List of organizations and programs involved in small farm work

Agriculture Tourism Partners of Illinois
ATPI is a non-profit association representing agriculture and tourism entities in Illinois. ATPI's mission is "to encourage, foster, support, and stimulate tourism development, especially agritourism, in Illinois through support of existing business and development of new businesses."
ATPI c/o CITDO · 700 East Adams · Springfield, IL 62701· (217) 525-7980 · www.agritourismillinois.org

Family Farmed.org
FamilyFarmed.org is a website, food label, and EXPO that supports Midwestern organic farmers by connecting them with consumers and commercial buyers. FamilyFarmed.org creates sustainable economic development, builds community, and contributes to a healthy environment by encouraging people to buy food from local producers.
Sustain · 920 N. Franklin St. Suite 301 · Chicago, IL 60610 · (312) 951-8999 · www.sustainusa.org

Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA)
Description: IIRA is designed to improve the quality of life in rural areas by developing public-private partnerships with local agencies on community development projects in rural areas. The Institute works on projects including rural economic and community development (including value-added agriculture), rural health care, rural education, rural public transportation, public management policies, housing, and technology.
Dr. Christopher Merrett, Director · Stipes 515 · Macomb, IL 61455 · (309) 298-2281 ·
e-mail: CD-Merrett@wiu.edu · website: www.iira.org/index.asp

Illinois Stewardship Alliance
Description: ISA is a citizen's organization that promotes a safe and nutritious food system, family farming, and healthy communities by advocating diverse, humane, and socially just and ecologically sustainable production and marketing practices.
Gayle Keiser, Executive Director · ISA · PO Box 648 · Rochester, IL 62563 · (217) 498-9707 ·
e-mail: isa@illinoisstewardshipalliance.org · website: www.illinoisstewardshipalliance.org/

Initiative for the Development of Entrepreneurs in Agriculture
Description: IDEA is a statewide initiative created by the University of Illinois that conducts research, develops educational products, and provides services that encourage farmers to incorporate entrepreneurial strategies which direct their marketing efforts to meeting consumer demand.
Kim Tack · University of Illinois · 4550 Kennedy Drive · East Moline, IL 61244 · (309) 796-0512 ·
e-mail: kimtack@uiuc.edu · website: web.extension.uiuc.edu/iidea/index.html

Illinois Value-Added Rural Development Center
Description: IVARDC seeks to improve the incomes of Agricultural producers and small business owners and expand employment opportunities in rural Illinois by capturing more value-added dollars in their operations.
Roger Brown, Manager · Illinois Value-Added Rural Development Center · Stipes 508 ·
1 University Circle Macomb, IL 61455 · (309) 796-2589 ·
e-mail: RB-Brown1@wiu.edu website: www.value-added.org/

The Land Connection
TLC's goal is to cultivate healthy farms, healthy food, and healthy communities by: (1) saving farmland at risk of loss to development and making that farmland available to new organic farmers trained by TLC; (2) facilitating rural-urban links that directly connect growers and eaters of local organic foods; and (3) educating farmers and the public alike on the many benefits of production and consumption of local organic food.
Terra Brockman, Director · The Land Connection · 1227 Dodge Ave., Suite 200 · 102 S. Goodwin · Evanston, IL 60202 · (847) 570-0701 · e-mail: info@thelandconnection.org · website: www.thelandconnection.org

University of Illinois Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program
ASAP's mission is to facilitate and promote research and education which protects Illinois' natural and human resources while sustaining agricultural production forever. The program's current focus is to help farmers and society at large understand the opportunities for additional economic and ecosystem health with both sustainable and organic approaches.
Dr. Michelle Wander, Faculty Director · University of Illinois · W-225 Turner Hall · 102 S. Goodwin · Urbana, IL 61801 · (217) 333-9471 · e-mail: mwander@uiuc.edu, · website: http://asap.sustainability.uiuc.edu

Funding Sources

Illinois Council on Food and Agriculture Research
Description: The mission of C-FAR is to secure additional resources to adequately fund relevant and high-quality research and related outreach programs that lead to profitable, consumer-sensitive, and environmentally sound food and agricultural systems in Illinois and the nation.
Kraig A. Wagenecht, Executive Administrator · Illinois Council on Food & Agricultural Research (C-FAR) · 1101 W. Peabody Dr · Urbana, IL 61801 · (217) 244-4232 · e-mail: wagenech@uiuc.edu · website: www.ilcfar.org/

Illinois Department of Agriculture C-2000 Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program
Description: A statewide grant program that provides grants in the areas of (1) On-Farm Research and Demonstration; (2) Outreach and Education; and (3) University Research
Mike Rahe, Coordinator · Illinois Department of Agriculture · PO Box 19281 ·
Springfield, IL 62794-9281 · (217) 785-5594 · e-mail: mrahe@agr.state.il.us ·
website: http://www.agr.state.il.us/C2000/index.html

Websites

Illinois Center for Soy Foods - soyfoodsillinois.uiuc.edu/

Illinois Department of Agriculture - www.agr.state.il.us/

Illinois Farm Direct - http://www.illinoisfarmdirect.org/

Illinois Fresh - www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/fresh/

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity - Entrepreneurship and Small Business - http://www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/Bureaus/Entrepreneurship+and+Small+Business/

Illinois Specialty Farm Products - web.aces.uiuc.edu/value/

Illinois State Water Survey, Alternative Crops Project - www.sws.uiuc.edu/data/altcrops/

Rural Partners - www.ruralpartners.org/

Rural Route 2 - www.extension.uiuc.edu/ruralroute/

USDA Farm Service Agency - www.fsa.usda.gov/il/

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/

USDA Rural Development - www.rurdev.usda.gov/il/index.html

University of Illinois Extension - web.extension.uiuc.edu

University of Illinois Forestry - web.extension.uiuc.edu/forestry/

Publications

A Different Field - pubsplus.uiuc.edu/USD-01.html

A Matter of Scale: Small Farms in the North Central Region - http://ssfin.missouri.edu/report.htm

Current Publications by the University of Illinois Extension and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences - www.extension.uiuc.edu/pubs.html

Current Publications by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) - www.iira.org/pubsnew/index.asp

Newsletters

Agroecology News and Perspectives - www.aces.uiuc.edu/asap/news/newspersp.html

A Listing of Current Newsletters by University of Illinois Extension and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences - www.extension.uiuc.edu/pubs.html

Other Small Farm Resources

Angelic Organics Learning Center
Angelic Organics Learning Center empowers people to create sustainable communities of soils, plants, animals and people through educational, creative, and experiential programs offered in partnership with Angelic Organics, a vibrant Biodynamic community supported farm.
1547 Rockton Rd · Caledonia, IL 61011 · (815) 389-8455 · e-mail: learn@CSALearningCenter.org · website: www.CSALearningCenter.org

Clarkson Grain Company
Description: Purchaser of organic corn, soybeans, wheat, and millet
PO Box 80, 320 E. South St · Cerro Gordo, IL 61818-0080 · (800) 252-1638 ·
website: www.clarksongrain.com

Farm Credit Services
Farm Credit Services (FCS) is a network of independently owned and operated credit and financial services institutions that serve farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses of every size and income range across the country as well as those that desire country living. They are focused expressly on agriculture and are committed to helping you achieve your unique financial goals.·
website: http://www.farmcredit.com/map/Illinois.html

Goodness Greenness
Goodness Greeness is the Midwest's leading source for fresh, organic produce and the largest privately held organic distributor in the country. The company directly supplies over 300 stores that include the regions largest supermarkets and independent retailers. Goodness Greeness has developed a private label brand of regional organic food, including an all-new Fresh Cut product line, which is being distributed throughout the Midwest.
5959 South Lowe · Chicago, IL 60621 · (773) 224-4411 · e-mail: sales@goodnessgreeness.com · website: www.goodnessgreeness.com

Illinois Department of Agriculture, Ag News, Education and Services Toll-Free Hot Line
Provides information about the department's programs and services.
1-800-273-4763 (voice and TDD) · PO Box 19281 · State Fairgrounds · Springfield, IL 62794-9281 · website: www.agr.state.il.us/
eggs: www.agr.state.il.us/programs/consumer/egg/egglaw.html
meat and poultry: www.agr.state.il.us/AnimalHW/Meat&Pol.html
Livestock Management Facilities Act: www.agr.state.il.us/Environment/LMFA/index.html
Organic contact: Delayne Reeves · Bureau of Marketing · (217) 524- 9129 · delayne.reeves@illinois.gov

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Small business information available is available at Entrepreneurship and Small Business.
Call toll free:1-800-252-2923 · · website: http://www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/Bureaus/Entrepreneurship+and+Small+Business/
Illinois Small Business Advisor offers quick access to proposed rules and regulations, changes in requirements, and provides information on recently adopted legislation that impacts small business. website: http://www.ilsmallbizadvisor.biz/ilsttemp/

IIllinois Finance Authority
The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) is a self-financed, state authority principally engaged in issuing taxable and tax-exempt bonds, making loans, and investing capital for businesses, non-profit corporations, agriculture and local government units statewide. Beginning Farmer Bond Program (http://www.il-fa.com/products/applications-forms/beginning_farmer_summary.pdf) ·
website: http://www.il-fa.com

Illinois Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) Chapter #1
Description: Chapter of the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), an international organic certifying agency.
Karen Kinstetter · Hemlock Lane Produce · N5364 Hemlock Lane · Kewaunee, WI 54216 ·
920/388-4369 · Fax: 920/388-3408 · kkinstetter@itol.com · website: http://www.ocia.org/Contact%20Us/Chapters_USA.html

Illinois State Treasurer's Office
Agriculture and Alternative/Value Added Agriculture Link Deposit Loan Program is one of the largest link-deposit loan programs in the nation and is available to farmers statewide through over 1000 financial institutions, and has helped more than 10,000 farmers across Illinois.
Agriculture Programs · 1 West Old State Capital Plaza, Suite 814 · Springfield, IL 62701 · (217) 558-6215
website: http://www.state.il.us/treas/ProgramsServices.aspx#Agricultural%20Programs

Indiana Certified Organic (ICO)
Certifying in Indiana and surrounding states.
Cissy Bowman, Organizational Director · 83645 SR 39 · Clayton, IN 46118 · (317) 539-4317 ·
e-mail: cvof@iquest.net http://members.iquest.net/~cvof/ico/

Midwest Organic Farmers Cooperative
The purpose of MOFC is to serve our members through promoting organic systems in agriculture, education, public policy, and the favorable marketing of organic products. The cooperative is an affiliate member of the Organic Farmers Agency for Relationship Marketing (OFARM).
Bonnie Wagner · Administrative Director · 100A S. Lafayette St. · Newton, IL 62448 · Phone: (618) 783-4601 · Email: mofc20@msn.com · website: www.midwestorganic.com