Business

The Beginning Farmer Resource Guide is a compilation of business, financial, regulatory, crops, and livestock information. County-specific information is given for Frederick, Montgomery, and Howard Counties. Author: Kelly Nichols; Title: Beginning Farmer Resource Guide for Frederick, Howard, & Montgomery Counties, Maryland (FS-2023-0691).

This paper examines how financial education significantly influences individuals' ability to make informed decisions, enhancing their economic stability and social mobility in today's economy. By reviewing literature, such as Anderson (2023) and Walstad et al. (2017), the paper highlights the benefits of early financial education for young people in managing adult financial responsibilities. Despite progress, the study notes persistent limitations in financial education accessibility across states, leaving many households vulnerable due to inadequate financial literacy. Key goals of financial education include understanding personal finance, recognizing good and bad debt, and acquiring practical budgeting skills. The paper emphasizes the need for educational leaders to implement robust financial programs and mandate financial literacy classes in high schools. By developing benchmarks for measuring financial education effectiveness, the study underscores the necessity of widespread financial education to foster a financially savvy population capable of tackling economic challenges. Author: Troy Anthony Anderson; Title: The Concept of Financial Education (FS-2024-0704).

In Maryland, 82.7 percent of agricultural operations conduct business as sole proprietorships (Census of Agriculture, 2012). As agriculture continues to evolve, however, producers should consider investigating all types of business organization structures for their operations to limit liability and provide additional forms of capital. This publication covers the major forms of business organizations and how they could potentially be utilized on the farm. Authors: Ashley Newhall and Paul Goeringer; Title: Using a Business Organization Structure to Limit Your Farm’s Liability (EB-422)