To evaluate your skills and the relative potential of a farming site, rate each skill or attribute below as 'Low', 'Medium' or 'High'.

'Low' ratings indicate additional training is needed, improvements should be made, alternative plans developed, or different farming sites explored.     Personal resources:                                                         Rating:

Clear goals.......................................................................................
“People” skills..................................................................................
Financial backing..............................................................................
Horticultural experience..................................................................
Management/marketing abilities.....................................................
Mechanical/construction/maintenance skills...................................
Land/equipment ownership or other means of  availability..............

    Personal preferences:

Hard work........................................................................................
Risk-taking......................................................................................
Problem-solving...............................................................................
Outdoor/physical lifestyle................................................................
Long-term commitment to job..........................................................

    Farm site characteristics:

Soil quality (drainage, texture, topography)......................................
Length of growing season/ frost susceptibility..................................
Availability of irrigation water...........................................................
Structures for sales, storage, equipment...........................................
Accessibility from major roadways....................................................
Prior stewardship (rotations, manuring, toxins, etc.).........................
Wildlife management (low deer population, existing fencing)...........

    Market potential/demographics:

Local population (within 30 miles)......................................................
Relative income level of local population...........................................
Nearby farmers markets, food coops, grower coops, restaurants.....
Potential for market “niches” (organic, PYO, specialty crops)..........
Your commitment to product quality and customer satisfaction.........

    Infrastructure/information support:

Availability/quality of local labor.........................................................
Local property tax “friendliness” toward agriculture.........................
Proximity of farm suppliers, dealers, agricultural agencies................
Extent of local/state grower organizations and their activities............
Info on hand: soil tests and survey, ag texts, business plan, etc.........