Central Sierra: Agriculture | Small Farms Information

Getting Started in Agriculture

Why do you want to farm? Why do you want to get into the farming business? Is farming for you? From these basic questions, many more granular questions follow: What does record keeping for livestock and farm businesses look like? What are best practices for marketing and selling any particular product? What are the economics of farming? What are the laws, regulations, and taxes surrounding the business? 

UC Cooperative Extension advisors are available to assist small farms. Through programs, web resources, and personal connection, our advisors bring you the information you seek. Please visit the links listed on this page for some important practical resources. 

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Starting A Farm

• ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture - Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, is a trusted source of sustainable agriculture information and maintains a knowledge base of practical multimedia resources for farmers, ranchers, and educators.
• Beginning Farming Academy, UCCE Placer/Nevada County webpage.
• Developing a Farm Map, ANR Publication #8062
• What's in a Name?

Soil & Water Management

• Evaluating Water Quality, ANR Publication #8118
• The Farm Water Quality Plan, ANR Publication #8332

Organic Farming

• CCOF Certified Organic website
• Organic Certification, Farm Planning, Management & Marketing, ANR Publication #7247

Soil and Water Management

• Soil Management & Soil Quality for Organic Crops, ANR Publication #7248

Getting Started in Marketing

We have helped a good number of small farmers start their successful ag businesses in Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, and Tuolumne Counties. Some of our tip sheets and resources have not been updated in a while, so they live in our archives, with a wealth of other incredible information. Please visit our archives to learn more about  

• Getting Started as a Direct Market Grower
• Estimating Crop Yields
• Internet Resource for New Growers
• Tips for Farmers' Market Success
• Growing for Market - Selling at Farmer's Markets
• Getting started Selling at the Farmers' Market 

Farmers Market

• New Farmer's Guide Cultivating Success at Farmers Markets, Davis

Small Farm Economics

• Farm Start-up Cost Checklist
• The Three Secrets for Increasing Profit - Ranching for a Profit
• Economic Principles for Small Scale Farmers
• Elements of a Farm Business Plan
• Economics Glossary

Visit our archives!