You can probably do it online or through the mail

It's simple to do.

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/tennessee_premises_reg.pdf

Check with your state tax office to see if you can qualify for sales tax exemptions or lower property taxes too.

 

I think this is what may apply. Looks like a whole lot of bother to me if I were selling some surplus goods at a farmers market or by the roadside. If you plan to go really big--selling meat, lots of eggs and milk, you might be able to use it. I don't think the program is mandatory, but who knows? Once the government has you on file, you may need to do more and more to comply and/or get financial assistance. I would check it out first to see what is offered--most of the gov programs can be accessed without a number, I would think.

https://newfarmers.usda.gov/first-steps

"I'm from the govermint and I'm here to help...."

Hope this helps.

geo

 

I would think your local extension office agent could help you sort through whether you 'need' this based on your current plans or whether it could be helpful. It could be something that is required or good to have under some circumstances and not others.

 

I sell all my stuff, eggs, rabbits, produce, etc either on craislist or the local farmers market. I figure the less government involvement, the better. I have heard if you make a lot of money selling meat, you need to comply with some sort of usda regulation. I guess it just depends on how much you think you'll make on your mini farm.

 

I sell all my stuff, eggs, rabbits, produce, etc either on craislist or the local farmers market.

Some states have statutes that define what is legal when it comes to selling foods.

 

My wife and I run a very small CSA farm and didn't register with the USDA. Now I believe some states and/or counties may require you to register I am not sure.

The government will know your farming as soon as you file a 1040-F and your Farm ID on a sole/dual proprietorship can be your SSN. I had to fill out this huge survey packet this spring for USDA and I never registered with them.

 

Hmmm I think I will have to make an appt sometime in the next couple of weeks and talk to the agent and see what they think. I think I am also going to need possibly an accountant as well to help with that form 1040-F. But thanks I just want to do what is best for my wife and kids in the long run and to protect our assets that we may or may not get in the future. Thanks for the advice and thoughts all.

 

You may or may not need to have your farm registered to sell goods, but if in the future you wanted to take advantage of any farm programs then you would need that farm number. It was a very simple process when wr did it.

 

We lived and farmed in Tennessee for 15+ years. A lot has changed with the new guy in charge of the state Ag department. Just call them. Tell them what you want to do and they will tell you want you need. When we started, I had to be licensed and inspected to sell even 1 dozen eggs....to do bake goods, licensed and my home kitchen inspected by USDA....to sell processed chickens..licensed, inspected, and poultry had to be processed at a USDA facility. Before we left TN, no more inspection on eggs under a certain number per year and no inspection on home kitchen. I had a farm number because TN has a GREAT Ag Enhancement program with matching funds for farm equipment, hay barns, value added, etc. AND, for tax reasons. Hook up with the Extension guy and the state. They are pro-farmer.

 

The state where I live you can sell in a farmer's market without a number. The people with the larger stands have tax numbers, BUT that is because they have grown beyond the hobby stage. And, when you figure the cost of land you are probably taking a loss anyways.

At any rate, if you would like to sell now for the experience you can probably call it a hobby. That is, as long as you are very small. At the farmer's market there would be a seller or three who had tax numbers, but those of us with just a single pickup full of food did not need to. If you wish to grow larger than that then yes, at that time you will need to comply with tax laws.

It is summer. I would recommend going to a farmer's market and talking to a friendly vendor. They can tell you how things are done, ESPECIALLY if you intend to sell something that they do not sell. The more variety at a farmer's market the more customers will come, so you will get more information if, for example, you say you want to sell eggs an there is no egg vendor at that market. However if you tell a seller of watermelons that you wish to sell watermelons, you will probably find them too busy to give you much information

 

The main reason is for tax purposes, if it can help us run our farm and help with keeping a bigger chunk of our money in the short and long terms, and saving us from paying a ton of sales tax on stuff for the farmstead then I will definitely look further into that as well.

 

tnmedic,
As others have said , your county extension agent will be the wealth of guidance you need.

When I started my produce operation, our county agent had me list all the crops and area I planned to truck patch garden and my small acreage produce operation qualified as a no fee permit local grower operation. While he was issuing my permit , he said if I added more acreage although permitting would cost a fee, along with the permit I could qualify for lower cost farm vehicle license plates for the pick up and trailer used primarily with the agricultural operation to offset the cost of the farm fee a larger operation would require to gain access to the growers market.

Following my county agent's guidance in crop choices , 3 to 4 hours after work M-F and weekends at the growers market, during the growing seasons, 36 to 40 hours a week was almost as 2/3 of what I brought home from my 80 hour pay period job in industry. which was good for me as that time of year in our industry was low OT periods