Farm Viability
Research, tools, and information on how farmers can build and maintain an economically viable farm business.
Compass tools
Compass Tools help farmers with data-driven decision-making to become more profitable and sustainable. The CIAS Compass Toolbox contains a suite of whole farm profit management spreadsheet tools to help farmers understand their costs of production, identify what products and markets are best for them, and identify ways to improve profitability. Compass Workshops help train farmers and service providers to use these tools.
Veggie Compass
Livestock Compass
Fruit & Nut Compass
Pasture-Based Beef Enterprise Calculator
OGRAIN Compass – NEW 2023 VERSION
Hemp Compass
Grassland 2.0 Grazing Compass Tools
These tools, built in collaboration with the Grassland 2.0 Program, evaluate a transition from a confinement to a pasture-based system of raising animals. They analyze the financials of the grazing season to estimate cost and labor savings. They help estimate the amount of land needed, paddock establishment and operating costs, and also include an evaluation of the nutritional composition of a feeding plan focused on grazing.
Heifer Grazing Compass
Beef Grazing Compass
PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER RESOURCES
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Hard Cider Workshops
The UW-Madison Department of Food Science and Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems have teamed up to bring cider makers a series of workshops to explore […]
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Real Women in Trucking: Podcast on the perishables sector
As part of CIAS work on food transportation, we organized a session on food transportation policy at the 102nd Transportation Research Board meeting January 8-11, […]
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Call for farmer-rancher grant proposals now open
Farmers in Wisconsin and surrounding states can submit grant proposals for funding to explore sustainable agriculture practices. Sustainable agriculture is good for the environment, economically […]
CIAS PARTNERS
Organic Grain Resource and Information Network (OGRAIN)
Ellen Polishuk, Plant to Profit
Jim Munsch, Deer Run Farm
NEWS
These tools, built in collaboration with the Grassland 2.0 Program, evaluate a transition from a confinement to a pasture-based system of raising animals. They analyze the financials of the grazing season to estimate cost and labor savings. They help estimate the amount of land needed, paddock establishment and operating costs, and also include an evaluation of the nutritional composition of a feeding plan focused on grazing.
- NATIONAL FARMERS DAY LIVESTREAM! October 9, 10 AM to 8 PM.Celebrate National Farmers Day with Organic Valley! Organic Valley is bringing a firsthand farm experience to viewers live from our small organic family farms, coast… Read more: NATIONAL FARMERS DAY LIVESTREAM! October 9, 10 AM to 8 PM.
- CIAS Food and Agriculture Sustainability SocialDate: Monday, October 13, 2025 Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm Location: The Sett, second floor balcony, Union South Cost: Free Are you working in the food and agriculture sustainability… Read more: CIAS Food and Agriculture Sustainability Social
- Chicken Raising WorkshopOctober 7, 2025. Oneida, WI What does it take to raise chickens? This workshop will tour several chicken operations- from the very small to large… Read more: Chicken Raising Workshop
- New AI podcast on growing the adoption of small grains!Check out our new AI voiced podcast “The Heartland Shift: Small Grains, Big Impact”! CIAS Food Systems Scientist Dr. Lauren Asprooth uses AI podcasting to… Read more: New AI podcast on growing the adoption of small grains!
- Are You Interested in Custom Heifer Grazing?Check out one or more Pasture Walks and Workshops to learn more! Tue August 12 @ 10:30AM-Noon: Pasture Walk at Silas DudgeonTargeted feasibility of converting… Read more: Are You Interested in Custom Heifer Grazing?