Resources

HDFFA has worked with Central Oregon producers for over 10 years.  Dig into some of our resources below.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email us and we’d be happy to help!

🥕 Indicates the resource is Regional/Central Oregon-specific

Agritourism

Do you love engaging with your customers and educating the community on local food? Agritourism might be right for you! Use these resources to research, plan, and develop an agritourism experience at your farm or ranch.

Agritourism

Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (BFR)

We work closely with beginning farmers and ranchers (10 or less years) throughout Central Oregon to support them with technical assistance, accessing sales and marketing channels, and connecting them with experienced producers.  HDFFA’s Program is supported by the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grant.

Expand the menu below to see additional resources for farmers and ranchers new to the profession.

Resources for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

BIPOC & Latine Farmers and Ranchers

At HDFFA, we understand that our agricultural system is built and maintained on a foundation of oppression and systemic racism of Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and immigrants. Federal policies have limited access to land and capital for farmers and ranchers while creating inequitable food access for people. While we support farmers and ranchers from all communities and races, we also want to help connect BIPOC+ farmers and ranchers to minority-led organizations. 

Expand the menu below to see resources.

Resources for BIPOC & Latine Farmers and Ranchers

Business Planning

We know farmers and ranchers spend a ton of time IN their business, but are you spending enough time ON your business? Use these resources to build a sustainable operation through outlining your mission, understanding your cost of production, planning for the unexpected and more.

Expand the list below for resources.

Business Planning

Conservation

Conservation of our soil, water, and atmosphere are critical for the health and viability of farms and ranches in Central Oregon. Use the resources below to learn how you can become more sustainable in your agricultural production.

Conservation

  • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) (Oregon): Works with private landowners to conserve soil, water, and other natural resources.
  • Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network 🥕
    • Collaboration with farmers to build a regenerative agricultural economy in Oregon that is rooted in community and thrives through disruptions. 
  • Oregon Tilth 🥕
    • Non-profit that supports and advocates for organic food and farming, as well as certifies for organic certification.
  • Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative 🥕
    • Collaborative organized by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council of stakeholders working on critical water allocation and management issues in the Deschutes Basin.
  • A Greener World
    • Non-profit dedicated to empowering sustainable solutions in agriculture by promoting and supporting real-life farming models to the public and offering practical guidance on achieving truly sustainable livestock farming systems to farmers and ranchers.
  • ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program:
    • Program from the National Center for Appropriate Technology that “provides high-value information and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture.
  • Water Rights and Water Law: Using Your Irrigation Rights Legally 🥕 
    • This publication, by OSU Extension, outlines the basics of water law before going more in-depth into exceptions to rules and a self-assessment worksheet.

Direct-to-Consumer Sales

Selling direct to the consumer and cutting out the middleman is a good option for most small scale farmers. Use the resources below to determine which models of direct-to-consumer sales, such as a CSA model, farm stand, or weekly farmers markets, work best for you.

Expand the list below for resources.

Direct-to-Consumer Sales

Funding and Grant Opportunities

There are a number of funding and grant opportunities available to local farmers and ranchers through public and private entities. Depending on your operation, you may qualify for cash you don’t even know about! Check out grant and loan programs for farmers and ranchers below.

Expand the menu below for resources.

Funding and Grant Opportunities

Land Access

Land access can be difficult for new farmers and those moving to the area. Use the resources below to learn about options for finding and leasing/purchasing land in Central Oregon.

Land Access

  • Oregon Farm Link: 🥕
    • Website for land seekers and holders to find each other and access agricultural land.
  • Farm Lease Builder:
    • A free tool from the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems to draft your own farmland lease. 
  • Oregon Agricultural Trust: 🥕
    • Land trust collaboratively working to safeguard Oregon’s farm and ranch lands and the rural communities that depend upon them.
  • Farmers Land Trust:
    • “Developing equitable, scalable, and inspiring solutions to protect farmland and secure tenure for farmers”
  • American Farmland Trust:
    • Organization working at the intersection of land access and environmentally sound farming practices.
    • AFT: Farmland for the Next Generation: Curriculum built to train farmers in the options available to them for land acquisition.
  • Land for Good:
    • National resource list by organization navigating land access, tenure, and transfer.

Marketing

We already know you are doing incredible things on your local farm/ranch, but make sure you tell everyone else! Use these resources to build your brand and  engage your customers for maximum exposure of your products.

Expand the link below for resources.

Marketing

  • Get a Taste: 🥕
    • A campaign developed by HDFFA to highlight Central Oregon grown foods.
  • USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
    • Tools and services for producers to help create marketing opportunities.
  • OSU Extension Business Marketing resources: 🥕
    • Location and crop-specific guides for agricultural marketing in Oregon.
  • HDFFA – Social Media and Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers: 🥕
    • A three-part series developed by Pickle Jar Studios and Shannon Lee Strategies. Reach out to Andrea Smith for recordings.
  • HDFFA – Producer Profiles: 🥕
    • Many HDFFA farm and ranch partners have producer profiles made for them to promote their products and tell their stories.

Pasture/Meat Production

HDFFA recognizes that there are limited options for support for pasture and meat producers. Check out these resources specific to ranching, including processing, marketing, and peer support.

Resources for Pasture/Meat Production

  • Oregon Pasture Network 🥕
    • A program of Friends of Family Farmers offering networking, mentoring, marketing, and more for pasture-based farmers.
  • Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network
    • Offers resources for meat processing education and assistance including food safety, business planning, navigating regulations, and more.
  • The Good Meat Project
    • An organization focusing on providing marketing tools and resources for meat producers, as well as peer education opportunities. Includes the Women’s Good Meat Network, Grassfed Alliance Initiative, and more.

Policy

Public policy on the local, state, and federal level can have impacts on farmers and ranchers in a variety of ways. Use the resources below to empower yourself to advocate for public policy that supports your business’ mission.

Policy

  • Friends of Family Farmers 🥕
    • Non-profit amplifying the voices of Oregon’s independent family farmers, food advocates, and concerned citizens.
  • 1000 Friends of Oregon – 2025 Legislative Overview🥕
    • Regularly updated guide to the policy issues in the Oregon Legislature related to management. This resource is thorough and up to date, although the endorsements do not necessarily reflect the views of HDFFA.
  • National Farmers Union
    • Non-profit advocating for family farmers, ranchers, fishers, and their communities through education, cooperation, and legislation.
  • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
    • Alliance advocating for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities.

Reports

Read the following reports written by HDFFA and its partners to learn more about how local food connects communities with their farmers and ranchers and what we are doing in Central Oregon to promote the local food system.

Reports

Veterans

Agriculture is a good option for veterans interested in a career that allows them to work with their hands and give back to the community. Check out the resources below for veteran farmers and ranchers.

Resources for Veterans

Wholesale

Wholesaling may be a good option if you want to streamline your sales channels as long as you have consistent quality and quantity to satisfy your wholesale accounts. Use the resources below to determine if wholesaling makes sense for your operation.

Wholesale

  • HDFFA – Introduction to Wholesale for Farmers and Ranchers 🥕
    • Guide for producers explaining what wholesale is and how wholesale pricing and volume impacts your business.
  • HDFFA – Selling to Restaurants 101 🥕
    • Guide includes information for farmers and ranchers on how to sell wholesale directly to restaurants and food businesses with topics on quality, consistency, ordering, and marketing.
  • HDFFA – Post Harvest Handling Wholesale Guide 🥕
    • HDFFA created this guide for Central Oregon producers in collaboration with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and Agricultural Connections. The revised guide is edited from the original version published by FamilyFarmed.
  • Selling to Local and Regional Markets: Barriers and Opportunities for Beginning Farmers
    • Report by ATTRA presenting the findings of a national survey on the use of intermediated and direct-to-consumer marketing channels by farmers, particularly new and beginning farmers, participating in local and regional food systems.
  • Guide to Market Channel Selection
    • Resource from Cornell University to help farmers that are considering expanding into a new marketing channel (wholesale and direct-to-consumer).
  • Shared Kitchen Toolkit
    • A practical guide to Planning, Launching, and Managing a Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen by The Food Corridor
  • HDFFA Local Food Producer/Buyer Mixer 🥕
    • Producers and businesses build relationships, troubleshoot barriers, and celebrate successes. Connect with restaurants, grocers, value-added producers, and other growers. Email agsupport@hdffa.org. Next event coming April 2025!
  • Agricultural Connections Cooperative 🥕
    • Multi-stakeholder cooperative that sources locally and distributes to consumers, restaurants, and more.
  • Central Oregon Locavore 🥕
    • Non-profit that supports local food and farms through educational programs and a year-round indoor farmers market.

Miscellaneous and Other Resource Guides

Find additional resources below.

Miscellaneous

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email us and we’d be happy to help!

Contact Us

We're not around right now, but we would love to hear from you. Team HDFFA

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