The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook

"Richard's book is a critical resource for those farmers who are trying to figure out the financial realities of their farming habits, and those who have not even started to examine farm profitability. The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook provides a step by step guide for farmers, deciphering the often regarded mystery of managing a farm as a business."

—Enid Wonnacott, Executive Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)

Contrary to popular belief, a good living can be made on an organic farm. What’s required is farming smarter, not harder.

In The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook, Richard Wiswall shares advice on how to make your vegetable production more efficient, better manage your employees and finances, and turn a profit. From his twenty-seven years of experience at Cate Farm in Vermont, Wiswall knows firsthand the joys of starting and operating an organic farm—as well as the challenges of making a living from one. Farming offers fundamental satisfaction from producing food, working outdoors, being one’s own boss, and working intimately with nature. But, unfortunately, many farmers avoid learning about the business end of farming; because of this, they often work harder than they need to, or quit farming altogether because of frustrating—and often avoidable—losses.

In this comprehensive business kit, Wiswall covers:

• Step-by-step procedures to make your crop production more efficient
• Advice on managing employees, farm operations, and office systems
• Novel marketing strategies
• What to do with your profits: business spending, investing, and planning for retirement

A companion CD offers valuable business tools, including easy-to-use spreadsheets for projecting cash flow, a payroll calculator, comprehensive crop budgets for forty different crops, and tax planners.

UPDATE FOR 2011:

This update reflects a change in employee Social Security contributions from 6.2% to 4.2%, for 2011 only. Download up-to-date payroll spreadsheet here.

About the Author

Richard Wiswall

Richard Wiswall started Cate Farm in East Montpelier, Vermont, where he has farmed since 1981. Known for his work on farm profitability and appropriate business tools, Wiswall consults with other farmers, and writes and speaks frequently on organic-farm business issues. To learn more about Wiswall and Cate Farm, visit www.catefarm.com.

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