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Farmers' Guide to Organic Contracts

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The goal of the Farmers’ Guide to Organic Contracts is to help farmers make informed decisions when evaluating, negotiating, and managing contract agreements with buyers of organic farm products. While fair contracts share benefits and burdens equally between two parties, agricultural contracts in many sectors have historically placed unequal burdens on farmers. Some agricultural buyers deal fairly with farmers, but others take advantage of their superior bargaining power and access to more widespread market information to pressure farmers into signing unfavorable agreements. This guide aims to help farmers create contracts that allow for stability and predictability within the farmer-buyer relationship while at the same time avoiding contracts that unfairly benefit organic buyers. 

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