Point of Sale (POS) Systems that Support Farmers and Ranchers

This project supports farmers and ranchers to better understand benefits and tradeoffs of different point of sale (POS) systems. We hope that the videos and materials are useful to producers in deciding if and what POS system to use, as well as Extension staff or other technical assistance providers in supporting producer decision-making.

Speakers

Brittany P. Anderson

Owner/Farmer- Sugar Hill Farmstead

Owner/Farmer- Sugar Hill Farmstead

Brittany P. Anderson and her husband Bodhi own Sugar Hill Farmstead located in Honomu Hawaii. They specialize in local direct-to-consumer sales of their grass-fed and pasture-raised meats and organically grown vegetables through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. They farm year-round using regenerative and sustainable agriculture practices. As the farmer, butcher, and distributor Sugar Hill Farmstead is a vertically integrated farm business. Brittany has a background in web commerce and healthcare administration. Bodhi is a virtual medical director for a national medical practice. Sugar Hill Farmstead continues to grow offering a healthy alternative source of meats and vegetables for the island community.

Brian Coppom

Agricultural Future Loan Program Manager for the Colorado Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Future Loan Program Manager for the Colorado Department of Agriculture

Brian Coppom is the Agricultural Future Loan Program Manager for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Prior to joining the CDA, Brian served as the Executive Director of the Boulder County Farmers Market for eight years. He is still active with markets, including currently serving his sixth year on the Board of Directors of the National Farmers Market Coalition.

Amy McCann

CEO - Local Food Marketplace

CEO - Local Food Marketplace

Amy McCann co-founded Local Food Marketplace in 2009 to help level the playing field for local, sustainable food. Local Food Marketplace is the perfect blend of her two passions – local food and technology. As CEO, Amy focuses on bringing business best practices and innovative solutions to local food. Amy holds a BSE from Princeton University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Practices from University of Oregon. She has served on numerous non-profit boards, including those that support the local food system. She was named 20 under 40 Rising Business Star by her peers. She lives and gardens in Eugene, OR with her family.

Roy Pfaltzgraff

Pfaltzgraff Farms, LLC

Pfaltzgraff Farms, LLC

Roy Pfaltzgraff along with his wife Barb and his parents operate a 2,000 acre dryland family farm, Pfaltzgraff Farms, LLC, south of Haxtun, CO, where he was born and raised. Roy's father has always had a pioneering vision and spirit, but he could never imagine the farm as it is now. Roy’s dad planted crops with no-till practices in the 80’s, but when Roy returned to take over operation five years ago, the changes really took root. The farm has evolved from raising two to three crops a year to 14 crops in 2022 and the current count is eleven for 2023. Roy has integrated new techniques from seeding through harvest that minimizes specialty equipment while doing everything possible to increase soil health, while conserving residue and moisture. Roy has been able to see improvements in the soil, the most notable is raising organic matter from the area's average of less than 1% to a farm average of 2.5%. He, along with Barb's help, has started direct marketing of some of the farm's products sold under PFZ Farms which are found on-line and in farmer's markets along the Front Range of Colorado.

Nic Koontz

Co-owner - Native Hill Farm

Co-owner - Native Hill Farm

Native Hill Farm is a four season, family run, diversified, and intensive vegetable farm located in north Fort Collins, Colorado, co-owned by Nic Koontz and Katie Slota. They strive to cultivate the freshest and highest quality, naturally grown produce for our neighbors. They farm year round using innovative and sustainable growing practices with a focus on passive season extension techniques, innovation, cover cropping, energy efficiency, and water conservation. They are committed to preserving and encouraging the rich agrarian heritage of this high desert place we call home.

Brad McIntyre

McIntyre Pastures

McIntyre Pastures

McIntyre Pastures is a farm business based in Caldwell, Idaho that specializes in direct sale of grass fed and pasture raised eggs and meats in the Boise Valley and beyond. The McIntyre family started farming this area back in 1909. The generations before us came here with the promise that if you helped with the canal and reservoir project, you could purchase land. The farm started out mostly with row crops and raising animals, including a small dairy and supplying local watermelons. Loren’s dad also started an alfalfa business which is still a part of our operation today. Fast forward to 2009, after returning from college, Ben and Brad (who both received their bachelors degrees from BYU-ID) were picking up rocks in fields and began to wonder why the rocks just seemed to keep coming up. This led them (and all of us!) down the road in many directions… to no-till, biology of the soil and eventually to Gabe Brown.

Austin Weaver

Tax Specialist at Farm Credit East, ACA

Tax Specialist at Farm Credit East, ACA

Austin Weaver is a Tax Specialist at Farm Credit East, ACA. Working out of the Geneva, NY office, Austin serves a wide range of agricultural producers assisting them with tax preparation, planning, and other aspects of financial management to support their operations. Originally from Virginia, Austin is a graduate of Cornell University and now resides in the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY.

Griffin Schnitzler

Risk Management Specialist - USDA

Risk Management Specialist - USDA

Griffin Schnitzler is a Risk Management Specialist for the Policy Administration Branch in the Product Administration and Standards Division at the Risk Management Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has over ten years of experience working with Whole Farm Revenue Protection policies.

Videos

Beginning farmer and rancher eligibility for Whole Farm and Micro Farm Revenue Protection

Given tax record requirements, how do beginning farmers and ranchers qualify for Whole Farm Revenue Protection?

Defining value added for Whole Farm and Micro Farm Revenue Protection

How is Value Added defined for the purposes of Whole Farm and Micro Farm Revenue Protection? And, what differences in the definition exist across Whole Farm and Micro Farm Revenue Protection?

Differences between schedule f and schedule c reporting explained with a lens towards farmers and ranchers selling valued added products through local food markets

Can you explain a bit about the tax implications for local food producers that are selling “raw” versus “value added” products? [differences across schedule f and c reporting]

Integrating POS systems with farm record keeping and tax software

What are the missing links in integrating POS systems, farm record keeping software, and tax software for producers?

Making the case for tracking sales data no matter what the size of your business

Opportunities to use POS systems to support record keeping and tax filings

Do you see opportunities for POS systems to support producers in record-keeping, particularly when it comes to the different tax implications of raw commodity vs value added sales?

Overview of Whole Farm Microfarm Revenue Protection

Can you provide an overview of WFRP products (e.g., differences in the product for producers with <$100k in GCFI) that are available for local food producers and information about record-keeping requirements that are specific to these diversified operations?

P.O.S system considerations for E.B.T. sales

Are there any specific considerations in terms of pricing structure of different POS systems of which you are aware? Or functionality with EBT?

P.O.S system considerations for farms selling through multiple markets

For farms/ranches/food businesses that sell through multiple markets (including direct and intermediated markets) are there any specific considerations?

P.O.S system considerations to help with taxes

Are there any POS system considerations farms want to consider tracking farm value revenues (which relate to a schedule F in their taxes) versus farm processes and sold products (which would relate to a schedule C)?

Results from local food marketplace producer survey: online sales and P.O.S system usage

Results from covid-related survey of local food marketplace venders related to online sales and P.O.S usage

Setting up your POS system to support Whole Farm Revenue Protection reporting

Do you have suggestions for best practices on how one can line up crops within the POS system and reporting for WFRP (in other words: how to put together your plan)? And, how do they set the farm value within the POS system to support WFRP reporting?

Tracking farm or ranch costs for Whole Farm Revenue Protection in order to determine farm or ranch value

What costs need to be tracked for Whole Farm Revenue Protection Reporting to understand farm or ranch value?

Tradeoffs across POS systems

Do you have experience with benefits or tradeoffs of different POS systems from a record-keeping and tax perspective?

Using POS systems to support record-keeping and inventory tracking for compliance with USDA RMA’s Whole Farm Revenue Protection requirements

Do you see opportunities for POS systems to support producer record-keeping (and specifically inventory tracking) so that they are compliant with RMA’s WFRP requirements?

What farmers market venders should consider in selecting a P.O.S system

A POS system is a combination of software and hardware that allows retailers to process transactions and simplify day-to-day operations. Yet, there are different POS systems, some of which have different functionality for ag and food businesses. At its most basic form, POS systems process credit card transactions. But, POS systems can also be used to support sales data reporting, customer management, inventory management, employee management, etc. We have heard that there are few perfect matches for diversified farm businesses attending open-air farmers markets, and that POS systems vary in terms of cost, front and back-end features, ability to accept multiple currencies, POS customer service, ease of setup and use, hardware functionality, and contracts and service terms. Given all of your experience working with farmers market vendors, what advice would you give them about features and functionality to consider?

What to consider in selecting a P.O.S system

What advice would you give to farmers/ranchers/food businesses about what to think about in considering which POS system to choose?

Project Team

Russell Tronstad

University of Arizona

University Distinguished Outreach Professor

John Hewlett

University of Wyoming

Professor

Patrick Hatzenbuehler

University of Idaho

Assistant Professor

Becca Jablonski

Colorado State University

Associate Professor

Shannon Sand

University of Hawaii

Assistant Professor

For more information, please contact Russ Tronstad: tronstad@ag.arizona.edu
 

This work was funded by a grant from the Western Extension Risk Management and Education.

Scroll to Top