Recordkeeping Instructions and Templates for Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Farmers’Legal Action Group (FLAG) has released a farmers’ recordkeeping toolkit, Recordkeeping Instructions and Templates for Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Growers.  The toolkit contains instructions and recording templates that are intended to be useful to small-scale fruit and vegetable farmers to track their farm activities.

Recordkeeping is essential to the successful operation of any farm. Recordkeeping can help farmers track their farm income and expenses, assist them in preparing their income tax returns, and provide necessary information when farmers apply for farm operating loans and farm programs—such as Non-insured Crop Assistance Payment (NAP) with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The instruction sheets for each template offer practical suggestions farmers can follow for planning and recording their farm activities.

The templates can be used separately based on the farmers’ goals or intentions, or together as a comprehensive approach to tracking many stages and aspects of a farm operation.  Additionally, the instruction sheets for each template offer practical suggestions farmers can follow for planning and recording their farm activities.

Download the complete Recordkeeping Toolkit or download individual templates:

• Seed and Plant Source
• Greenhouse Plan
• Production Record: Planting and Harvesting
• Production Record: Planting
• Production Record: Harvesting
• Weekly Market Load List & Sales Record
• Monthly Operating Expenses
• Seasonal List
• Mileage Traveled
• Acreage Conversion Formula Sheet
• Calendar Template

Printed copies can be obtained by calling FLAG’s office at 651-223-5400. The cost for a color copy packet is $23.25, and a black/white copy packet is $7.75. The cost for color copies of each individual template (topics are listed above) is $.75 per page, and black/white copies are $.25 per page. Costs include postage.