Statewide Programs

This course teaches beginning farmers (or farmers who are diversifying their operation to include a new enterprise) how to do a feasibility study for their new venture. This 3- or 4-session class (9 to 12 hours) takes the participants from a “vision” of the lifestyle associated with their idea to the action(s) that will make it happen. Participants leave the class able to evaluate the feasibility of farming as an occupation (or how to judge whether to add a new enterprise to their established farms) while addressing acceptability of anticipated risk associated with their chosen ventures.

This Internet training series introduces business and marketing planning, the ways to finance new enterprises, and risk management strategies to protect current and future business assets.

A one-day (6 hour) class for current agricultural producers considering adding value to farm commodities, as well as (non-farmer) local food entrepreneurs.

A six-session interactive course (total of 18 hours), to empower female farmers to be proactive, rather than reactive, in dealing with five areas (production, market, financial, human resource and legal) of business risk.

An in-depth business planning course for current (and potential) non-commodity producers.

A suite of educational programs for agricultural and forestry business and landowners, providing key considerations and steps for planning the transition of their assets (and business) from one generation to the next.

A two-level educational program to improve agricultural business owners’ skills in the area of farm financial recordkeeping and analysis.

A series of Internet based workshops (webinars) to assist agricultural business owners in selecting and integrating appropriate social media tools for their business marketing strategy.

A one-day (5 hour) market preparation workshop for farmers considering direct marketing to restaurants, groceries, and retail markets.

Marketing Fundamentals is an online curriculum designed to introduce individuals new to the marketing and selling of their own products to terms and concepts essential to successful direct marketing.