How do I Learn More About Managing My Business?
As every farmer knows, planting and harvesting are only a small part of managing a farm. The resources below are gathered to answer your questions about managing your farm business.
What organizations can answer my business management questions or teach me more, or connect me to someone who can?
Where can I find webinars, fact sheets, and other helpful business management information?
How do I do the accounting for my farm?
How do I create a plan for my farm?
What do I need to know if my farm has employees?
What insurance does my farm need?
How do I find/ rent/ buy/ keep farmland?
Where can I learn more about my farm legal questions?
How do I keep financial, legal, and safety records for my farm?
How can I learn more about marketing my farm products?
What do I need to know about filing taxes for my farm?
What organizations can answer my business management questions or teach me more, or connect me to someone who can?
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Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) |
CRFS advances research, education and outreach to develop regionally integrated, sustainable food systems. |
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Crosshatch is building thriving place-based cultures and economies centered around regenerative agriculture, arts, craft, and light industry. |
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Farm Aid’s goal is to connect you with helpful services, resources and opportunities specific to your individual needs. This resource is available in English and Spanish. |
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MIFMA supports markets and vendors with education, technical assistance, and food access programming. |
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MIFFS connects beginning and historically underserved farmers to resources and peer networks and provides food safety/ GroupGAP and USDA navigation materials. |
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Michigan Good Food Fund provides flexible financing and tailored business assistance to support the success of food and farm entrepreneurs and to grow a more resilient, inclusive local food system. |
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MSU Extension brings trusted, research-backed knowledge to where it’s needed most: your home, your farm, your business, or your neighborhood. |
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The Michigan Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is a network that supports transitioning and organic farmers with mentorship, learning opportunities and resources. |
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Michigan State University Organic Farmer Training Program (OFTP) |
The Organic Farmer Training Program trains farmers through in-depth discussions, hands-on learning, and farm visits to make your farm dreams a reality. |
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The MSU Product Center supports innovation and growth for business, industry and entrepreneurs in food/beverage, agriculture, and natural resource sectors. |
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West Michigan Young Farmers Coalition advances the conversation around equitable land access in West Michigan and beyond to bring attention to vital resources needed to close the gap present for BIPOC farmers realizing their land ownership dreams and having the resources they need to thrive. |
Where can I find webinars, fact sheets, and other helpful business management information?
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The National Center for Appropriate Technology’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program supports farmers, ranchers, agriculture educators, and land managers at every stage of their agricultural journey. |
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ATTRA es una fuente fiable de información sobre agricultura sostenible y mantiene una base de conocimientos de recursos multimedia prácticos para los agricultores, ganaderos, y educadores. |
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These curated educational offerings cover basic, startup information for beginning farmers interested in engaging in new agricultural enterprises. |
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Apoyamos a los productores en todas las fases del desarrollo de pequeñas empresas agrícolas |
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The Black Farmer Fund nurtures black community wealth & health by investing in black agricultural systems in the Northeast. |
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MOFFA promotes organic agriculture, provides intensive trainings, and maintains organic farm resources. |
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Working across agricultural sectors and collaboratively through coalitions, the Rural Advancement Foundations combines on-the-ground practical services and policy advocacy to ensure farmers have access to the tools they need to make the right choices for their farms and families, as well as for their communities and the environment. |
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SCORE fosters vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. |
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Developing and Educating Managers and New Decision-makers (DEMaND) |
The DEMaND Series helps the next generation of farm operators develop into managers and decision-makers by providing resources on financial and business management strategies. |
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This page shows how the USDA can help you get started or grow your operation through a variety of programs and services, from farm loans to crop insurance, and conservation programs to disaster assistance. |
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MSU Extension assists farmers, businesses, industries, families and individuals improve lives and achieve their goals through an educational process that applies management, production and economic knowledge to critical issues. |
How do I do the accounting for my farm?
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Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) |
This series of five video recordings focuses on financial statements, an introduction to QuickBooks, supplemental financial statements that are often requested when applying for business loans, as well as an overview of record keeping and business taxes. canr.msu.edu/resources/accounting-for-food-businesses-webinars |
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This publication makes basic accounting approachable for people with little or no accounting experience and encourages new farmers to develop good recordkeeping habits at the outset. |
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Developing and Interpreting Your Financial Statements and Measures |
Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota |
This free online training course helps producers put together and understand the information in their financial financial statements. |
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This template and accompanying how-to video show how to record farm bank statements and accounting. |
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This collection of videos shares farm financial management videos by Florencia Colella, Farm Business Management Educator with Michigan State University Extension. mediaspace.msu.edu/channel/Florencia%20Colella%20-%20Farm%20Economics/162906181 |
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Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) |
This resource provides the steps needed to confidently apply for financing. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/loan-readiness-toolbox-for-food-and-farm-businesses |
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This program provides accounting and financial analysis support to farmers across the state of Michigan. We help take your farm records to the next level. |
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Understanding the Farm's Financial Health: Basic Components to a Successful Business |
This bulletin walks through the basic building blocks of a farm’s financial health to meet your farm goals. |
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This video series is designed for the farmer or rancher who wants to get comfortable with the basics of QuickBooks Online to take their farm or ranch business to the next level. californiafarmlink.org/resource-library/video-series-farmers-using-quickbooks-sign-up |
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This video guides farmers on how to benchmark their farm’s financial data. |
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Emerging Farmers Learning Series — Financial Fluency: How to Read the Numbers |
Andy Larson of Food Finance Institute led this presentation on basic business accounting and business management. canr.msu.edu/resources/emerging-farmers-learning-series-finance |
How do I create a plan for my farm?
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Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota |
This free tool for individual use was developed to help businesses develop a business plan. |
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The goal of this video and article series is to help farmers evaluate all aspects of an enterprise before they commit time and money. extension.psu.edu/business-and-operations/starting-a-farm/ag-alternatives |
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education |
This guide showcases how urban farms typically succeed through diversified income streams and collaborations with other farms and local businesses. sare.org/resources/best-practices-for-the-sustainable-urban-farm/ |
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Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farm and Rural Businesses |
U.S. Department of Agriculture North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education |
This guide brings the business planning process alive to help today's alternative and sustainable agriculture entrepreneurs transform farm-grown inspiration into profitable enterprises. |
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These videos focus on building enterprise budgets including the cost of production and profit. canr.msu.edu/videos/enterprise-budgeting-for-beginning-farm-decision-makers |
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This webinar guides farmers through the essential components of a strong, resilient organic farm business plan. |
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This course is designed to help producers identify the uncertainties that exist within farm businesses and how to achieve financial success through planning for and reacting to that uncertainty. |
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This program provides multi-crop vegetable farmers with a step-by-step process for determining their crop-specific costs of production and a framework for using cost of production information for business decision-making. |
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This training is designed to give food entrepreneurs the information needed to operate a successful food business. |
What do I need to know if my farm has employees?
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This video discusses what needs to be covered in an annual farm worker training, as outlined by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. |
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This template can be used to record the date, topics covered, and employees trained during your farm training session |
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Emerging Farmers Learning Series — HR: Hiring and Keeping Employees |
Carolina Puerta-Estevez of Human Resources - Bilingual International Services leads this presentation on HR: Hiring and Keeping Employees. |
What insurance does my farm need?
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This article highlights the many forms of risk management, including insurance, production diversification, and business structure. |
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This page offers introductory education of crop insurance, and guidance to the appropriate resources within USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA). |
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A list of dates that producers should become familiar with to maintain eligibility and ensure full crop insurance coverage. https://organicfarmersassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/dates_to_remember.pdf |
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Organic Farmers Association with Oregon Tilth and the USDA Risk Management Agency |
A video about Crop Insurance for Specialty Crop Producers. |
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Resources to learn from others’ experiences and ideas, as well as information regarding Risk Management Agency programs and how they might be part of your farm’s strategy for resilience in the face of extreme weather events. |
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Farm business revenue insurance information from MSU Extension. |
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This publication reviews the basics of crop insurance and how its use can benefit your farm. canr.msu.edu/resources/bulletin-e-3415-introduction-to-crop-insurance-for-field-crops |
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This article helps sustainable and organic producers understand and manage risks on diversified farms. |
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This publication reviews the basics of crop insurance and how its use can benefit your fruit farm. canr.msu.edu/resources/bulletin-e-3426-insurance-options-for-fruit-growers |
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This fact sheet provides an overview of federal crop insurance. cfra.org/sites/default/files/publications/crop-insurance-101.pdf |
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Emerging Farmers Learning Series — Legal: Intro to Farm Business Law and Liability Insurance |
Carolyn Johnson of LightStone Law leads this webinar offering an introduction to farm business law and liability insurance. canr.msu.edu/resources/emerging-farmers-learning-series-legal |
How do I find/ rent/ buy/ keep farmland?
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MI Farm Link secures Michigan’s agricultural heritage for future generations by bridging the gap between farmers seeking land with farmland owners. |
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This resource library contains valuable information on succession, farm business education and lending in one searchable location. |
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This factsheet is intended to help both landowners and producers work towards negotiating a reasonable rental value for farmland. |
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This collection of legal tools will help farmers make a plan for passing the farm business on. |
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Emerging Farmers Learning Series — Legal: Intro to Farm Business Law and Liability Insurance |
Carolyn Johnson of LightStone Law led this presentation that offered an introduction to farm business law and liability insurance. canr.msu.edu/resources/emerging-farmers-learning-series-legal |
Where can I learn more about my farm legal questions?
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Farm Commons provides legal workshops, timely resources, and a community for farmers, ranchers, and their service providers. |
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This short guide will help farmers understand legal farm succession tools for navigating wills, trusts and business structures. farmcommons.org/resources/books/wills-trusts-and-business-structures-for-farm-succession/ |
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Emerging Farmers Learning Series — Legal: Intro to Farm Business Law and Liability Insurance |
Carolyn Johnson of LightStone Law led this presentation that offered an introduction to farm business law and liability insurance. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/emerging-farmers-learning-series-legal |
How do I keep financial, legal, and safety records for my farm?
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This video focusing on collecting and organizing your farm records is part of a series about farm business financial management models. farms.extension.wisc.edu/articles/collecting-and-organizing-records/ |
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This fact sheet sheds light on the record keeping process, outlining how to keep records and what information ought to be kept. smallfarms.cornell.edu/guide/guide-to-farming/record-keeping/ |
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These tools assist with keeping good farm records and will help farmers develop enterprise and whole-farm budgets. |
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These tutorials show you how to navigate tools to keep and update farm records for the USDA. youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Oy58bSZgQFQe1pWsiPp_BjfmDY-72g5 |
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This collection of tools for record keeping assists farmers in record-keeping, an aspect of good farm management and may also be a requirement for many FSA programs. |
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How Organized Farm Records Make Life Easier And Get You Funded Faster |
This article explains the importance of farm records for accessing funding and what farm records lenders want kept. Common challenges, tools, and a checklist are included. https://www.farmraise.com/blog/how-organized-farm-records-make-life-easier-and-get-you-funded-faster |
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This guide shows farmers how to track inputs and labor to discover profit margin or breakeven costs by crop. https://extension.umn.edu/managing-farm-business/recordkeeping-specialty-crops |
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Recordkeeping Instructions and Templates for Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Growers |
This toolkit includes easy-to-follow instructions and templates to help small-scale fruit and vegetable growers keep accurate farm records. |
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Emerging Farmers Learning Series — Legal: Intro to Farm Business Law and Liability Insurance |
Carolyn Johnson of LightStone Law led this presentation that offered an introduction to farm business law and liability insurance. canr.msu.edu/resources/emerging-farmers-learning-series-legal |
How can I learn more about marketing my farm products?
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Branding and Marketing Self-Guided Course for Food and Farm Businesses |
This five-video course about branding and marketing is for food and farm entrepreneurs in the early stages of launching their business. canr.msu.edu/resources/branding-and-marketing-self-guided-course-for-food-and-farm-businesses |
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Marketing Fresh Produce via Direct to Consumer and Intermediated Markets |
This bulletin shares how to find market channels that may be a good fit for farmers as the demand for fresh produce continues to grow. |
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Internet es una herramienta de comunicación y marketing que puede exponer su granja a una gran cantidad de potenciales clientes. drive.google.com/file/d/1M081Bxivj2oKZ78zfilex_32xu7wewRv/view?usp=drive_link |
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Estas instituciones están cada vez más interesadas en comprar alimentos locales, lo que provee una nueva oportunidad de marketing para una granja de escala mediana a grande. drive.google.com/file/d/1wogmaHtf_k5P8Nok1xZO54x3W-Fyb771/view?usp=drive_link |
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This curated list of resources provide templates and guides for food and farm businesses to make creative, consistent, and brand standard media packages for social media, websites, newsletters, and more. canr.msu.edu/resources/emarketing-resource-suite-for-food-and-farm-businesses |
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Emerging Farmers Learning Series — Customer Insights & Marketing |
Erika Tebbens, Director of Impact at Taste the Local Difference, led this presentation on Customer Insights & Marketing. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/emerging-farmers-learning-series-customer-insights-marketing |
What do I need to know about filing taxes for my farm?
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This resource folder is an educational toolkit designed to help farmers, ranchers, and fishers prepare for tax season. |
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This resource reviews basic farm management concepts and how they may be affected by tax considerations. |
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Taking Care of Business: Understanding the Business, Tax, and Regulatory Implications of Your Farm |
This six-week course helps early stage farmers assess and manage a variety of risks that they will face such as insurance coverage, business structures and tax information. https://smallfarmcourses.com/p/bf-103-taking-care-of-business |
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This resources is an introduction to the schedule F form, and whether you need to file one. |
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