Farm & Business Plan Outline
A. Qualifications
1. Education and Farm Experience
2. Current Involvement in Farming
3. Support systems
B. Business Concept
1. Types and Scopes of Farming Operation
2. Goals and Objectives
a. Full or Part Time
b. Growth Strategy
c. How Will Success Be Measured/Quantified
d. What Are the Quantitative and Qualitative Targets to Define Success?
3. Personal Reasons for Farming
C. Marketing and Distribution
1. Primary and Secondary Outlets
a. Which Outlets Selling To and/or Through
1. Customer Characteristics
2. How Chosen Outlets Fit
1. Resources, Equipment and Capabilities
2. Lifestyle, Income and Personal Preferences
3. Requirements of Outlet, Customers, and/or Purchasers (certification, timing)
1. How Will These Be Addressed?
4. Product, Variety, Breed Selection and Cuts Selection to Fit Outlets
2. Value-added products
3. Marketing Risk
a. Risk Associated with Chosen Outlets
b. Risk Mitigation
a. Diversification of crop and outlets
b. Production Methods
c. Product liability insurance
3. Pricing
a. Methods and Strategies To Determine Pricing for Chosen Outlets
D. Farm and Production Plan
1. Site and Field Maps
(Draw by hand or computer, use GoogleEarth and/or get overhead mapping completed for free by local
Natural Resource Conservation District Agent)
a. Where Will Your Farm Enterprises Be Located On Your Property?
b. How will your fields and/or pastures be laid out and organized?
2. Field and/or Pasture Rotation
a. Strategy
b. System Design
3. Soil Nutrients and Fertility
a. Soil Test Laboratory and Results
b. Strategy for Nutrient and Fertility Management
c. Inputs Planned For Use
a. Products and Materials
b. Sources
c. Amounts
4. Weed Management
a. Bed/field Preparation Strategies, Techniques and Equipment
b. Cultivation Strategies, Techniques and Equipment
c. Substance Application
a. Products and Materials
b. Sources
5. Insect, Pest and Predator Management
a. Most Common Pests and Predators For Crops/Livestock In Plan
b. Preventative Strategies
c. Addressing Pest and Predator Issues
a. Products, Techniques and Materials
b. Sources
6. Post Harvest Management (Crops)
a.
How Harvest is Handled From Field to Storage
b. Where and How Harvest is Stored Until Sold
c. How Harvest is Transported to Maintain Quality
7. Livestock
a. Health and Wellness Management
b. Genetics
d. Forage and feed
e. Where Will Livestock Be Processed
f. How is Livestock Transported to Processor
g. How is The Animal Processed for End Customer
E. What Government Regulations Will Apply
1. Regulations and Licensing for Production, Transportation, Retailing, Processing and Labeling
2. Zoning Issues
F. Organizational Plan
1. Business Type (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation, LLC, etc)
a. Define Roles of Yourself, Other Employees and/or Partners
b. Discuss Wages and Benefits
c. Tax Implications
d. How Will These Roles be Evolving
G. Financial Plan
1. Which Records Will Be Kept and How
a. Production
b. Labor and equipment inputs
c. Financial
2. Provide Estimated Revenue and Expense Projections for 2010
3. How Will You Finance Growth
4. Other Financial Considerations