Spring is just around the corner and with the recent warm weather many consumers are ready for farmers markets to open. The question is, are you? Find out why this article says that "Farmer's markets are incubators for business...These markets are there to help businesses grow and get you on your feet as a farmer."

Interested in some selling tips for the market? Click here.

link: Riverbanks Zoo offering manure to local gardeners

http://www.riverbanks.org/mediacenter/releases2012/0205.shtml

Locally Grown Food Industry

This report indicates that locally grown food was a $4.8 billion industry in 2008, and it's not slowing down any time soon. Local foods could be $7 billion industry in 2012.

Want more details on the data? Read the USDA Report "Direct and Intermediated Marketing of Local Foods in the United States".

Have a weed but not sure exactly what it is? Use the weed photo gallery to identify it.

Columbia area small farmers. Whole Foods may be interested in you.

Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2012/02/22/2162318/whole-foods-auditioning-local.html#storylink=omni_popular

http://www.extension.org/

remember www.eXtension.org for answers to many of your questions!

Farming in Tough Times- Video link

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/174223/2/Farming-in-Tough-Times

Great marketing for Ag class last night in Charleston. Let me know if you are interested in getting some of the Research Methods materials.

Interested in finding new avenues to sell your product? Here are some tips for marketing to restaurants and retailers.

Marketing to Restaurants

Marketing to Independent Retailers

Health Insurance Plan for Small Businesses

The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce is now offering an insurance plan for small businesses. The insurance is applicable for businesses with more than one employee or partner. This includes two people who co-own the business (i.e. a husband and wife).

To find out more, visit http://www.scsbc.org/membership/healthplaninterestform.aspx

Sales Tips

Be More Profitable: 12 Easy Tricks

These easily implemented tweaks will help you cut sales costs while increasing revenue.

Read the article here.

Just read the info on CSA's,  lots of good information in this article.  They have lots of different ways to structure a CSA that we have never thought of.  We have done a CSA from our farm.  it was good, but it is a lot of work, with some added pressure to produce.

USDA Plant Hardiness Map

The new plant hardiness map has been released by the USDA. Check it out and the new GIS features here...

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Soil Survey Information

An app for smart phones has been created to access soil information in the field...

http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/02/03/a-smartphone-app-provides-new-way-to-access-soil-survey-information/

CSA Planning

Have you thought about starting a CSA? Here is a great link to help you plan and manage it efficiently and effectively. It has information on production management, partnering with other farms, marketing, billing, and contracts.

http://asapconnections.org/downloads/csatoolkit.pdf