NEW: Chart of USDA Programs for Local Food Supply Chain --includes clickable links to the many and
varied programs that farmers, markets, CSAs, etc., can access.
Application period for PA DEP's Small Business Advantage Grant is OPEN.
The program provides 50% matching grants, up to a maximum of $9,500
($7,000 for lighting-only upgrades), to enable Pennsylvania small businesses to purchase
energy efficient or pollution prevention equipment or adopt waste reduction processes.
Agritourism Resources from Cornell Cooperative Extension
ATTRA's tip sheets cover info from agritourism to selling on the internet to developing
your marketing plan. View them.
Business Planning:
How to Determine Fair Farmland Rental Rates (From Cornell Small Farms program)
Comprehensive site with variety of resources for women-owned (and other)
businesses: Chatham University's Women's Business Center
Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Growing a Business in PA Download it.
Small Business Association Build-a-business-plan: walk through the process online; save or print as a pdf.
Michigan State Extension's Business Plan Template is user-friendly and a good first step. Small Business
Development Centers or local SCORE mentors can review and help you refine your plan prior ot approaching
financers. Some county Extension educators may also assist.
National Farmers Union farm business health check-up and business toolbox.
Selecting your business structure is key to risk management and business success.
Download Farmers' Guide to Business Structures free, published by SARE.
Conservation:
No-Till Drill Washington County Conservation District rents one out for a nominal fee.
See the guidelines.
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Districts provide education on nutrient management, conservation practices, etc.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture funding, cost share info
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service---PA Programs and financial assistance to prevent soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters
Westmoreland Conservation District WCD is the fiscal sponsor for Troops to Tractors; they provide a variety of ag-related programs and services.
Farmers with disabilities:
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians assists farmers by linking them to potential resources and providing support to farmers with a disability or long-term health conditions.
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) helps people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians get the assistive technology they need with the following programs:
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Low-interest and 0% interest financial loans
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Information and assistance about possible funding resources
Funding:
Learn about registering your farm property with USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA), your first step in accessing loans and cost share programs.
NRCS offers both financial and technical assistance. See how and who they help and what types of operations here. Note: this is an older brochure and doesn't show Veterans as a target population although they now are.
REAP offers tax credits for conservation practices. Application is open now. Learn more.
USDA Farm Service Agency—PA offices Find your local office for a variety of financial programs, including loans
Legal:
Are you a rural farmer with a need for legal advice on contracting, business entity
formation, reviewing leases for wind/solar energy or oil/gas
extraction, or developing model agreements or ordinances? Penn States Rural Economic
Development clinic matches students studying law with farms needing assistance. See their
website for more info; email professor Ross Pifer at with detailed background
and request information to apply.
The Farmer's Market Legal Toolkit includes legal resources, best practice
recommendations, and case studies for market leaders on selecting and enhancing
business structures, accepting SNAP benefits, and managing common risks.
Food Safety Modernization Act--does it apply to your farm? Find out here.
Marketing Poultry Slaughtered Under USDA Exemption fact sheet
Mapping:
PA AgMap listing online agricultural business directory
PA One Stop Mapping Module allows you to generate high quality maps using aerial imagery to meet regulatory requirements of Manure Management Plan and your Conservation Plan. Maps may be saved and edited online, and printed.
Marketing:
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service offers grants--most requiring partial matches--
to support CSAs, local food chains, farmers markets, etc. Download the 2019 fact sheet.
Farm Marketing 101--the basics Download it
PA Preferred/Homegrown by Heroes is a marketing tool for veteran-grown products.
Poultry Marketing fact sheet from Penn State Ex
Other:
Grazing Plan Workbook Download
Coordinating Farm Labor Across Farms: A Toolbox for Diversified Farmers and Farmworkers, by Courtney Berner, Erin Hannum, and Kelly Maynard Download
PSU Crop Insurance information
University of Maryland Extension's Mid-Atlantic Women in Ag offers free Wednesday webinars
on a wide and diverse variety of topics. See the 2020 list here.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service—PA statistics
DISCLAIMER: The resources on this site are for educational purposes. We do not provide legal advice. Consult an attorney when needed.
If you represent an agency or institution that works with Pennsylvania veteran farmers please contact the coordinator at pavetsfarm@gmail.com
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Resources
Click the graphic above to learn about PA Preferred/Homegrown by Heroes
Daugherty farm, Fayette Co.
