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  • Beginning Farmer

Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises

Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises

Crops

Explore Florida’s wide variety of crop production systems and consider emerging alternative crops.  Crop selection is a critical step in your overall farm business plan so be sure to take a look at the expected costs and the anticipated returns when making your selection.  How you chose to market your crop can make a big difference in your profitability and may also determine your crop selection.  Review your marketing options on our Direct Marketing and Value Added pages, which include plant and harvest schedules for farmers markets and CSAs.  Thinking of using a Hydroponic or Organic Production system?  Start with a baseline understanding of your crop and prepare for adjustments to address the specific conditions of these systems.  Understand the recommended management practices for irrigation and nutrients  as well as potential pests to set the foundation for your success.  Food Safety requirements may also affect your plans, so brush up on the requirements and recommended practices on our Food Safety page.  Looking to exchange ideas and connect with grower associations?  Check out our Networking page. 

  • Agronomic Crops
    • Agronomy Publications - UF/IFAS 
    • Backyard Sugarcane - UF/IFAS 
    • Peanut Production Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Producing Peanuts for Home Use – UF/IFAS 
    • Cotton Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Field Corn Production Guide - UF/IFAS
    • Livestock Forage
  • Emerging Alternative Crops
    • Pomegranate Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Alternative Crops Research – UF/IFAS 
    • Olives for Your Florida Landscape – UF/IFAS
    • Olive Research – UF/IFAS 
    • Hops Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Artichoke Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Specific Vegetables A-Z Publications– UF/IFAS 
  • Vegetables and Herbs
    • Vegetable Crops Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Vegetable Production Handbook – UF/IFAS
    • Heirloom Vegetables – UF/IFAS 
    • Herbs Publications – UF/IFAS 
  • Berries and Grapes
    • Blueberry Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Blackberry Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Strawberry Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Bunch Grape Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Muscadine Grape Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Florida Grape Growers Association
    • Center for Viticultural Sciences and Small Fruit Research – Florida A&M University
  • Fruits and Nuts
    • Fruit and Nut Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Temperate Fruit Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Citrus Production Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Peach, Plum and Nectarine Production Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Tropical Fruit Economics Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Dooryard Tropical Fruit Publications – UF/IFAS
    • UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center
    • Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida
  • Flowers and Foliage
    • Floriculture Publications – UF/IFAS 
    • Foliage Plants Publications – UF/IFAS
    • Commercial Plant Production Diagnostic Clinic at Mid-Florida REC – UF/IFAS 
    • Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association
    • Nursery Production Publications – UF/IFAS 
  • Wildflowers
    • Wildflower Production - UF/IFAS
    • Wildflowers Publications - UF/IFAS
    • Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperatives
    • Florida Native Seed Production Manual - NRCS
  • Additional Resources
    • Check out Industry Associations on our Networking page
    • See the Best Management Practices for your crop on our BMPs page
    • Consider Aquaculture, Biofuels, Beekeeping, and Mushrooms on our Alternative Enterprises page
    • See our Diagnostics page for soil testing and pest identification
    • Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc.
    • Florida Harvest by Month and Season – FDACS 
    • USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  • Video Playlist
    • Peach Playlist - UF/IFAS Extension Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Program 
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Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises
P.O. Box 110810 Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-1761

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