Managing Farm Business Growth and Changes

Due to various reasons, your farm business has grown and changed over time and your current business structure is no longer working. You identify that changes are necessary and may include transitioning your farm to utilizing organic practices from conventional practices, scaling up your business, succession planning to plan for future business ownership that’s not you, or planning to transition out of agriculture in general.

Scaling up

For small- and mid-scale farmers looking to scale up to sell at the wholesale or regional levels, there are resources available to assist you in this process. Before engaging, it is important to assess your position, understand market research, and understand business needs and relationships with future buyers. It is also necessary to understand potential labor needs and the  associated costs and risks. In regards to increasing production, you may need to significantly increase your farmland that’s currently under production, as well as expand capacity for processing, post-harvest handling, and inventory of tractors, implements, and other pieces of equipment. Finally, food safety compliance needs will change as your production level changes. Many small-scale growers are exempt from Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements. You may need to have a written food safety plan that aligns with Good Agricultural Practices (or GAPs).

Cornell’s Produce Safety Alliance provides information and resources about food safety plans, GAP audits, and more.

Cornell Extension and industry-specific resources

SARE Scaling Up Your Vegetable Farm for Wholesale Markets

USDA Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources

ATTRA Is Scaling Up Right For You

Funding

For information on grants and financial opportunities for your farming operation, visit the ‘Grant Opportunities for Farmers’ fact sheet.