Agribusiness Licensing

The purpose of regulations and licensing for food processing. Is to ensure the safety of the food supply and oversee commerce. Food processing standards and regulations vary widely based on the type of food being considered and the scale of the operation.

This webpage is the legal archives of the Women In Agriculture webinars.

Chapter 4: Managing legal risks to grow your urban farm is part of the online publication "From Surviving to Thriving: Strategies for Urban Farm Success. Legal risk is associated with many of the day-to-day activities of all types of farms. For example, there are legal ramifications for not repaying an operating loan or failing to use appropriate safety precautions when using pesticides. Marketing agricultural products involves contractual commitments, and human issues associated with agriculture also have legal implications, ranging from employer/employee rules and regulations to inheritance laws. Urban farms can be presented with additional legal challenges because they exist in densely populated areas surrounded by private and commercial neighbors unlikely to be familiar with (or possibly simply intolerant of) the sights, sounds, smells and activities of farming, and because they are typically located in areas that were specifically not set up to support agricultural activities.

As with any business, your farm operation is subject to several laws and regulations. Farm operations also receive several exceptions or special provision regarding taxes, land operations and the like. This page provides a short listing of the commonly required permits or certifications for a farm.

The purpose of regulations and licensing for food processing. Is to ensure the safety of the food supply and oversee commerce. Food processing standards and regulations vary widely based on the type of food being considered and the scale of the operation.

I get a lot of questions about certifications. What certifications should a farmer or landscaper or food entrepreneur get? What professional development certifications can UMD Extension help you work towards? If you ask me that question, I’ll likely ask you to take a moment to think about why you want certification. Do you want to make sure your business is complying with relevant regulations? Do you want to go above and beyond what is required to set your business apart from your competition? Is one of your customers asking for a specific certification? Are you looking for a job and hoping a certification on your resume will help you find one?