ProvenFarm
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Draft. This document hasn't been reviewed by a lawyer yet. It describes how ProvenFarm works today and will be finalized before launch.

Marketplace rules

Last updated September 26, 2026

The ProvenFarm community is for farms of every size and practice to find each other, trade and help out. These rules keep it honest, legal and neighborly. They're part of our Terms of Service.

The basics

  • Be a good neighbor. Every farm is welcome, conventional or organic, big or small. No harassment, insults, threats, hate or discrimination.
  • Be honest. Describe animals, feed, seed and products accurately: breed, age, health, quantity, condition and price.
  • Keep it farming. Listings should be for farm animals, feed, hay, seed, plants, equipment, farm products, services or help wanted. No spam, unrelated ads or chain posts.
  • Respect privacy. Don't share other people's addresses, phone numbers or photos without permission.

Organic and other claims

  • Only call something “certified organic” if it comes from a certified operation, and be ready to show the certificate. Farms can add their certificate to ProvenFarm so buyers can see it has been verified.
  • Exempt operations selling less than $5,000 a year in organic products may say their products are organically produced, but they may not call them certified or use the USDA Organic seal (7 CFR 205.101).
  • Use “transitional” only for land or livestock that is truly in transition, and don't imply certification.
  • The same goes for grass-fed, pasture-raised, humane, non-GMO and other claims: only make claims you can back up.

Animals

  • Tell buyers about any known health problems, recent treatments and withdrawal periods, and whether animals were purchased or born on your farm.
  • Follow your state's rules for selling and moving animals, including health certificates (CVIs), official ID or ear tags, and testing where required. Moving animals across state lines usually needs extra paperwork.
  • No animals that are illegal to own or sell where you or the buyer live, and no endangered or protected species.
  • Treat animals humanely during sale, pickup and transport.

Food, feed and seed

  • Meat, poultry, dairy, eggs and prepared foods have licensing, inspection and labeling rules that vary by state. It's your job to follow them. For example, meat sold by the cut usually has to be processed at an inspected facility.
  • Raw milk sales are legal only in some states and under specific conditions. Follow your state's rules.
  • Label feed and seed honestly, including any treatments, such as treated seed.

Not allowed

  • Prescription veterinary drugs, controlled substances, or restricted-use pesticides offered to anyone who isn't licensed to buy them
  • Firearms, ammunition or explosives
  • Stolen, counterfeit or recalled items
  • Anything illegal to sell where you or the buyer are located
  • Pyramid schemes, fake listings, bait-and-switch, or asking for payment in gift cards
  • Listings that exist only to push people to another website or service

Deals, payments and safety

  • ProvenFarm isn't part of your deal. We don't handle payment, delivery, refunds or disputes between farms, and we don't inspect animals or goods.
  • Talk through the details before you meet: price, pickup, papers and who pays for transport.
  • Meet in daylight, bring someone along if you can, and trust your instincts. Never share banking passwords or send money to someone you haven't verified.
  • Keep records of what you buy and sell. ProvenFarm can help, for example by recording where an animal came from.

Reporting, moderation and appeals

  • You can block any farm and report any listing, post or message. When three different farms report the same thing, it's hidden until a ProvenFarm moderator reviews it.
  • Moderators can remove content, or pause or end a farm's community access. They consider how serious the problem is and whether it has happened before.
  • The farm is always told what was removed and why, and can appeal from Community → Moderation. Each decision can be appealed twice.
  • We cooperate with law enforcement when the law requires it or someone's safety is at risk.

Questions? Email [support email].