• Beginning Farmers Project

Guide to Farming in NYS:
What Every Ag Entrepreneur Needs to Know

Download the entire Guide (PDF) or as individual fact sheets (below)

This Guide, originally written in 2004 by Monika Roth and Jacob Schuelke, has been thoroughly expanded and reformatted into a compilation of fact sheets. It is an essential resource for new and existing farmers alike, providing answers to questions about taxes, business planning, labor law, zoning, regulations, marketing and many other topics that farmers need to know. Hard copies are being distributed to every county CCE office; contact your local office to request one.

You can download the entire Guide to Farming in NYS, or download only those fact sheets that are of interest. All documents are in PDF format and require free Adobe Acrobat for viewing.

Please share your feedback with us - this Guide will be periodically updated and will keep becoming a better resource with your contributions.

Start by reading How to Use this Guide

I - Considerations for Getting Started

1 - Finding a Farm to Buy or Lease - revised 11/26/08
2 - Climate and Soil Considerations - revised 11/26/08
3 - Infrastructure Considerations - revised 11/26/08
4 - Financing a Farm Operation - revised 11/26/08
5 - Farm Risk Management - revised 11/26/08
6 - Farm Insurance - revised 11/26/08
7 - Farm Vehicle Regulations
8 - Zoning Regulations & Farming
9 - Legal Aspects of Rural Living - revised 11/26/08
10 - Environmental Regulations - revised 11/26/08
11 - Forest Land Resources - revised 11/26/08

II - Business Considerations

12 - Business Plans - revised 11/26/08
13 - Business Structures
14 - Making Money
15 - Record Keeping
16 - Income Taxes
17 - Sales Tax Exemptions/Refunds
18 - Labor Laws - revised 11/26/08
19 - Payroll and Worker Documentation - revised 11/26/08
20 - Agricultural District Law Provisions
21 - Property Tax Exemption for Farmland
22 - Property Tax Exemptions for Farm Buildings - revised 11/26/08

III - Marketing Considerations

23 - Assessing Your Market Potential
24 - Pricing Farm Products - revised 11/26/08
25 - Finding Price Information - revised 11/26/08
26 - Direct Marketing Options - revised 11/26/08
27 - Marketing Regulations - revised 11/26/08
28 - Becoming a Small Scale Food Processor - revised 11/26/08
29 - Collecting Sales Tax on Farm Product Sales - revised 11/26/08
30 - Organic Certification

IV - Helpful Resources

31 - Grant Opportunities for Farmers
32 - Agricultural Agencies and Organizations
33 - Information Sources for Getting Started - revised 11/26/08

Feedback Form
Contact information for Cornell Cooperative Extension County offices