On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, John Hendrickson from the University of Wisconsin-Madison presented on the business planning and budgeting considerations of using and purchasing farm equipment for small vegetable operations. 

You can watch the recording here:

More about the presenter:

John coordinates research and training programs in organic and sustainable specialty crop production, marketing, and profitability at the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madisony. His work focuses on the economics and profitability of fresh market vegetable farming. He manages the Veggie Compass tool, a spreadsheet tool to help diversified vegetable growers measure profitability by crop and market channel. 

Some resources:

• Business planning:
  • Grower to grower: Creating a livelihood on a fresh market vegetable farm by John Hendrickson, 2005 (article, PDF)
  • For business planning assistance in Vermont, contact Calley Hastings, the Viability Program Manager at the Vermont Housing Conservation Board (VHCB). Calley will work with you to identify an advisor that’s the best fit for your needs and connect you with them to get started: c.hastings@vhcb.org, (802) 828-3370
• Budgeting tools:
  • Veggie Compass tool: free downloadable Excel sheet
  • Farm Labor Tracker: Tracking Labor on a Diversified Vegetable Farm video
  • Livestock Compass tool
  • Fruit and Nut Compass tool
• General farm budgeting:
  • Introduction to Farm Planning Budgets for New and Beginning Farmers
  • How to Start and Stick to a Cashflow Budget
• Technical assistance:
  • If you are in Windham County and need any assistance for your farm, please contact us! We’re here to help:
    • Heather Blunk, Agricultural Resource Specialist, blunk.wcnrcd@gmail.com
    • Mae Masson, Agricultural Resource Specialist, masson.wcnrcd@gmail.com
  • If you are outside of Windham County, you can find your local conservation district here
  • Guide to Assistance for Agricultural Producers of Vermont, Franklin County Conservation District: this guide first provides an overview of current service providers in the agricultural sector in Vermont. The Table of Contents is organized by scope of service. Each page will provide an overview of the service, compatible practices or projects, contact information, funding details, and deadline information. There’s an equipment rental directory on page 134.
  • Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP), Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets (VAAFM): financial assistance is available for new or used innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to state waters, improve water quality of state waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, mitigate greenhouse gases, and reduce costs to farmers when they apply manure.
• Additional resources and tools:
  • Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • The Farm Labor Dashboard, University of Vermont
  • Land for Good: resources for seeking farmland, transferring a farm, making land available, technical assistance and support
• Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers
  • The VVBGA listserv is a great resource for sharing information, asking for advice, buying and selling plants and equipment, like the agriculture version of Front Porch Forum
  • There is a $75 annual membership fee, but a reduced rate is available, no questions asked