Beginning Farming 101 - Online Farm Planning Course

 

General Information

You can utilize the lessons on this website freely. But if you like to learn alongside other students, have the opportunity to discuss what you're learning, and ask questions of experienced educators, you might enjoy and feel more confident about your planning by taking our online course.

The course is 5-10 weeks long (depending on whether it's the full course or a short course). The full course covers all the topics in the Learning section of this website, but adds activities to deepen your learning. You might evaluate another farmer's marketing plan or analyze a particular property to determine appropriate agricultural uses. You will also have access to live online seminars ("webinars") on topics like marketing or regulations. You will certainly "meet" other new farmers and share ideas, plans and helpful resources with each other.

Once a week, the instructors will introduce a new lesson. When you log into the course you'll see materials to read and usually an assignment or question to answer. You can complete the work anytime during the week. If a live seminar is scheduled, you'll be given a link to click at a particular time and date (typically a weekday evening) - if you cannot make it, a recording of the seminar will be posted for you to review later.

Computer Requirements

You do not need any particular operating system or software, but you should have a familiarity and comfort level with the functions of your computer. The more comfortable you are with new technology and distance learning, the more you will get out of the course. A basic dial-up connection should suffice, but you are likely to have some difficulties and your experience will be more enjoyable with a DSL or Cable modem.

Next Course Dates

These online courses are presented by the NY Beginning Farmer Project and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE):

**Both of these courses are now full but instructors are accepting names for a waiting list. The next time this course will be offered will most likely be around the same time next year. If we are able to offer a course in Fall '09, people on the waiting list will be the first to be notified**

Registration is $100 for either short course or $150 for the full 10 weeks (Note: there is a week of overlap between the two, so that both courses together add up to 10 weeks). Call the CCE Chenango office at 607-334-5841 for a registration packet, or visit the CCE Chenango website to register.

Course Outline

Part I- Evaluating Yourself and Your Land and Choosing an Enterprise
February 18 to March 25, 2009

Evaluating what you want to do and what you have to work with are key elements to a successful new farm enterprise. Part I of the Spring 2009 Beginning Farm On-Line Course will steer participants through:
• Farm goal-setting
• Evaluating physical resources of your farm
• Choosing an enterprise
• Starting the development of a personal plan

This course is for you if you are new to farming in New York! Course participants will be required to work through the assignments and will be using the http://beginningfarmers.cce.cornell.edu/ website. Each participant will be gathering information about their own enterprise and will create a Personal Plan.

Week 1: Welcome and Introduction- February 18 to February 24, 2009
This first week we will introducing you to Moodle (our on-line “classroom”) and orienting you with the goals and format of the Beginning Farmer Course.
• Special On-line Adobe Connect Meeting: Thursday 2/19 at 7:30 pm repeated Friday 2/20 at noon on how to use Moodle.

Week 2: Goals, Skills and Resources- February 25 to March 3, 2009
This week we will be evaluating what you would like to do and what resources you have available to you. We will be working on creating a goal statement and identifying skills and resources. Then begin site evaluation.

Week 3: Site Evaluation- March 4 to March 10, 2009
In week three, we will move into site evaluation full swing. Certain crops are suited for particular soils and sites, and it’s much easier to match crops to your site than to modify your site to suit what you’d like to grow. We’ll evaluate what you have, or would like to have, at your site.
• Adobe Connect Meeting: Wednesday 3/4 at noon repeated at 7:30 pm on on-line resources to help with site evaluation.

Week 4: Enterprise Evaluation- March 11 to March 18, 2009
Now that you know a little about your site, or future site, and what you’re goals are, you’ll need to find the best crop for you and your land. This week we’ll look at the different crops that are suitable.
• Adobe Connect Meeting: Wednesday 3/11 at noon repeated at 7:30 pm on the Beginning Farming web tools.

Week 5: Wrap-Up and Evaluation- March 18 to March 25, 2009
In the final week of Part I we’ll wrap-up goals, site evaluation, and enterprises and compile everything into the start of a Personal Plan.

At this point you’re ready to start working, or consider taking Part II!

Part II- Markets and Profits Online Course
March 18

Educational objectives
• Identifying farm goals and timelines for an enterprise
• Understand the potential for profitability with selected agricultural products
• Start to prepare a marketing plan
• Understand that everything in farming is interconnected- Holistic point of view.

Week 1 – Introduction and Orientation to Moodle- March 18 to March 24, 2009
This is a chance for those in the class to get to know each other and get some tips on using the course content software, Moodle. (For students carrying on from the first course, this week is a chance to keep researching questions about your site and what you want to produce)
• On-Line Adobe Connect meeting- Wednesday, March 18 there will be a webinar on how to use Moodle.

Week 2 – Farm Goals- March 25 to March 31, 2009
This week will be spent helping participants identify what goals they may initially have for their farm business. For example, is the farm going to be the only source of family income or just supplement it?

Week 3 and 4 – Marketing Discussion and Plans- April 1 to April 14, 2009
Week three will be spent exploring the topic of marketing in regards to a farm business. Week four will be spent helping participants to start preparing a marketing plan for their farm.

Week 5 and 6 – What Will it Take to be Profitable? - April 15 to April 29, 2009
Week five is spent discussing ways to measure profitability for a farm business and other related issues. Week six is the last week of the course and will help participants learn if an agricultural crop they are interested in can be produced profitably.

Registration

Call the CCE Chenango office at 607-334-5841 for a registration packet, or visit the CCE Chenango website to register.

 

 

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