Business Development Resources
Business Planning Tools
Business Planning Guide Template – View PDF
The 5 Cs of Credit – View PDF
Guide to Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Maryland – View PDF
Sample Business Plan Template - View PDF
Your Guide to USDA - FSA Farm Loans –https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/fsa_br_01_web_booklet.pdf
On-Farm Processing Guide for Maryland Farmers: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/farm-processing-and-starting-specialty-food-business-maryland
The University of Maryland Extension Business Planning Resources: Flyer
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers: https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmers
FSA Loan Resource Guide: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/63ed23c1fb47082fd7ecc745/t/67d1aac01b65b77e8923a425/1741793987459/FSA_FarmLoanCompass-0624-WEB.pdf
Websites for Business Planning
United States Department of Agriculture: https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmers/business-plan
Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center (MREDC): http://extension.umd.edu/mredc
The Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center (CAIC): https://caic.org/
Farming Resources
Horizon Farm Credit: https://www.horizonfc.com/
Colonial Farm Credit: https://www.colonialfarmcredit.com/
Farm Credit of the Virginias: https://www.farmcreditofvirginias.com/home.aspx
Future Harvest CASA: https://www.futureharvestcasa.org/
Maryland & Virginia Dairy Milk Producers Cooperative Association: https://mdvamilk.com/
Maryland Farm Bureau: http://mdfarmbureau.com
Maryland Farm Link: http://www.marylandfarmlink.com
Maryland Forests Association: https://www.mdforests.org
Maryland Grape Growers Association: https://marylandgrapes.org/
Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center: http://extension.umd.edu/mredc
Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association: https://marylandorganic.org
Maryland Wineries Association: https://marylandwine.com
Sustainable Agriculture Publications: https://sustainableagriculture.net/publications/
Publications
State Resources
State of Maryland: http://www.maryland.gov
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation: http://mda.maryland.gov/malpf
Maryland Department of Agriculture: http://mda.maryland.gov
Maryland Association of Counties: http://www.mdcounties.org
Maryland Municipal League: http://www.mdmunicipal.org
Maryland Department of Health: https://health.maryland.gov
Maryland Cooperative Extension: http://extension.umd.edu
The University of Maryland Extension and Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI) Document Business Planning Resources
Maryland Department of the Environment: https://mde.maryland.gov/Pages/index.aspx
Maryland Department of Commerce: http://commerce.maryland.gov
Maryland Energy Administration: https://energy.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Maryland Food Center Authority: http://www.mfca.info
Maryland Department of Natural Resources: http://dnr.maryland.gov
Rural Maryland Council: http://rural.maryland.gov/
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center: https://www.agmrc.org/
Business License and Permits Information: https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/start/licenses-and-permits
LEAD Maryland: http://extension.umd.edu/lead-maryland
USDA Livestock Processing Facilities in Maryland: brochure
Regional Resources
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland: http://tccsmd.org
Tri-County Council for Western Maryland: http://www.tccwmd.org
Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland: http://www.lowershore.org
Mid-Shore Regional Council: http://www.midshore.org/index
Upper Shore Regional Council: https://usrcmd.org/
Upper Shore Regional Council Farm Incentive Fund Flyer: Flyer
Maryland Capital Enterprises (Eastern Shore): http:/www.marylandcapital.org
Southern Maryland SCORE (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties): https://www.somd.score.org/
Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center: http:/www.ventureahead.org
Southern Maryland Agricultural Financing Opportunities: SMADC
Maryland Market Money Program: https://www.marylandmarketmoney.org/
Farms and Food Access for a Resilient Maryland Foundation: https://ffarmd.org/
National Resources
United States Department of Agriculture: https://www.usda.gov
The United States Department of Agriculture Funds: https://www.usda.gov/fund
United States Department of Agriculture VAPG: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants
United States Small Business Administration: https://www.sba.govdc