There is a growing trend in Ohio Agriculture toward the direct marketing of agricultural products featuring locally grown food products. Consumers are becoming more aware of the benefits of buying local and buying fresh. As the demand for local food products increases so does the interest in growing and producing a variety of agricultural products for these markets. Perhaps this is something you have considered for your small acreage but do not know where to begin. This page is dedicated to helping the new and small farmers of Northeast, Ohio.
Northeast Ohio Small Farmer Workshop
Join OSU Extension on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Northeast Ohio Small Farmer Workshop. This workshop is designed to help landowners increase profits from their small acreage. This program is open to all new or aspiring farmers, new rural landowners, small farmers, and farm families looking for new ideas. Participants will learn how to develop a business plan for their operation. During the workshop, participants will learn more about the current opportunities in small-scale farming; how to identify the strengths & weaknesses of your farm; how to keep records and develop budgets; and how to effectively price & market your products to consumers. Learn more about farm insurance, governmental assistance, farm taxes, and ways to mitigate risk. This workshop will provide the road map for small producers to move their hobby to a viable farm business. Make connections to resources, information and people that will help your farm business grow!
Click here to download the flyer for the workshop.
Begin Farming Ohio, a Collaborative Venture
Five entities representing higher education, state government, and the non-profit sector have begun to build statewide capacity to provide services especially responsive to the needs of beginning farmers, and to expand, enhance, and sustain services and resources of high value to those farmers. Click here to explore this web site, dedicated to new and small farmers. This web site has been developed by OSU Extension, Ohio Department of Agriculture-Sustainable Agriculture, Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association, and the Organic Food and Farming Education & Research Program.
New and Beginning Farmer Resources
Whole Farm Planning Model
Planning is one of the most important aspects of managing any business. This factsheet encourages farm families to adopt a whole farm planning approach as they develop strategies for the future success of their business. This approach allows families to examine the internal structure of their business and then develop business, retirement, transition, estate, and investment plans.
Selecting New Enterprises for your Small Farm
This publication is designed to help producers evaluate new enterprises for their farms or family businesses. It is based on a set of worksheets to help evaluate the Profitability, Resource requirements, Information needs, Marketing decisions, Enthusiasm for, and the Risk associated with a new enterprise. PRIMER is the acronym for these six factors.