Small-scale, diversified vegetable farms are the backbone of local food systems making up 86% of all farms in the United States. Despite their prevalence, they are often overlooked in national financial datasets. This project addresses that gap by developing financial benchmarks that may assist the viability of small scale vegetable farming. By collecting and analyzing financial data from farms operating primarily on five acres or less across the U.S., the project equips small-scale farmers with tools to evaluate their business performance in the context of similar enterprises. These benchmarks help farmers assess the financial health of their operations, identify areas for improvement, and make more informed decisions. This report showcases two years of financial benchmarking work (2023-2024) with recommendations for future efforts.
New Resources
Farm Financial Benchmarking Report
Key Employment Laws
DIY Payroll
Employment law presentation 1.21.26
2.18.26 // 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Farm Employment Laws Made Simple
Farm Employment Workshop Series: Learn Farm Employment Law Fundamentals, and gain an understanding of H-2A employees!
1.21.26 // 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Farm Payroll 101
Learn the basics of payroll law and hear how one farm runs payroll by hand!
12.16.25 // 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Budgeting for Farm Labor Costs
Join us to learn how to budget for farm labor!
12.11.25 // 11:30pm
Deadline to Order your Holiday CSA Box - December
Get all of your favorite holiday produce from New Entry while supporting new and local farms.
Farm Labor Dashboard Slides
Farm Labor 101: Planning, Hiring, and Managing Employees at Appleton Farms
Slides from Farm Labor 101 Webinar
Choosing & Evaluating Market Channels Slides
Pages