Newsletters
XML Feeds
Marketing, Business & Risk Management
 |
No matter what you grow, you'll need to sell it at a profit if you're going to stay in business. These resources can guide agricultural business planning and help farmers manage the amount of risk in their enterprises. In addition, some of these resources offer advice on diversifying, developing new markets and adding value to farm products to increase income. Several categories of publications are offered:
- Organic Marketing and Labeling
- Direct Marketing Options
- Value-added and Processing
- Business Planning and Management
- Funding
- Risk Management
- Other Marketing Topics
- Cooperatives
NOTE: Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Acrobat Reader.
Organic Marketing and Labeling
| Completing Your Application for Organic Certification | Summary [HTML] [PDF/860K] |
| Eco-Labeled Foods: Profit or Problems | available only by calling 1-800-346-914 |
| Marketing Organic Grains | Summary [HTML] [PDF/770K] |
| National Organic Program Compliance Checklist for Handlers | Summary [HTML] [PDF/482K] |
| National Organic Program Compliance Checklist for Producers | Summary [HTML] [PDF/409K] |
| NCAT's Organic Crops Workbook: A Guide to Sustainable and Allowed Practices | Summary [HTML] [PDF/433K] |
| NCAT's Organic Livestock Workbook: A Guide to Sustainable and Allowed Practices | Summary [HTML] [PDF/374K] |
| Organic Certification Process | Summary [HTML] [PDF/455K] |
| Organic Farm Certification & the National Organic Program | Summary [HTML] [PDF/190K] |
| Organic Field Crops Documentation Forms | Summary [HTML] [PDF/241K] |
| Organic Livestock Documentation Forms | Summary [HTML] [PDF/188K] |
| Organic Marketing Resources | Summary [HTML] [PDF/691K] |
| Organic Orchard, Vineyard, and Berry Crop Documentation Forms | Summary [HTML] [PDF/121K] |
| Preparing for an Organic Inspection: Steps and Checklists | Summary [HTML] [PDF/622K] |
Direct Marketing Options
| Community Supported Agriculture | Summary [HTML] [PDF/806K] |
| Entertainment Farming and Agri-Tourism | Summary [HTML] [PDF/542K] |
| Montana Farmers Market EBT Manual | Summary [HTML] [PDF/1.4M] |
| New Markets for Your Crops | Summary [HTML] [PDF/1.4M] |
| Selling to Restaurants | Summary [HTML] [PDF/945K] |
Value-Added and Processing
| Adding Value through Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship: Overview and Resources | Summary [HTML] [PDF/558K] |
| Adding Value to Farm Products: An Overview | Summary [HTML] [PDF/524K] |
| Edamame: Vegetable Soybean | Summary [HTML] [PDF/439K] |
| Grain Processing: Adding Value to Farm Products | Summary [HTML] [PDF/206K] |
| Keys to Success in Value-Added Agriculture | Summary [HTML] [PDF/620K] |
| Oilseed Processing for Small-Scale Producers | Summary [HTML] [PDF/889K] |
| Organic Standards for Handling (Processing): Highlights of the USDA's National Organic Program Regulations | Summary [HTML] [PDF/693K] |
| Small-Scale Egg Handling | Summary [HTML] [PDF/1.3M] |
| Sorghum Syrup | Summary [HTML] [PDF/57K] |
| Soyfoods: Adding Value to Soybeans | Summary [HTML] [PDF/989K] |
| Value-added Dairy Options | Summary [HTML] [PDF/288K] |
Business Planning and Management
| Agricultural Business Planning Templates and Resources | Summary [HTML] [PDF/274K] |
| Beyond Basic Compensation | Summary [HTML] [PDF/2.5M] |
| Conservation Easements | Summary [HTML] [PDF/176K] |
| Enterprise Budgets and Production Costs for Organic Production | Summary [HTML] [PDF/844K] |
| Evaluating a Rural Enterprise | Summary [HTML] [PDF/300K] |
| Finding Land to Farm: Six Ways to Secure Farmland | Summary [HTML] [PDF/1.5M] |
| Moving Beyond Conventional Cash Cropping | Summary [HTML] [PDF/1.1M] |
| Positive Practices in Farm Labor Management | Summary [HTML] [PDF/1.3M] |
| Start a Farm in the City | Summary [HTML] [PDF/2.3M] |
Funding
| Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities | Summary [HTML] [PDF/1.6M] |
| Federal Resources for Sustainable Farming and Ranching | Summary [HTML] [PDF/812K] |
Search ATTRA's Funding Opportunities Database
Where Else Can I Find Agricultural Funding Resources?
Grassroots Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill
Risk Management
Agricultural Risk Management - English and Spanish Curriculum
Organic Certification for Southern Farmers
| Beyond Basic Compensation | Summary [HTML] [PDF/2.5M] |
| Conservation Easements | Summary [HTML] [PDF/176K] |
| Positive Practices in Farm Labor Management | Summary [HTML] [PDF/1.3M] |
Other Marketing Topics
| Beef Marketing Alternatives | Summary [HTML] [PDF/772K] |
| Grazing Contracts for Livestock | Summary [HTML] [PDF/775K] |
| Green Markets for Farm Products | Summary [HTML] [PDF/144K] |
| Pork: Marketing Alternatives | Summary [HTML] [PDF/738K] |
| The Economics of Grass-based Dairying | Summary [HTML] [PDF/232K] |
Cooperatives (USDA-RBS Publications)
| Cooperative Farm Bargaining and Price Negotiations |
|
Cooperative Feasibility Study Guide
[PDF/505KB] |
|
Cooperative Marketing Agencies-in-Common
[PDF/2.7MB] |
|
How to Start a Cooperative
[PDF/135KB] |
| Rural Cooperatives Magazine |
|
Small Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Cooperative Operations
[PDF/2.3MB] |
|
Understanding Cooperatives: Ag Marketing Cooperatives
[PDF/179KB] |
|
USDA-RBS Cooperatives Series publications
A list of additional USDA-RBS Cooperatives Series publications. The publications listed here are also available in print from ATTRA. Contact ATTRA at 800-346-9140 to request copies. |
Links to Other Marketing and Business Information
|
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC)
Iowa State University |
| FoodMAP: Food Marketing and Processing |
| How to Direct Market Your Beef, SARE |
| Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory |
|
Organic Price Report (OPR)
The New Farm® Organic Price Report ™ from The Rodale Institute® publicizes weekly price updates of organic prices for a range of goods alongside conventional prices in the same region. |
| Reap New Profits: Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers, SARE |
|
Taking the First Step: Farm and Ranch Alternative Enterprise and Agritourism Resource Evaluation Guide
[PDF/1.7MB] |
| The Rodale Institute Farm Locator |
| USDA Fruit and Vegetable Market News |
| USDA Livestock and Grain Market News, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service |
| Western Profiles of Innovative Agricultural Marketing: Examples from Direct Farm Marketing and Agri-Tourism Enterprises |
This page was last updated on: June 16, 2010
Facebook