Diversifying your farm operation by adding farm pizza night or goat yoga can be a great move for your business, financially and otherwise. But, it can also mean the additional headache of having to deal with more regulations and with those regulations come…You guessed it – regulators. Regulators help determine how local, state, and federal regulations apply to your farm specifically… whether you’re asking for permission or begging for forgiveness.
Whether adding food processing, launching an agritourism event, or applying for a zoning permit, farmers and ranchers are wise to build successful and positive relationships with the folks that apply the rules.
We have key resources that will help you build productive relationships with regulators, which can in turn increase success for your new farm venture. Read Communicating with Regulators Basics for a primer on regulatory process and strategies for communication, or for a deep dive into the subject read Farmers’ Guide to Working with Regulators. This guide will help you understand how regulators approach their own work, their legal obligations, and how you can partner to ensure success for all involved.
If you’re producing and marketing botanical products such as teas, tinctures, syrups, oxymels, hydrosols, and salves, there are different regulatory factors for you to manage including the regulatory of labeling and health claims. Read the Farmers’ Legal Guide to Botanical Products for guidance on how to come into and manage regulatory compliance.
