ORGANIC FACT SHEET Start Farming! Resources NEW FARMER For .
ORGANIC FACT SHEETNEW FARMERStart Farming! Resourcesfor the Beginning FarmerAs more and more people demand local and organic food, there are increasing opportunities fornew farmers. The growing organic market can providethe opportunity, but it is challenging to start your ownfarm without proper planning. Starting any new business takes research, planning, experience and capitalresources. Farming is no different! If you are seriouslyconsidering starting up an agricultural business, thereare a number of important things to consider. Getstarted on the right path by defining your goals andskills, gaining experience and education, choosingyour marketing strategies, and financing your agricultural venture.The resources and links here will help with planningyour agricultural venture, and if you choose, in thepreparation of a business plan that outlines the strategies that will lead you to a successful enterprise.Define Your Basic GoalsYou can define your interests and goals by askingyourself some basic questions. First, identify yourvalues take some time to sit down and think about thefollowing things, as suggested by the book Buildinga Sustainable Business developed by the MinnesotaInstitute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA).In relation to your farming venture and your broaderlife, what are your: Personal goals? Economic goals? Environmental goals? Community goals?After writing down some thoughts, you can startdefining the goals for your agricultural enterprise. Answers to questions such as those listed below will helpyou further refine your goals. Remember, the bestgoals are specific and realistically attainable. Do you want to work with animals? What type? Are you interested in growing vegetables, fruits, orrow crops like corn and soybeans? Do you want to make a living solely from thefarm? Do your partner and/or family support your interest in farming? Do you want to do on-farm processing to addvalue to your products? Are you physically capable of the manual laborand long hours? Do you have an aptitude for fixing machinery? Do you have access to capital for infrastructure,seeds, livestock purchases, etc.? What do you like to do? Since farming can be repetitive, you should enjoy your chosen work.Get EducatedAsk yourself whether you have the knowledge necessary to make your chosen venture a success. Mostbeginning farmers have production related questions.Some have very little experience with agriculture,while others have some background or history withfarming. The number of possibilities is endless, butall beginning farmers are going to have at least a fewthings to learn about production, as well as financingand marketing. If you are interested in producing organic crops or livestock, it is important to have a firmunderstanding of the organic regulations and howto go about transitioning crop, livestock and pastureland to organic. Management of organic systems takesa somewhat different approach than in conventionalagriculture, with a strong focus on soil health andquality, and preventative livestock health techniques.The organic approach to pest and disease controlis also quite different. Learning these new organicmanagement techniques is extremely important to thesuccess of an organic operation. You can learn a lotfrom books, but real experience is hard to beat.Trainings & ClassesOne great way to gain more experience is to take aclass or extended training program. Many beginningfarmers like short term, more hands-on approachesto learning, and there are a number of these trainingsavailable.On-Farm WorkAnother way to gain experience is to intern, volunteer or work on an operation that suits your inter-Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) PO BOX 339, Spring Valley, WI715-778-5775 info@mosesorganic.org www.mosesorganic.org
ests. Many opportunities are available, especiallyon organic and sustainable farms, which commonlyhave a need for seasonal workers who have minimalexperience but are willing to work hard in the field.This situation gives you an excellent chance to gainhands-on experience and can be an eye opener interms of the many different aspects of running a farm.If you have not worked on a farm before, it is highlyadvisable to take part time work or an internship ona successful working farm before you proceed. A highpercentage of people that take this important stepfind that farming is not for them after all. Farming ishard work, and a new operation may take a number ofyears to turn enough profit to allow you to quit otheremployment. For some, a hobby farm or part timeenterprise may ultimately be the better choice. Working on a farm, even if it is unpaid, is worth more thanalmost any other form of training.The Local Harvest website is one place where farmjobs are listed, but there are many others as well. Ifyou know of farms in your area, give them a call orcheck their website, as most farms require some formof seasonal labor. You may also want to peruse thewebsites of agricultural recruitment and placementservices. These services usually list permanent largescale and conventional livestock and crop farm jobsfor those with experience, but every once in a whilejobs on farms focused on organic or sustainable management also appear.Field Days and On-Farm WorkshopsShort term events (a few hours to a few days) are occurring all the time, sponsored by the many of theorganizations listed in the resources section at the endof this document, or others like them. It is advisable toattend as many of these as possible. Nothing beats being able to network and learn from successful farmers.Ask questions and take notes. Many of these eventsare free.Online ResourcesA large amount of information on crop production,animal husbandry, organic certification and sustainable production techniques is available for beginningfarmers on the web. Some of the better resources arelisted at the end of this document.MarketingBefore you start operating, you must identify yourmarket. A steady market is critical to financial success, and many farmers find that multiple marketswill bring the most stable income. With conventionalcommodity crops, a farmer can sell to, or contractwith, their local grain elevator, or in the case of conventional large livestock, sell at auction. Cooperativemarketing opportunities may also exist for crops andlivestock through local cooperatives or through theNational Farmers Organization. Often large-scalevegetable growers contract with buyers or distributors, meaning they agree at the beginning of the yearto provide the buyer with a certain amount (by weightor volume) of the crop in question at a certain price.Terms and conditions will vary. Cooperative marketing opportunities also exist for vegetable producers.With vegetables, specialty crops, specialty meats,and with organic products in general, a somewhatdifferent approach to marketing may be necessary.Consumers now want to know where and how theirfood is produced. This demand is driving the marketfor products produced locally, sustainably and certified organic. Many small scale producers market theirproducts directly, through farm stands, farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Inthe CSA model, consumers buy a “share” in the farmand pay a flat fee up front before the season begins.In return, the farmer provides the customer with acertain amount of produce (or other product) weeklyfor the entire growing season. Arrangements vary,but usually customers meet the farmer to pick up theproduce. The agreement may also ask the customer tocomplete volunteer work on the farm.Since CSAs rely on “direct to consumer” marketing,CSA producers depend on effectively advertising theiroperations. Websites like Local Harvest, the LandStewardship Project around the Twin Cities, andorganizations like the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition (MACSAC) around theMadison, WI area are very useful. Later, a dedicatedfarm website and newsletter will help grow a customerbase. New producers will want to wait to use the CSAmodel until they are confident in their growing skillsand resource base. It takes significant skill and planning to consistently fill weekly CSA demands.Smaller sized producers may choose to market directly to consumers through farm stands or at farmersmarkets. Others, individually or cooperatively, chooseto sell to grocers, food co-ops or restaurants in theirlocal area. Some producers may work individually orcooperatively to market their products directly to institutions such as schools or hospitals. Contracts maybe available in some areas for organic produce, grains,and other field crops. Examples of companies buyingorganic grains are SunOpta, Northland Organics, orCeres Organic Harvest. Niche, specialty markets suchas organic tofu or natto soybeans for export to Japan(extra certification for the Japanese organic marketwould be necessary in this case), may also provide opportunities for organic crop producers.Organic milk is usually sold through larger companiesor cooperatives, although a number of organic dairiesmarket their milk directly to retail outlets. You willneed to carefully explore your state regulations before2
you plan on this, however. Dairy processing facilitiesare very expensive capital investments. Organic meatsprobably require the most creative marketing, as thereis very little marketing infrastructure in place, butsolid customer demand. Many meat producers selldirectly to the customer, retail stores or restaurants,but other opportunities also exist with the growinginstitutional market.Marketing associations and cooperatives also provideopportunities for organic crop and livestock producers. From vegetables to beef, many organizations andmaterials exist to assist in the marketing of organically and sustainably produced foods, and their contactinfo is listed below. Also consult the Midwest Organicand Sustainable Education Service’s (MOSES) UpperMidwest Organic Resource Directory for potentialbuyers of organic ag products.With selling and marketing your products come legalresponsibilities. As a food producer, it is important tobe aware of what permits, licensing and other legal requirements are necessary and what regulations mustbe followed. Farmers interested in processing their agricultural products on farm have additional licensingrequirements. The labeling of products follows certainprotocol mandated by state and federal governments,and food safety guidelines must be followed by farmers to ensure healthy food reaches the consumer.The list below shows some examples of the licensingrequirements in Wisconsin for selling various typesof agricultural products. This list is just an overview;other considerations may be necessary.Licensing Requirements(May be required by State and Federal Law- checkwith your State Department of Agriculture for detailsas rules vary from state to state. The rules below apply to Wisconsin residents.)Raw Vegetables/FruitNo license required for selling from the farm, at thefarmers market or to retail outletsCut Vegetables/Fruit1. Selling from farm: Retail food establishment licenserequired. Processed in commercial kitchen.2. Selling at farmers market or to retail: Same asabove but product must be fully labeled.Poultry (Meat)1. Selling from farm (under 1,000 birds/yr): No licenseneeded. Must be fully labeled, including “Not Inspected.” Must be handled to ensure food safety.2. Selling from farm (over 1,000 birds/yr): Retail foodestablishment license required. Must be fully labeled.3. Selling at farmers market: Mobile retail food establishment license. Must be processed at state inspectedfacility. Fully labeled. Check local ordinances.4. Selling to retail outlets: Same as above, but alsowarehouse license.Eggs1. A license is not required for on-farm egg sales directto customer.2. Selling at a farmers market requires a mobile retailfood establishment license and a food processingplant license (inspection required).3. Selling wholesale (to retailers, restaurants) requiresa food processing plant license (inspection requiredeggs must be fully labeled).Dairy (Milk, Cream, Butter)1. Selling from farm: Dairy license, dairy plant license,personal license for butter production. Fully labeled.2. Selling at farmers market or to retail: Mobile retailfood license for farmers markets.FinancingHow will your venture be financed? There are nogrants available to fund the initial purchase of land,equipment or infrastructure. In most cases, a loan isneeded to finance these purchases. You will also needsome capital for a down payment. Depending on thescale of the operation, the investment may range fromrather small to quite significant. Producers are usuallygoing to access loans through lenders who are members of the Farm Credit System, a government sponsored enterprise consisting of a nationwide networkof cooperatively organized banks and associations.Members of the Farm Credit System are requiredto serve the needs of beginning farmers and have aprogram in place to furnish sound credit to beginning farmers. Financial planning and certain loanprograms can be accessed through State Departmentsof Agriculture. There are a number of different loansavailable to finance the acquisition of land and equipment, or to fund operating expenses.Farmers can also access loan programs throughtheir State Departments of Agriculture, and manystates (not WI) also have Aggie Bond Loan programs,which are specifically directed to beginning farmers. In Wisconsin, the Department of Agriculture andTrade Policy’s Farm Center can assist growers withaccessing loan programs, financial counseling, including enterprise analyses, feasibility analyses andassistance with debt restructuring. In Minnesota, theState Department of Agriculture’s Ag Marketing andDevelopment Division can help producers access loansand grant programs suited to their needs. The Minnesota Farmer Assistance Network also provides adviceand financial guidance to farmers. The University ofMinnesota’s Small Farms Center also provides information on marketing and financial assistance, as wellas offering farm credit mediation services. The Center3
for Farm Financial Management, also at the University of Minnesota, can provide producers with toolsto assess their financial situation and plan the futureof their operations. The state of Minnesota has manyloan programs available, including basic farm loans,dairy modernization loans, sustainable agricultureloans, and so on.The USDA Farm Service Agency is another important source of operating loans, land acquisition loansand beginning farmer loans. The FSA provides lowinterest loans for established producers and beginning farmers who cannot obtain credit from othersources. These programs can be useful for beginnerswho do not have the assets which would allow themto purchase a large quantity of land or make extensiveequipment purchases.Grants are also sometimes available for beginningfarmers, usually through the state. These monies aregenerally available to support the farm planning ormarketing, but not for buying land or buildings. Thestate of Minnesota has a number of grants availablefor farmers for investment in livestock, specialty cropsand sustainable agriculture, as well as administering cost sharing for organic certification. Wisconsinalso has specialty crop grants, along with grants forthe development of value added products and newtechnologies and a Buy Local Buy Wisconsin grantprogram to provide technical assistance to growers.Federal money is available to help with the cost oforganic certification, contact your State Departmentof Agriculture.Finding a Place to FarmThe final step in the process is finding land to beginfarming on. New farmers can do well by starting outon rented land, but some choose to buy property.You can use local realtors, but there are also someresources online where individuals looking to buyand sell or rent land can connect, such as the MOSESLand Link-Up and the Land Stewardship FarmlandClearinghouse. When looking at land, pay attention tosoil types, landscape, and set up to determine whetherthe property suits your needs. Don’t fall in love tooquickly!Business StructureIf you wish to start a farm business, you will want tothink about the legal structure of your operation. Youmay want to operate as a sole proprietorship, whichmeans that you don’t have to register your business,and farm operations and other income and household activities are more or less legally merged. Otheroptions include forming an S- or C- corporation, or alimited liability company (LLC), which is the choice ofmany small farmers. Those who choose to incorporatetheir farm activities generally do so for liability reasons, the main difference between the various optionsis in the way your activities will be taxed. For basicinformation on incorporation, visit the Small BusinessAssociation at www.sba.gov.Resources and LinksThis is a select list of resources that may be helpful toyou as you venture into your farming career.AgriCareerswww.agricareersinc.comOnline job/internship boards.Angelic Organics Learning Center815-389-8455www.csalearningcenter.orgOffers on-farm trainings and educational events forall ages in Northern IL.ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Servicewww.attra.ncat.orgHas a wealth of informative publications on sustainable and organic production techniques, many resources on business planning and internship listings.Beginning Farmerswww.beginningfarmers.orgOnline job/internship boards.Building a Sustainable Business800-909-MISAwww.misa.umn.eduDeveloped by the Minnesota Institute for SustainableAgriculture. Available from the MOSES Book Store.Collaborative Regional Alliance for FarmerTraining earngrowconnect.org/farmerHelps new farmers learn by linking them with experienced growers through internship, employmentand mentoring relationships. This program is mostlyactive in the northern IL and southern WI region.Dairy Marketing Service - mKansas City, MO company provides assistance withmarketing milk to large wholesale buyers. Also workswith organic producers.Farm Beginnings ed by the Land Stewardship Project, provides opportunities for participants to learn farm4
planning and sustainable production methods fromexperienced farmers. Programs available throughoutthe upper Midwest region, contact listings on website.Farm Credit Administrationinfo-line@fca.gov www.fca.govFind ag banks that are part of the FCA in your area.Farm to Schoolwww.farmtoschool.orgFarm to school connects K-12 schools with local farmsto provide healthy meals in school cafeterias whilesupporting local growers.FARRMS701-486-3569info@farrms.org www.farrms.orgLinks producers to other experienced sustainable andorganic producers willing to answer questions.Fearless Farm Financeswww.mosesorganic.org/farmfinances.htmlFarm financing book published by MOSES in 2012.Numerous links to farm financing resources on thewebsite.Grassworks Dairy Apprenticeship Program715-560-0389cjtom@hughes.net2-year program that provides on-farm learning andrelated classroom instruction.Land Stewardship Project w.landstewardshipproject.orgMN based offers field days and trainings and hasCSA listings.Local Harvestwww.localharvest.orgCSA listings and job/internship boards.Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition (MACSAC)608-226-0300info@macsac.org www.macsac.orgWI CSA listings, farm endorsements and local programs.Michael Fields Agricultural .orgwww.michaelfieldsaginst.orgHosts and sponsors many events around WI and ILevery summer.Midwest Organic and Sustainable EducationService rganic.orgCoordinates a mentoring pro
farm without proper planning. Starting any new busi-ness takes research, planning, experience and capital resources. Farming is no different! If you are seriously considering starting up an agricultural business, there are a number of important things to consider. Get started on the right path by defining your goals and
August 2012 Contents: Introduction 3 Findings: Organic Farming Systems Benefit the Environment, Human Health, and National Prosperity 13 Organic Farming Improves Soil and Water Quality 13 Organic Farming Enhances Biodiversity and Pollinator Health 18 Organic Farming Sequesters More Carbon, Slowing Climate Change 22 Organic Farming Reduces Toxic Chemical Exposure 25
I INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Need for the Paper 2 1.2 Review of Literature 3 1.3 Objectives of the Paper 7 1.4 Methodology 7 1.5 Organization of the Paper 8 II RELEVANCE OF ORGANIC FARMING 9 2.1 The International Scene 9 2.1.1 Growth of Organic Farming 12 2.1.2 The Developed World 13 2.1.3 The Developing World 24 2.2 Need for Organic Farming in India 26
Farming Simulator 19 Activation Code [addons] V 0.9.1.3 mod for Farming Simulator 19. . If you are passionate about the Farming Simulator 19 Mods as we are then you . Antivirus 2020 Avast Premier Activation Code License Key for Free update 5 . Farming Simulator 19 Money Cheat PC (unlimited money) Looking . Farming Simulator 19 Serial .
Concept of Organic Farming 3 ŠSince organic farming means placing farming on integral relationship, we should be well aware about the relationship Ø between the soil, water and plants, Ø between soil-soil microbes and waste products, between the vegetable kingdom and
BBG Organizational Chart 2. BBG Fact Sheet 3. VOA Fact Sheet Org Chart 4. OCB Fact Sheet Org Chart 5. RFE/RL Fact Sheet Org Chart 6. RFA Fact Sheet Org Chart 7. MBN Fact Sheet Org Chart . Broadcasting Board of Governors and gave the
Organic farming can contribute to meaningful socio-economic ecologically sustainable development in developing countries. 11. Organic production techniques. Training from Royal Project Foundation on organic farming system motivates farmers to practice it. 12. Education level. Education opportunities in
Executive Summary 17 Globally, there is growing awareness of the adverse impact of chemical inputs on the soil, environment and human health. This has prompted both developed and developing countries to shift towards organic farming and organic food products. In India, traditional methods of farming were by default 'organic', with hardly .
Hydroponic Green House Farming Business? 23. What are the Projected Pay-Back Period and IRR of Hydroponic Green House Farming Business? 24. What is the Process Flow Sheet Diagram of a Hydroponic Green House Farming project? www.entrepreneurindia.co. 25. What are the Market Opportunities for setting
