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Cornell University
The primary function of the AIC is to help ag producers add value to what they produce (i.e., via product branding; product quality enhancement; on-farm, first-stage product transformation; finding higher-value uses for manure and crop by-products). Business planning assistance will be a key element of all activities.
If you are in a farm business in New York State that is producing (or considering producing) a value-added product, the AIC may be able to help. AIC projects include: business structure; business planning assistance; economic and environmental manure solutions; IPM foods and Trac software; value-added crop enhancement; value-added dairy (specialty cheeses); value-added horticulture.
If you have questions about the AIC, contact nyaic@cornell.edu.
Cornell University
This site guides you to industry-specific small business resources available to you at Cornell University. It also provides links to online resources that offer general business information and advice. Resource areas include apparel, agriculture, community development, entrepreneurship, food, hospitality and tourism, and technology.
E-mail: smallbiz@cornell.edu
Eddy LaDue, Department of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, 2002
A list of key factors leading to success on small farms. Based on a survey of successful small farms. Article is in PDF format.
Department of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University
A program in the Department of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. Places emphasis on adaptation of new technologies to enhance productivity while maintaining environmental quality and sustainability.
Contact Wen-fei Uva, Senior Extension Associate, at (607) 255-3688 or wl32@cornell.edu for more information.
The publication is a collection of case studies written by educators who participated the Savory Center's 2001 Northeast Holistic Management Certified Educator Training Program, and was funded by Northeast Sustainable Agriculture & Research (SARE) and Growing New Farmers. The educators compiled case studies about the farmers and farms with which they worked in the 2 years following their training, to determine how Holistic Management had helped improve farm management, particularly in the context of Whole Farm Planning. Case studies of beginning and new farmers, as well as agricultural educators, are included.
Individual case studies and accompanying material may be downloaded in PDF format, or printed copies may be purchased for $10 from the Savory Center.
Kent Olson, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, December 2001
This staff paper explains the basic process of strategic management. This involves developing a vision of what you want your farm to be in the future, describing the farm's current mission, setting objectives, understanding your chosen industry and your farm's place within that industry, identifying the major advances of building and maintaining strategic advantage for your farm, crafting and testing a strategy for your farm, implementing that strategic plan, evaluating performance, reviewing new developments, and making corrective adjustments, as needed, in the plan and its implementation. Publication is in PDF format.
Deb Heleba, David Major, Bill Snow, Center for Sustainable Agriculture, University of Vermont, 2002
Provides farmers and landowners with some of the basics involved in putting together an effective agreement to keep the state's "working landscape" open and productive. Includes descriptions of three types of agreements -- verbal, lease, and letter of agreement -- and considerations on liability, current use taxation, and Accepted Agricultural Practices (AAPs).
8 pages. Single copies free; multiple copies may require S&H fee.
To order, contact:
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Agricultural Engineering Bldg.
63 Carrigan Dr.
Burlington, VT 05405
Phone: (802) 656-5459
E-mail: sustainable.agriculture@uvm.edu
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service
Including AG101: Introduction to Small Scale Farming. 20 factsheets that cover business planning, enterprise selection, and production information.
West Virginia University Extension Service
Designed to help managers consider different options and gather the necessary information to make decisions. Also includes spreadsheet templates and market information.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Set goals and monitor changes in the land, in the balance sheet, and in your family and community to achieve success on your terms.
Scott Barao, Janet P. Hughes, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, 1999
The information in this factsheet provides the basis for decisionmaking principles for managers and operators of part-time farm businesses in the Northeast United States.
Erlin Weness, University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center, August 2001
Farm machinery costs make up 20-30% of the annual per acre cost of producing corn and soybeans on Minnesota farms. But spreading the ownership costs between 2 or more farms can reduce these costs.
An assistance and referral organization that provides free confidential consultations on your farm business management questions, plus over 250 publications on various topics related to farming.
Phone: 1-800-547-FARM (3276)
University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service
A business management curriculum that teaches a concept of management which provides practical tools for integrating management of the physical, biological, financial, and human resources of agricultural operations. WIRE emphasizes the process of management -- setting goals, priorities, making decisions, planning, budgeting, keeping records, and performing evaluations -- with personal goals in mind, rather than particular production technologies. The process begins by setting goals, which provides the manager with a clear focus on what he/she wants to accomplish through the operation and a view of how it can be done.
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
This publication outlines considerations for several types of farm business arrangements as well as discussing the pros and cons of each arrangement.
Site offers resources on business planning, diversification, leadership, marketing, risk management, and more.
Canadian Farm Business Management Council
75 Albert St.
Suite 903
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1P 5E7
Phone: 1-888-232-3262 (toll-free from anywhere in North America) or (613) 237-9060
Fax: 1-800-270-8301 (toll-free) or (613) 237-9330
E-mail: council@cfbmc.com
U.S. Small Business Administration
A selection of free online courses for those interested in small businesses. Topics covered include business development, e-commerce, financing, procurement opportunities, etc.
Penn State University, Dairy Digest
An article on solving the conflict of interest between family and business in a farm family business. Article is in PDF format.
Penn State University, Dairy Digest
An article on the importance of making good decisions based on accurate information through good record keeping. Shows the importance of analyzing production and financial records. Article is in PDF format.
1991
This 280-page general guide to the role and utilization of farm management techniques in today's agriculture provides data and budgets for livestock and poultry, farm groups, and fruit and vegetable operations.
$12. For more information, contact Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.