Reports & Publications

Check out the latest edition of our Small Business News packed full of resources for entrepreneurs, those looking to own their own business, and small business managers.

Editor's note: Last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing our 2023 Seventh Generation Award winners, Larry Harris and Denise O’Brien. I visited them on their farm north of Atlantic, Iowa, where we talked for two hours at their kitchen table, surrounded by memories. After hearing their story, I told them I was in awe with all that they’ve done.

Solar energy is on the rise, with an estimated 10.3 million acres projected to be used for solar energy production by 2050, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. An expected 90% of solar siting will occur in rural communities. Agrisolar, also referred to as agrivoltaics, is the co-location of...

The Rural Energy for America Program provides loans and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or energy efficiency improvements. Eligible recipients Agricultural producers Small businesses in areas with populations of fewer than 50,000 Private for...

Para la versión en español, por favor oprima aquí . Passing land on to the next generation of farmers and ranchers can be critical to the success of an operation. As the average age of landowners and operators continues to rise, transition planning becomes increasingly important. One mechanism to...

Pasar la tierra a la próxima generación de agricultores y ganaderos puede ser fundamental para el éxito de una operación. A medida que la edad promedio de los propietarios y operadores de tierras sigue aumentando, la planificación de la transición se vuelve cada vez más importante. Un mecanismo para...

Para la versión en español, por favor oprima aquí . Passing land on to the next generation of farmers and ranchers can be critical to the success of an operation. As the average age of landowners and operators continues to rise, transition planning becomes increasingly important. One mechanism to...

Pasar la tierra a la próxima generación de agricultores y ganaderos puede ser fundamental para el éxito de una operación. A medida que la edad promedio de los propietarios y operadores de tierras sigue aumentando, la planificación de la transición se vuelve cada vez más importante. Un mecanismo para...

Federal crop insurance is an important risk management tool for many farmers and ranchers. Coverage allows them to protect the finances of their operations from the impacts of low yields or fluctuations in market prices. However, for specialty, organic, or diversified producers, it may be...

El seguro federal de cultivos es una herramienta importante de administración de riesgos para muchos agricultores y ganaderos. La cobertura permite proteger las finanzas de sus operaciones de los impactos de bajos rendimientos o fluctuaciones en los precios de mercado. Sin embargo, para los...

Certified organic production is on the rise, with more operations transitioning from conventional to organic each year. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the multi-agency Organic Transition Initiative to support farmers who are converting to organic and to strengthen...

La producción orgánica certificada está en aumento y más operaciones pasan de convencional a orgánica cada año. En 2023, el Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA) estableció la Iniciativa de Transición Orgánica de múltiples agencias para apoyar a los agricultores que se están convirtiendo a...

Certified organic production has increased over the past decade, expanding to nearly 5 million acres of U.S. cropland.1 Organic operations have different needs than their conventional counterparts, and producers can often expect higher prices for their goods. To address market differences, the U.S...

La producción orgánica certificada ha aumentado durante la última década, expandiéndose a casi 5 millones de acres de tierras de cultivo en EE. UU.1 Las operaciones orgánicas tienen necesidades diferentes a las de sus contrapartes convencionales y los productores a menudo esperan precios más altos...

Specialty crop producers grow a variety of products including fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts. They may also produce flowers or fiber or operate horticulture and floriculture nurseries. The wide variety of specialty crops makes their producers’ individual needs different from those of commodity...

Los productores de cultivos especializados cultivan una variedad de productos que incluyen frutas, verduras y nueces. También pueden producir flores o fibras u operar viveros de horticultura y floricultura. La amplia variedad de cultivos especiales hace que las necesidades individuales de sus...

There’s a podcast I listen to that asks the same questions of its guests at the end of every episode: Who’s a great manager you have worked for? My answer is Linda Butkus.

Prescribed grazing, sometimes referred to as managed or rotational grazing, is becoming a popular tool for livestock producers seeking to improve their pastures or rangeland. In addition to its impact on soil health and ecological diversity, prescribed grazing can help producers achieve their economic and animal husbandry goals.

Producers may be tempted to farm as many acres as possible. In some cases, planting corn and soybeans close to road ditches, fence lines, and water bodies can bring additional income. In the long-run, however, it may be beneficial for more farmers to turn their attention to field buffers...

Los productores pueden verse tentados a cultivar tantas hectáreas como sea posible. En algunos casos, plantar maíz y soya cerca de zanjas de carreteras, cercas y cuerpos de agua puede generar ingresos adicionales. Sin embargo, a largo plazo, puede resultar beneficioso para más agricultores centrar...