Business and Financial Management

The 1990 Farm Bill created the 2501 Program to help underserved farmers, ranchers, and foresters, who have historically experienced limited access to USDA programs and services. The 2014 Farm Bill expanded the 2501 Program to include veterans. The 2501 Program is officially called Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program.

The objective of the 2501 Program is to show USDA’s commitment to ensuring that underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers, and foresters can equitably participate in USDA programs. Grants are awarded to community-based and non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and eligible Tribal entities with at least 3 years of experience in working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or veteran farmers and ranchers. Individual farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply for 2501 Program grants.

As part of their Great Lakes Navigator Network, the American Farmland Trust (AFT) has put together some curriculum materials to help farmers navigate land transfer - both from the land-seller and seeker sides.

Farmers just starting out with 10 years or less of operating a farm or ranch are considered Beginning Farmers according to the USDA. The USDA offers a variety of programs and services to help beginning farmers get started or grow their operation, including farm loans, crop insurance, conservation programs, and disaster assistance.

Farming takes courage - it can be capital-intense with plenty of uncertainty. CultivateGrowth offers a helping hand to modern and diverse young, beginning and small farmers with our unmatched expertise and all-encompassing support. Helping small and beginning farmers of all production styles obtain and maintain the resources they need is a top priority for GreenStone.

CultivateGrowth provides financing in unique and individualized situations through our relaxed underwriting standards to help the next generation of agriculture overcome the farming's financial challenges. Our expertise in agricultural financing, in addition to our understanding of specialized Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs, allows us to better understand your business cycles and the details in your operation as we provide loans for young, beginning or small farmers.

The USDA Farm Service Agency is the point of access for Farm Bill programs that provide loan assistance, insurance products, and other risk management tools. FSA has offices throughout the State.

This is a private for-profit company website that offers a variety of real estate services to farmers, including a searchable database of farmland listings, a few of which are located in Michigan.

The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing, coordinating, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, online sales or other direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) market opportunities. A 25% match is required.

Pair this application infographic with MIFFS' larger "Guide to EQIP" for all of MIFFS best tips on utilizing this NRCS program on your farm.

MIFFS has assembled this insider's guide to the Natural Resource Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which is designed to fund farming practices that reduce existing risks to natural resources.

Helping farmers and landowners affordably access, transfer, and conserve farmland. In addition, the Farm Lease Builder guides you through important common issues in farmland leases and helps you create a roadmap for your landlord/tenant relationship.

The “USDA Farmland Cash Rental Information” is a listing of the county rental rates dating from 2009 to 2020. The information was obtained from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and is based on their survey results from producers. This is a great resource to assist in negotiating rates for land leases.

The Finding Farmland Calculator is a unique mortgage calculator designed to teach farmers about their financing options and creditworthiness when buying farmland. Build one or more purchase scenarios, then compare the total costs, monthly payments, and your scores on several financial ratios. Download the results to have on hand when meeting with a loan officer.

Michigan Good Food Fund is a statewide loan fund that invests in good food enterprises working to increase access to affordable, healthy food and sparks economic opportunity. Since 2015, initiative partners have invested more than $17 million to date in loans and grants supporting more than 300 Michigan-based food businesses that grow, process, distribute, and sell healthy food that reaches those who need it most. We provide flexible, patient capital to good food enterprises often overlooked by traditional banks. Lending is bolstered by business assistance to help entrepreneurs grow their ventures and prepare for financing.

Steward is a private lending partner, financing the growth of regenerative farms and sustainable producers through simple, flexible business loans.

The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program (IAG) is designed to support the priorities of Tribal Nations in meeting the needs of traditional harvesting methods and indigenous animals. This project intends to fund projects which invest in Tribal Nations' supply chain resiliency, indigenous animals, restoring local indigenous food systems, and indigenous processing methods, and expanding local capacity for the harvesting, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution (communal or commercial) of meat, poultry, seafood, and other animals that provide culturally appropriate food and food security to tribal communities. The primary purpose of all projects must be to expand or enhance indigenous animals and meat processing capacity in Indian Country.

Unlike traditional banks or lenders, Steward is 100% focused on regenerative food systems. We offer flexible loan terms and professional services tailored to your business needs. Partnering with Steward also means gaining access to a like-minded team committed to the long-term success of your business. As your operation grows and generates more revenue, pay back your loan with interest supported by Steward along the way.

Eligible applicants for Local MCap grants include business entities (regardless of legal structure) engaged in meat and poultry processing, including rendering animal carcasses or byproducts. Eligible entities include Tribes and Tribal Entities, for-profit entities, non-profit entities, and State or local government entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated, and all applicants must be domestically owned. Additionally, applicants’ facilities must be physically located within the 50 States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) helps and recognizes farmers who reduce erosion and runoff from private land into public waters. The program is administered by MDARD and delivered by your local conservation district.

The State of Michigan offers incentives in the form of tax breaks for landowners who meet certain requirements. The PA 116 agreement creates a temporary restriction on the land between the State and a landowner, voluntarily entered into by a landowner, preserving their land for agriculture in exchange for certain tax benefits and exemptions for various special assessments (commonly known as PA 116).

If you are new to the world of lending, these webinars will be helpful in navigating loan preparation for the variety of different agencies and products that are available to beginning farmers.

Can't find what you're looking for here? No worries. Our partners at Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) also have an expansive library of resources that might be able to help you.

The Beginning Farmers DEMaND series is a line of publications from Michigan State University Extension. These publications are designed to help beginning farmers learn about financial and business management strategies that will assist them in developing into the next managers and decision-makers on the farm.

The USDA has a wide variety of resources available to help new farmers access capital, learn the ropes, and get connected to the farming community.

Northern Initiatives is a non-profit CDFI that provides loans to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Michigan who might not qualify for loans from traditional banks for a variety of reasons. They offer emerging business loans and assistance with the Michigan Good Food Fund. They have helped many farms and food-based businesses. Some of their products are region-specific.

This is a property tax exemption that is available to eligible ag operations in Michigan. If you are buying farmland, it is good to be aware of this to make sure the exemption is retained by the new owner.

The Economic Development Foundation (EDF) is a non-profit lender that provides access to capital for small businesses that are purchasing or refinancing commercial real estate, and/or machinery and equipment. We are authorized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Certified Development Company (CDC) to deliver the SBA’s 504 Loan Program. EDF is one of a small percentage of CDCs in the nation that SBA has approved into their Accredited Lender Program (ALP). As an ALP Lender, EDF has authority to process, close, and service 504 loans, and our customers receive expedited processing of loan approvals and servicing actions.

The primary objective of the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant program is to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a Notice published in the Federal Register and an announcement posted on Grants.gov.

Grants must be used to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups in rural areas. Examples of technical assistance are:
- Feasibility studies.
- Business plans.
- Strategic planning.
- Leadership training.

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.

You may receive priority if you are:
- Beginning farmer or rancher.
- Socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher.
- Small or medium-sized farm.
- Ranch structured as a family farm.
- Farmer or rancher cooperative.
- Proposing a mid-tier value chain.

Can't find what you're looking for here? No worries. Our partners at Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) also have an expansive library of resources that might be able to help you.

The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing, coordinating, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, online sales or other direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) market opportunities. A 25% match is required.

The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program is a part of USDA's Build Back Better initiative to strengthen critical supply chains and our food system. This program guarantees loans of up to $40 million for qualified lenders to finance food systems projects, specifically for the start-up or expansion of activities in the middle of the food supply chain. The program will support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. This program is fully funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

A guide from MSU Extension and the Center for Regional Food Systems outlines best practices for processing and selling liquid honey for beekeepers who make $15,000 or less in annual honey sales.

The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program (IAG) is designed to support the priorities of Tribal Nations in meeting the needs of traditional harvesting methods and indigenous animals. This project intends to fund projects which invest in Tribal Nations' supply chain resiliency, indigenous animals, restoring local indigenous food systems, and indigenous processing methods, and expanding local capacity for the harvesting, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution (communal or commercial) of meat, poultry, seafood, and other animals that provide culturally appropriate food and food security to tribal communities. The primary purpose of all projects must be to expand or enhance indigenous animals and meat processing capacity in Indian Country.

This publication will aid you in understanding the fundamental principles involved in grain marketing. It includes a review of the commodity futures market and the ways it influences the price you receive for your grain.

AgHelp connects workers with jobs, and employers with skilled, reliable labor. Workers can also find many of the support resources they need for themselves and their families

The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer-to-consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Grants can be used for the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise or to improve or expand a food business that supports locally and regionally produced agricultural products and food system infrastructure by performing feasibility studies, market research, training and technical assistance for the business enterprise and/or for producers working with the business enterprise. A 25% match is required.

Eligible entities may apply if they support local and regional food business enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, or store locally or regionally produced food products.

Eligible applicants for Local MCap grants include business entities (regardless of legal structure) engaged in meat and poultry processing, including rendering animal carcasses or byproducts. Eligible entities include Tribes and Tribal Entities, for-profit entities, non-profit entities, and State or local government entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated, and all applicants must be domestically owned. Additionally, applicants’ facilities must be physically located within the 50 States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Manchester Hightunnels is a team of fabricators and builders that offer a combined 60 years of experience in both the construction and horticultural industries. After several years of working with growers in the vegetable production space and green industry, they launched their 30' gothic-style hoop house.

Food safety certification is no easy undertaking. While there are many reasons to go the certification route, a central reason is market access. Whether you already have a buyer asking for it, hope to gain a new buyer through it, or just want to get ahead of the curve, food safety certification is a useful tool in moving your produce from farm to table. There is a lot more to using this tool than just passing an audit. Once your certification is in hand, how do you communicate it to existing or potential buyers? What types of buyers ask for it? While many guides reference food safety certification, they typically only describe how to get certified, not what happens after. This guide aims to show you how your certification can be a catalyst for growth.

The Midwest Grazing Exchange is an online platform that aims to connect graziers and landowners. This service matches livestock to land. Graziers can search for forage to graze and landowners can search for livestock to graze their land. Integrating livestock on the landscape is a win-win for soil and animals - let the matchmaking begin!

Can't find what you're looking for here? No worries. Our partners at Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) also have an expansive library of resources that might be able to help you.

The Beginning Farmers DEMaND series is a line of publications from Michigan State University Extension. These publications are designed to help beginning farmers learn about financial and business management strategies that will assist them in developing into the next managers and decision-makers on the farm.

Nifty Hoops is a farmer's turn-key solution to hoop houses and high tunnels. Their hoops are manufactured by our small team in southeast Michigan, they boast the fastest installation time in the industry and can be built or delivered anywhere in the US.

The Mission of the Raw Milk Institute is to improve the safety and quality of raw milk and raw milk products through:
- Farmer training and mentoring nationally and internationally.
- Establishing raw milk guidelines and Common Standards.
- Improving consumer access and producer transparency.
- Consumer education about the benefits of raw milk on the immune system and gut microbiome.
- Investment in raw milk research with use of RAWMI test data.

The Raw Milk Institute's Vision is to build a healthier world where raw milk is safe, embraced, and accessible. RAWMI empowers dairy farmers and consumers by providing support from grass to glass and soil to soul.

This program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to help microenterprises start up and grow through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund. They also provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and microentrepreneurs.

TLD serves the state of Michigan with online local food and farm guides. Each May, the annual edition of the Local Food Guide in print and digital form is released. Throughout the rest of the year, additional digital guides are released, and monthly regional newsletters provide recipes, stories and content about the Michigan local food scene near you.

The WCCD Tools & Equipment Lending Library is designed to make various tools and implements accessible to local producers and landowners. The tools & equipment in the rental program are designed for conservation purposes. We offer Hand Tools, Herbicide Application tools, and larger Equipment rentals. Residents can request to reserve Tools & Equipment throughout the year.

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.

You may receive priority if you are:
- Beginning farmer or rancher.
- Socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher.
- Small or medium-sized farm.
- Ranch structured as a family farm.
- Farmer or rancher cooperative.
- Proposing a mid-tier value chain.