Small Grain Production Guide from North Carolina State University
Iowa State University Ag Decision Maker
National Organic Program
AG RISK AND FARM MANAGEMENT EDUCATION LIBRARY
This Library organizes thousands of resources and docs to help you quickly find the information you need on risk management, marketing, financial management and more.
ATTRA
ATTRA is the best place to start looking for information you need, with incredibly useful documents, a bank of internship opportunities, webinars, and even an 800 number to “Ask an Ag Expert.” ATTRA stands for Appropriate Technology Transfer to Rural Areas, which is probably why the government has funded it all these years.
CORNELL SMALL FARMS PROGRAM
Even though this site is focused on New York State, almost everything on it is also applicable to Midwest farmers. Check it out for news, projects, and resources. And don’t miss their sister site for new farmers: nebeginningfarmers.org
FAMILY FARMED FOOD SAFETY WEBSITE
FARM COMMONS
Farm Commons provides business legal services to farmers, creates useful legal education resources, and works with attorneys to reach community-based farmers around the country.
ILLINOIS DIRECT FARM BUSINESS GUIDE
Developed by Bryan Endres, a U of I professor and attorney, this is a great place to find Illinois-specific legal information of critical importance to small farms and direct marketers. A new section has resources that address the unique legal concerns of CSA farms, such as worker-share agreements, volunteer waivers, etc.
ILLINOIS SMALL FARMS
Illinois Small Farms is a U of I Extension site that provides information for small-scale farmers and those who work with them. It serves commercial small farmers as well as the small acreage landowner.
ILLINOIS STEWARDSHIP ALLIANCE
ISA promotes ecologically sustainable, economically viable, socially just food systems through policy development, advocacy and education.
KIVA ZIP
Kiva Zip makes 0% interest loans through crowd-sourced funds for small- and medium-sized businesses that fit their criteria of doing “social good”.
MICHAEL FIELDS AG INSTITUTE
This organization provides crop and soil research, food and farm education, public policy, and more.
MIDWEST ORGANIC & SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION SERVICE (MOSES)
MOSES is often a “one stop shop” for your farming questions and needs. Among many other services, they provide Fact Sheets, a resource directory, guidebooks, Farm Finance and other resources, mentoring programs, field days, policy and media resources, land-linking, tree fruit network, season extension information . . . and the best of all conferences, The Organic Conference, which takes place the third week of February.
NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION
This group provides support and information on sustainable farming practices, land access, and community building so that farming remains a desirable and profitable career.
PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA
Practical Farmers supports profitable, ecologically sound, and community-enhancing approaches to agriculture through farmer-led investigation and information sharing. You don’t have to live in Iowa to join and participate in their programs assisting farmers with both production and marketing needs.
ROUTES TO FARM
Routes to Farm is a collaborative effort to make resources available to farmers who are launching or growing their farm businesses in the Chicago foodshed.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE)
SARE has a wealth of educational materials, and runs competitive grant programs that provide funds for farmer/rancher (and other) projects. You can also search their database to find result from other farmers’ projects, e.g. blueprints for tools and buildings, season extension information, even how to transform your diesel tractor to solar power.
Illinois is in the North Central Region, and NCR SARE offers grants and educational opportunities for producers, scientists, educators, institutions, organizations and others exploring sustainable agriculture.
WOMEN, FOOD & AG NETWORK
WFAN’s mission is to link and empower women to build food systems and communities that are healthy, just, sustainable, and that promote environmental integrity.
