Agricultural Business Resources

 

• BCD-SEMAP Farm Conference Presentations-NEW!
• Grants for Agricultural Businesses
• Business Planning Templates
• Agricultural Business Organizer
• Enterprise Budgets
• Wholesale Distribution for Regional Family Farms
• Powering Farms with Wind Energy  

 

 BCD-SEMAP Farm Conference Presentations - 3/8/08, Bristol Aggie

Thanks to all who attended our March 8 "Fuel your Farm's Future" conference at Bristol Aggie High School! For anyone who could not attend, or who'd like a little more time to review the information presented, the speakers for the day have generously agreed to allow their presentations to be posted here. All presentations are in PDF form. Please respect the speakers and do not modify or reproduce the content of these presentations without express written permission. Each speaker's contact information is included in his or her presentation.

If you'd like to get in touch with any presenters who did not make a PowerPoint presentation, or have any other questions about the conference, please contact SEMAP.

• Conference Agenda (128KB)
• Season Extension Workshop:
  • Skip Paul, Wishing Stone Farm, RI (Season extension photos) (4MB)
  • Will Traubel, Will's Builders (Greenhouse considerations and pricing) (52KB)
  • Jan van der Heide, Bejo Seeds (Seed varieties for season extension and in-field storage) (Large File - 40MB)
  • Mark Allwein, Robert Marvel Plastics (Greenhouse plastics and their properties) (4.5MB)
• Farm Transfer and Tenure Workshop: Contact any presenter or request more information by contacting Katie Cavanagh, SEMAP Farms Forever Coordinator.
• Farm Grant and Cost-Share Program Updates:
  • Scott Soares, Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources (1.4MB)
  • Len Reno, USDA-NRCS (7MB)
  • David Rose, Bristol Conservation District
  • Emily Desrosiers, USDA Farm Service Agency
  • Tom McGarr, USDA Rural Development
  • Sarah Kelley, SEMAP (1.7MB)
• Biodiesel Tour: Biodiesel overview compiled by Jennifer Rose of Bristol Aggie High School (740KB)
• Steve Kenyon, MDAR, Pesticide Regulation and Labeling Overview (1.7MB)
• Anne Averill, UMass Extension Entomology, Pollinator Health and Pesticides

 

Grants for Agricultural Businesses 

On December 7, 2006, SEMAP co-sponsored a half-day workshop on grants for agricultural enterprises with the Barnstable County Resource Development Office and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. The workshop provided over 75 farm operators with information on how to approach and write a grant proposal, and introduced important grant programs offered by MDAR, USDA and SARE. The workshop brochure is available here (PDF).

  

Introduction to Grants and Grantwriting

 

Philip Burt & Michael Maguire of the Barnstable county Resource Development Office presented an excellent overview of the grantwriting process. Their presentation slides are available here (PDF).

  

Descriptions of Grant Programs Click on the links below for brief descriptions of and contact information for each grant program described in the workshop. 

 

MDAR (Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources) Grant Programs

• MA Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP)
• Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP)
• Federal State Market Improvement Program (FSMIP)
• Farm Energy Discount Program
• Massachusetts Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Grant Programs

• Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG)
• Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) 
• Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP)

SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Grant Programs

• Northeast SARE Farmer Grant  

MDAR (Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources) Grant Programs

Presented by Craig Richov, MA DAR Regional Planner, (617) 626-1725, Craig.Richov@state.ma.us. Craig Richov's presentation notes are available here (PDF). 

MA Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP)

Description: A business planning and technical assistance program that provides grants to farmers who make a commitment to keep their farmland in agricultural use. The program’s goals are to improve farms’ economic viability, increase environmental integrity, and keep land in farming by making it profitable. Recipient farms first undergo a business assessment, and a business plan is generated. If the farmer is willing to implement the changes recommended in the business plan and to sign a non-development covenant for a period of five or ten years, the Department may make money available to implement the changes recommended in the business plan.  

Grant Amount: Up to $20,000 for 5-year covenant, up to $40,000 for 10-year covenant.Dates: Applications expected to be available in April 2008. See contact information below.

Eligibility: Minimum 5 acres in agricultural use, minimum 3 years as commercial enterprise. For cranberry farms a minimum of 3 acres of bog must be in production and a ratio of wetland to non-wetland must be met.

Criteria for Selection: Degree of threat, number of acres to be protected, significance of production, experience of operators, identification of viability strategies to address problems, presence of direct marketing or value-added activities, suitability and productivity of the farmland.

For More Information: www.mass.gov/agr, Craig Richov at (617) 626-1725 or Craig.Richov@state.ma.us, or Deb Mayo at (617) 626-1723.

Downloads:     FVEP Brochure (PDF)

       FVEP Questions & Answers (PDF)

 

Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP)

Description: To help Massachusetts agricultural operations address any potential impacts on natural resources. While primarily a water quality program, AEEP will also fund practices that promote energy efficiency, conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Grant Amount: Participants are reimbursed for approved costs of materials up to $25,000.

Deadline: Applications are expected to be available in April 2007 for fiscal year 2008 projects and will be accepted on a rolling basis into the fall. See contact information below.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a recognized Agricultural Operation and meet minimum size requirements (5 contiguous acres in production or 3 acres in bog production or 5,000 square feet in greenhouse production). Water conservation and water quality proposals must have proof of a current NRCS conservation plan. Shellfish operations must possess a current shellfish aquaculture license.

Examples of Eligible Projects (but not limited to): Pesticide mixing/storage facilities, fencing, manure storage facilities, drip irrigation, water reuse projects, energy audits, agriculturally generated biomass energy, solar energy, fuel storage containment.

Criteria for Selection: Presence of a direct threat to sensitive resources, clarity of proposal (particularly budget and construction timeline), ability to complete project within program timeframe, extent to which project is part of a NRCS EQIP contract, operation’s participation in the Farm (or cranberry) Viability Enhancement Program or APR Program.

For More Information: www.mass.gov/agr/programs/aeep, Gerard Kennedy at (617) 626-1773 or gerard.kennedy@state.ma.us

Federal State Market Improvement Program (FSMIP)

Description: Provides funds to organizations (not individuals) for market development, market research and marketing education projects. A USDA grant program administered by the state departments of agriculture.

Deadline: January 31, 2007 at the Department of Agricultural Resources.

Eligibility: Applicant must be an organization. Proposals may involve small, medium  or large scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one business or individual will not be considered. Eligible agricultural categories include livestock, livestock products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish, horticulture, viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or manufactured products derived from such commodities.  Reflecting the growing diversity of U.S. agriculture, in recent years, FSMIP has funded projects dealing with nutraceuticals, bioenergy, compost, and products made from agricultural residues.

For More Information: Mary Jordan at (617) 626-1750 or Mary.Jordan@state.ma.us, www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm 

  Farm Energy Discount Program

Description: DAR certifies farm eligibility for a 10% discount on electricity or natural gas rates.

Deadline: Applications are accepted throughout the year and are available at the website below. To maintain the discount, applicants must submit a yearly renewal application.

Eligibility: Approved MA farms with fewer than 75 employees.

For More Information: www.mass.gov/agr/admin/farmenergy.htm, Kent Lage at (617) 626-1702 or Kent.Lage@state.ma.us

  Massachusetts Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

Description: The program provides women and children in the Federal Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and low income elders, with coupons redeemable at farmers’ markets for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Local farmers are reimbursed for the face value of the coupons, thereby enhancing earnings and supporting participation in farmers’ markets.

Deadline: Spring 2007. See contact information below.

Eligibility: Any farmer participating at an approved farmers market may request certification to participate in the program.

Criteria for Involvement: Certification requires a discussion of the regulations for the program and procedures for receiving payment for redeemed coupons. The DAR contracts with the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers’ Markets to process coupons for farmer reimbursement.

For More Information: David Webber at (617) 626-1754 or David.Webber@state.ma.us, www.mass.gov/agr/markets/farmersmarkets/coupons.htm 

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USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Grant Programs

 Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG)           

Presented by Anne Correia, USDA Rural Development Area Loan Specialist, (508) 295-5151 x3

Description: The program’s goal is to provide grant funds to agricultural producers for planning activities and/or working capital expenses to increase customer base, profitability, and the viability of small farms and ranches in rural areas.Grant Amount: See downloadable document below for past award information.

Deadline: Spring 2008. See contact information below.

Eligibility: Applicant must be independent producer (for-profit or non-profit), farmer or rancher cooperative, agricultural producer group, or majority controlled producer-based business venture. Applicant must match 50% of project expenses (cash or in-kind).

Examples of Eligible Projects (but not limited to): product change in physical state (ex: wine, salsa); differentiated production or marketing (ex: organic lettuce); product segregation (ex: identity preserved commodities such as corn); economic benefit realized from farm based renewable energy (ex: on-farm wind energy and electricity produced from anaerobic digester).

 For More Information: Anne Correia at (508) 295-5151 x3, www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm, or Richard Burke at (413) 253-4319 or dick.burke@ma.usda.gov

Downloads:   Anne Correia’s workshop presentation (PDF) 

                     List of 2005 grant recipients, award amounts and project descriptions (PDF)

 Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP)

Description: The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program that encourages creation of high quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife populations of National, State, Tribal, and local significance. Through WHIP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to landowners and others to develop upland, wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat areas on their property.

Deadline: Ongoing.

Criteria for Involvement: Participants voluntarily limit future use of the land for a period of time, but retain private ownership. NRCS works with the participant to develop a wildlife habitat development which becomes the basis of the cost-share agreement between NRCS and the participant. NRCS provides cost-share payments to landowners under these agreements for 5 to 10 years, depending upon the practices to be installed.

For More Information: Don Liptack, USDA District Conservationist, NRCS at (508) 771-6476 or donald.liptack@ma.usda.gov, or www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/whip

 

Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP)

Description: EQIP provides a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of ten years. These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation practices. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions, and the local conservation district approves the plan.

Grant Amount: EQIP may cost-share up to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Incentive payments may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use without the incentive. However, limited resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for cost-shares up to 90 percent. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified third-party provider for technical assistance. An individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all EQIP contracts entered during the term of the Farm Bill.

Deadline: See contact information below.

Eligibility: Operators engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. See the brochure (link below) for a list of approved conservation practices.

For More Information: Don Liptack, USDA District Conservationist, NRCS at (508) 771-6476 or donald.liptack@ma.usda.gov, or www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/eqip

Downloads:      EQIP Massachusetts brochure (PDF) 

SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Grant Programs

 

Northeast SARE Farmer Grant

Description: The goal of the Farmer grant program is to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable techniques and to explore innovative ideas developed by farmers across the region. Information gained from these farm-based projects may be used to redirect research priorities.

Deadline: 2007 applications were due in December 2006; see contact information below for 2008 deadline.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a farm business owner or manager in the Northeast SARE region. The operation must have an established farm income from a crop or animal product sold on a regular basis.

Criteria: Successful proposals define a problem, offer innovative solutions, and test new ideas. These ideas should reflect the concerns and the barriers to sustainability specific to your crops or products in your area. Visit www.sare.org/reporting/report_viewer.asp for a nationwide database of funded projects.

For More Information: www.uvm.edu/~nesare, Northeast SARE office at (802) 656-0471, www.sare.org 

Downloads:      Booklet describing past Northeast SARE grant recipients (PDF)                           Booklet on how to write a SARE farmer grant application (PDF)  

  

Business Planning Templates

Here are some of the best farm-focused business planning templates we've found, both on-line and in print.

a). Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and The Sustainable Agriculture Network
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farm and Rural Businesses, St Paul, MI: The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, 2003.
A comprehensive manual with detailed examples.

• Available Online
  
• Available in print form for $14.00 from the New England Small farm Institute
  Telephone: 413-323-4531.

b. New England Small Farm Institute's"Risky Business: An Online Tool to Help Beginning Massachusetts Farmers Address Risk."
A wealth of resources and strategies to address risk management areas such as insurance, health care, labor, cash flow, etc.
c) Agricultural Business Planning Templates and Resources
One of many excellent fact sheets from ATTRA. Covers electronic, print, personal, and workshop sources for business planning assistance.
d) The Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies, 4th ed., by Rhonda Abrams
Excellent, clear, step-by-step guide. Available at most brick-and-mortar and online bookstores. List price $29.95.

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SEMAP Agricultural Business Organizer

The SEMAP Agricultural Business Organizer is intended to help agricultural enterprises organize their physical and financial business information. It will help the user locate and gather existing data, develop and document information through sound record-keeping practices, and prepare for farm decision-making.

The Organizer is a flexible tool that is intended to assist both existing farms considering business changes (expansion, diversification, retirement, or other transitions), as well as new or startup farms. This PDF version is designed to be printed out and inserted into a 3-ring binder. A print version already assembled in a binder, and including a paper-based daily recordkeeping template, is available from SEMAP for $5.00.

 

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Enterprise Budgets

Enterprise budgets can be a valuable tool for both new and existing agricultural businesses. Questions such as: How much land do I need to grow a particular crop? what returns can I expect? can be answered by evaluating anticipated costs and returns per acre. Before entering a new endeavor, it is wise to sit down and evaluate the profitablity of any new operation, as well as examine those currently in place.

The budgets in this document are designed to provide an approximate cost that the average producer can expect to incure. Individual variations can vary widely from one operation to another. Is is nearly impossible to incorporate all management practices from one producer to the next. Therefore, each budget contains a column for you to include your own estimate to customize the budget for your own needs. The budgets are also useful to evaluate different inputs, and how they relate to the overall profitablity of an operation.

This document was produced with data from Rutgers Cooperative Extension and The Ohio State University Extension. The internet contains a wealth of information regarding enterprise budgets. For more information, please visit the websites of the aforementioned Universities.

Enterprise Budget Breakdowns

PDF file
Excel file for versions 97, 2000, X, 95 & 5.0

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Wholesale Distribution for Regional Family Farms

 

A Presentation by Red Tomato
SEMAP B2B Workshop, January 12, 2006

 

Powering Farms with Wind Energy 

 "A Feasibility Study of Operating Wind Powered Greenhouses on Cape Cod," conducted by Boreal Renewable Energy Development and Sustainable Automation LLC, is complete and available here for download in PDF form (2.6 MB). It is a large document and may take some time to download.

The study was commissioned by a group of partners including Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, SEMAP, Cape Light Compact, Coonamessett Farm, Mass. Division of Energy Resources, Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources, and Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association. The Cape Cod Economic Development Council funded the study through the Cape and Islands License Plate Fund grants program.

Presentations from the Dec. 7, 2005 Meeting:

On December 7, 2005, a meeting was held in Bourne, MA to present the results of the study and provide interested farmers with additional information about funding opportunities, regulations, and other issues. The meeting flyer provides details of the day.

For those who were not able to attend the meeting, or those who'd like to be able to digest the information provided at the meeting more thoroughly, the meeting speakers have agreed to allow their presentations to be posted here. These files are PowerPoint presentations converted into PDF's.

• An Introduction to Wind Power for your Farm: Sally Wright, Renewable Energy Research Laboratory, UMass Amherst
• Findings of a Feasibility Study on Wind Powered Greenhouses: Tom Michaelman and Bob Shatten, Boreal Renewable Energy Development
• Pleasant Lake Farm Off-Grid Energy System: Karen and Skipper Lee, Pleasant Lake Farm, Harwich MA
• Small Winds Case Studies from Cape Cod Technical Schools: Richard Lawrence, Cape and Islands Self-Reliance Corporation
• Wind Energy and Farms: Some Helpful Resources: Jan Gudell, Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources
• Cape Light Compact Renewable Energy Certificates: Joseph Soares, Cape Light Compact
• Distributed Renewable Energy Funding Sources: Jon Abe, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative

Follow up Sessions

Two follow-up sessions were held to help interested farms move ahead with applications to the two main funding sources for wind projects in our region: USDA Rural Development's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program (Farm Bill Section 9006) and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Renewable Energy Trust.  

Friday March 10, 9:00 am-12:00 pm: USDA Rural Development Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program (Farm Bill Section 9006) session. Session included detailed review of a sample application, a discussion of the evaluation criteria used by the USDA, and more. Location: UMass Cranberry Station Library, E. Wareham, MA. Click here for the complete meeting invitation. Contact: USDA Rural Development, 508-295-5151 x 203.

Thursday March 16: Session on MTC Large Onsite Renewables Initiative and Small Renewables program. Barnstable County Fair Admin Office. Directions: http://www.barnstablecountyfair.org/directions.html.
·         10 am --- Small Renewable Initiative, How to apply (various approaches) and minimum requirements, and review of the application and examples
·         11:30 am --- Large Onsite Renewables Initiative, How to apply and minimum requirements, and review of the application and examples. Questions on the program, contact Jon Abe at MTC, 508-870-0312, ext. 216.

 Last Updated On: 4/20/08