Resources

Search resources below by selecting a program area, topic, and/or event, or create your own keyword search then click “Search”. Once a program area is selected, topics and events will be limited to those associated with the selected program area. Click “Reset All” to begin a new search.

The first 20 resources found will be listed below. To see more resources and groups of resources based on your selections, click “Load More” at the bottom of the page.

Resources Filters

Topic Overview/Introduction

Consideration for a Value-Added Agribusiness

Author(s):

Material(s):
PB |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Topic Overview/Introduction

Topic Overview/Introduction

​​Value-Added Agriculture, Direct Marketing and Agritourism: Cultivating a Fruitful Enterprise 

Author(s): Megan Bruch Leffew

Material(s):
CPA Info Sheet |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Topic Overview/Introduction

Industry Studies

Census of Agriculture Data Shows Growth of Value-Added Farm Enterprises in Tennessee

Author(s): Rob Holland Megan Bruch Leffew

Material(s):
CPA Info Sheet |SP |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Industry Studies

Industry Studies

Value-Added Agriculture, Direct Marketing and Agritourism in Tennessee: A Summary of County Level 2017 Census of Agriculture Data​

Author(s): Megan Bruch Leffew Jared Bruhin

Material(s):
W |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Industry Studies

Industry Studies

A Snapshot of Value-Added Agriculture and Commonly Related Enterprises from the 2017 Census of Agriculture

Author(s): Rob Holland Megan Bruch Leffew

Material(s):
SP |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Industry Studies

Industry Studies

Value-Added Agriculture in Tennessee: A Summary of 2012 Census Results

Author(s): Rob Holland Megan Bruch Leffew

Material(s):
SP |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Industry Studies

Industry Studies

Value-Added Agriculture, Direct Marketing and Agritourism in Tennessee: A Summary of 2007 Census of Agriculture Findings at the County Level

Author(s): Megan Bruch Leffew Rob Holland

Material(s):
SP |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Industry Studies

Industry Studies

2007 and 2012 Census of Agriculture Data for Direct Sales, CSAs, Value-Added Products and Agritourism for Selected Southern States and the United States  

Author(s): Megan Bruch Leffew

Material(s):
CPA Info Sheet |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Industry Studies

Industry Studies

2022 Census of Agriculture Data Sheds Light on Value-Added Agriculture and Specialty Crop Production in Tennessee

Author(s): Rob Holland Megan Bruch Leffew

Description: To many of us, analyzing the results of the USDA Census of Agriculture is intriguing and provides valuable insight to the ever-changing Read More… industry of agriculture. With a particular focus on value-added activities and a select number of specialty crops, the data and summary assembled here provide brief insight to changes in Tennessee agriculture from 2017 to 2022. It also provides some highlights of the top individual counties in selected categories.

Material(s):
CPA Info Sheet |

Program Area(s): Agritourism, Cut Flowers, General Business Essentials, Marketing Fundamentals, Specialty Crop Profiles | Topic(s): Industry Studies

Industry Studies

Summary of Tennessee Agriculture’s National Rankings

Author(s): David Hughes Rob Holland

Description: This document summarizes various data from the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture and shows Tennessee’s national ranking in selected Read More… enterprises/categories. While it does not include every enterprise/category reported in the Census, most livestock and crop enterprises/categories are included. A

Material(s):
CPA Info Sheet |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials, Marketing Fundamentals, Specialty Crop Profiles | Topic(s): Industry Studies

Business Planning

​Goal Setting and Planning Worksheets 

Author(s): Megan Bruch Leffew

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Business Planning

Business Planning

​Summary of Educational Information Presented at Building a Sustainable Business Workshop Series​ 

Author(s): Hal Pepper Megan Bruch Leffew

Material(s):
CPA Info Sheet |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Business Planning

Business Planning

Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses

Author(s): SARE

Material(s):
Other PDF |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Business Planning

Business Planning

Ag Plan

Author(s):

Material(s):
Website Link |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Business Planning

Business Planning

Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures

Author(s): SARE

Description: Establishing and maintaining the right business structure for your farm operation lays the foundation for a stable, resilient farm Read More… business. Forming a business structure can help manage risk by protecting the owners’ assets from the business’ liabilities; promote good business practices through accounting and decision-making protocols; raise funds from outside investors; and ease the ownership transition process. For most farmers and ranchers, choosing a structure is straightforward. Complexity arises when drafting organizing documents to support your structure of choice, or, determining how it will operate.
Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures: LLCs, Corporations, Partnerships and More will support you throughout this process, from outlining the options and how to choose one, to in-depth chapters on the characteristics and requirements of each. To help you on your way, this Guide includes sample operating agreements, bylaws and other documents for C corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs). This Guide is meant to assist you but does not offer legal or financial advice for your situation. To succeed in this process, work with an attorney, accountant and others with expertise in this subject area.
Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures: LLCs, Corporations, Partnerships and More was written by Farm Commons and published by SARE.

Material(s):
Other |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Business Planning

Business Planning

Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures

Author(s):

Description: Establishing and maintaining the right business structure for your farm operation lays the foundation for a stable, resilient farm Read More… business. Forming a business structure can help manage risk by protecting the owners’ assets from the business’ liabilities; promote good business practices through accounting and decision-making protocols; raise funds from outside investors; and ease the ownership transition process. For most farmers and ranchers, choosing a structure is straightforward. Complexity arises when drafting organizing documents to support your structure of choice, or, determining how it will operate.
Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures: LLCs, Corporations, Partnerships and More will support you throughout this process, from outlining the options and how to choose one, to in-depth chapters on the characteristics and requirements of each. To help you on your way, this Guide includes sample operating agreements, bylaws and other documents for C corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs). This Guide is meant to assist you but does not offer legal or financial advice for your situation. To succeed in this process, work with an attorney, accountant and others with expertise in this subject area.
Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures: LLCs, Corporations, Partnerships and More was written by Farm Commons and published by SARE.

Material(s):
Other PDF |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Business Planning

Business Planning

Dair-ing to Learn – TDA Grant Programs Overview

Author(s):

Material(s):
Video |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials, Value-Added Dairy | Topic(s): Business Planning

Business Management

Surviving Excel

Author(s): Hal Pepper

Material(s):
CPA Info Sheet |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Business Management | Event(s): Advanced Got Farm Records…Now What?

Business Management

Rural Business Development – Being Business Resilient: Developing Owner Capacity and Small Business Sustainability

Author(s):

Description: Videos in three modules are created to help you to understand shifted consumer behavior in the post-pandemic era, key elements of Read More… crisis and contingency planning, and leadership agility and resilience.

Material(s):
Website Link |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Business Management

Regulations – General Business

Sales Tax in Tennessee on the Purchase and Sale of Farm Products

Author(s): Hal Pepper

Material(s):
PB |

Program Area(s): General Business Essentials | Topic(s): Regulations – General Business