Starting or growing an agricultural business comes with a unique set of questions — from developing a business plan and finding land to navigating regulations, financing an operation, reaching customers, and planning for the future.
The resources below can help farmers, ranchers and other agricultural entrepreneurs find information, tools and organizations to support their businesses at every stage.
Getting Started & Business Planning
USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
A great place to start if you’re considering a new farm or ranch. USDA offers step-by-step guidance on planning your operation, finding local assistance, accessing funding, building your business, selling products and managing your operation. Link here.
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses
This comprehensive guide from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) walks agricultural entrepreneurs through the business-planning process, including identifying goals, evaluating current operations, developing a strategy, understanding markets, creating financial plans and putting a plan into action Link here.
UC Cooperative Extension — Inyo & Mono Agricultural Production Support
Local, research-based support for Eastern Sierra agricultural producers, including planning and budgeting, soil health and testing, pest and disease issues, production practices and assistance for beginning commercial operations. The Farm Advisor can also connect livestock, alfalfa, forage and other producers with specialists throughout the University of California system. Link here.
California FarmLink Business Basics
Practical guidance for getting an agricultural business up and running, including business structures, banking, technology, hiring and working with contractors, recordkeeping and protecting your business. Link here.
California FarmLink Business Planning
Tools and guidance for creating or strengthening an agricultural business plan, including defining your business model, evaluating your operation, setting goals and developing a roadmap for long-term success. Link here.
Rules, Regulations & Compliance
Inyo & Mono Counties Agricultural Commissioner – Resources
Local information and regulatory resources for agricultural producers in Inyo and Mono counties, with links to state agricultural agencies and information from the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, which oversees programs including pesticide use, farmers markets, nursery and seed inspection, apiaries, produce quality and weights and measures. Link here.
Risk & Disaster Planning
California FarmLink Disaster Planning & Recovery
Risk assessment, insurance, cash/credit in disaster planning and recovery, and prioritizing recovery. Link here.
Funding & Financing
USDA Funding Resources for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
USDA provides information and assistance for beginning producers seeking farm loans, conservation funding, crop insurance, disaster assistance and other programs. Its resources include a Farm Loan Assistance Tool to help producers explore financing options. Link here.
California FarmLink
California FarmLink provides financing and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and other agricultural businesses. Its resource library also includes information about agricultural lending, financial readiness and financing a farm operation. Link here.
Financial Management, Bookkeeping & Taxes
California FarmLink Bookkeeping
Library includes practical tools for managing the financial side of an agricultural business, including bookkeeping guidance, model charts of accounts, asset lists, month-end review and QuickBooks resources, plus online guidance Link here.
California FarmLink Income Taxes
Resources pertaining to self-employment, business/personal property, capital gains, depreciation, deductions, agriculture-specific tax rules and filing issues. Link here.
Land Access & Leasing
Land-Seekers
California FarmLink Land Seeker Toolshed
Finding and securing suitable land can be one of the biggest challenges for a new agricultural business. This Toolshed includes lease templates, property assessment and tools for establishing a good landowner relationship. Link here.
Landholders
California FarmLink Landholder Toolshed
Resources for people and entities who own agricultural land and want to lease or transition it: . Link here.
Marketing & Selling Agricultural Products
USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
USDA’s beginning-producer resources include guidance on developing markets and selling agricultural products as part of building a viable farm or ranch business. Link here.
Siskiyou Farm Co.
Siskiyou Farm Co. is a Northern California agricultural economic-development initiative that provides business resources, advising, training and connections for producers, processors and food entrepreneurs. Its producer- and consumer-facing programs also offer an example of how regional agricultural businesses can connect with customers.
Genuine Skagit Valley Producer Directory
Genuine Skagit Valley is a regional agricultural economic-development and marketing initiative connecting farms, food producers and other agricultural businesses with consumers and community partners. Its producer directory offers a useful example of collaborative regional marketing for agriculture. Link here.
Succession & Farm Transition
California FarmLink Succession Guidebook
FarmLink offers resources for farm and ranch owners planning for the future, including tools addressing succession readiness, family communication, estate planning, management transitions and the transfer of agricultural assets and land. Link here.
Farm Succession Planning: Where Do I Start?
This practical workbook from Land For Good helps farm families begin the succession-planning process. It provides exercises and worksheets for clarifying goals, gathering important information and preparing for conversations with family members and professional advisors. Link here.
Agricultural Business Support & Inspiration
Looking for ideas and examples from other agricultural communities?
These regional initiatives demonstrate different approaches to connecting producers with business assistance, markets, and customers.
Siskiyou Farm Co.
A Northern California model combining agricultural business advising, workshops, networking, training, and producer promotion.
Genuine Skagit Valley
A regional agricultural branding and economic-development initiative supporting and promoting farms, food producers and other agricultural businesses in Washington’s Skagit Valley.
Need Help With Your Agricultural Business?
You don’t have to navigate starting or growing an agricultural business alone. The Eastern Sierra Business Resource Center provides free business support and can help connect you with resources, expertise, guidance on startup capital, and assistance for your next steps.
To learn more about available business advising, programs, and resources, contact Meryl Picard, mpicard@sierrabusiness.org
