Local Food Hub maintains a collection of useful resources on a wide range of topics pertinent to small family farms. We welcome your feedback; contact us at info@localfoodhub.org.
To access Local Food Hub Partner Producer Resources, click here.
Resources
Available Funding
Local
Moore’s Creek Watershed Cost-Share
Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District
Funds are available to help farmers cover the costs of stream fencing, alternative watering systems, grazing systems, and vegetation establishment along stream banks. Funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
State
Organic Certification Cost-Share
VDACS
Receive reimbursement of up to 75% of the cost of organic certification, up to a total of $750 per applicant. The deadline to apply is usually the beginning of November.
Regional
SARE Producer Grants
Southern SARE
The purpose of this grant program is for farmers/ranchers to conduct projects to solve challenges and problems they face and develop information on what works and doesn’t work so that other farmers and ranchers facing those same problems can benefit from the results of the funded project. Local Food Hub partner farm Sharondale Farm received this grant in 2008 for a project studying the optimal management of manure composts to yield high-value mushroom crops. Read their final project report here.
Federal
Environmental Quality Incentive Program Initiatives
USDA National Resources Conservation Service
There are many funding opportunities available, including an Organic Initiative, which provides training and technical assistance to organic and transitioning to organic production producers, and a Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative, which can help farmers cover the costs of building a high tunnel on their farm. Local Food Hub’s former educational farm, Maple Hill, successfully applied for and received this grant twice. A helpful guide for applying to the Organic Initiative can be found here.
Energy Efficiency/Alternative Energy for Small Farm
A Farmer’s Guide to Energy Self-Reliance
Vermont Law School Institute for Energy and the Environment
A useful guide that breaks down energy investments by their cost to implement.
Reduce Energy Costs in Agriculture
Mississippi State University Extension Service
Incentives and Subsidies
Energy Incentive Programs in Virginia
U.S. Department of Energy
A list of available financial incentives as well as applicable rules, polices, and regulations.
Alternative Energy
Solar Energy Use in U.S. Agriculture
USDA
Small Wind Guide for Virginia
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Small Wind Electric Systems
Energy.gov
Intro to (Micro)Hydropower: A three-part article that includes system overview, measuring head and flow, power, efficiency, transmission and equipment selection. See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Farm Financials and Taxes
Farm Business Management Update
Virginia Cooperative Extension
A newsletter released six times a year; includes timely information on farm management, marketing, tax management, finance, credit, labor, agricultural law, agri-business, estate planning, and more.
Planning
Planning for Profit In Sustainable Farming
ATTRA
Evaluating a Farming Enterprise
ATTRA
Primer for Selecting New Enterprises for your Farm
University of Kentucky
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses
SARE
Also available in Spanish.
Growing Farm Profits Online Course
Southern SAWG
Business Planning
Farming is about more than planting and harvesting — effective planning is a vital part of any farm business. These materials, distributed at a Financial Planning workshop hosted by Local Food Hub, Farm Credit, and the Wallace Center, should help you begin the process.
Developing Business & Risk Management Plans Presentation
One-page Business Plan
One-page Budget Plan
One-page Risk Management Plan
Enterprise Budgets
Every operation is different, with unique expenses and cost-saving opportunities. Determining the true cost of production for each crop on your farm will help you set fair prices and determine which crops to grow again next season. Use the enterprise budgets below as a starting point for determining your own costs of production.
Crop Budgets
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
Organic Enterprise Budgets
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Vegetable Crop Budgets and Irrigation Cost Calculators
University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Organic Vegetable Crop Budgets
Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
Fruit and Vegetable Production Guides
Penn State Extension Ag Alternatives
Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Production Budgets
Iowa State University; University Extension
Enterprise Budgets – 100 ft Row
University of Florida – Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises
Flower Crops – Greenhouse Costs of Production Budgets
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Financial Recordkeeping
Establishing and Using a Farm Financial Record-keeping System
University of Tennessee Cooperative Extension
Record Keeping in Farm Management
South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension
Examples of Financial Recordkeeping
Veggie Compass Whole Farm Profit Managements
Southern SAWG
This 2013 version has a number of valuable features, like providing the cost of production and break-even point for each crop, and calculating your profit on each unit of crop sold and the profit on total units of crop sold.
Quicken for Farm and Ranch Financial Records
Oklahoma State University
Louisiana Farm Record Book
Louisiana State University AgCenter
High Tunnel Spreadsheet for Whole Farm Record-Keeping
Cornell
Excel spreadsheet that keeps track of high tunnel expenses and revenue. Also check out Cornell’s High Tunnel Sample Budgets and Spreadsheets for additional guidance.
Farm Record Book
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Download as a PDF or order online, $12.
Online Production Recordkeeping Systems
Cog Pro
Designed for organic growers, but can be used by any operation. Includes GAP recordkeeping, and will soon include labor tracking. Cost for crop records is $79 a year or $150 for 2 years.
AgSquared
Three month free trial, then yearly pricing (starting at $99).
Taxes
Rural Tax Education
Utah State University Cooperative Extension/USDA Risk Management Agency
A great source for agriculturally-related income tax information.
Social Security: If You are Self-Employed
Social Security Administration
Farmer’s Tax Guide
IRS
Annual tax guide.
Income Tax Management for Farmers
Purdue Extension
Annual tax guide.
Farm Labor
Federal Laws and Resources
Farmers’ Guide to Farm Employees: Federal and Minnesota Labor and Employment Law for Small-Scale Family Farmers
Farmers’ Legal Action Group
Information on federal laws will apply here in Virginia, but be aware that Minnesota’s state laws may be different than Virginia’s. Released August 2012.
Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Employment Law Guide: Laws, Regulations, and Technical Assistance Services
United States Department of Labor
FirstStep Employment Law Advisor
United States Department of Labor
Compliance Assistance
United States Department of Labor
State Laws and Resources
Virginia Employment Commission: Employer Portal
Contact the Virginia Employment Commission by email at ifileVEC@vec.virginia.gov or call (804) 371-8050.
Labor Management
Agricultural Labor Management
University of Vermont
Positive Practices In Farm Labor Management
ATTRA
Beyond Basic Compensation
ATTRA
Using bonuses, profit sharing and employee ownership to motivate and retain workers on your farm.
Food Safety
General
On-farm Food Safety Recommendations
Local Food Hub
A one-page guide developed by Local Food Hub.
Guide to Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Food Handling Guide, and Cleaning and Sanitizing Guide
Iowa State
Three concise guides.
Good Agricultural Practices
Fresh Produce Safety Portal, North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Farmer’s Guide to On-Farm Food Safety Certification
USDA/Wallace Center
Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
FDA/USDA
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Audit Resources
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
Food Safety On The Farm: Policy Brief and Recommendations
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Food Safety and Post-Harvest Handling
Atina Diffley
Self-Assessments
Kansas Food*A*Syst: A Food Safety Risk Management Guide for the Producer
Kansas State University
A Guide for Evaluating Food Safety Practices at Local Produce Farms Checklist
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Mushroom Farm Food Safety and Security Self-Assessment
Penn State
Commodity Specific Information
Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines (developed by industry and presented by the FDA) for:
Guide to Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)
The Lettuce and Leafy Greens Supply Chain
The Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Valued-Added Unit Operations of Green Onions
Mushroom Good Agricultural Practices
American Mushroom Institute
Creating a Food Safety Plan for your Farm
On-Farm Food Safety Project
On Farm Food Safety
A free online tool that allows you to create a customized food safety plan for your farm. You need to create an account.
FSP4U – Food Safety Plan For You
University of Minnesota
How do I write a food safety plan?
Penn State
A template, checklists, forms, and background information to help you interpret GAP standards.
Farm and Packinghouse Record Keeping Sheets
Cornell/GAP
Water Testing
Water Quality And Testing
Local Food Hub
Irrigation Water Safety Guidelines
Local Food Hub
Wash Water Safety Guidelines
Local Food Hub
Certified Water Labs in Virginia
Compiled by Local Food Hub
Water Quality Criteria For Agricultural Water Sources and Microbial Testing Guidelines
Vermont Agriculture
Water Sample Submission Form
VDACS
While this is provided as guidance, we encourage you to contact your labs for the most up-to-date information.
Sanitizing Systems and Solutions
Water Sanitizing Solutions
Local Food Hub
Mazzei Injector
Berry Hill Irrigation
A low-cost and reliable way to inject a sanitizer into your irrigation or wash water lines.
Mixing Charts for Gardening with Hydrogen Peroxide
Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Postharvest Chlorination: Basic Properties and Key Points for Effective Disinfection
University of California, Davis, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Shock Chlorination: Disinfecting Private Household Water Supply Systems
Virginia Household Water Quality Program/Virginia Cooperative Extension
Ultraviolet Fix for Water
American Ground Water Trust
Manufacturer Information
Pro San
Sanitizing concentrate
Sanidate 5.0 Liquid Sanitizer
Sanitizing concentrate
Tsunami 100
Sanitizing concentrate
Accu-Tab
Chlorine sanitizing system
Nutrient Management for Small Farms
Practical Nutrient Management for Organic Vegetable Crops
Virginia Association for Biological Farming
Nutrient Management for Small Farms
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Nutrient Budget Basics for Organic Farming Systems
University of Illinois
Vegetable Nutrient Management
Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
Small Farm Nutrient Management Primer
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
Nutrient Management on Organic Vegetable Farms
University of Vermont Extension
Nutrient Management for Vegetable, Fruit & Nut Crops
University of California
Tools
Cover Crops Decision Tool
Cornell
An online tool to help you quickly narrow the choices of cover crop for your situation.
Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop Calculator
Oregon State University
Excel-based tool helps you develop well balances and cost effective nutrient management program for your farm by comparing the nutrient value and cost of cover crops, organic and synthetic fertilizers and compost. One of many resources on the Oregon State University’s Nutrient Management resource page.
Pest Management
Whole Farm Strategies
Manage Insects on Your Farm
USDA/SARE
BioIntensive Integrated Pest Management
ATTRA
Whole Farm Approach To Managing Pests
SARE
Farmscaping Techniques For Managing Insect Pests
Virginia Tech
Field Guides and Scouting
Virginia Ag Pest Advisory
Sign up to receive periodic emails about the agricultural pests being reported across Virginia.
(Field Guide) Organic Integrated Pest Management
ATTRA
Field Guide to Stink Bugs
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Pocket Guide to Recognizing Beneficial Insects in the Yard
Louisville Water Company
Mid-Atlantic Guide to Insect Pests and Beneficials of Corn, Soybean, and Small Grains
Virginia Cooperative Extension
An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Pests of Solanaceous Crops In Kentucky
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension
Pest Insect Scouting Tips
VT Department of Entomology’s Insect Identification Lab
Scouting Forms
From Rutgers Cooperative Extension Pest Management Office.
Heading Cole Crops
Calculating degree days allows you to anticipate when certain pests will appear in your fields and employ preventative strategies at the most effective time.
Degree Day Calculation
University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Degree Days for Common Fruit & Vegetable Insect Pests
University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Pesticide Use
2012 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs offers information on:
Season Extension
Introduction and Basic Principles
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners
ATTRA
Season Extenders
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Plasticulture
Penn State Extension
See the Crop Information, Technologies, and Production Details sections at left.
Specific Techniques
Mulches
Plastic Mulches
Penn State Plasticulture Technologies
This can help you extend the season by warming the soil.
Biodegradable mulches
Penn State Extension
This can perform as well as plastic at warming the soil and suppressing weeds. In 2007, Waterpenny Farm in Sperryville, VA, received a SARE grant to compare biodegradable and plastic mulches in squash and tomato production. Read their conclusions here. Mark Schonbeck from the Virginia Association for Biological Farming received a SARE grant in 1993 to evaluate recycled paper mulch as an alternative to black plastic mulch in vegetable horticulture. Read the final report here.
Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners
ATTRA
Row Covers and Low Tunnels
Season Extenders
Virginia Cooperative Extension, publication 426-381
Row covers generally provide 4 to 5 degrees of frost protection.
Low tunnels for vegetable production
SARE, Lewis W. Jett
Includes recommended varieties for cold season vegetables.
Taming the floating row cover: Ideas for effectively managing an ungainly tool
Rodale Institute
Hotbeds and Cold Frames
Building and Using Hotbeds and Cold Frames
University of Missouri Extension
Four Ways to Use a Cold Frame
Fine Gardening
Article in Fine Gardening magazine, by Adrianna Vargo
Give Your Cold Frame A Warm Bed
Vegetable Gardener, written by George Bria
High Tunnels
High Tunnels: Using Low -Cost Technology to Increase Yields, Improve Quality and Extend the Season
Northeastern SARE
High Tunnel Temperature Management
Lewis W. Jett
Rainwater Catchment from a High Tunnel for Irrigation Use
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
In High Tunnels, Diseases Are What You Make Them
Cornell’s Vegetable MD Online
Design and Construction
Design and Construction of High Tunnels in West Virginia
West Virginia University Extension Service
Site Selection
Section from the University of Minnesota Extension’s High Tunnel Production Manual for Commercial Growers
Hoop House How-To
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Marketing and Economics
Production and Economics of High Tunnel Vegetables and Strawberries
West Virginia University Extension Service
Planning for Profit: How to Analyze High Tunnel Finances
Cornell High Tunnels
High Tunnel Sample Budgets and Spreadsheets
Cornell High Tunnels
High Tunnel Marketing & Economics
Section from the University of Minnesota Extension’s High Tunnel Production Manual for Commercial Growers
NRCS High Tunnel Initiative
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Partial reimbursement for the cost of constructing a high tunnel. Local Food Hub has received this assistance twice at our former educational farm and many of our partner farms have as well. Get in touch with us if you’d like help navigating the process.
Growing Specific Crops Within High Tunnels
High Tunnel Garlic Variety Study
Penn State Extension
Increasing Fresh Virginia-Grown Edamame Supply Through Season Extension Techniques
A project at Virginia State University, funded by SARE
Tomatoes
High Tunnel Tomatoes
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension
High Tunnel Tomato Production
University of Missouri Cooperative Extension
High Tunnel Trellising
University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension
Tomato Budget for 1000 square foot high tunnel
HighTunnels.org
High Tunnel Tomato Variety Trial
Penn State Extension
Cucumbers and Melons
High Tunnel Melon and Watermelon Production
University of Missouri Extension
Parthenocarpic Cucumbers are a Successful Double Crop for High Tunnels
West Virginia University Commercial Horticulture Extension
Peppers
High Tunnel Pepper Production
Utah State University Cooperative Extension
High Tunnel Pepper Production
Iowa State University, Armstrong Farm and Horticulture Research Station
Greens
Growing Greens in High Tunnels
Penn State University, Dept of Horticulture
Growing Chinese Cabbage in West Virginia
West Virginia University Commercial Horticulture Extension
Berries
High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries
Cornell
Growing Strawberries in a High Tunnel in Missouri
Lewis W. Jett
High Tunnel Bramble Production
Penn State University
Growing Raspberries Fall to Spring with High Tunnels and Greenhouses
Cornell
Root Vegetables
Specialty Potato Production Within a High Tunnel
West Virginia University Commercial Horticulture Extension
Beet and Carrot Production Within A High Tunnel
West Virginia University Commercial Horticulture Extension
Flowers, Bedding Plants, Hanging Baskets
Flowers
Cornell High Tunnels
A wealth of resources; including information on cultural practices and specific varieties tested within Cornell high tunnels.
High Tunnel Cut Flower Production for Local Market Sales
Penn State Extension
Books
Walking To Spring: Using High Tunnels to Produce 52 Weeks a Year by Paul and Alison Wiedeger of Au Naturel Farm; order online.
The Winter Harvest Handbook: Year Round Vegetable Production Using Deep Organic Techniques and Unheated Greenhouses by Eliot Coleman; order online.
The Hoophouse Handbook: Growing Produce and Flowers in Hoophouses and High Tunnels by Growing for Market; order online.
Sustainable Agriculture Organizations
National, regional, and state leaders promoting and supporting sustainable agriculture practices.
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Future Harvest
A Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture
Growing For Market
News, advice and resources for market farmers
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Victoria Association for Biological Farming
Transition to Organic Production
Making the Switch
Is Organic Crop Production for You?
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
Economics
North Carolina Organic Vegetable Production Cost Study
North Carolina State University, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, 2003
Comparison of production costs and resource use for organic and conventional production systems
Agricultural Issues Center, UC Davis
Study results released in 2012 comparing production costs for a variety of crops, including field crops (alfalfa, processing tomato, and field corn), vegetables (broccoli and lettuce), fruit (strawberries, and raisin grapes), and tree nuts (almonds and walnuts).
Organic Production Practices: Northeastern United States
Rutgers: New Jersey Experimental Agriculture Station
Organic crop budgets for vegetables
Getting Oriented
Transition to Organic Production
SARE
This 32-page bulletin lays out many promising conversion strategies, covering typical organic farming production practices, innovative marketing ideas and federal standards for certified organic crop production, and with special sections on livestock production and profiles of four organic producers.
Transitioning to Organic Vegetable Production
MOSES
Organic Transition Course
Rodale Institute
A free, 15-hour online program designed to help you understand the National Organic Standards and use them as your framework for making the transition to organic production.
Small Farm Exemption
Small Scale Organics
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
A 39-page guide for exempt organic farms (<$5,000 annual organic sales), including details for assessing compliance with the National Organic Standards, templates for abbreviated Organic System Plans, and simplified record forms.
A Broader Context
A Brief Overview of the History and Philosophy of Organic Agriculture
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Certification Process
Organic Certification In Virginia
VDACS
National Organic Program: Organic Certification Process
Growing Small Farms, Chatham County Center, North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Organic Certification Process
ATTRA
This 8-page guide is designed to help organic producers and handlers understand, prepare for, and get the most from the process of organic certification to USDA National Organic Standards. It discusses the purposes and benefits of the inspection for organic certification, provides a general description of the organic certification process, and outlines the role of the organic inspector.
Organic System Plans: Market Farms and Greenhouses
ATTRA
This 68-page guide was developed to help you complete your application by explaining just what information certifiers want and why that information is required. It also provides an example of what a good application and system plan might look like.
Organic Certification Cost Share
VDACS
Applicants can be reimbursed 75% of the cost of their certification, up to $750.
Certifiers
Organic Certifiers in the United States, Sorted by State (see here for Virginia certifiers)
VDACS
How to Pick a Certifier
Growing Small Farms, Chatham County Center, North Carolina Cooperative Extension
How to Choose an Organic Certification Agency & the Organic Certification Process
MOSES
Suppliers
Organic Suppliers
VDACS
Seed
High Mowing Seeds
All organic seed
White Mountain Farm
Organic potatoes
Directory of Organic Seed Suppliers
ATTRA
Production & Compliance
Organic Production Handbook
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
This handbook includes invaluable information about organic practices, NOP regulations, EQIP conservation practices that support organic operations, organic nutrient management, ecological weed management, and a list of key resources.
Biodiversity Conservation: An Organic Farmer’s Guide
Wild Farm Alliance
National Organic Program website
USDA
Recordkeeping
CogPro
Online record keeping system
Sample Paper-Based Forms/Systems
Organic Vegetable Operation Record Keeping Systems
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Organic Market Farm Documentation Forms
ATTRA
Documentation Forms for Organic Crop and Livestock Producers
ATTRA
Sample forms to record on-farm practices and production activities.