RESOURCES
Safe Agritourism provides walkthroughs and checklists for farms hosting the public.
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.
Beekeeping
American Beekeepers Association toolkit for beginners
Heroes to Hives is a unique program through Michigan State University Extension that seeks to
address financial and personal wellness of veterans through professional training and community
development centered around beekeeping. The nine-month, online course is available free to veterans
and their dependents.
Business Planning:
Highly recommended for start-ups: Engage with the PA Small Business Development Center
Agriculture Center of Excellence. Business consultation us FREE and individualized, and provided
by consultants with ag business experience. Get help with your business plan and finding lenders,
improving your credit score prior to approaching banks, marketing, etc.
AgPlan from University of Minnesota: Free, online business planning. Customize by type: Ag - Commodity,
Ag - Value-Added, Organic Transition, Personal Plan, Small Business
Michigan State Extension's Business Plan Template is user-friendly and a good first step.
Small Business Development Centers can review and help you refine your plan
prior to approaching financers.
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Small Business Toolkit from MetroAction (Scranton)--not ag-specific the tools can be adapted
to any small business.
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.
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:
NRCS Fact Sheet for Military/Veterans Veterans' preference eligibility for EQIP and CSP
Conservation Learning Group's Best Practices Manual Aids Farmers in Selecting Conservation BMPs
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
management plans, forestry, and works with local NRCS staff. Find yours. Some CDs provide more varied
services than others, but if the resources you need isn't available in your county, they will refer you to appropriate
service providers. Not available in Philadelphia.
Disaster Preparedness:
Disaster Programs (USDA) At a Glance
Navigating Disaster Preparedness for Farmers
Is my address in a federal disaster area?
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
Food Safety:
The GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) and GHP (Good Handling Practices) Program provides direct financial support through cost sharing of applicable certification fees to producers and processors who successfully complete a USDA GAP or GHP audit. Learn more.
Download Eggs/Fruit/Vegetables application.
Download PSU Extension GAP overview brochure.
Funding: Go to Finances
Learn about registering your farm property with USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA), your first step in accessing loans and cost share programs.
USDA Farm Service Agency—PA offices Find your local office for a variety of financial programs, including loans
Land acquisition/Succession Planning
Pennsylvania's Beginning Farmer Tax Credit permits an owner of agricultural assets to take a tax credit against tax
due for the sale or rental of agricultural assets to a beginning farmer equal to 5% of the lesser of the sale price or the fair market value of the agricultural asset (up to $32,000), or 10% of the gross rental income in each of the first, second, and third years of a rental agreement (up to $7,000 per year).
Beginning Farmer Realty Transfer Tax Exemption: Act 13 of 2019 states that realty transfer tax shall not be imposed upon a transfer of real estate that is subject to an agricultural conservation easement established under authority of the Act of June 30, 1981 (P.L. 128, No. 43), known as the “Agricultural Area Security Law,” to a qualified beginner farmer.
Legal:
Farmers' Guide to Business Structures by Farm Commons, published by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Information on LLCs, Corporations, Partnerships and More
Rural farmers who need 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:
Changes in social media algorithms are making it harder to reach audiences. Watch our 3 minute video for practical tips.
Cornell Small Farms Guide to Direct Marketing Poultry & LIvestock
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 Extension
Other:
On-farm Mortality Composting info from Penn State
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
USDA Programs for Local Food Supply Chain --includes clickable links to the many and
varied programs that farmers, markets, CSAs, etc., can access
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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Click the graphic above to learn about PA Preferred/Homegrown by Heroes
Pennsylvania SBDC's Agricultural Center of Excellence
One-stop shop for starting or expanding your farm or agribusiness. Free business consultation for business plans, finding financing, market research/marketing, and more. Business consultation is FREE.
Daugherty farm, Fayette Co.