Growing Farms: Successful Whole Farm Management is now available nationally as an online, self-paced course. Registration is open through June 30th at
Growing Farms.
The course has an
organic/sustainable agriculture focus and provides farmers with the
tools and knowledge needed to develop and manage a successful farm
business. The course is intended for people who are
considering starting a farm business, those within their first five
years of farming and others who may be considering major changes to
their farm business.
The course was
developed by the Oregon State University Small Farms Program in
partnership with Oregon Tilth, the organic certification non-profit.
Although the course has an Oregon focus, it is relevant to
farmers nationwide.
The core of the
Growing Farms course is a series of six online modules covering a
variety of topics related to farm management. The course is presented in
an interactive and graphically rich format and features
six farmers who share their experience and insights about farming in
more than four hours of video.
Six online modules lead you through the basics of managing a successful farm business. Check them out
here:
- Dream It. Laying the groundwork for success through planning, assessing your resources, and creating an identity for your farm.
- Do It. Building the farm through smart investments in equipment and infrastructure, hiring and managing employees effectively, and monitoring energy consumption.
- Sell It. Developing successful markets for your farm products with strategies that are compatible with your personal and financial goals, and that capitalize on customer needs and trends.
- Manage It. Strengthening your farm business through better financial management, tracking production costs and pricing, and establishing procedures for record keeping and accounting.
- Grow It. Working with nature to create and manage a farm ecosystem that is productive, able to resist pests, and enhances the quality of your land and other natural resources.
- Keep It. Sustaining the farm business over the long-haul through entrepreneurship, development of good communication within the family and business team, careful attention to regulations, and risk management.
Cost of the course is $295
Access the full URL here
https://pace.oregonstate.edu/
https://pace.oregonstate.edu/
Send inquiries to growingfarms@oregonstate.edu
