Online Farming Classes: Veg Production, Financial Planning, Much More

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The Cornell Small Farms Program  offers over twenty online farming classes to help farmers improve their technical and business skills. Students connect with other farmers, work on farm plans, and gain practical tips without leaving their home. Course content can be accessed anywhere with a high-speed internet connection.

Most online farming classes are six weeks long. Each week features an evening webinar and follow-up readings, videos, and activities. Students and their instructors connect through online forums and live chat. If you aren’t able to attend the webinars in real-time, they are always recorded for later viewing.

Online Farming Classes starting the Week of January 16 include: 

 BF 102: Markets and Profits  

Have an idea for a farm enterprise but not sure if it’s feasible? This course will help you explore the potential markets and profitability of your ideas. Its perfect for beginning farmers in their first few years of production, who are looking for help exploring marketing, development of budgets, and tools to help achieve profitability. www.nebeginningfarme rs.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-102-markets-profits/

The earth’s climate is always in flux, but today’s rate of change is far beyond what previous generations of farmers have had to face. This course equips farmers with the knowledge to understand their risk to climate change and extreme weather, empowering them to implement measures that address changes and also raise their bottom line by promoting sustainability, preparedness, and best management practices. www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/climate-smart-farming-bf-107/ 

This course helps new and aspiring vegetable producers answer basic questions about site selection, crop rotation, seeding and transplanting, and financial aspects of veggie production. Topics including variety selection, pre-plant preparation, and cultivation will be covered. www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-120-growing-a-veggie-farm

The production of maple syrup is growing rapidly around the Northeast and offers a sound financial opportunity to utilize woodlots. This course explores the range possibilities of maple sugaring on your land – be it for supplemental income or for your livelihood. Students learn many practical skills. Also discussed are “alternative” trees for production, including Birch and Black Walnut. www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/maplebf152/

If you’ve been struggling to make your farm operation profitable without driving yourself into the ground, this financial planning course is for you. Ultimately, this course will help you with the delicate balancing act that all farmers must succeed in:  balancing healthy profits with healthy land and a healthy farm family and personal life. www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/holistic-financial-planning-bf-203/

Tree fruit are an important component of the agricultural and homeowner landscape. This course trains beginning tree fruit growers in fundamental concepts in orchard planning and management. Content will include site selection and management, rootstock and cultivar selection, orchard systems, pest management, nutrient management, and harvest considerations for commercial orchards tailored to the northeast U.S. www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/tree-fruit-production-bf-223/

Have sheep or thinking about getting a flock? Producers of all experience levels will find something for them in this lively, wide-ranging course. This course is designed for commercial producers seeking to build their knowledge in production, marketing, processing, and sales of lamb and sheep products. We will cover management styles and marketing for different types of sheep farms, focusing on meat production.

 Each course is $250, which entitles two people from a farm to attend. Discounts for early sign up and multiple course sign ups are available.

Check out the listings at https://www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/ for more information on a particular course and the instructors.

Contact Erica Frenay, ejf5@cornell.edu or Steve Gabriel, sfg53@cornell.edu

or call 607-255-2142.

ABOUT

 

The Small Farms Program helps farmers get expert assistance to facilitate all phases of small farm business development, from initial growth to optimization to maturity.

We are a joint effort of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell Cooperative Extension.