Starting a Farm

Access to resources and links to Agricultural Marketing resources offered by the University of Maryland Extension

Beginning Farmer chapter that covers 1) understanding licenses, permits and certifications for your farm, 2) human resources management and the hiring process basics, and 3) agricultural labor laws, farm insurance overview

Planning is essential to any business, no matter how large or small its inventory, payroll, and bank account. To be successful, farm operators must know their current position and future plans. Thinking about your plans is not enough! Taking time to formulate ideas, evaluate your business, devise a strategy, and anticipate possible problems will help your business be successful.

Maryland Beginning Farmer Guidebook. A guidebook to help Beginning Farmers explore, refine, develop, and implement a successful farm in Maryland.

Healthy, fertile soil is the basis for successful pasture growth. Annual or bi-annual soil sampling is the easiest way to monitor soil nutrient levels. It's easy to do and inexpensive, and the results will serve as a guide for how to improve your soil.

Knowing the percent vegetative cover in each pasture will help you determine whether a pasture requires additional management practices or if it needs to be renovated. Learn how to estimate pasture vegetative cover using the simple and practical step-point method.

HACCP (pronounced “hassip”) is a tool that can be useful in the prevention of food safety hazards. In the past, periodic plant inspections and sample inspections have been used to check product quality and ensure safety. Inspection and sample testing provides information relevant only for the specific time the product was inspected or tested. What happened to the product before or after? This method offers the public little protection or assurance that the product is safe and stable.

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) are voluntary audits that verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards. GAP & GHP audits verify adherence to the recommendations made in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables and industry recognized food safety practices.

Lists of Food Safety Requirements for Direct Marketing Farm Raised Meats, Poultry and Eggs in Maryland.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is sweeping legislation designed to protect the American public by focusing on preventing illness rather than responding to outbreaks after people are already sick. The Act was passed in 2010.