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The Resource Kit for Nova Scotia Farmers is a collection of fact sheets designed to provide beginning and transitioning farmers in Nova Scotia with the information they need to make informed choices, and to point them to sources of more detailed information, whether reference texts, websites, or personnel. The fact sheets are available online in pdf format for you to download or print. You can also contact your local Agricultural Resource Coordinator or e-mail thinkfarm@gov.ns.ca to request hard copies of any of these fact sheets.
Note: A couple of these fact sheets are still under development. Please keep checking back to this page to see when new fact sheets are released, or send us an advance request and we'll notify you when the fact sheet you are interested in is posted. |
Table of Contents
I – Considerations for Getting Started
- Finding a Farm to Buy or Lease
- Climate and Soil Considerations
- Infrastructure Considerations
- Farm Vehicles
- Zoning Regulations & Farming
- Legal Aspects of Rural Living
- Environmental Regulations
- Forest Land Resources
- Farm Energy
- Nuisance Wildlife
- Farm Registration
- Farm Safety
II – Running a Successful Business
- Financing a Farm Operation
- Business Plans
- Business Structures
- Making Money
- Farm Risk Management
- Farm Insurance
- Record Keeping
- Income Taxes
- Sales Tax Exemptions/Refunds
- Farm Labour
- Payroll and Worker Documentation
- Property Tax Assessments for Farm Land and Farm Buildings
III – Selling What You Produce
- Value-Adding to Your Farm's Products
- Assessing Your Market Potential
- Pricing Farm Products
- Finding Price Information
- Direct Marketing Options
- Marketing Regulations
- On-Farm Food Safety
- Meat Inspection
- Organic Certification
IV – Helpful Resources
- Programs for Farmers
- Rural Organizations
- Other Useful Websites
The Resource Kit was adapted from the Guide to Farming in New York State: What Every Ag Entrepeneur Needs to Know, produced by Cornell University. The THINKFARM Working Group would like to express its gratitude to the Cornell Small Farms Program for allowing us to adapt their guide for Nova Scotia farmers.
Some of the Cornell fact sheets have been used in their entirety, some have been revised, and others have been completely rewritten. In addition, we have added a number of new topics that we think are relevant for Nova Scotia farmers. We would also like to thank all NSDA staff and other experts who assisted us in writing and revising these fact sheets.
We appreciate your feedback. Please take a moment to fill out our online form so that we can continue to improve this Resource Kit.
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