Turn Crisis into Clarity: How to Use FarmRaise Reports to Advocate for Aid

When disaster strikes a farm—whether from drought, flooding, wildfires, or price volatility—every second matters. Bee keepers, farmers, ranchers, and other growers across rural America often face these crises with limited time and resources. But what if your farm records could help you get the aid you deserve?

Thanks to FarmRaise’s reporting tools, farm families can now tell their stories more clearly and effectively to lenders, agencies, and policymakers. By organizing expense and income records, FarmRaise helps small farms and ranchers not only recover, but build stronger, more resilient operations in the face of hardship.

Why Documentation Matters

In recent years, disasters have taken a toll on American agriculture. Net farm income has dropped for many growers, and with climate change accelerating, the future holds more uncertainty. Programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Small Business Administration (SBA), and nonprofit groups like RAFI USA are available—but applying requires clear, consistent documentation.

Whether you’re applying for a USDA emergency loan, filing an insurance claim, or asking your co-op for a cash advance, the paperwork matters. This is especially true in states like Nebraska, Virginia, and throughout the Northeast, where small farms and beekeepers are key parts of local economies.

How FarmRaise Reporting Can Help

FarmRaise’s software is designed with farmers and ranchers in mind. It helps you record, track, and download the exact types of data that government programs and aid organizations ask for.

1. Expense and Income Reports for USDA and SBA Applications

When applying to USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) or the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, you’ll be asked for detailed records. FarmRaise allows you to download your expense and income statements by category, date, and vendor—so you can show exactly how disasters affected the farm.

These reports help you explain:

• Loss of bee colonies or livestock
• Increased costs for feed, equipment, or natural resources
• Drops in product sales due to extreme weather or pests

Using this data, the USDA or SBA can better understand the impact on your operation—and approve funds more quickly.

2. Downloadable Reports for Lenders and Co-ops

It’s not just government programs that require documentation. Your local bank, rural cooperative, or grant program may want to see a recent financial statement before offering aid or deferring payments.

With a few clicks, FarmRaise users can download:

• Year-to-date profit and loss reports
• Monthly breakdowns of spending on supplies, feed, or repairs
• Invoices and receipts to back up expenses

These help you present your case in a professional, easy-to-read format—one that makes you stand out as a responsible manager of the farm.

3. Templates for Emergency Funding Applications

FarmRaise also offers downloadable templates for disaster-related grant applications through our FSA Educational Hub. These templates include sample language and the data you will need to apply for funding that you can edit to reflect your own farm’s situation. They’ve been tailored to match what funding agencies typically ask for.

A Hotline for Help

If you’re overwhelmed by the application process, FarmRaise can also connect you to resources like the Farmers' Legal Action Hotline, grant writers, or referral networks in rural communities.

In some states, for example, local nonprofits can help you meet with grant writers, conservation planners, or USDA agents. And with FarmRaise’s clear reports in hand, these advisors can move more quickly on your behalf.

Supporting the Well-Being of Rural Communities

The real power of financial documentation is in how it supports rural well-being. When small farms and ranchers are financially stable, entire communities benefit. Bee farmers keep local crops pollinated, livestock ranchers supply meat and dairy, and everyone contributes to a stronger rural America.

FarmRaise helps ensure no one is left behind. By giving growers the tools to make their case—loud, clear, and with solid numbers—our software helps level the playing field for small farms and ranchers who don’t have full-time accountants or grant writers.

Resources to Know

Many groups are working to support small farms and improve the way aid reaches rural America. Here are a few you should know:

• ERS (Economic Research Service): A USDA division tracking the health of rural economies, farm families, and growers across America.
• USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA): Offers education and research grants to support agricultural well-being.
• SBA: The Small Business Administration offers emergency loans for agricultural disasters.
• Organization for Competitive Markets: Advocates for fair prices and competitive policies in agriculture.
• State Agencies and Co-ops: Many offer hotlines and local referrals for emergency help.

Advocacy Through Numbers

Your numbers tell a story. When policymakers on the Senate Agriculture Committee debate farm funding, they look to data about net farm income, rural employment, and natural resource use. By keeping clean records, you contribute to a broader picture—one that can influence national farm policy.

Bee farmers and small growers deserve a seat at the table. The more clearly you can share the financial truth of life on the farm, the harder it is for policymakers to ignore your needs.

Safeguards for the Future

FarmRaise also lets you save historical reports—so the next time disaster hits, you can compare past years and show how price volatility or weather has impacted your operation over time.

That makes it easier to qualify for crop insurance, prove losses to your lender, or apply for future grants with confidence.

Next Steps

1. Log in to FarmRaise and explore your Reports & Exports tab.
2. Download your most recent expenses and income statement.
3. Check out FarmRaise’s grant and disaster tracking templates.
4. Reach out to support if you need help connecting to resources.
5. Join a local network like RAFI USA, Farm Bureau, or call your state’s agriculture hotline for real-time help.

FarmRaise isn’t just accounting software—it’s a lifeline for small farms and ranchers trying to survive and thrive in today’s rural America. From Nebraska to Virginia and across the Northeast, farm families are turning crisis into clarity by using FarmRaise reports to advocate for aid.

Your records matter. Your farm’s story matters. And with the right tools, your voice can be heard—by policymakers, funders, and your community.

Ready to get started with FarmRaise Tracks to get your finances on track? Use code IT3H12B for 20% off, or click here to get started.