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Free Agriculture Sample Business Plan PDF + How to Write
Elon Glucklich
6 min. read
Updated February 7, 2024
Free Download: Agriculture Business Plan Template
As a farmer, you’re in the business of putting food on the table. Agriculture is one of the world’s oldest professions.
Today it accounts for over 5% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product, and 1 in 10 American workers are in agriculture, food, and related industries.
But starting a new agriculture business requires intensive planning and upfront preparation. If you’re looking for a free, downloadable agriculture sample business plan PDF to help you create a business plan of your own, look no further.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to find a sample business plan that exactly matches your farm. Whether you’re launching a larger agricultural business outside a bustling city or a smaller organic operation, the details will be different, but the foundation of the plan will be the same.
Are you writing a business plan for your farm because you’re seeking a loan? Is your primary concern outlining a clear path for sales growth? Either way, you’re going to want to edit and customize it so it fits your particular farm.
No two agriculture farming businesses are alike.
For example, your strategy will be very different if you’re a dairy operation instead of a soybean farm. So take the time to create your own financial forecasts and do enough market research for your specific type of agriculture so you have a solid plan for success.
- What should you include in an agriculture farm business plan?
Your agriculture business plan doesn’t need to be hundreds of pages—keep it as short and focused as you can. You’ll probably want to include each of these sections:
1. Executive summary
An overview of your agriculture business, with a brief description of your products or services, your legal structure, and a snapshot of your future plans. While it’s the first part of the plan, it’s often easier to write your executive summary last.
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2. Business summary and funding needs
Details about your farming operation, including how much capital you will need and the types of funding you’re considering. Include your business history, your current state, and your future projections. It should also cover your business location, the equipment and facilities needed, and the kinds of crops or livestock you plan to raise.
3. Products and services
Provide details on the types of crops, farming methods, and any value-added products you plan to offer, such as finished goods or even agritourism offerings .
4. Marketing plan
Compile your market research findings, including the demand for your products or services, your target customers , and your competitors. It should also outline your marketing strategy—how you plan to attract and retain customers.
5. Financial plan
Your revenue projections, cost estimates, and break-even analysis. Your financial plan and forecasts should demonstrate that your business has a path to profitability.
- Building on your farm business plan sample
With a free agriculture business plan template as your starting point, you can start chipping away at the unique elements of your business plan.
As the business owner, only you can speak to aspects of your agriculture operation like your mission and core values.
You’re putting in the long hours to start a thriving farm business, so aspects of your mission – like a commitment to sustainable farming practices – will be best explained in your own words. Authenticity will help you connect with a growing market of consumers who value transparency and environmental stewardship in their food sources.
As for more conventional aspects of business planning , you will want to take on things like your marketing and financial plans one at a time. Here are a few specific areas to focus on when writing your business plan.
Invest time in market research
Starting an agriculture operation requires significant startup costs. When you throw in the unique land use considerations involved, it’s crucial to conduct thorough market research before investing hundreds of thousands – or even millions – of dollars into a farm business.
Start by researching the types of farms operating in your locality and wider region, and the specific crops or livestock they specialize in. You will need to understand seasonal trends, including crop yields and livestock productivity.
Note the demographics of the local community to understand their buying habits and preference for local produce. Also, be aware of the competitive landscape and how your farm can differentiate itself from others. All of this information will inform your service, pricing, marketing, and partnership strategy.
From there, you can outline how you plan to reach your target market and promote your farm’s offerings.
Craft your agriculture go-to-market strategy
One of the things that makes an agriculture farm business plan different from some service-based business plans is that you might decide to work only with one or two businesses that purchase your goods.
You may offer different tiers of products to different types of buyers, such as produce for an organic farmers market, and corn for another farm’s animal feed. If that’s the case, make sure you include ideas like setting aside land for organic growth and maintenance.
Discuss your advertising and promotional strategies, emphasizing channels relevant to your target market. Also, consider how partnerships with local businesses, farmers’ markets, and other industry stakeholders can enhance your visibility.
Include your pricing strategy and any special promotions or loyalty programs. Also, consider public relations and media outreach efforts that can raise awareness about your farm and its sustainable practices.
Prepare for unique farming challenges
Running an agricultural business comes with its own set of challenges, including weather-related disruptions and market volatility. Your business plan should identify these potential risks and present contingency plans to address them.
Include a plan to mitigate weather-related risks, such as crop diversification, employing weather-resistant farming practices, investing in appropriate infrastructure like greenhouses or drainage systems, or taking out insurance to cover weather-related losses.
Detail the operational aspects of your business , including land ownership, employee status, farm maintenance, and safety requirements. Also, illustrate your strategies for managing crop production, livestock care, land stewardship, and regulatory compliance.
Plan for the future
Contingency planning is important in all businesses.
But the unique challenges in agriculture of changing market dynamics, regulatory changes, and climate impacts make it especially necessary to plan for the future. Detail how you’ll measure success, and how you will be prepared to adapt your offerings if you need to change the focus of the business due to factors outside your control.
Also, be ready to discuss opportunities for scaling your business over time, such as introducing new crops, expanding farm operations, or opening additional locations.
- Get started with your farm business plan sample
There are obviously plenty of reasons farm owners can benefit from writing a business plan — for example, you’ll need one if you’re seeking a loan or investment. Even if you’re not seeking funding, the process of thinking through every aspect of your business will help you make sure you’re not overlooking anything critical as you grow.
Download this agriculture farm sample business plan PDF for free right now, or visit Bplans’ gallery of more than 550 sample business plans if you’re looking for more options.
Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.
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Farm Business Plan
Most entrepreneurs are terrified of planning. But this can be a different scenario for you. A farming business can be more successful if you will develop a farm business plan . Not only will you set the steps that you need to follow to achieve your goals, but you can also become more prepared with the risks. More so, your strategic plans will help you develop a mission statement that will guide you through. So, are you ready for this? Below,we provide you a farm business plan examples that you can look into as a guide.
20+ Farm Business Plan Examples
1. farm business plan template.
- Google Docs
Size: A4 & US
2. Animal Farm Business Plan Template
3. Agriculture Business Plan Template
4. Dairy Farm Business Plan Template
Size: A4, US
5. Vegetable Farming Business Plan Example
6. Farm Business Plan Template Example
- Apple Pages
Size: 21 KB
7. Farm Business Plan Template
Size: US, A4
8. Partnership Business Plan for Farm Management Example
Size: 619 KB
9. Farm Business Planning Model Example
10. Community Farm Business Plan Example
11. Small Farm Business Planning Example
Size: 782 KB
12. Agricultural Business Plan Guidelines Example
13. Organic Farm Business Plan Example
Size: 369 KB
14. Farm business Succession Plan Example
Size: 3007 KB
15. Dairy Farm Business Plan Example
16. Farm Partnership Business Plan Example
17. Farm Business Planning Example
Size: 736 KB
18. Simple Farm Business Plan Example
19. Agri-Business Plan for a Farm Example
Size: 270 KB
20. Agricultural Farm Business Plan Example
Size: 515 KB
21. Farm Business Plan Example
Size: 153 KB
What Is a Farm Business Plan?
A farm business plan is an excellent organizational and business material that you can use for a variety of purposes. All you must do is to be familiar with business plan guidelines and the basics of farm business management so you can already identify the specific business plan document that you need.
Importance of a Farm Business Plan
Have you ever been to a hotel where you can see each process’s organization from the welcoming of guests up to their check-out procedures? One of the planning documents that provide a contribution to that organization is a hotel operational business plan . This can be compared to the usage of a farm business plan if you want to ensure that the operations of your farm business are laid out properly. According to a gathered analysis published by Noble Research Institute, the advantages of a farm business plan includes an easy application to loans. It can also promote solidarity within the farm business’s stakeholders. This is relatively substantial, especially for every small business in the agricultural industry.
How To Create a Farm Business Plan
Creating your farm business plan can be easier if you will refer to helpful agriculture business plan examples. But aside from the items mentioned above, there are still some items that can make it more efficient for you to develop an outstanding, complete, and organized farm business plan . Some of these tips and guidelines are all listed below.
1. Begin with a Realistic Plan
To begin with, always start by visualizing your ideas. After that, you can now proceed with outlining your goals and objectives. Remember to make it as realistic as possible. Come up with measurable and obtainable plans. This should include proposals , marketing , and budget . Truly, there is no easy business. So, plan long-term, and everything else will follow.
2. Provide an Executive Summary
Next, you have to learn how to write an executive summary for your business plan. Especially for farm business startups, an executive summary is one of the parts of the farm business plan that will be first seen by your target audience. Make it as appealing and as presentable as possible so you can already get positive responses and impressions. But remember, don’t make it too long and invite confusion from readers. Make it precise as much as possible.
3. Set an Action Plan
What could be the necessary steps to do in achieving your goals? Here, you have to outline your action plans . It should be relevant to your objectives. Therefore, they must align. You can also set a schedule to follow. This helps you cope with your daily tasks while keeping it on time. Another thing to remember is to make it attainable for everyone in the organization.
4. Present the Values and Benefits
make sure that your farm business plan can present your business values. It should be a reflection of your identity, brand, mission statement , and image as a business. These characteristics can set you apart from your competition. It can promote memory retention, which is an excellent way for you to remain relevant and memorable in the marketplace where the farm business belongs.
5. Proofread the Plan
Don’t propose it right away. But make sure that you check your content from the cover page down to the last pages. Is your budget for the business plan considerable? Can your members achieve success in no time? It is essential to check it first before using it for actual scenarios. This helps you come up with an excellent report later on.
FAQ’s
How much is a typical business plan.
The price of a business plan depends on the agency that creates it. But in most cases, it reaches up to $15,000 for a complete plan.
Is a business plan necessary?
A business plan is a necessity if you take a look at the bigger picture when it comes to finances and projects. This helps you accomplish more than what you imagine for your business.
What are the two primary elements of a business plan?
Among the various elements of a business plan, the executive summary and market analysis are standard.
Again, feeling overwhelmed with everything that you need to consider when developing a farm business plan is normal. However, you should make sure that you will not be carried away so you can focus on the items that can help you give the farm business a boost in productivity, efficiency, sales, visibility, and leads. Be mindful of how you will develop farm planning strategies. Also, see how an effective one can improve your farm business’s overall operations . So, get ready with your document and follow the list of steps above.
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