This year, we’re thrilled to announce that we will be offering a variety of workshops to help our region’s farmers connect with one another and utilize new tools to make their businesses more successful. You will be a busy bee with all of these new educational opportunities!
Beginning Farmer Training
Business planning, financing, marketing, record-keeping and risk management are just a few of the tools farmers need to run successful, sustainable businesses. Between January and March 2014, we will be offering four workshops for farmers and ranchers in their first three years of operation. This work is part of an exciting partnership with MSU Extension, the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center, the National Center for Appropriate Technology, and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Multifunctional farm training
Multifunctional Farm Training creates a framework for established farms to envision new business activities on their land geared towards local markets, tourism and value added products.
Bringing producers together, along with business development and resource agencies, this course will provide a networking and peer learning space to create fresh new business ideas and increased profits from the farm. Last year, this course was piloted in the Flathead and several new business ventures are seeing success as a result. Farmers with three or more years of experience are encouraged to join this 4 week series, covering such topics as product development, marketing, rules and regs, and cooperative models. Classes will be held on-site at farms near Missoula beginning in January.
Field days
Applied, on-farm courses will be held from May – August throughout our region. Topics may include diverse marketing, reduced water use, lower input costs and on-farm food safety.
Please contact us today for more information on these courses! cfacinfo@missoulacfac.org
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