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Agmarkets » Aic
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Resources for Agricultural
Entrepreneurs & Counselors
We define agricultural entprepreneurs very broadly to include farms and other businesses, large and small, that are involved with agricultural production, food processing, bio-refining and any other endeavor that utilizes raw farm products and moves them to markets. However, our emphasis is toward businesses that are innovative, capture higher market value and help grow the agricultural economy in Wisconsin.
This webpage will be under continual construction and development in 2009. Please visit again as we add new resources. |
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| Business management tools |
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| Just getting started? |
Wisconsin Business AnswerLine |
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Talk to a real person and get answers.
Call 1-800-940-7232
Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. |
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1-on-1 Business Counseling
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Pick your subject need, type in your zipcode, and find a counselor near you.
Resources listed in order of proximity. You may narrow the search to public or private entities. The listing does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by WEN. |
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| Small Business Development Centers |
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The thirteen SBDCs on are included in the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network, but this link shows them on a map and provides contact information. Most SBDCs offer 10-week Entrepreneurial Training Programs to help you create your business plan. |
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| Free Legal Help |
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Do you have legal questions regarding how to incorporate, liability issues, etc? WEN manages a program that provides entrepreneurs with up two hours of counseling from a business lawyer at no cost. |
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| Business Feasibility Course |
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This course can be dowloaded free of charge. We are currently creating a multi-media, on-line version of this course that will be available by early fall, 2008. |
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| Looking for money? |
We often get calls from people looking for grants to start their business. The reality is that no money is free-- acquiring and managing grant funds is a lot of work-- and grant funding is generally scarce and very competitive.
To increase your chances, it's best to focus first on thoroughly planning your business. It's even better if you can get something started by bootstrapping and develop a track record for your business. Grant funders, like lending institutions, like to minimize their risk.
Finally, most grants look to fund innovative new products and marketing strategies-- especially those that may be replicated by others if you are successful. |
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GOT MOO-LA?
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DATCP staffer and AEDP partner Carl Rainey created and regulary updates this excellent compilation of grants, loans, equity capital and other financial resources.
This is THE BEST FUNDING GUIDE for agricultural entrepreneurs in Wisconsin. |
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| Building Sustainable Places |
 
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This guide is written for anyone seeking help from federal programs to foster innovative enterprises in agriculture and forestry in the United States. Specifically, the guide addresses program resources in community development; sustainable land management; and value-added and diversified agriculture and forestry. Thus, it can help farmers, entrepreneurs, community developers, conservationists, and many other individuals, as well as private and public organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit. |
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WEN managed grants
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The Wisconsin Department of Commerce has authorized WEN to manage several state-funded grants for entrepreneurs. |
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Agricultural Development & Diversification (ADD) grant program
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Since 1989, ADD grants have been funding product and market innovations in Wisconsin agriculture. This very competitive program funds projects that are likely to stimulate Wisconsin's agricultural economy through the development and exploration of new value-added products, new markets, or new technologies in agriculture. AEDP partner Mike Bandli manages the program. Have an idea? Give Mike a call at
608-224-5136. |
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Value Added Producer Grants
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This is an excellent federal program that supports innovation agricultual projects. The AEDP hosts a VAPG webpage for Wisconsin producers. |
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SARE Grant Programs
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A great USDA program for projects that can demonstrate components of sustainable agriculture.
For information: Diane Mayerfeld, (608) 262-8188. |
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Renewable Energy Business Incentives
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Several state grants for projects that can demonstrate components of renewable energy. |
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Organic Dairy and Intensive Grazing Grants
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A state program to help dairy farmers transition to or enhance organic or intensively managed grazing operations. |
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Developing a Sucessful Grant Proposal
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This online video explains the steps involved in completing a successful grant proposal and presents specific examples for new business ventures. |
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| National Research Initiative - Agricultural Prosperity for Small and Medium-Sized Farms |
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The purpose of this program is to foster interdisciplinary studies to improve our understanding of the interactions between the economic and environmental components important to the long-term viability, competitiveness and efficiency of small and medium-sized farms (including social, biological and other components, if necessary). |
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Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) |
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The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes competitively awarded grants that are to qualified small businesses to support high quality, advanced concepts research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefit if successful. |
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| FSA Farm Loan Programs |
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FSA makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership (FO) and operating loans (OL) to family-size farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank, Farm Credit System institution, or other lender. FSA loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Loans can also be used to construct buildings or make farm improvements. |
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| The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) |
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The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) is targeted to help improve and expand domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agri-tourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. The maximum amount awarded for any one proposal cannot exceed $100,000. Entities eligible to apply include agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer associations, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities and Tribal governments. |
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| Guide to attracting Angel Investment |
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The Wisconsin Angel Network (WAN) fuels the growth of entrepreneurial, early stage financing. WAN does not operate a fund or make recommendations on investments |
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| Financial analysis tools |
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Agriculture Financial Advisor (AgFA©) program
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The AgFA© program was designed by the Center for Dairy Profitability to assist in the collection, analysis, and storage of financial data and certain farm profile information for all types of farms. AgFA© allows for the use of profile data to create specific farm type benchmarks and provide information to assist farm managers in decision-making for improved profits and lifestyles. AgFA© produces the following reports: Farm Earnings, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows and a Financial Analysis report which includes the rate of Return on Assets on both cost and fair market value basis. The program's reports include several accuracy checks and a labor analysis. AgFA© also has the capability of performing a variety of statistical analysis for research purposes. |
| Business management tools |
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Center for Dairy Profitability
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The University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Profitability develops, coordinates, and conducts effective interdisciplinary educational and applied research programs emphasizing business management, human resource management, production systems, finance and marketing systems that enhance dairy profitability. |
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Kansas State University Decision Making Tools
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A wide range of excel spreadsheets to help producers make cost effective farm anagement decisions. |
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The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center is an electronic, national resource for producers interested in value-added agriculture. |
| Market data & reseach tools |
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| Evaluating client needs |
10-questions for start-up businesses
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Developed by the Ag Entrepreneurship Development Program in conjunction with the MSU Product Center, this questionnaire will help your clients articulate the vision for their business or product. They may not know all of the answers – and that’s fine. It will help them identify where they need additional assistance. |
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