This website focuses on farm and ranch diversification. Over the last several years, a great deal of attention has been directed at the potential of ranch and farm revenue diversification, especially value added production and processing and agriculture tourism. This interest is due in part to the complex of economic difficulties confronting ranchers and farmers, as well as the changing nature of ranching and agriculture. There is also a growing market for diversified products, services and experiences. Diversification has the potential for preserving family farms and ranches by providing additional revenues that can make the difference between profit and loss. Farmers and ranchers who diversify their farms and ranches are agripreneurs.

The purpose of this site is to provide information to assist agripreneurs and agencies and organizations that encourage and support diversification. The goal for this site is to become a major information and research clearing house and communication network related to farm and ranch diversification. Funding was provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service and Michigan State University. Michigan State University is committed to maintaining and updating the site in cooperation with interested farm and ranch organizations.

The site has several key components. It lists links to allow persons to visit the web sites of more than 1500 diversified farms and ranches in Texas, U.S. and Canada. We will add to the list as we continue to research diversification. The site also includes links to on-line business references on topics relevant to the start-up and management of different types of diversified farm and ranch enterprises. This includes educational various agriculture diversification bulletins and educational resources. National, state and local conferences, workshops and non-web based educational materials are also listed on the site. The site also provides links to the 2006 National Diversification Survey, the 2005 Texas Diversification Survey, and the 2006 USDA Farmer's Market Survey.

The site includes a place where farms and ranches can register to be included as members of the Network. There is a discussion group where farmers and ranches can come together to ask questions and discuss concerns and issues with other diversified farmers and ranchers.

The site will continue to expand and evolve during the course of 2007. We have incorporated several places to recommend changes and also materials to be included on the site.