{"id":793,"date":"2026-02-19T22:00:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T22:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/?page_id=793"},"modified":"2026-03-19T21:04:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T21:04:02","slug":"small-farms","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/small-farms\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Farms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<header class=\"wp-block-group alignfull wp-block-pattern-interior-hero wp-block-pattern-hero is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center wp-block-pattern-hero__cover\" style=\"min-height:285px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-799 size-full\" alt=\"Close up of sorghum plants with a blue sky.\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png 2000w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png?resize=1400,788 1400w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/ag-sorghum-crop-26.png?resize=1568,882 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-black-background-color has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading wp-block-pattern-hero__heading has-hero-small-title-font-size\"><span class=\"is-style-highlight-heading\">Small Farms<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-135b063a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">As markets vary and farm land continues to be sold to development, the urgency to help farmers stay on the land increases. The USDA National Commission on Small Farms defines small farms as \u201cfarms with less than $250,000 gross receipts annually on which day-to-day labor and management are provided by the farmer and\/or farm family that owns the production or owns, or leases, the productive assets [average] net cash income of only $23,159\u2026over 80% of a farmers gross sales are absorbed by farming expenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"952\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/barn-and-silo-in-a-field-of-wheat-in-front-of-longs-peak.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Red barn and silo in fornt of a wheat field in longs peak\" class=\"wp-image-411 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/barn-and-silo-in-a-field-of-wheat-in-front-of-longs-peak.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/barn-and-silo-in-a-field-of-wheat-in-front-of-longs-peak.jpg?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/barn-and-silo-in-a-field-of-wheat-in-front-of-longs-peak.jpg?resize=768,508 768w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/barn-and-silo-in-a-field-of-wheat-in-front-of-longs-peak.jpg?resize=1024,677 1024w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/barn-and-silo-in-a-field-of-wheat-in-front-of-longs-peak.jpg?resize=1400,926 1400w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/02\/barn-and-silo-in-a-field-of-wheat-in-front-of-longs-peak.jpg?resize=600,397 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Subscribe to the Small Farms listserv at CSU<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lists.colostate.edu\/cgi-bin\/mailman\/listinfo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>CSU listserv<\/strong><\/a> and select \u201cSmall_Farms\u201d from the list and fill out the form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">This listserv is intended to connect, support, and promote small farms in Colorado with news, educational outreach, and production and marketing related info. It also is not moderated, meaning that anyone subscribed to it can send emails to everyone on the list, providing a forum for discussion of small farms issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>THIS IS A CSU LISTSERV, NO COMMERCIAL EMAILS PLEASE.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"is-style-highlight-heading\">Resources<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-default\">Business Planning Resources<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sare.org\/Learning-Center\/Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>SARE<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Sustainable Agriculture Research &amp; Education offers many valuable business planning resource books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/conservancy.umn.edu\/handle\/11299\/115840\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses<\/strong><\/a>. Entire publication: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sare.org\/resources\/building-a-sustainable-business\/?highlight=building%20a%20sustainable%20business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Building a Sustainable Business | SARE<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/agplan.umn.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ag Plan<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 online business plan tool \u2013 register for Ag Plan and select an \u201cAg -Value Added\u201d template<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-default\">Universities with Small Farm Support Programs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu\/tags\/small-farms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UC Davis Small Farms Center<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/specialtycrops\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/specialtycrops\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CSU Specialty Crops Program<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smallfarms.cornell.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cornell Small Farms Program<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leasing Boulder County Parks &amp; Open Space Ag Land<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bouldercounty.gov\/news\/bid-submissions-for-a-new-agricultural-property-lease-now-open-through-friday-april-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bid Submittal Form &amp; Bid Evaluation Criteria<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Financing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cadafarmloan.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Beginning Farmer Program | Colorado Agricultural Development Authority<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ag.colorado.gov\/markets\/farm\/ranch-programs#:~:text=Beginning%20Farmer%20Program%20The%20Colorado,to%20participate%20in%20this%20program.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Farm\/Ranch Programs | CDA<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/farmlandinfo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/09\/RAFI_The_Farmers_Guide_to_Agricultural_Credit_April2015.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Farmers\u2019 Guide to Agricultural Credit<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fsa.usda.gov\/programs-and-services\/farm-loan-programs\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Farm Loan Programs | USDA Farm Service Agency<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grant Sources<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernsare.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Western SARE<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ofrf.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Organic Farming Research Foundation<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/specialtycrops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CSU Specialty Crops Program<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.grants.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Grants.gov<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Magazines\/Newsletters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.smallfarmersjournal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Small Farmer\u2019s Journal<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.growingformarket.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Growing for Market<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefencepost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Fence Post<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Farmer Advocacy\/Farmland Conservation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rmfu.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rocky Mountain Farmers\u2019 Union<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coloradofarmbureau.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colorado Farm Bureau<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cfra.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Center for Rural Affairs<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.farmland.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Farmland Trust<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nyfea.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colorado Young Farmers Educational Association<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-072004a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Urban Farming &amp; Urban Agriculture<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/denver\/urban-agriculture\/\"><strong>Urban Agriculture | Denver County Extension<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jeffco.us\/3782\/Urban-Farms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urban Farms | Jefferson County<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As markets vary and farm land continues to be sold to development, the urgency to help farmers stay on the land increases. The USDA National Commission on&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-793","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_post_mime_type":"","acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=793"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1332,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/793\/revisions\/1332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/boulder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}