Browse resources

Beginning Farmers

Cornell Small Farms Program

Mar 2018 | Online resource

USDA New Farmers

National Agricultural Library, USDA

Mar 2018 | Online resource

National Agricultural Statistics Service

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

Small Farms Funding Resources

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

Growing Farms: Successful Whole Farm Management

Successful Whole Farm Management provides farmers with the tools and knowledge needed to develop and manage a successful farm business. This course is intended for people who are considering starting a farm business, those within their first five years of farming and others who may be considering major changes to their farm business.

Mar 2018 | Online resource

Breaking new ground: Farmer perspectives on organic transition

This publication explains the positive affects of organic farming, while also presenting farmer perspectives about the transition as well.

Lauren Gwin, Garry Stephenson, Chris Schreiner, Sarah Brown | Mar 2017 | Online resource

Organic Crop Production Enterprise Budgets

Enterprise budgets help to allocate land, labor and capital, which are limited, to the most appropriate use. The most appropriate use is defined by the person in control of the resources and may be used to maximize profits, minimize soil loss, or to achieve other goals.

Craig Chase, Alice Topaloff, Kathleen Delate | Apr 2016 | Online resource

Community Supported Agriculture

This publication reports on the history of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the U.S. and discusses the various models that have emerged. Recent trends in the CSA movement are presented and demographic information provided about the distribution of CSA farms in the U.S. Several CSA cases are profiled and a survey of recent research is presented. References and resources follow the narrative.

Katherine L. Adam | Apr 2006 | Online resource

Beef Marketing Alternatives

This publication explores marketing alternatives for small-scale cattle ranchers who would like to add value to the beef they produce. Part One discusses methods to add value within the conventional marketing system, including retained ownership and cooperative marketing. Part Two introduces alternative marketing strategies, including niche markets for "natural," lean, and organic beef. Production considerations for pasture-finished beef are given special attention. A section on direct marketing focuses on connecting with consumers and developing a product. Processing and legal issues are also covered. This publication also provides information on developing prices for retail beef based on wholesale prices and desired mark-up, and for determining carcass value. A list of resources provides suggestions for further reading, contact information for several producers and marketers of "alternative" beef, and Web pages of interest.

Anne Fanatico, Lee Rinehart | Apr 2006 | Online resource