Farm Beginnings Class to be Offered in Western Nebraska - UNL CropWatch April 26, 2013

Published before 2015

May 10, 2013

Topics, and Speakers

May 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Building Networks, Value Clarification and Goal Setting
Holistic Management with Ralph Tate

June 1, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Whole Farm Planning
View High Tunnel Greenhouse at UNL's West Central Research and Extension Center and complete the session on Holistic Management

June 6, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. — Opportunities in Value-Added Production
Farm Planning and Marketing with Mel and Doris Uphoff of Uphoff Boer & Savannah Goats of Elwood; and the Nebraska Beginning Farmer Program with Karla Bahm of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture

June 20, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — Marketing and Farm Planning
Analyzing your Farm Enterprises with Robert Tigner, UNL Extension Educator, and Marketing Vegetables with David Lott, UNL Extension Educator

July 11, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. — Opportunities in Value Added Products
Fulton Farms Organic & Grass Fed Beef with Kevin Fulton of Litchfield and Crooked Creek Farms Indian Corn with Don and Barb Batie of Lexington

July 18, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. — Financial Management
Cost Management of your Livestock Operation with Brian Strauch, UNL Extension Educator
Marketing, Labor and Cost Management, Purdy Pumkins with Brian and Lori Armstrong Big Springs

August 8, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — Realities from the Farm
Seifer Farms Range-Raised Poultry with Ray Seifer and Farm Loan Programs and Resources for Beginning Farmers with Lisa Liska, a Farm Loan Manager for USDA Farm Service Agency

August 22, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — Marketing and Finances
Direct Marketing Vegetables with Cathy Grauerholz,
Local MarketCALC Program with Roger Wilson, Extension Educator

September 12, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — Farm and Business Management, WCREC
Labor Management, Marketing Management, and Cash Flow Projections with Dennis Demmel, Organic Grain Producer
Marketing Livestock - Scott Hanson, Range Raised Poultry Producer

October 12, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Participant presentations of Farm and Business Plans

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension will begin its first Farm Beginnings® Program at the Lincoln-Logan-McPherson Extension Office in North Platte on May 25.

UNL Extension received a USDA grant to facilitate the Farm Beginnings® Program to provide education, training, and support to help producers who want to evaluate and plan for their farm enterprise.

Participants engage in a mentorship experience, network with successful, innovative farmers, and attend practical, high quality seminars, field days, and conferences.

The program is unique in that several successful farmers participate in the program as presenters, explaining first-hand the nuts and bolts of their farming operation. While any beginning farmer would benefit from attending these training sessions, most of the farmers who present are from small to medium farms that produce and market diversified and value-added products. Many of these farmers direct market their products.

The Farm Beginnings® Program consists of a series of 10 sessions from May to October that cover a variety of topics, including building networks, goal setting, whole farm planning, building your business plan, marketing, business and farm management and financial management. In addition to learning first-hand from successful farmers, participants will develop their own business plan as they progress through the course. The program also includes tours of a greenhouse and hoop house in May and several farms in the summer. If interested, participants also can work with a farmer mentor.

To Apply

Cost of the total program is $500; scholarships are available. For more information about the program contact Randy Saner, extension educator at rsaner2@unl.edu or 1-800-200-1381. A brochure and application are available for download at lincolnmcpherson.unl.edu.

IANR News

Online Master of Science in Agronomy

With a focus on industry applications and research, the online program is designed with maximum flexibility for today's working professionals.

Learn More