Food & Farm Business Resource Guide

• Quick Reference Chart:  common issues and associated resources;
• Common Issues for Food & Farm Businesses: sections on specific issues in developing food & farm businesses; ; and
• Additional Resources: recommendations for providing additional information through North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems.

The guide was prepared by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and the NC Growing Together Project, as part of an effort to create supportive business environments for farmers and food businesses across North Carolina.

Please contact Laura Lauffer at ldlauffe@ncat.edu with specific questions about the Food & Farm Business Resource Guide.

Download PDF Version

1. Quick Reference Chart: Common Issues and Associated Resources

[1] Direct links to these resources can be accessed on the online version of this guide at https://www.ncgrowingtogether.org/for-educators-advocates-students/.

2. Common Issues and Associated Resources

Production and Marketing Resources

North Carolina Cooperative Extension is the largest state network for production and marketing resources. Each of North Carolina’s 100 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians host a NCCE office. Find your local county center here: https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center/.

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is the national USDA entity that works with local Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) across the state. NRCS & SWCDs provide valuable information about erosion, soil and water management, soil quality, seasonal production, livestock water sources, and other information. Find a local SWCD here or check out the NRCS website here.
http://www.ncagr.gov/SWC/ | https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ divisions have responsibilities in regulatory and service areas covering agronomy; animal health; weights and measures; gas and oil inspection; crop and livestock statistics; USDA commodity distribution; state farm operations; food, drug and cosmetic testing for purity; agricultural marketing and promotion; agricultural marketing grading; international agricultural crop and livestock marketing; operation of the North Carolina State Fair and North Carolina Mountain State Fair; operation of four state farmers markets; research station operations; seed and fertilizer inspection; nursery and plant pest eradication activities; regulation of the structural pest control and pesticide industries; agricultural environmental issues; soil and water conservation; forest management and protection; state and federal agricultural legislation; and agricultural economic analysis.
http://www.ncagr.gov/

Food and Farm Business Insurance

Farm and food business insurance can be different for different types of operations, including production, processing, and storage. General information that is useful to have when contacting insurance agencies includes:

• information about property lines and deed registration;
• personal income and business income, annually, for at least three years;
• employee information, including seasonal, temporary, and family labor records;
• a description of all business operations on the farm, including production, processing, storage, agritourism, farm stands, and any other revenue streams;
• general receipts from different revenue producing activities on the farm; and
• federal and state tax ID numbers and other official paperwork.

Common Types of Insurance for Farmers & Producers (Not all types are listed here.)

Farm Liability Insurance
Farmers’ Market Liability
Other Product Liability (i.e., for craft or other handmade products sold at markets; can be part of general liability policy for the whole farm)
Crop Insurance
Home Insurance (for home located on the farm)
Employee Insurance (for farm workers)
Business Insurance (for the farm business)

Resources in North Carolina (recommended by producers)
North Carolina Farm Bureau: Offices in all 100 Counties of North Carolina
Campbell’s Risk Management: Farmers’ Market and Small Farm Insurance
Snipes Insurance – North Carolina-based Agriculture Insurance
Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina Web Directory

Access to Capital

For an overview of agricultural credit options, please check RAFI-USA’s Agricultural Credit Booklet:
http://rafiusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/RAFI_Farmers_Guide_to_Agricultural_Credit_Booklet.pdf.

NC Rural Center Microenterprise Loan Program & USDA Farm Service Agency Lending

For larger projects or to complement grant funding, the NC Rural Center provides microenterprise loans to rural businesses, with a specific focus on supporting agriculture through low-interest loans that many banks will not secure. They also offer technical assistance and training. New USDA FSA Loan Programs will be announced in 2017.

• http://www.ncruralcenter.org/programs/business-lending
• www.ncruralcenter.org

Carolina Small Business Development Fund (formerly The Support Center of North Carolina)

The Support Center is a statewide CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) which approves micro-loans on behalf of the US Small Business Administration (SBA), the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), and US Department of Transportation (DOT). They offer a Carolina Healthy Foods Lending Program and technical assistance and training.

• https://carolinasmallbusiness.org/

Carolina Farm Credit

Carolina Farm Credit has over 100 years’ experience lending to experienced and new farmers, and funds purchases such as land, equipment, livestock, and more. CFC also offers rural land and housing loans.

• http://www.carolinafarmcredit.com/home.aspx

Self-Help Credit Union

Self-Help offers a food system financing program specific to farm and food businesses in North Carolina, along with technical assistance and training.

• https://www.self-help.org/what-we-do/we-build/foodsystemfinance

Farm Storage Facility Loans
USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provides low-interest loans for producers to build, upgrade, or purchase permanent or portable facilities to store commodities, including fruit and vegetable cold storage, washing, packing, and handling buildings and equipment. In 2016, the program now allows financing for portable storage structures, portable equipment, and storage and handling trucks.

• https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/price-support/facility-loans/farm-storage/index

Natural Capital Investment Fund (The Conservation Fund)
Natural Capital Investment Fund finances and advises small to mid-sized enterprises, primarily in rural and underserved communities across a nine-state region. They offer a  Farmers of Color technical assistance program and specialize in local food system lending.

• http://www.conservationfund.org/what-we-do/natural-capital-investment-fund

Grant & Cost-Share Programs

NCDA Grading Services GAP Certification Assistance Program

NCDA’s GAP Certification Assistance Program provides limited amounts of funding for first-time ($900) certification or 2^nd and 3^rd year recertification ($300). New information is released in early spring each year.

• http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/NCgradesvc/

Small Grants through the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

The TTFC offers small grants managed by NC Cooperative Extension and RAFI to assist with projects that can help ensure GAP/GHP compliance. Grants are specific to various regions, and farmers must contact their local extension agent or RAFI’s office to begin the application process. TTFC offers direct compensation to former tobacco farmers, but most farms apply through TTFC’s partner funding agencies, listed below.

• http://tobaccotrustfund.org/grants/ | Compensation applications on rolling basis

• RAFI-USA Agricultural Reinvestment Fund: Alamance, Bertie, Caswell, Chatham, Chowan, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, Orange, Person, Randolph, Vance, and Warren
  • http://rafiusa.org/grants/ | Applications released annually in fall
  • Previous projects: http://rafiusa.org/grants/rafi-grant-recipients/
• AgVentures: Duplin, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Greene, Guilford, Johnston, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Pitt, Rockingham, Sampson, Stokes, Surry, Wayne, Wilson, and Yadkin
  • https://agventures.ces.ncsu.edu/grant-program/ | Applications released annually in fall
• WNC AgOptions: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Clay, Cherokee, Cleveland, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey
  • http://www.wncagoptions.org/ | Applications released annually in October
  • Previous projects: http://www.wncagoptions.org/category/by-county/
• UMO Ag Prime (University of Mount Olive): Cumberland, Lee, Moore, Richmond, and Robeson
  • http://www.umoag.com/AgPrime/index.php | Applications released annually in winter

Cost-Share for Land and Water Projects from NRCS & SWCD

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (a federal agency) and state, local, and regional Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) provide cost-share assistance for a number of programs that can assist farms with land and water projects on their farms.

• http://www.ncagr.gov/SWC/ | http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/

USDA Value-Added Producer Grants
USDA provides a grant program for value-added producers interested in processing a product for sale into retail, wholesale, or direct-to-consumer markets, that can be used for equipment and supplies.

• http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants

Veteran Scholarships for Online Small Farm Training Course
Cornell University’s Small Farms Program offers partial scholarships for military veterans to participate in their Farm Ops online training courses, which are specifically designed for veterans who wish to enter farming.

• http://www.nebeginningfarmers.org/2016/09/01/online-course-scholarships-for-veterans/

Agricultural Tax, Legal, and Labor Issues

Tax Issues
Farm taxes are different than many other enterprises. Most farm businesses use a Schedule F Profit or Loss from Farming Form to report expenses and income from their farms. It is highly recommended that farmers seek professional assistance in filing taxes related to a farm business, since there are specific regulations that cover what can be claimed as farm income; what documentation and receipts are required; depreciation; sale of assets; what can be exempted from sales tax for farm inputs; and how to collect and remit sales taxes appropriately.

Rural Tax Education, a Cooperative Extension partnership hosted at Utah State University, provides tax information for rural farm and food businesses on a variety of topics: http://ruraltax.org/.

(See Cooperative Extension Section for contact information for Guido van der Hoeven, an Extension Specialist in farm tax issues.)

Legal Issues
Farm and food businesses can be impacted by a number of different legal issues. Some of the most common legal questions and associated resources are listed here. However, it is always best for business owners to consult with their own attorney for the most relevant information. A searchable list of NC Bar Certified Attorneys is available at:
https://www.ncbar.gov/for-the-public/finding-a-lawyer/ . This list can be searched by specialization for agricultural or business-related issues.

Local regulations and policies: NCGT maintains a guide for local and regional governments on how policies and regulations at the local level can impact farm and food businesses. This may be a good resource for those seeking to explore land use, zoning, signage, market location, food truck, urban farming, or other local issues:
https://cefs.ncsu.edu/food-system-initiatives/local-food-economies/a-government-guide-on-building-local-food-economies/

Agritourism may involve separate legal issues that do not apply to farms that don’t allow on-site visitors.
NCDA&CS offers web resources on laws and regulations: http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/agritourism/laws.htm.

NC Cooperative Extension’s Guide to Agritourism Regulations is a helpful list of possible resources:
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/regulations-that-may-affect-your-agritourism-enterprise

Succession planning and land conservation are important legal issues for farmers. The NC Land Loss Prevention Project and the NC Farm Transition Network are two good resources for state laws, legal assistance, and sources of funding to help protect farmland for the use of future generations.
https://www.landloss.org/ | https://cefs.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/07managingfarmtransitionsbranan.pdf

Farm Commons maintains an online legal database for farm issues that covers national and state legal questions specific to farmers and farmland: www.farmcommons.org.

Crowdfunding for farm & food businesses: In 2016, the NC General Assembly passed new laws allowing crowdfunding for some small businesses, in conjunction with the federal laws providing for the same. Visit the NC Secretary of State’s crowdfunding page for details and frequently asked questions: https://www.sosnc.gov/sec/Crowdfunding.aspx.

Trademarks: From breweries to meat processors to sauce makers, NC companies have faced legal challenges because of improper trademarking of their products. Make sure your client takes care of all legal actions needed to protect and identify their brand from the beginning, by visiting the NC Secretary of State’s office at https://www.sosnc.gov/trademrk/.

Labor Issues
Farm businesses are subject to a different set of hiring standards than most traditional businesses because of agricultural labor laws at the federal and state level. These laws make allowances for family labor, underage labor, migrant workers, overtime and seasonal pay, internships and apprenticeships, and other issues specific to the agricultural industry. While the resources below include the state and federal resources specific to farm labor, it is always recommended that business owners consult their attorney for the most relevant legal advice.

USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist provides a comprehensive overview of federal hiring laws related to agricultural and food businesses at https://www.usda.gov/oce/labor/laws.htm.

NC Department of Labor offers guidance on labor laws, overtime laws, and hiring laws for farms and agricultural businesses at http://www.nclabor.com/wh/fact%20sheets/overtimepay.htm.

NOFA Massachusetts offers an online guide to farm labor laws at the federal level that impact small to mid-size farms, especially those relying on the assistance of interns or apprentices: http://www.nofamass.org/articles/2013/03/understanding-labor-laws-beginning-and-mentor-farms?gclid=CjwKEAiAlZDFBRCKncm67qihiHwSJABtoNIgXiyzyeAwCf3VkZZczO35O1OcFNT79uxVOWAc9UW83hoC3Gvw_wcB.

NC Department of Agriculture maintains updated information on the legal status and requirements for hiring migrant workers at http://www.ncagr.gov/aglaw/migrant_workers.htm.

General Farm & Food Business Development Assistance

Producers and entrepreneurs are encouraged to work with their Small Business Center (SBC) or Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) to receive free, confidential, one-on-one counseling for business planning and financing. SBCs are hosted at 58 community colleges across the state and local centers can be found at https://www.ncsbc.net/. SBTDCs are hosted at universities across the state and local centers can be found at http://www.sbtdc.org/offices/.

NC Farm School hosts an intensive business planning training for producers in regions across North Carolina. To learn more about this training or find one in your area, visit https://ncfarmschool.ces.ncsu.edu/.

Small business developers seeking agriculture- or food-specific information to assist clients are encouraged to contact or utilize the following national and state resources:

U.S. Small Business Administration, Agricultural Business Planning Guides

SBA provides resources for agricultural businesses by industry/type.

https://www.sba.gov/managing-business/business-guides-industry/agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

SARE provides comprehensive resources for agricultural and food businesses, including production, harvesting, business, and marketing resources.

http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center

SARE also offers courses for assistance providers and producers on such topics as new & beginning farmers, organic transitions, and more.

http://courses.sare.org/resources_course2.htm

North Carolina State University, Department of Resource Economics, Enterprise Budgets

Enterprise budgets, created within the North Carolina Cooperative Extension system, provide useful budget templates for a number of crops and products.

https://ag-econ.ncsu.edu/extension/budgets/

NCDA&CS Agribusiness Development Section

Resources and assistance for food businesses

http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/agribiz/index.htm

ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Assistance Program

Managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology, ATTRA provides dozens of training opportunities and resources for food & farm businesses across the nation and online.

https://attra.ncat.org/

Cornell University Small Farms Program

In addition to original business planning assistance documents, Cornell maintains a directory of farm business planning tools, templates, and guides.

http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/business-planning/

The Institute for Economic Development NC

IED is home to the Women’s Business Center, the Minority Business Center, the Military Business Center, and other federal and state programs for North Carolina.

http://www.theinstitutenc.org/

Curriculum Planning for SBC-SBTDC Courses and Programs

Many small business centers, community colleges, universities, and local nonprofits are becoming involved in training entrepreneurs for building and expanding farm and food businesses.

The most successful programs are those which integrate the existing local resources of Small Business Centers, Cooperative Extension offices, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and other local knowledge.

Some of the programs in North Carolina to date include:

Vance-Granville Community College Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program
https://cefs.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016-Case-Study-LFE_VGCC-Ag-Entrepreneurship-Program-1.pdf?x47549

Appalachian Farm School at Southwestern Community College
https://cefs.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016-Case-Study_LFE_Appalachian-Farm-School.pdf?x47549

NC-Specific Curriculum Units have been developed by NCGT for topics such as Introduction to Food Safety for Wholesale Success, Preparing to Transition to Wholesale Markets, Direct Marketing, and Maximizing Social Media for Farm & Food Businesses. These are available at https://www.ncgrowingtogether.org/for-educators-advocates-students/.

NC REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship and Learning) offers an agricultural entrepreneurship curriculum program:
http://www.realentrepreneurship.org/

The University of Texas Extension Ag Business Planning Curriculum Units are available online:
http://agecoext.tamu.edu/resources/developing-business-plans-for-agricultural-producers-curriculum/

Guide to NCGT & CEFS Resources

NCGT Resources for Producers and Food Businesses
https://www.ncgrowingtogether.org/for-producers/

• Feasibility studies for equipment purchases and diversification strategies
• Historical pricing information and case & pallet calculators by acre and row
• Resources for meat, egg, and dairy producers
• Resources for selling into wholesale markets
• Regulatory information, including GAP/GHP information
• Technical resources for postharvest handling, season extension, and food safety strategies
• Marketing tools, including guides to social and online media for farmers and food entrepreneurs
• Local Food Supply Chain Infrastructure Map:
  • https://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/statewide-infrastructure-map.html

CEFS Resources for Producers and Food Businesses
www.cefs.ncsu.edu

• NC Choices: technical assistance, educational programming, and information about niche, local, and pasture-based meat, for farmers, extension agents, meat processors, buyers and consumers
  • ncchoices.com
• NC 10% Campaign: a statewide initiative through CEFS & NC Cooperative Extension, encouraging individuals and businesses to spent 10% of their food dollars on locally-produced items
  • nc10percent.com
• Cherry Research Farm: a 2000-acre Field Research and Outreach Facility, part of the Research Stations Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), offering research and guidance on techniques and practices
  • http://www.ncagr.gov/research/cefs.htm
• NC Cooperative Extension: Local Foods Flagship Program

https://cefs.ncsu.edu/extension-and-outreach/ces-local-food-flagship-program/

3. Associated Resources

Guide to Cooperative Extension Resources

NC Cooperative Extension’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics maintains up-to-date Extension budgets for a variety of crops and analyzes economic data to provide information about the agriculture economy in the state.
https://ag-econ.ncsu.edu/extension/budgets/

Guido van der Hoeven is an Extension Specialist/Senior Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University. His extension responsibilities include: income taxation of individuals and business entities, farm business management and the profitable continuation of “family farms” to succeeding generations. Recent focus has been on gaining an understanding of global implications of a shrinking agricultural production world but a growing world of product demand. He has over 40 years of experience dealing with income tax issues and preparation.
https://ag-econ.ncsu.edu/people/guido-van-der-hoeven-m-s/

The North Carolina Farm School program is run by Extension staff and provides in-depth production, marketing, and business planning training for new and beginning farmers. Gary Bullen, Farm School co-director, also serves Extension with research and economic information about new enterprise evaluation, business, direct marketing, and financial management.
https://ncfarmschool.ces.ncsu.edu/
https://ag-econ.ncsu.edu/people/s-gary-bullen-m-s/

Growing Small Farms Business Planning Section
GSF’s online guide includes links to many resources for small farmers and entrepreneurs.
https://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-econlinks-2/

NC Cooperative Extension’s Community Development Program offers resources for many emerging legal and business structures in the state, including farmer cooperatives and rural cooperatives.
https://communitydevelopment.ces.ncsu.edu/

About CEFS & NC Growing Together

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and North Carolina State University.

NC Growing Together is a five-year USDA-funded project at CEFS which aims to create supportive business environments that encourage the expansion of local products into mainstream markets across the state. With partners from dozens of agencies and companies across the state, we work to strengthen the economics of small to mid-size farm and fishing operations and their communities.

NCGT’s Local Food Economies Initiative: Local economies benefit in a number of ways from revitalizing small agriculture and food entrepreneurship. Local governments, regional councils, small business developers, and planners and economic developers have a unique opportunity to support the recruitment, retention, and expansion of area businesses through local agriculture efforts. NCGT supports those efforts by providing resources and tools for local governments and small business assistance providers across the state.

Published by: Center for Environmental Farming Systems
More information: Center for Environmental Farming Systems | https://cefs.ncsu.edu/food-system-initiatives/local-food-economies/