Diversified & Value-Added Ag
A growing number of farms and ranches are diversifying by combining and leveraging a number of different complementary enterprises (what we call business clusters). These clusters are listed below. The most successful operations diversify along several of these clusters. For your reference, we placed the business examples under a single cluster in order to give concrete ideas of how people are using these strategies to diversify their operations.
- Non-Traditional Ranch and Farm Animals & Crops
- Value Added to Existing Products: production, processing, packaging
- Farm & Ranch Recreation and Tourism
- New Marketing & Distribution: direct marketing, catalogs, E-commerce
- Adaptive Re-use: buildings, equipment, spaces
- Contract Services
- Leases, Easements, Time Shares
- Expertise, Consulting, Education
Diversified and Value-Added Agribusiness Links
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) - Iowa State
Developing Diversified and Value-Added Agribusinesses - brand new curriculum resource made possible by a grant from AgMRC
Taking the First Step - Farm & Ranch Alternative Enterprise and Agritourism Resource Evaluation Guide
Value Added Agriculture - Iowa State
Value Added Ag - Univ. of Arizona
Value Added Outreach - U of Missouri
Access Minnesota Main Street
Texas Nature Tourism Info Center
Direct Farm Marketing & Tourism Handbook
Horticulture Alternatives for Texas Agriculture
Resource List for Marketing Alternative Crops
Potential Value-added Food Products Groups
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas
The Farmer's Guide to the Internet
Adding Value to Farm Products: An Overview
International Agribusiness Marketing & Trade
Diversified Farms and Ranches - Michigan State Univ.