Technical Business Assistance
BAV provides comprehensive technical assistance to farmers and food entrepreneurs through a combination of in-house expertise, networking with regional partners, and experienced consultants.
Technical assistance projects are cost-shared, typically up to $5,000 for the total project. Where BAV covers 80% of costs and the applicant is responsible for 20%. See some examples of technical assistance BAV has provided below and submit an inquiry to learn how BAV can support you!
Eligible areas of assistance can include, but are not limited to:
Bookkeeping / record keeping
Business & financial planning
Business expansion & enterprise analysis
Value-added product development
Marketing & branding
Grant application assistance
For agricultural businesses, we also support the following activities:
Holistic farm planning
Livestock management plans
Soil health management
Climate change adaptation planning & strategies
Water system efficiency and run-off mitigation
Berkshire-Taconic Dairy Cohort
This new project will bring together a core group of dairy farmers (five to eight) to collaborate on the issues you face in the dairy industry and business opportunities available to overcome those challenges. The goal is to support and sustain dairy farming and the dairy economy in the Berkshire-Taconic region.
This is a two-year commitment and over the course of that time BAV will work with each cohort member, individually and as a group, to help achieve the following goals:
Utilize business planning professionals’ expertise to strengthen the long-term viability of each participating farm.
Help more Berkshire-Taconic Dairy farmers win grants and access programs to improve their farms.
Strengthen the Berkshire-Taconic region’s farmer-to-farmer dairy network amongst a variety of dairy farms to increase knowledge sharing and generate creative solutions.
Our overarching goal is to support and sustain our Berkshire-Taconic working landscape and our farming community.
Deadline extended, please apply by: July 24, 2024 at 12pm EST
For further details and the application, use the button below or scan the QR code on the image.
Reach out to Dan Car with any questions.
Client Stories | Technical Business Assistance
Sky View Farm
Sky View Farm raises pastured meats including beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. Their products are available at the Sheffield Farmers' Market (sheffieldfarmersmarket.org) and through their year-round meat CSA program.
“Thanks to networking, funding and technical assistance provided by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures over the past nine months, we have gained an increased understanding of our farm’s financial picture, which has enabled us to pair down our enterprises, increase prices, confirm our commitment to purchasing local and non-GMO inputs and renew our marketing strategies.”
— Amelia & Will Conklin, Skyview Farm owners & farmers
Raven & Boar
Raven & Boar Farm produces small-batch artisanal and seasonal product lines of sausage and pâté under the Hudson Valley Charcuterie name with its products coming exclusively from Raven & Boar Farm’s heritage pastured pigs.
“I am extremely grateful to have been introduced to BAV. I have had to balance being a farmer, partner, mother, and business owner. With their individualized, one-on-one experience and understanding of the complexities of farming and business they supported and connected me with technical assistance programs that I would not have been able to access otherwise.”
— Ruby Metzner, Raven & Board Farm owner
Hosta Hill
Hosta Hill was started in 2011 by Maddie Elling and Abe Hunrichs. With rapidly growing demand for locally grown products, they decided to enter the vegetable fermenting business. With BAV’s assistance, Hosta Hill received marketing and grant writing services to support the developing a marketing master plan for existing and new products, and leverage additional funds toward this plan.
“We are extremely grateful for the resources, support, and funding BAV provided to us. Their care and attention to farmers and producers is an invaluable source to our community and will be for years to come.”
— Maddie Elling, Hosta Hill owner
Support BAV
Help us on our mission to build a thriving local food economy. Your support helps us keep our services affordable and interest rates at or near 0% for farmers and food entrepreneurs.