Resources

  • Know Your Rights with ICE and Border Patrol

    Screen shot of a portion of the resource.
    This two-pager provides guidance on what to do should ICE or Border Patrol come to your farm or stops your vehicle. Note: While the information in this resource has been reviewed by immigration attorneys, it should not be considered legal advice. For legal advice pertaining to your needs please consult with an attorney.

  • Conflict Resolution Guidelines: A Quick Guide

    It is critical to the smooth workings of a farm that the people who work there take the time to resolve conflicts in a respectful way. Work to resolve conflicts in ways that contribute to the health and harmony of the entire farm community with this 3-step guide.

  • Recruiting Employees: The importance of a good for employment application form

    A standard application form that collects the same information from all job applicants and clearly displays your farm name and contact information is an important part of presenting your operation in a professional manner. This template provides a good basis for your employment application form and allows you to customize with your farm name and logo.

  • Insider Tips on Managing Farm Staff with Becca Rudebusch

    Seeds Farm is owned and managed by Rebecca Rudebusch and has been growing organic produce in Northfield, Minnesota since 2010. Seeds Farm grows over 25 different crops for wholesale accounts in MN and surrounding areas with a team of 5 season employees.

  • Creating Cash Flow Projections

    Planning ahead is a key management strategy, especially when it comes to cash flow. A cash flow projection (or cash flow budget) uses your projected income and expenses to estimate the amount of money you expect to flow in and out of your business. Iowa State University and the Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program both offer free cash flow templates that are available for download.

  • Recursos de seguridad agrícola en español de UMASH

    Image of three Spanish language guides on farm safety/Imagen de tres guías en español sobre seguridad en las granjas
    La base de datos de recursos del Centro de Salud y Seguridad Agrícola del Alto Medio Oeste contiene una variedad de materiales de salud y seguridad, incluidas varias guías en español. Puede buscar materiales por palabra clave, categoría y etiquetas/temas e idioma.

    (A list of farm safety resources in Spanish from UMASH)

  • Reference Checks (Farm Manager Video Series)

    This video from the Farm Manager Video Series shares tips for how to use reference checks to learn more about a prospective job applicant. You'll learn about the kinds of information that can be gained through a reference check, its limitations, and how to incorporate it in your overall assessment of and decision-making about an applicant.

  • Reviewing Applications

    Once applications begin rolling in you will need a system for selecting those applicants that you’d like to interview. Your job descriptions should lead you to a list of qualifications which will help…

  • Running the Numbers

    This three-part video series demonstrates how to use partial budgeting as a decision tool for tractor and equipment investments. The videos provide examples of how farmers can use the partial budget…

  • Safer Farms Initiative

    Developed by the National Farm Medicine Center, The Safer Farms initiative developed a series of hazard analysis tools and forms to help you identify and address risks. The tools and forms are free,…

  • Sample Employee Handbooks

    Employee handbooks are important tools for communicating expectations to your employees and developing a positive workplace culture. Here we provide examples so you can see what other farms/organizations have included in their manuals, as well as a link to our Personnel Policy Generator tool.

  • Substance Misuse Toolkit

    Employer Guide to Substance Misuse cover
    This toolkit is designed to support employers in promoting healthy, safe workplaces by destigmatizing conversations about substance misuse, offering guidance in how to address it, and developing practices that focus on prevention.
    It was created by a workgroup made up of Vermont employers and community organizations focused on substance misuse prevention and recovery.

  • Supporting an Inclusive Workplace Culture

    Group photo of farm coworkers posing in front of an antique tractor
    A recorded video presentation by Rock Steady Farm and the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project on workplace culture, farm policies, care focused approach, and how to build an inclusive workplace on your farm, especially for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ workers. (recorded January 2022)

  • Tax Basics: Form 1099 Information

    Form 1099 is used to report various forms of income other than wages, salaries, and tips to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and to the recipient of the payment. Agricultural producers may both receive Form 1099 information returns and be required to issue them. The Rural Tax Education website provides an overview of the kinds of information 1099 forms report.

  • Tax Reporting: Employment of Family Members

    This webinar provides guidance on a number of topics related to employing family members on farm operations, including employment of children by their parents, spouses working for each other, business structures involving family members, reporting/withholding requirements, and deductibility of wages paid to family members. PowerPoint slides are also provided.

  • Tracking Labor on a Diversified Vegetable Farm

    The biggest expense on just about any diversified produce farm is labor. It is also the hardest to track. This video presentation by John Hendrickson of University of Wisconsin's Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems provides practical approaches to the labor component of the cost of production records for various crops. Links to additional resources are included.

  • Training Employees Who Operate Agricultural Tractors

    This 2020 Iowa State University publication outlines nine practices agricultural employers should cover during training with employees who operate tractors. These practices help prevent tractor overturns and the resulting injuries and fatalities. 

  • Training Your Employees (Farm Manager Video Series)

    Training your crews to do their jobs effectively from the start is a key way to avoid problems later. This short video from the Farm Manager Video Series shares practical strategies for training farm employees so that they contribute to the success of the farm.

  • UMASH Safety & Health Resources in Spanish

    Image of three Spanish language guides on farm safety/Imagen de tres guías en español sobre seguridad en las granjas
    The Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center resource database contains a variety of health and safety materials, including a several Spanish language guides. You can search for materials by keyword, category, and tags/topics and language.