Business planning - Ask Extension
I have a farm in Corbett Or and raise animals for meat. I really need a business plan.
I primarily farm for our own use but have so much extra I woul...
Knowledgebase
Business planning #891366
Asked January 07, 2025, 6:49 PM EST
I have a farm in Corbett Or and raise animals for meat. I really need a business plan.
I primarily farm for our own use but have so much extra I would like to provide for others. Can you provide some guidance. Thank you
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Starting out answering the question - "Why do I want a farm business plan" will help you get started in figuring what type of business plan to create. It sounds like you want to start off with an internal business plan. Sometimes banks and other lenders require business plans - and what include in these is very specific to those institutions. The OSU Small Farms Program has a farm business planning page, which will be a good place for you to start. https://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/resources/business-planning
There are sample business plans to give you an idea of options that might work for you.
Colorado State Extension has some templates for small-scale livestock.
https://abm.extension.colostate.edu/enterprise-budgets-small-farm-specialty-crops/.
University of Wisconsin also has a resource page with farm enterprise budgets. https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/articles/enterprise-budgeting/
One area as you look to provide for others is around branding and marketing. OSU has a newer publication on this topic for small farmers on the coast and will have transferrable information for all farmers.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/business-economics/marketing/branding-marketing-tips-coastal-small-farms
The OSU publication What Can I Do With My Small Farm has sections that can help you with your farm business planning. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-1529-what-can-i-do-my-small-farm-selecting-enterprise-small-acreages.
If you wanted to dive deeper into whole farm planning our self-paced Growing Farms - Whole Farm Management course is an option. https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/course/growing-farms-online-successful-whole-farm-management
Finally the book Whole Farm Management from Start up to Sustainability is another resource from OSU for small farms. https://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/projects/whole-farm-management-start-sustainability
There are sample business plans to give you an idea of options that might work for you.
The Niche Meat Processor Assistant Network has a Small Meat Processors BUSINESS PLANNING GUIDEBOOK that is another example -but from the processors end.
Another part of a business plan is having an enterprise budget these include worksheets and calculators for making projections of future income and expenses for various value-added enterprises.Colorado State Extension has some templates for small-scale livestock.
https://abm.extension.colostate.edu/enterprise-budgets-small-farm-specialty-crops/.
University of Wisconsin also has a resource page with farm enterprise budgets. https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/articles/enterprise-budgeting/
One area as you look to provide for others is around branding and marketing. OSU has a newer publication on this topic for small farmers on the coast and will have transferrable information for all farmers.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/business-economics/marketing/branding-marketing-tips-coastal-small-farms
The OSU publication What Can I Do With My Small Farm has sections that can help you with your farm business planning. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-1529-what-can-i-do-my-small-farm-selecting-enterprise-small-acreages.
If you wanted to dive deeper into whole farm planning our self-paced Growing Farms - Whole Farm Management course is an option. https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/course/growing-farms-online-successful-whole-farm-management
Finally the book Whole Farm Management from Start up to Sustainability is another resource from OSU for small farms. https://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/projects/whole-farm-management-start-sustainability
