Build a Business Plan for Your Farm
Planning to Stay in Business (BF 202)
Writing Your Business Plan
an online course through the Northeast Beginning Farmer Project
Thurs. February 4 – March 10, 2016, with webinars every Thursday evening from 6:00-7:30pm.
http://www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-202-planning-for-sustainability/
Whether you intend to borrow money or not, heading into a farm venture without a business plan is like setting sail across the ocean without a map. Either way, you’re likely to run into bumps and twists that can derail your venture. Arm yourself with a business plan and you will have a guide to aid your farm decision-making and demonstrate to yourself and your family that your ideas are feasible. This intensive, fast-paced course is designed to help you build your plan quickly.
This course is geared for new farmers as well as those expanding or transitioning from one farm enterprise to another. Before enrolling in this course you should already know the type of farm you want, some short-term and longer-term farm business goals, and the geographic area or state where you intend to farm. You should have at least some first-hand experience with farming, including personal research into the type of farm you will operate.
Upon completing this course, you will have a full business plan in a format ready to be implemented on the farm. The business plan may be used to guide you in decision-making in the course of running the farm business. Additionally, the business plan will be in a form ready to submit to a banker, private investor or grantor, in the event you are seeking outside funding.
Graduates of BF 202 have obtained equipment and operating loans, and mortgages, for start-up and expanding farms.
Instructors:
Rebecca Schuelke-Staehr co-owns Cayuga Pumpkin Barn and formerly worked for the NY Farm Viability Institute.
Steve Hadcock is the Beginning Farmer and Market Development Educator for the Capital Area Agricultural and Horticultural Program for Cornell Cooperative Extension.
MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION
http://www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-202-planning-for-sustainability/
Great resources for small farmers! The support from Cornell is invaluable for sustainable agriculture.
Fantastic program! The collaboration with local communities truly enhances the farming experience and knowledge sharing.
Oh wow, I didn’t know Cornell had a Small Farms Program! That’s actually really cool. And the land acknowledgement is a nice touch. Good on them for recognizing the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ. Makes me want to check out what resources they offer.
“Land acknowledgement” is such an important practice! It’s great to see Cornell doing this. It’s a small but powerful way to recognize the history of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ people. I hope more organizations follow suit.
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