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Learn about insurance options for small, diversified farms. Build your toolkit for financial resilience.
A training series presented by The Carrot Project
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34693.
What Is USDA Micro Farm Insurance?
USDA Micro Farm is USDA's newest insurance program, available specifically for farmers making up to $350,000 annually. Micro Farm prepares your farm for the unexpected by protecting your total farm revenue from losses in income. For example, if you're insured for $100,000 and you only make $30,000 during the year, you could receive a claim payment of $70,000 to recover the difference. This insurance covers everything under one policy - including income from post-production processing (for example, freezing or drying) plus value-added products (for example, jams, jellies, cider, canned or pickled goods, etc.).
What Support We Are Providing
We’ll work with you to evaluate if this insurance is right for your farm business and refine your financial recordkeeping to prepare for Micro Farm insurance or other risk management program requirements.
Cost and Participation
Services are offered free of charge for all participants in CT, MA, and RI. In-person and virtual options available. Participate based on your interests, needs, and schedule. Workshops currently available only in English.
The Carrot Project’s farm programs are geared towards farmers in Southern New England, with priority given to businesses in CT, MA, and RI. Class size is limited.
Upcoming Dates
- Live Office Hours - Dec 21, 2022 (1pm) and Jan 4, 2023 (7pm)
Workshop Details
This workshop is a sequence of five parts, divided into Session One and Session Two. Session One (Parts A and B) covers Micro Farm eligibility requirements and the application process. In Session Two (Parts C, D, and E), we’ll look at ways to refine your financial recordkeeping. We invite you to attend one or both sessions depending on your interests and needs. The full workshop will be offered three times, twice in-person and once virtually.
Session 1: Micro Farm Insurance - What is This and Who is Eligible?
(Part A) Leave knowing whether Micro Farm insurance is applicable to your operation and what other risk management options are available if you are currently ineligible.
Session 1: Micro Farm Insurance – Applying for Insurance and What You Need to Know
(Part B) Leave knowing how to apply for and benefit from Micro Farm insurance, and what financial records you will need. Understand how the insurance premium and coverage works, and how to work with an insurance agent and place a claim.
Session 2: Refining Your Records
Refine your financial recordkeeping to better manage your farm business and prepare you for the Micro Farm insurance program.
(Part C) Understanding Your Farm’s Financial Records
(Part D) Preparing a Schedule F Tax Form
(Part E) Steps for Improving Your Financial Recordkeeping
Interested in exploring this program on your own time? We also have self-guided tools available. Click on the "Launch self-guided tools" button to launch these free, online tools.
Missed our workshops? No worries! Individual consultations are available at no-cost for farmers in CT, MA, and RI with The Carrot Project staff. Please reach out via the "Questions / Individual Support" button below, or reach out to Amanda Chang, Outreach Coordinator, at achang@thecarrotproject.org or 617-674-2371 x 10.
Learn more about each workshop below.
Mix and match based on your interests, needs, and schedule. Register above.
In-Person Workshop:
Thurs Dec 1, 2022
University of Connecticut Extension
Tolland County Extension Center
24 Hyde Ave, Vernon, CT 06066
This workshop is divided into a morning and afternoon session.
- 10am - 12pm will cover all of Session 1 (Parts A and B), going over Micro Farm eligibility requirements and the application process.
- 1 - 5pm will cover all of Session 2 (Parts C, D, and E), looking at ways to refine your financial recordkeeping.
- Lunch will be provided.
We invite you to attend part of, or the whole day, depending on your interests and needs. Registration is now closed.
In-Person Workshop:
Postponed
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
733 Cabot St, Beverly, MA, 01915
This workshop (originally scheduled for Tues Dec 6) has been postponed until further notice. We will update this page as details are finalized.
Virtual Workshop:
Wed Dec 7 and Fri Dec 9, 2022
Zoom (online)
This workshop is divided into two, half-day sessions.
- The first half-day (Dec 7, 12 - 3pm) covers Parts A, B, and C, going over Micro Farm eligibility, the Micro Farm application process, and understanding your farm's financial records.
- The second half-day (Dec 9, 12 - 3pm) covers Parts D and E, going over how to prepare a Schedule F Tax Form, and steps for improving your financial recordkeeping.
Registration for the Virtual series is for the entire two-day sequence. Registration is now closed.
Live Office Hours:
Wed Dec 21, 2022 and Wed Jan 4, 2023
Zoom (online)
Meet with The Carrot Project's crop insurance, tax, and financial advisors in these live, open office hours. Bring your questions and learn from fellow farmers.
- Dec 21, 2022 (1pm)
- Jan 4, 2023 (7pm)
Register for one or both live office hours. For more information, please click on the registration link below.
Registration includes:
- Prerequisite online videos for Session Two (Parts C, D, and E) "Refining Your Records" participants to ensure all have the basics to participate fully in the training
- The opportunity to work with your own numbers as part of a group or one-on-one with a professional business advisor
- The opportunity for follow-up one-on-one business advising
As always, The Carrot Project’s trainings include access to all of our support services. Services are free or cost-shared for participants living in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Our services include:
- Professional business advisors to help you apply what you learn to your business
- Support in finding loans or perhaps responding to grants to implement your plans
- Support accessing USDA programs such as loans, disaster assistance, and insurance
- Business plan review
- Development of financial statements
- Cash-flow budgeting
- Enterprise planning and development of financial projections
- Setting up financial tracking systems such as QuickBooks
- And more!
This training is offered free of charge for all. To register, please complete the form below and press submit.
Thank You!
You have registered for our Exploring USDA Micro Farm Insurance workshop series. We look forward to seeing you!
A copy of your registration details will be emailed to you.
Questions?
Email Amanda Chang, Outreach Coordinator, or call 617 - 674 - 2371 x 10 with any questions.