NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Rutgers Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics will present a full one-day workshop, “Farming in New Jersey’s Cities and the Urban Fringe,” in New Brunswick, N.J., on Dec. 14.
The highly regarded small farms advocate John Ikerd, professor emeritus of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, will deliver a keynote presentation on the role of urban agriculture in a changing food production system.
The workshop is designed to educate urban farmers on risk management strategies and provide tools for successful business management. Participants will gain essentials from presentations by ag industry leaders to become better risk-takers and risk managers by focusing on issues that are relevant to urban farmers, such as soil quality, time management, food safety and leasing land. Farmers will learn how to more effectively sustain their farm business by developing production and marketing plans and using social media to sell their goods and services.
This one-day workshop is perfect for busy farmers who can’t devote a lot of time to leave the farm but want to brush up on their business management skills,” said RCE farm management specialist Robin Brumfield.
Presentations will include “Why Having a Business Plan is Important for Success,” “Finding and Expanding Your Markets,” “Water Conservation and Urban Agriculture” and more. A panel discussion with Q&A featuring New Jersey farmers and networking opportunities are included.
This workshop was made possible through the generous support of Farm Credit East. Registration between Nov. 14 to Dec. 5 costs $50.
— New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station