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Researching a Potential Small Acreage Enterprise. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming and Ranching. Cinda Williams, UI Extension 2005. What type of information do you need?. Production information about your crop or livestock enterprise Marketing information about your product
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Researching a Potential Small Acreage Enterprise Sustainable Small Acreage Farming and Ranching Cinda Williams, UI Extension 2005
What type of information do you need? • Production information about your crop or livestock enterprise • Marketing information about your product • Income and expenses projections
Passive vs ActiveInformation Gathering • Not all of the information you need will be available without asking, phoning, visiting • Secondary information • Primary is developed by your experience
Sources of Information • Books, publications (library, bookstore) • Journal articles (library, bookstore, subscribe) • Other farmers • Universities (Extension) • Agencies (NRCS, SBDC, FSA) • Non-profit organizations, farmer networks • Internet
Universities/Extension Service • Idaho Small Farms http://www.SmallFarms.ag.uidaho.edu • WSU Small Farms http://smallfarms.wsu.edu/ • Missourihttp://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/ • Penn Statehttp://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/ • UC Davishttp://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/ • Texas A&Mhttp://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/alternatives/alternativelinks.html
Federal (USDA) sites - general • CSREES http://www.reeusda.gov/ • SARE http://www.sare.org/ • Small Farm http://www.reeusda.gov/smallfarm/ • Natural Resources Conservation Service http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ • National Ag Library http://www.nal.usda.gov
State Agency sites • Idaho Department of Ag http://www.agri.state.id.us/ • Marketing http://www.agri.idaho.gov/marketing/ • Organic http://www.agri.idaho.gov/plants/organic/gen_info.htm • Idaho Small Business Development Center http://www.idahosbdc.org/ • Idaho Natural Resources Conservation Service http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/
Agencies - Prices and statistical data • Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/ • National Ag Statistical Service http://www.usda.gov/nass/ • Ag Marketing Service (AMS) http://www.ams.usda.gov/
Farmer sites • The New Farm http://www.newfarm.org/ • Cedar Meadow Farm http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com/ • Greentree Naturals http://www.greentreenaturals.com/
Organizations • Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas http://www.attra.org • Rural Roots http://www.ruralroots.org/ • North American Farm Direct Marketing Association http://www.nafdma.com/ • The Food Alliance http://www.thefoodalliance.org/
Periodicals/Journal publications • Growing for Market http://www.growingformarket.com/ • Small Farm Today http://www.smallfarmtoday.com/
Summary • Read • Attend conferences • Network