Small Farms Funding Resources (in English)

This guide contains information about issues to consider before starting a farming operation with links to full-text guides on how to start a farm business, and develop business and marketing plans. It also contains information about funding sources for beginning farmers, training, technical assistance contacts, organizations with resources and programs for beginning and experienced farmers, and more.

Mary Louise Reynnells, Patricia LaCaille John | Mar 2018 | Online resource

Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses (in English)

Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses brings the business planning process alive to help today's alternative and sustainable agriculture entrepreneurs transform farm-grown inspiration into profitable enterprises. Sample worksheets lend a practical perspective and illustrate how real farm families set goals, researched processing alternatives, determined potential markets, and evaluated financing options. Blank worksheets help the reader develop a detailed, lender-ready business plan or map out strategies to take advantage of new opportunities.

Apr 2018 | Online resource

List of Alternative Crops & Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification--Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (in English)

This list of alternatives was compiled using AFSIC reference request files, the subject files in our office, as well as previously compiled lists, most notably "Innovative Farming Idea List," (1987) compiled by Nancy Grudens Schuck, Farming Alternatives Project, Cornell University and "Ideas for Alternative Agricultural Enterprises," (1996) put together by the Missouri Alternatives Center. This list is not comprehensive, but presents some of the more accessible innovations available to farmers.

Mary Gold, Rebecca S. Thompson | Feb 2017 | Online resource

National Agricultural Statistics Service (in English)

Detailed information on crops and returns for each state by commodity with some historical data. This site does not contain detailed information on some specialty crops.

Mar 2018 | Online resource

Web Soil Survey (in English)

The USDA Web Soil Survey is a tool where you can create a soil map of your property. You’ll be able to identify the types of soil and learn more about how they function such as the infiltration, available water holding capacity, depth, structure, and restrictive features or limitations like risk of erosion and compaction. Alternatively, contact the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, county Soil and Water Conservation District or local library for a paper copy of a local soil survey.

Apr 2018 | Online resource

Oregon Water Resources Department (in English)

Find out more about the water rights on you property.

Apr 2018 | Online resource

Oregon Agricultural Enterprise Budgets (in English)

Enterprise budgets can be used by producers, lenders, and others to estimate costs and returns for many crop and livestock enterprises. Budgets are available in PDF format, with some also in Excel. Search by region, county, and/or commodity for enterprise budgets to evaluate profitability of crops on your farm.

Apr 2018 | Online resource