Kwantlen Polytechnic University presents this Short Course: Business Planning for a New Farm.
Managing your farm as a business is an important but often neglected component of operating a farm. Recent research shows that farmers who create and use business planning are more confident, more profitable and more able to take advantage of new opportunities. This short course will introduce participants to the concept of farm business planning through some practical, hands-on exercises. Teaching content will reference Ministry of Agriculture resources, primarily the New Farm Start-Up guide, and introduce participants to options for further support through the Ministry.
Save the dates and register now!
When: Thursdays, March 1, 8 & 22, 2018 at 6:30PM to 8:00PM (PDT)
Cost: Free
Location: Various locations in the Province
Confirmed:
Richmond – KPU Richmond Rm 1420, 8771 Lansdowne Rd.
Armstrong – location tbd
Penticton – Cowork Penticton, 129 Nanaimo Ave W.
Abbotsford – Ministry of Agriculture Rm 131, 1767 Angus Campbell Rd.
Tentative:
Saanich
Duncan/Nanaimo
Williams Lake
Quesnel
Kootenay
Revelstoke
Register now for the short course!
Visit the website for more information on the short course content and specific locations.
Session 1: March 1, 2018 – 6:30-8PM
Setting Goals and Starting a Business Plan
Developing a solid farm business idea requires a clear sense of what each farmer wants to get out of their enterprise. Some people want their farm to supplement their household income, while others intend to earn their entire livelihood on the farm. As a result, the process of setting personal and business goals is crucial to establishing a strong foundation for a farm business. Webinar participants will learn how to set effective goals and to evaluate those goals using SMART goal criteria. They will also learn how goal setting fits into the planning phase of business development.
Session 2: March 8, 2018 – 6:30-8PM
Determining Production and Marketing Options
What you can grow and where you can sell it — not to mention the price you can get for it — are key aspects to consider in planning a farming enterprise. What you can grow depends on your climate, soil conditions, the start-up costs associated with certain types of production. Whether you can sell your product and the price you can get are key factors that will influence what you may grow. Webinar participants will learn the basics of Production Planning, including assessing their land capabilities, start-up costs and ongoing production costs. They will also learn the basic process of assessing their market to determine what they can sell and they price they can expect.
Session 3: March 22, 2018 – 6:30-8PM
Assembling and Using a Plan, Plus Accessing Resources To Help
Putting together a business plan may seem daunting, but after setting goals, assessing production capacities and market opportunities, it’s just a matter of organizing this information into a more formal plan. In this webinar, participants will learn how their production and marketing plans inform the income and expense sections of their budgets. Assembling these parts will form the basic part of their business plan. In this webinar we will also review resources to assist in planning, including online business planning apps and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Taking Stock workbook and Farm Business Advisory Services.