AUGUSTA — “I can report that thanks to your class last winter, I made enough this year to have a decent personal income! A Thrill!”
“Well worth the time and money. . . Course is informal with like minded students and instructor. Therefore discussions are relevant and enlightening, as opposed to standard course where applications are more standardized.”
These comments come from alumni of previous winters’ workshops. Register for this year’s business planning workshops today!
What’s in the class? Over the course of six winter sessions, you will get a chance to connect with other experienced farmers in a low-key environment while picking up some new business management skills.
The Winter 2019-2020 Schedule is as follows:
- Session # 1: Business Planning Basics, Purpose & Vision, December 18, 2019
- Session #2: Keeping Better Books and Understanding How To Read Them, January 8, 2020
- Session #3: How to Discover Where You’re Making (or losing) Money, January 29, 2020
- Session #4: Marketing, February 12, 2020
- Session #5: Cultivating Your Farm Team, February 26, 2020
- Session #6: Your Strategic Plan for Growth, Investment, Finance, and Retirement, March 11, 2020
Who Should Take this course? This course is designed for farmers with at least 2 years’ of experience who are ready to restrategize their farms’ business plan. People who are just starting their farms will not be able to take full advantage of the course material. Maine is lucky to have many good business planning options for beginning farmers, including the “So You Want to Farm in Maine?” course offered by the Cooperative Exension and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners’ Farm Beginnings course.
FSA Borrower Training Credit. This course is FSA certified to provide Borrower Training.
Attend in person or webinar-style. While all six sessions will take place live in Augusta, you can participate in one or all of them remotely via any internet-linked computer. Recordings of each class will also be available to all participants. A la carte registration available too. Don’t want to sign up for all six sessions? You can sign up for just the ones you want to attend at cost of $50 per session. Where? At the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Deering Building, located at 90 Blossom Lane off Route 9 in Augusta.
When? 9:00 AM -3:30 PM on December 18, January 8 & 29, February 12 & 26, and March 11. Lunch provided. Cost is $275 per farm. Up to 2 people from each farm can attend each class.
Register Online
Questions? Contact Jed Beach, FarmSmart Business Services, at jed@farmsmartmaine.com, or call 207-370-9238
–Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
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