Farm Business Plan Writing Course
Event Details
Date
December 6, 2023
December 13, 2023
January 10, 2024
January 17, 2024
January 24, 2024
January 31, 2024
February 7, 2024
February 14, 2024
Time
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Location
Zoom
Host
CCE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program & Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Liz Higgins
email Liz Higgins
As a farmer, you know the importance of planning, but writing a business plan? That can feel like a whole different field. Our eight-week online course is specifically designed for farmers like you. Whether you're seeking a loan, grant, or just need to get your business and transition plans in order, we've got you covered.
Click here to register and for a detailed description of meetings.
Why This Course?
- Practical and Down-to-Earth: Learn to create a plan that spells out your farming goals clearly and compellingly.
- Friendly for Non-Writers: Hate writing? No problem. We'll introduce you to easy-to-use tools like ChatGPT and voice recognition to break down that writer's block.
- Numbers Made Easy: Feel overwhelmed by data and financials? We'll guide you through simplifying your farm's financials into a format lenders and grant reviewers love.
- Flexible and Time-Saving: Busy schedule? Our course is mostly asynchronous, with optional weekly Zoom sessions for direct support. Plus, you'll learn to make a plan that's easy to update in the future.
Your Investment:
For just $100, gain skills and a plan worth thousands if done by a consultant. You'll continue to have full access to your plan for edits and updates after the course ends. The registration fee includes support for one farm plan, but the whole team on your farm can join in on the learning!
Who Can Join?
Anyone with a computer and reliable internet. Meet Your Guides:
- Elizabeth Higgins: An Extension Associate with a knack for turning horticultural know-how into profitable ideas.
- Bonnie Nelsen: A Farm Business Management Educator who knows exactly what it takes to keep a farm financially healthy.
Ready to secure your farm's future with a solid plan? Join us and turn planning from a chore into a stepping stone to success!
Agenda:
- Kickoff Week: Laying the Groundwork for Your Success
- Week 2: Sharpening Your Focus - Tailoring Your Plan
- Week 3: Laying the Foundation - Strategy and Competitive Edge
- Week 4: The Financial Frontier - Making Your Numbers Talk
- Week 5: Navigating the Market Maze - Strategies and Safeguards
- Week 6: Cultivating Team Strength - Management and Operations
- Week 7: Flex Week/TBD
- Week 8: The Grand Finale - Crafting Your Executive Summary
Dairy
Livestock
Forages
Grains
Upcoming Events
New York State Fiber Conference
June 9, 2024
Bouckville, NY
Theme for this year: Quality Matters
Announcements
Cash Rent and Custom Harvest Survey
To date, there is limited information available about rental rates and fees for crop harvesting. Farms can use this valuable information for their farm business planning to help improve decision making and profitability.The data that is collected, and the subsequent reports/findings/resources will be helpful for all of us to answer that call of "What's the average rental rate in my area?" and "How much do people charge to combine oats?"
Farmers Can Join MeatSuite For Free!
MeatSuite.com is a free resource provided by Cornell University where NY meat farmers can create a farm profile and list their bulk (wholes, halves, quarters) and bundled (i.e. Grilling Bundle) meat products.Why should farmers join?
1. It's free and easy!
2. Connect with more local customers. In the past year the MeatSuite.com farm directory had 8,300 visits from New York consumers. Farm profiles get as many as 25 views per month from potential local customers. We also spotlight MeatSuite farms on social media and bring attention and purchases to farms through highlights and giveaways.
How do I join?
Farmers can visit https://www.meatsuite.com/farmers/ to create a free farm profile. You must list at least one product for your farm's profile to go live. You'll also have access to Cornell's free Meat Price Calculator, a helpful tool for pricing your meat to make a profit.
While you're on MeatSuite, check out the "Creating Consumer-Friendly Bulk Meats" publication on the log-in page. It has tips on how to create bulk meat products that are easier for first-time buyers to say "yes" to.
If you have any questions as you create your farm profile or products, we're here to help! Please email Matt LeRoux at mnl28@cornell.edu.