The research deepens theoretical, methodological and practical, organizational and economic principles of development of farms and systematized the main models of development of subjects of rural family economy. The necessity of clarification and definition of clear economic criteria of typology of farms and corresponding harmonization of domestic legislation, which will eliminate differences in official statistics, is revealed.
It is proved that during the period of 2000-2017, farms did not become the leading producers of agricultural products, the main activity of which is production of crops, and volume of production of livestock products by farms is insignificant. Increase of profitability of medium and large and small farms has been established, but value of this indicator in a group of small farms is understated due to shadowing of their activities.
It was found that small, medium and large farms sell the vast majority of crop production to trade and intermediary structures – legal entities and in non-cash form. However, small farms sell large volumes of products to individuals or trading agents, and settlements are mostly made in cash.
The current programs of budget support for development of farms are summarized, the reasons for their low effectiveness are systematized, and the priority directions of state support are justified – meat industry, sheep breeding, vegetable growing of open soil. The most expedient systems of taxation of farms have been substantiated and the expediency of distributing status of agricultural producers to individual entrepreneurs who organized a farming industry has been substantiated and included in the fourth group of single tax payers.
The reasons of development of informal cooperation in the environment of farms are systematized and effective forms of cooperation of farms with agricultural enterprises and private peasant farms are proposed. It is expedient to increase the co-operative ties of farms from simple forms and to complete a creation of a supply and sales cooperative. It is proposed to create a Center for Agricultural Co-operation and Advice with Branches in centers of the united territorial communities.
The necessity to develop regional programs of support of small farms producing "niche" crops on a basis of funds of the united territorial community and the state is proved. The necessity of introduction of state support of beginner farmers on a basis of grant for creation of a family livestock farm based on the funds of local united territorial communities and the state budget is substantiated.
The development of a social partnership of farmers with stakeholders will facilitate the financing of a school food program by united territorial communities, which will form the appropriate values for all participants.
The expediency of development of non-agricultural activities by farms is proved, which requires improvement of taxation system and carrying out of explanatory measures on formation of corresponding tax culture.
It has been established that in order to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of agro-food chains that are created by small farms, it is expedient to provide for organization of processing, creation of facilities for processing, storage of harvested crop and a wholesale distribution center on a cooperative basis.
The expediency of using small vending machines of vending machines of its products, in particular, sale of milk, formation of direct supplies of agricultural products to public catering establishments and regional supermarket chains, and development of such forms of farm trade: Internet sales; traditional offline stores; sales both online and offline, production on orders of city consumers.
Key words: farm, peasant farming, family farm, efficiency, state support, production.
