Completed Project Report


Assessing Legal Variables and Managing Risk in Direct Farm Businesses

  • Award Amount: $49,856
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2010 Value Added Enterprises/Farm Diversification Grants

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Project Overview

As farmers diversify production and marketing, lack of information and inconsistent enforcement of laws exposes them to legal risk and limits business expansion. This project informed new and diversifying farmers of their obligations under various food safety, tax, labor and environmental laws by: (1) creating a Comprehensive Legal Guide for Illinois Direct Farm Businesses; (2) establishing a website, to serve as a clearinghouse of legal tools, that contains fact sheets, a pdf version of the Guide and links to further resources ( www.directfarmbusines.org); and (3) hosting educational webinars recorded for later viewing by producers. In addition to two on-line workshops that reached 59 Illinois farmers, the webinar is archived for future viewing. 23 producers indicated steps to manage their risk, such as contacting appropriate authorities, changing production practices, and expanding their marketing to reach additional consumers.

Number of Participants: 59

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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