkvht0Dl2fwkjBomClAPPOybc
Legal
EPA: Laws and Regulations that Apply to Farms
https://www.epa.gov/agriculture/laws-and-regulations-apply-your-agricultural-operation-farm-activity
USDA: Agriculture Law Information
https://www.nal.usda.gov/aglaw/agricultural-law-information-partnership
Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp information
https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/industrial_hemp/Pages/default.aspx
Blog: The Farm Bill, hemp legalization and the status of CBD: An explainer
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/12/14/the-farm-bill-hemp-and-cbd-explainer/
Penn State Agricultural and Shale Law Center – Agricultural Law Library
http://pennstatelaw.libguides.com/aglawcenterrhome/aglawcenterresourceareas
Marketing
Aggie Horticulture Network https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/guides/texas-vegetable-growers-handbook/chapter-ii-marketing/
Beginning Specialty Crop Farmer Marketing Guide – A resource guide to improve marketing opportunities for “Beginning Specialty Crop” Farmers, by PA Farm Link.
Farmers Market Coalition – many great resources for farmers markets. https://farmersmarketcoalition.org
Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention http://mafvc.org/.
PA Farm – Provides resources, education, and services to grow and improve markets. https://pafarm.com/?fbclid=IwAR0Gi1BPKmXlFlE8Z_J42xlEYUgqeV-zp8WlG3qdYIbtz3F0PSeBuAdRS8s
PA FarmMarket – Fruit and Vegetable Marketing for Small-Scale and Part-Time Growers https://extension.psu.edu/fruit-and-vegetable-marketing-for-small-scale-and-part-time-growers
PA Veggies.org http://www.paveggies.org/
Penn State Extension – Vegetable Marketing for Small Scale and Part-time Growers https://extension.psu.edu/fruit-and-vegetable-marketing-for-small-scale-and-part-time-growers
Real Fruit & Vegetable Marketing Guide (from California) http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/234-2083.pdf
Top 20 Fruits & Vegetables Sold in the US https://www.pma.com/content/articles/2017/05/top-20-fruits-and-vegetables-sold-in-the-us
Vegetable Fact Sheets
Bean, Cabbage, Cucumber, Kale, Lettuce, Peas, Garlic, Eggplant
Vegetable Recipes
Bean, Cabbage, Cucumber, Kale, Lettuce, Peas, Garlic, Eggplant
Organic Production
Organic Certification Cost Share Program – A program through the Farm Bill that provides reimbursement for 75% of USDA Organic Certification costs up to $750 through submission to PA Department of Agriculture (or your state’s department of agriculture). This is a reimbursement program; you must submit the required application along with all required pertinent documents to the PA Department of Agriculture organic cost share representative to qualify and receive the cost care. For more information please contact mbrookins@pa.gov or call 717-787-5319 at the PA Department of Agriculture.
Organic Farming Research Foundation https://ofrf.org/
Organic Pesticides http://npic.orst.edu/ingred/organic.html
Organic Sound and Sensible: What to Expect at an Organic Vegetable Farm Inspection Video https://attra.ncat.org/organic-sound-and-sensible-what-to-expect-at-an-organic-vegetable-farm-inspection/
Rodale Institute https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-farming-practices/soil-health/
Rodale Institute’s Transition to Organic – Rodale Institute’s farmer consulting services will assist farmers interested in transitioning from conventional to organic agriculture in areas such as certification, crop rotation planning, recordkeeping, marketing, equipment advice, weed control methods, soil sampling, seed sourcing and more. Aiming to take a more active role in supporting organic farmers on the ground, Rodale Institute brings over 70 years of expertise to the table through research and education. While this program is offered to farmers nationwide, Rodale Institute’s consulting services are free to Pennsylvania farmers.
https://rodaleinstitute.org/blog/organic-resources-free-for-pa-farmers/
The Organic Center https://www.organic-center.org/
Production Certification
Certified Naturally Grown – https://www.cngfarming.org/
FairTSA Certification – https://2b1ad7bc-7a27-4ce7-98d6-83a2ba4a3db5.filesusr.com/ugd/edefb6_f4ac52129dab40c7b8b82d01f41c23c1.pdf
Organic Certification – https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/becoming-certified
Risk Management
Organic Farming and Crop Insurance Options Video https://attra.ncat.org/organic-farming-and-crop-insurance-options/
Risk management Crop Insurance https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/RMALocal/Pennsylvania
Understanding Whole Farm Insurance for Specialized, Diversified and Organic Farms Video https://attra.ncat.org/understanding-whole-farm-insurance-for-specialized-diversified-and-organic-farms/
Soil Health
Iowa State University Small Farm Sustainability https://www.extension.iastate.edu/smallfarms/soil-health-vegetable-crops
Soil Foodweb Inc. – Dr. Elaine Ingham https://www.soilfoodweb.com/
Soil Health Institute https://soilhealthinstitute.org/
The Soil Biology Primer https://extension.illinois.edu/soil/SoilBiology/soil_biology_primer.htm
Weeds
https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/weeding-between-the-lines/#more-30244
Wolfpack Weeds, NC State University Department of Horticulture Science – http://www.wolfpackweeds.com/index.php