By Meredith Bauer-Mitchell | UF News
For anyone who’s dreamed of becoming the owner of their own farm, the journey can feel daunting. Between business planning, marketing and the unique challenges of producing goods in a dynamic economic environment, getting a business off the ground can feel like an up-hill battle.
That’s why the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), in partnership with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), is expanding its Small Farm Start-Up School to be statewide and include more resources for burgeoning farmers.
Registration is open now for the school’s nine-week course, which will run from April 14 to June 23. Classes are limited to 20 people per site and will be offered for the following counties: Gadsden, Hernando, Lee, Martin, Pasco, Sumter, Polk, St. Johns, Union, Volusia and Walton counties. Registration for up to two people costs $299 and includes textbooks, course material, farm visits, business plan guidance and more.
The class is well-suited for anyone interested in starting their own small farm in Florida, as well as entrepreneurs who want to transition into the agribusiness space.
“This class is for all entrepreneurs, but we will be addressing the most pressing issues for those who want to start their own small farms,” David Campbell, state coordinator for the UF/IFAS Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises initiative. “Farming is vital to Florida, and preparing future business owners to create resilient, profitable businesses means a stronger food system for the state and the country.”
The hybrid nature of the class allows students to balance their existing work and their continuing education. Online classes will focus on business fundamentals like creating a business plan, creating a marketing plan, production practices, loan management, insurance information and other related information.
In-person classes will be a combination of farm visits, where students can see how successful farms are using business best practices, as well as Q&As with business owners and networking events with agribusiness professionals.
Being a farmer in today’s economy is rewarding but tough, Campbell said.
“We respect our growers and commodity producers and want to respond to their request for more business planning and marketing resources so new farmers can go into the industry prepared,” he said.
Between challenges like market changes, crop loss due to pests and weather and limited available agricultural land due to urbanization and changing land use, owning and operating a small farm can feel intimidating.
This foundational course is to not only help future farm owners figure out a plan for achieving that goal – but also help them figure out the right timing to do so and whether they are properly prepared to take that step, Campbell said.
The course began at UF/IFAS about six years ago and builds upon a program from University of Minnesota Extension from retired Extension agent, Rod Greder. It began in Florida in Sarasota County and is expanding statewide this year.
The program is also particularly useful for anyone that has a Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan because this class is an official financial management training for FSA borrowers.
Classes will be online on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and farm visits and networking events will be hosted by the UF/IFAS Extension office of your choice, from the available options. To register, please see the program website.