Farming 1-3 years

"Many new farmers get started with poultry, because it’s a relatively low-investment enterprise with a fairly quick turnaround time from investment to revenue. The margins can be slim though, and you need all the skill you can acquire in order to produce a safe product and have a profitable enterprise. This course was designed to help!"

"If you’re exploring the idea of adding berries and bramble fruits to your farm, this course will help you consider all the aspects of this decision, from varieties and site selection all the way through profit potential and marketing."

"This 5-week course will take you from transplanting to harvest, including information on in-season fertility; integrated pest management including pest ID and control; weed control options; harvesting strategies; and tips for marketing your products.

"Organic certification of your farm requires strict adherence to a set of farm management practices determined at the federal level and monitored by a 3rd-party certification agency.

"Many a farm operation has been sunk by “shiny equipment syndrome”; in other words, purchasing too much brand new equipment. On the other end of the scale, many new farmers have burned out their bodies by not adequately powering their farms with machinery.

"What do you need to do to prepare for operating your business with sound financial information? Every business creates a great number of records in a variety of media. This course will concentrate on financial record keeping systems.

"This course is designed to help aspiring or beginning farmers better assess and manage a variety of risks that farmers face in operating their farms.  Throughout the six week period, topics essential for operating a farm business will be discussed.

A Plain Language Guide from the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. In this guide you will learn about wholesale marketing requirements.

A Plain Language Guide from the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. In this guide you will learn about: processing raw fruits and vegetables into a finished product that you can sell; preparing for a specialty food business; packaging and selling your value-added product.

A Plain Language Guide from the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. In this guide you will learn about: the benefits and costs of extending the growing season; simple methods of season extension; materials and costs for season extension.