Agriculture
Ag and Farm Business Management
UVM Extension is committed to supporting Vermont farmers and preserving this valuable part of Vermont's history. A wide range of educational programs and resources are offered from farm finances and tax reporting to specific agricultural needs of our farmers.
The following provides information on general farm-related business needs. Find further information that pertains to specific sector business practices in that section (ie: dairy business management)
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Current topics
- Community Supported Farm Finance Guide. 62 pages, 2012. [Extension partner site]
- Farm Flood Losses and Income Taxes (factsheet, PDF)
- Farm Family Stress and Depression Checklist (PDF)
- Farm First - Vermont's Dairy Producer Assistance Program
- Agriview online newsletter by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Agricultural labor management
- Employee recruitment, compensation, personnel, training, safety and more [Extension partner site]
- UC Berkeley ag labor management website
UVM participates in eXtension: A national organization creating rich education for local Extension programs.
Farm business planning and management
- After The Cows Leave (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #10. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- Better Solution than Selling (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #14. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- Does Business Planning Pay? (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #3. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- Farm Management and Business Challenges for the Future: Financial Statements (PDF). Note: Presentation, 43 slides, August 2003
- Financing a Farm Market/Craft Shop(PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #8. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- FINPACK is a software that helps you organize and analyze the current financial situation of your farm. Note: This program is used by UVM Extension to aid Vermont farmers in farm analysis and planning. You do not need to purchase a copy of this program. Contact bob.parsons@uvm.edu for information on how to access this service.
- Farm balance sheet (PDF)
- General Partnership for Agricultural Producers Agreement Worksheet (PDF) is a seven-page publication from Michigan State University Extension. Note: Includes questions and blank lines for farmers to use before going to a lawyer when considering a business arrangement. Questions include: Contributions of each partner; distribution of salary and profits; management and dissolution, the exit strategy. (June 1988).
- "Hay and the Cost of Fuel and Fertilizer" article (PDF) estimates the cost of producing hay in 2008 compared to 2006. It looks at the effect of fuel and fertilizer costs that have doubled. Note: published in Agriview, 7/11/08.
- High-Tunnel Facility - Cost Worthy?(PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #11. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- Holistic Management...Just a fad? (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #16. Note: 1 page, July 2009
- How to Share Rent and Crop Input Costs (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #5. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- How to Stash the Cash (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #17. Note: 1 page, July 2009
- Innovative Ways to Farm and Develop (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #6. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- Is it Time to Exit the Dairy Biz?(PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #26. Note: 1 page, January 2009
- Is Now a Good time to Buy Land? (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #28. Note: 1 page, August 2009
- Is There a Premium for Organic Land? (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #12. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- Know your production costs factsheet and worksheet (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #31. Note: 1 page, March 2009
- Maple Sugaring Worksheets (Revised January 2010). Spreadsheet (Excel file) for calculating maple syrup production/profitability. [To be used with "Maple Syrup Costs: What does it really cost to produce that gallon of maple syrup?" factsheet.]
- Making Hay on Shares (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #7. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- Mom's Attorney Says We Should Pay More Rent (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #13. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- Never be Caught Forage Short (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #20. Note: 1 page, July 2009
- New England Farm Account Book #2 - Receipts & Expenses (PDF) Note: 53 pages, December 2009
- Recreational Use of Farmland: Fun and Sun on the Farm (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #19. Note: 1 page, July 2009
- Replace Older Machinery or Not (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #15. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- To Deregulate or not Deregulate Milk Orders? That is the Question. (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #9. Note: 1 page, June 2009
- "Planning a Profitable Auction" article (PDF). Note: 1988, revised 2004. Tips, activities, and schedules for having a successful auction. 4 pages. FS 119.
- What Energy-Savers Really Pay (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #18. Note: 1 page, July 2009
- What Ag Lenders Expect From Farm Borrowers (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #23. Note: 1 page, August 2009
- What's a Resonable Farmer's Workweek? (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #21. Note: 1 page, August 2009
- What Niche Markets are Available for 2009 and Beyond? (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #22. Note: 1 page, August 2009
- Which Season is the Best to Ensure Timely Operation? (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #4. Note: 1 page, June 2009
Family farm succession
- AgTransitions Program of the University of Minnesota's Center for Farm Financial Management
- Estate Planning and Transferring the Farm (short publications produced by University of Minnesota Extension)
- Farm Family Finances
- Farm Family Succession and Transfer Resources [Extension partner site]
- "Transferring the Farm" video series [Extension partner site]
- Transferring the Farm Virtual Workshop [Extension partner site]
- Farm Transfer Network of New England
Services for farmers with disabilities
- AgrAbility Project offers education and technical assistance to farmers, farm workers and their families with disabilities on safe and practical ways to continue in their rural lifestyle.
Agricultural risk management
- Ag risk management blog [Extension partner site]
Insurance and tax information
- "Livestock Gross Margin Insurance for Dairy" article (PDF) explains new crop insurance program that allows dairy farmers to insure their margin between milk price and grain costs. The program uses futures market prices for dairy, corn, and soybean meal as the "expected prices" a farmer would insure against their margin being less than expected from the futures market. Note: August 2008
- IRS website's information for agriculture/farmers The "Farmer's Tax Guide" is easy to find here, along with a number of articles concerning farmers and income taxes.
- Rural Tax Education Rural tax related resources, hosted by our friends at the Utah State University Cooperative Extension
- Use Value Appraisal Application Form for Agricultural, Forest, Conservation Land and Farm Buildings (PDF) The Use Value Appraisal (Current Use) law allows the valuation and taxation of farm and forest land based on its remaining in agricultural or forest use instead of its value in the market place
- Use Value Appraisal Instructions (PDF)
- Vt. Agricultural Sales Tax Exemption Certificate (PDF)
- Year End Tax Planning (PDF) Farm Management Team Q&A Factsheet #1. Note: 1 page, June 2009
Last modified February 21 2013 11:12 AM