Economic/Marketing

Youth Renewing the Countryside

Type: Book

This full-color book profiles 50 inspiring young people—one from every state—who are revitalizing rural America with new enterprises.

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$24.95

University of Nebraska SARE Agri-Marketing Website

Type: North Central SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

This is a web toolbox to support the SARE AgriMarketing Professional Development Program.  It functions as a discussion board, and location link for media, professional, agrimarketing and program/organization resources.

The New Farmers' Market

Farm-Fresh Ideas for Producers, Managers and Communities

Type: Book

In one complete volume, this must-have resource for direct market producers covers the latest tips and trends from leading-edge sellers, managers and market planners all over the country.

Print Version:

$26.95

The New American Farmer, 2nd Edition

Profiles of Agricultural Innovation

Type: Book

Hailing from small vegetable farms, cattle ranches and grain farms covering thousands of acres, the producers in The New American Farmer, 2nd edition have embraced new sustainable approaches to agriculture.

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$16.95

Tapping Organic Markets-Local to Global

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

By some estimates, retail sales of organic foods are expected to exceed more than $32 billion by 2009. As this market explodes, what are local options for farmers? Navigating the world of organic sales isn’t always easy for farmers and ranchers. Learn the latest market analysis, and how to think globally while marketing locally.

Taking your CSA to the Next Generation

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

What are the best ways to get started with CSAs and make them work? CSA pioneer Elizabeth Henderson, author of Sharing the Harvest, will share her bounty of knowledge, experience and advice.

Successful Launching of Wyoming Reservation Farmers Market

Type: Western SARE From the Field Profile

Because of high obesity and diabetes rates and a lack of locally-grown foods on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Washakie, Wyoming, Justine Russell launched her PDP-funded project with the goal of increasing awareness of the potential for a farmers market on the Reservation. In less than two years, she and her partners accomplished so much more than increasing awareness.

SARE Publications Kit

Type: National SARE Promotional Product

Order an entire set of SARE Outreach books and bulletins for one low price.

Print Version:

$116.25

SARE and Local Food Systems

Type: Southern SARE Bulletin

Promoting Local Food

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Rural Revitalization through Farm-Based Enterprise

Type: North Central SARE From the Field Profile

For decades, John Allen has helped farmers develop business skills and strategies, improving their profitability and helping to revitalize rural communities.

Production and Marketing of Beach Plum, a Heritage Fruit Crop

Type: Fact Sheet

Beach plum (Prunus maritima Marsh) is one of several shrubby plums native to North America. The jams produced from this fruit command premium prices at farm stands and specialty markets, even in comparison with jam made from other locally grown fruit. However, the wild-collected supply of fruit does not meet this niche market’s demand.

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Place-Based Foods of Appalachia

From Rarity to Community Restoration and Market Recovery

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

A publication to foster recognition of the Appalachia region and encourage preservation of heirloom seed varieties.

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New Mexico Grower Saved by the Sun

Type: Western SARE From the Field Profile

Don Bustos has used solar energy to cut his winter greenhouse heating bill to almost nothing.

Multi-Species Pasture Stacking Systems

Type: North Central SARE From the Field Profile

Down a winding country road in Garnett, Kansas stands the Bauman farm, where agriculture is a family affair. Upon purchasing the farm in 2001, the family’s first farm venture was to raise pastured chickens and livestock. Today, the Baumans sell about 7,000 broiler chickens each year and an average 350 dozen eggs a week.

With the help of a grant from the NCRSARE Farmer Rancher grant program, the Baumans experimented with pasturing different species of animals in the same area. With the “pasture stacking” project, the family increased their broiler chickens’ average weight by 50 percent.

Meat Marketing

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

A local Kansas expert shares how to beef up your beef business with her work developing and trademarking an all natural-branded meat product line called “Good Natured Family Farms” (It’s featured on the Local Chefs tour!). A researcher shares how to tap niche meat markets.

Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers

Type: Bulletin

This 20-page bulletin offers snapshots of the many alternatives to marketing commodities through conventional channels.

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Free

Marketing On-Farm Compost

A toolkit of resources for farm compost operators

Type: Northeast SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

Marketing is an essential component of any successful composting operation, along with best practices and a commitment to quality.

Local Harvest

A Multifarm CSA Handbook

Type: Northeast SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

Local Harvest: A Multifarm CSA Handbook offers straightforward guidance on cooperative marketing, an innovative practice that is helping CSAs stay strong and viable over the long term.

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Large-Scale Help for Small-Scale Farmers

Type: Northeast SARE From the Field Profile

The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, supported by SARE grants, has helped dozens of small farmers in Massachusetts establish their roots.

Land Grant Student Makes Key Discoveries in Exurban Farming

Type: North Central SARE From the Field Profile

Graduate student's research on agriculture at the rural-urban interface has profound implications for government farm policy.

Kriemhild Dairy Farms

Type: Northeast SARE From the Field Profile

The localvore movement leads to multifarm cooperation.

Kids Get the Skinny on Whole Grains in North Dakota Systems

Type: North Central SARE From the Field Profile

Working in an extension office, co-owner of Dakota Family Mill, Adrian Biewer, became aware of the health needs that wholegrain products could address. Developing a better tasting wholegrain product made practical sense.

In 2006, the farm families of Dakota Family Mill, Duane and Jean Smith, Bob and Debra Evenson, and Adrian and Anne Biewer, submitted a proposal to the NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant program, and were selected for funding.

Keeping a Farm a Farm

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

One of the best ways to protect farmland is ensuring it stays a farm. That means bringing in new farmers, and helping pass farmland on to future generations. Three experts share their experience in training and helping new and old farmers and ranchers keep the farm in the family.

Kansas Pumpkin patch receives “Extreme Makeover” with funds from SARE

Type: North Central SARE From the Field Profile

Just off of Highway 77, running north from El Dorado, Kansas, runs seventy three acres of agritourism property which is a part of Carroll and Becky Walters’ family farm and pumpkin patch, Walters’ Pumpkin Patch. 

Iowa Produce Market Potential Calculator

A Midwest Homecoming Conference Session

Type: Presentation

The calculator compares what Iowans eat to the 37 fruits and vegetables Iowa farmers produce and figures farm revenues if the local markets were fully realized. Learn how to use the calculator as a market forecasting tool. 

Indiana Farmer Devises Innovative Field to Market Method for Small Produce Farms

Type: North Central SARE From the Field Profile

After working nights in a factory job, Kevin Cooley is realizing his dream and creating new field to market methods for small produce farms at Cooley Family Farms in Lafayette, IN. 

Imperial Stock Ranch Heritage Lamb/Fiber Marketing

New American Farm Conference Poster

Type: Poster

Imperial Stock Ranch Heritage Lamb/Fiber Marketing, presented by Jeanne Carver (Oregon).

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How to Direct Market Your Beef

Type: Book

How to Direct Market Your Beef portrays how one couple used its family’s ranch to launch a profitable, grass-based beef operation focused on direct market sales.

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$14.95

Hillsdale Winter Harvest Farmers Market

New American Farm Conference Poster

Type: Poster

Hillsdale Winter Harvest Farmers Market, presented by Eamon Molloy (Oregon).

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Helping Entrepreneurs: Tools and Techniques

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

Many farmers are thinking about starting a farm- or ranch-based venture, but need more entrepreneurial skills. Come hear about a range of tools that ag educators can use to help would-be entrepreneurs develop successful agriculture-based businesses.

Helping Appalachian Farmers Tap New Markets

Type: Southern SARE From the Field Profile

Hundreds of farmers in Appalachia making the switch to sustainable methods have received vital help from SARE-supported Appalachian Sustainable Development.

Grower to Grower

Creating a livelihood on a fresh market vegetable farm

Type: North Central SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

A case study to help guide growers as they set financial and quality of life goals for their farms and structure their operations to realize those goals.

Getting Cooperative

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

New, diverse product marketing cooperatives are proving to be profitable venues for farmers with a bounty to sell. Hear the successes and cautionary tales about how best to band together for better marketing of sustainably produced products.

Ganado Farm Board Agricultural Marketing Study

New American Farm Conference Poster

Type: Poster

Ganado Farm Board Agricultural Marketing Study, presented by Teresa Showa (Arizona).

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Farms to Schools (and Other Institutions)

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

A farm-to-school expert describes how to get off on the right foot when marketing to schools, while a staff member of the New North Florida Cooperative talks about how the cooperative marketed to a larger institution, the Department of Defense’s Food Service Program.

Farmers Market Managers Training Manual

Type: Northeast SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

The Farmers Market Federation of New York has offers this comprehensive training resource, the Farmers Market Managers Training Manual. This manual is the product of a three-year training effort funded through a Northeast SARE Professional Development grant.

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Farm-to-School Lessons from the Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch Project

New American Farm Conference Poster

Type: Poster

Farm-to-School Lessons from the Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch Project, presented by Doug Wubben (Wisconsin).

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Farm Stay U.S. Website

Type: Western SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

This farmer-created, consumer-oriented website lists hundreds of farms and ranches around the country that offer accommodations.

Fair Trade Strategy for Northeast "Eco-Growers"

Type: Northeast SARE From the Field Profile

Faced with rising costs and foreign competition, a group of apple growers launched a cooperative direct marketing effort for their sustainably raised fruit.

Experiential Curricula in Sustainable Agriculture Topics

Resources for Instructors

Type: Online Course/Curriculum

These in-depth training manuals, produced by the University of California Santa Cruz, help instructors conduct hands-on teaching in organic farming and gardening, direct marketing, and small-farm business planning.

Expanding Winter Harvest and Sales for New England Vegetable Crops

Type: Northeast SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

This UMass Extension website offers resources on winter vegetable crop storage and marketing, as well as information on low-cost season extension, including the use of low tunnels and hoop houses.

Economic Analysis and Policy Development to Support Multiple Benefits

New American Farm Conference Poster

Type: Poster

Economic Analysis and Policy Development to Support Multiple Benefits, presented by George Boody (Minnesota).

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Direct-Market Successes IV

A Midwest Homecoming Conference Session

Type: Presentation

Individual presentations on farm-to-school marketing, green tourism, locally grown foods and CSAs.

Direct-Market Successes III

A Midwest Homecoming Conference Session

Type: Presentation

Individual presentations on farmers markets, direct sales, diversification and agri-tourism, and media promotion.

Direct-Market Successes II

A Midwest Homecoming Conference Session

Type: Presentation

Individual presentations on culinary herb markets, diversifying with aquaculture, high-end beef marketing, and specialty fruit production.

Direct-Market Successes I

A Midwest Homecoming Conference Session

Type: Presentation

Individual presentations on eco-labeling, value-added, on-farm processing, and developing local markets for specialty products.

Direct Marketing for Farmers and Ranchers

Jeanne Carver

Type: Multimedia

To help it survive in challenging economic times, the Imperial Stock Ranch has increased profits by adopting direct, value-added marketing of wool products.

Direct Food Marketing Online Curriculum

Type: North Central SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

"Direct Marketing of Specialty Food Products" is designed to provide business owners with strategies and tools to help sell directly to consumers. The program includes video interviews of food entrepreneurs who are using social media tools to market and sell their product online.

Developing Added Value, Convenience Products From Free-Range Pastured Chickens

Type: North Central SARE From the Field Profile

In Canistota, SD, a group of family farmers have been experimenting with methods for adding value to their products and income to their operations.

Tom and Ruth Neuberger were traditional livestock farmers in ‘70’s. During the credit crunch of early 80’s they found themselves in debt “up to their ears.” They sold off their livestock to pay off debt, and then had to devise a new business plan. 

They turned to poultry. 

Course 2. Strategic Farm/Ranch Planning and Marketing

Type: Online Course/Curriculum

This course covers planning and business development, marketing opportunities and strategies for farm/ranch businesses, and managing the farm/ranch business for long-term success.

Connecting with Customers

Jeanne Carver

Type: Multimedia

Jeanne Carver describes the importance of listening to customers when developing new value-added markets for your farm products.

Communicating to the Wider World

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

Sometimes we just talk to ourselves. How do we talk to others in agriculture about sustainable practices and innovations? Compelling and creative communication is a top priority if we are to advance sustainability to all corners of the country. Cutting-edge researchers are uncovering new ways to reach out.

Chefs A'Field

Type: Multimedia

A public television program partly supported by SARE features the talents of the nation’s most acclaimed chefs­ and the farmers they rely upon.

Cattle, Sheep, Grain and Hay: The Imperial Stock Ranch Story

Jeanne Carver

Type: Multimedia

The Imperial Stock Ranch, which began in 1871, faces a new and serious challenge to its very survival: how to create new markets for its products.

Building a Sustainable Business

A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses

Type: Book

Bringing the business planning process alive, Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses helps today's alternative and sustainable agriculture entrepreneurs transform farm-grown inspiration into profitable enterprises.

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Print Version:

$17.00

Agritourism: Bringing Tourists to the Farm

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

From dude ranching to bed and breakfasts, agritourism is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors and has helped revitalize rural communities all over the U.S. and Europe. It’s also an opportunity to educate a public increasingly interested in how and where their food is produced. Learn the do’s and don’ts from one expert who helped put her county on the tourist map, and from researchers about how best to position rural communities for tourism.

Advanced Marketing

A Midwest Homecoming Conference Session

Type: Presentation

Individual presentations on pasture-raised meats, risk management and planning, rancher mentoring, and farm credit.

Adding Value to What You Grow

New American Farm Conference Breakout Session

Type: Presentation

Sheep into wool. Wheat into flour. Poop into “peat pots”! Interested in turning crops or livestock into a profitable product for sale? Farmers and ranchers across the country are transforming what they grow and raise into marketable items. But it’s not as easy as it looks. Learn from three who have first-hand experience with success and bumps in the road.

Organic Production and Marketing of Forest Medicinals

Type: North Central SARE From the Field Profile

The scope of this NCR-SARE Research and Education project was designed to assist the Roots of Appalachia Growers Association (RAGA) develop a learning network among growers, to close the gap between growers and current research activities, and support RAGA entering the marketplace.