Small Farms
Colorado lost more than 1 million acres of farm land from 1997 -2002. As markets vary and farm land continues to be sold to development, the urgency to help farmers stay on the land increases. The USDA National Commission on Small Farms defines small farms as “farms with less than $250,000 gross receipts annually on which day-to-day labor and management are provided by the farmer and/or farm family that owns the production or owns, or leases, the productive assets…[these have an average] net cash income of only $23,159…over 80% of a farmers gross sales are absorbed by farming expenses.”
Subscribe to the Small Farms listserv at CSU
Go to the CSU listserv and select “Small_Farms” from the list and fill out the form
This listserv is intended to connect, support, and promote small farms in Colorado with news, educational outreach, and production and marketing related info. It also is unmoderated, meaning that anyone subscribed to it can send emails to everyone on the list, providing a forum for discussion of small farms issues. SINCE THIS IS A CSU LISTSERV, NO COMMERCIAL EMAILS PLEASE.
Boulder County Small Farm listserv
boco_small_farms@lists.colostate.edu – similar to small_farms@lists.colostate.edu but specifically for Boulder County (some duplicate postings are possible on both). Email Adrian Card and request subscription
Colorado Small Farm Classifieds
Specifications and online Submission Form – Published first week of each month, monthly January – June, then November classifieds listing
Exploring a Market Farm Business
Factsheet with questions and resources for those interested in starting a Market Farm
Building Farmers in the West
CSU Extension program for beginning farmer development
Business Planning Resources
- “Building a Sustainable Business” entire publication: http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books ; BSB sections found at: http://www.misa.umn.edu/Publications/BuildingaSustainableBusiness/
- Ag Plan – online business plan tool – https://www.agplan.umn.edu/ and register for Ag Plan and select an “Ag -Value Added” template
Colorado Community Supported Agriculture Surveys
Boulder County Farmer to Chef Program
Results of Online Survey of 2007 program
Custom Small Farm Operators for Boulder County Area
2007 Custom Operators listing – working to build a listing of people with tractors and implements to do work for hire on small farms in the area. Please email acard@co.boulder.co.us if you would like to be added to this list.
USDA
- USDA National Commission on Small Farms Report, “A Time to Act”
- USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture
- Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Service
Colorado Department of Agriculture
University
- UC Davis Small Farms Center
- CSU Specialty Crops Program
- Sustaining Agriculture in Colorado
- Cornell Small Farms Program
Leasing Boulder County Parks and Open Space Ag Land
- Growers Association – mechanism for several small farm operations to lease one parcel together
- Ag Program Overview and Online Signup for Notice of Request for Bids
- Leasing Process Specifics
- Insurance Requirements
- Bid Submittal Form and Bid Evaluation Criteria
- Generic Lease document – NOTE– this is very general lease and a specific lease will vary somewhat
City of Lafayette – Thomas Open Space Natural Farm project
Financing
- Colorado Agricultural Development Authority Beginning Farmer Program
- Mountain Plains Farm Credit Services – See AgVantage Program for Young, Beginning, and Small Producers
- The Farmers’ Guide to Agricultural Credit (4.5 MB and 45 pages)
- Farm Service Agency Loan Programs
Grant Sources
- Western SARE
- USDA Rural Development
- Organic Farming Research Foundation
- CSU Specialty Crops Program
- Grants.gov
Magazines/Newsletters
Farmer Advocacy/Farmland Conservation
- Rocky Mountain Farmers’ Union
- Colorado Farm Bureau
- Center for Rural Affairs
- American Farmland Trust
- Colorado Young Farmers Educational Association
Food Systems and Ag Policy
CSU Extension Food Systems and Ag Policy
