Farm Business Training Series

Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Thursday, March 2, 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Thursday, March 9, 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Thursday, March 16, 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC) is offering two specialized training series, consisting of six sessions for Farm OR Food Businesses this spring. Participants will work with consultants, business owners, and Extension Educators to develop and write a Business Plan. Participants starting a new business or building on existing knowledge can benefit from this opportunity.

Workshops are held from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Extension Education Center on 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road in Liberty and Virtually through Zoom. Each series is only $50 per person for all six sessions. A brief application is required to register for the training series. These series are tailored to separate business audiences within the Food System Industry. Your application information will assist in facilitation. Payment can be made in advance by check, cash, or credit.

Tuesday and Thursday Evenings – 5:30-7:30 P.M. – Early March

February 28th – Planning Your Farm

March 2nd – Production Practices

March 7th – Business Plan Development

March 9th – Enterprise Budget & Funding

March 14th – Labor & Operations

March 16th – Marketing & Agrotourism

Rose Wilson and Erik Hassert will lead our business planning and marketing training, alongside other guest speakers, including Richard E. Stup, Ph.D. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development, Anthony Capraro, district conservationist for NRCS, and Greg Swartz, owner and farmer of Willow Wisp Organic Farm.

The workshop series is part of CCE Sullivan’s Farm and Food Business Training Program. The program offers a step-by-step, hands-on approach to developing business and marketing plans for your farm or food business, along with providing technical assistance on licensing, permitting, value-added production, and more. In addition, the Farm and Food Business Training Program offers participants pathways to funding and other support services to help new farm and food businesses get off the ground, and existing farm and food businesses to improve and expand their operations. Participants of the workshop series will be eligible for low-interest loans through the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Community Development. New or existing farm and food businesses that participate in our business and marketing workshops also receive access to one on one assistance from professional consultants. These consultants can help to review your business and/or marketing plan for FREE!

Contact the CCE Office at (845) 292-6180 or sullivan@cornell.edu to request accommodations or for questions/concerns.

Co-Sponsored by HVADC with support from the USDA Rural Business Development Grant #RO104160 70426 & a Local Food Promotion Project Grant #21LFPPNY1056-00