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The Town of Brant, Erie County, New York is presently engaged in preparing a Farmland Viability Program. This project is being conducted with the help of Shepstone Management Company, a planning and research firm that specializes in agrcultural economic development. Draft materials and other project documents may be reviewed at this website. Most material will be published in the PDF format which requires the Adobe Reader program. If you do not have Adobe Reader you can easily obtain it for free by going to the Adobe website. Simply click on the button below:
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Business Planning Seminars
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Town of Brant sponsored two agricultural business planning seminars
for local business owners, farmers and agricultural landowners in
November, 2004. These sessions included the following presentations: Business Planning by Thomas J. Shepstone
Lowering Farm Taxes by Gerald J. Skoda Agricultural & Agri-Business Grant Opportunities by Connie D. Miner Erie County Economic Programs by Kenneth J. Swanekamp Private Lending Programs by David DeLaVergne, Bank of Castile USDA Rural Development Programs by Darla Grainger Wind Farm Opportunities by Gerald J. Skoda |
Business Planning Handbook
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Part of the Farmland Viability Program is a Business Planning Handbook for New Farm and Agricultural Entrepreneurs obtainable by
downloading a copy from this website. If you have questions please contact:
Shepstone Management Company
100 Fourth Street Honesdale, PA 18431 To download a copy of the Business Planning Handbook, CLICK HERE. |
Model Business Plan
Corn Maze/Agri-tainment/Retail Enterprise
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The Farmland Viability Program has also involved the development of three model business plans for potential new agribusinesses in the Brant area. A Model Business Plan for a Corn Maze, Agri-tainment and Retail Enterprise is obtainable by
downloading a copy from this website.
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Agritainment Planning Guide
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The
Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Tennessee has
produced an excellent guide for individuals who are considering
developing an agritainment enterprise. This publication, entitled
"Considering Developing an Agritainment Enterprise?"
is very useful and is being employed to create a model business plan
for development of a corn maze and agritainment enterprise in the Town
of Brant. This model plan is available here.
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Model Business Plan
Winery Enterprise
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The second
of three model business plans for potential new agribusinesses in the
Brant area was developed around the concept of a new high-quality
winery. A Model Business Plan for a Winery is obtainable by
downloading a copy from this website.
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Other Winery Planning Guides
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Cornell
University has
produced two excellent guides for individuals who are considering
developing an wineries. Both were used in developing the model
business plan referenced above These publications are entitled "Writing a Business Plan: A Guide for Small Premium Wineries" and "Writing a Business Plan: An Example for A Small Premium Winery." Both are very useful and a nice summary of some of the key elements by the University of Georgia is "Economics of a Small Premium Winery." Still another excellent guide is available from the Ohio Winery Association. It is called "The Dollars and Sense of Starting a Small Winery."
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Model Business Plan
Produce Auction
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The third
of three model business plans for potential new agribusinesses in the
Brant area was developed around the concept of a produce auction. A Model Business Plan for a Produce Auction is obtainable by
downloading a copy from this website.
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Brant Area Market Data
| An important part of this project has been the generation of market data on the Brant area. It indicates there is a total market of over 1,225,000 persons within 60 minutes of Brant, creating a major opportunity for a tourism attraction with destination appeal. A map illustrating the market areas and the market data are both available here and will be discussed further in other project materials. |
Lowering Farm Taxes
| As part of the Business Planning Seminar program, Farm Accountant Gerald Skoda has developed a presentation on Lowering Farm Taxes. A copy of the handout for this program is available HERE.
It provides an excellent overview of tax programs that New York State
farmers and agri-businesses can use to improve their business profits. |
Links
Brant Market Area DataNorth American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association
Lake Erie Grape Research Program
New York State Wine and Grape Foundation
New York State Berry Growers Association
New York State Vegetable Growers Association
Cornell Commercial Vegetable Production Program
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
SARE Farmer/Grower Grant Program
New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority Grant Programs
USDA Rural Development - New York State
Erie County Economic Development
Erie County Industrial Development Agency
U.S. Small Business Administration
SBA Small Business Startup Kit
Small Business Development Center
Farm Credit of Western New York
Erie County Farm Bureau