Solid Ground Offering Several Farmer Trainings for Production Farmers

Accessing Grant Funding For Your Farm

When: Nov. 19th and Dec. 3rd. Both are 9:00AM to 11:30AM

Where: Hartford County Extension Office (270 Farmington Ave. Farmington) and Virtual

Cost: $10

Sign Up Here: https://s.uconn.edu/grantfunding

Learn about a range of upcoming funding opportunities and how best to compete for these funds. Gain insight on which programs fit which farm projects you hope to fuel in the next year. Increase skills in writing a compelling grant proposal and developing a realistic grant budget. This course features 5 hours of training delivered over two sessions, one in-person (11/19) and one virtual (12/3), 9:00 – 11:30 am.  Participants who complete both sessions will have access to one-on-one coaching with R Chang and J Martin for your upcoming proposal writing efforts in Dec – Jan.

How to Use Enterprise Budgeting

When: Dec. 5th, 9AM-1PM

Where: Farm Credit East, Enfield

Cost: $25

Sign up Here: https://s.uconn.edu/enterprisebudgeting

With instructor Jessie Wright from UNH Extension, this class teaches farmers how to create an enterprise budget from their existing financial records. The course requires farmers to already know how to create a Balance Sheet, Net Income Statement and Cash Flow Statement for their business and assumes that farmers are already using these. In this class, farmers will learn how to use an Enterprise Budget to help determine whether a particular farm enterprise/crop is profitable, and how best to increase income and profitability for the enterprise. Farmers will participate in small group exercises creating and evaluating enterprise budgets and financial statements to help with decisions about their business.

To review the prerequisite training on Balance Sheets, Net Income Statements and Cash Flow Statements, please watch this video series that will be uploaded here soon.

The Business of Farming Online Course

When: Launching both Jan 2 and Feb 12

Where: Virtual- through Blackboard

Cost:$50

Cohort 1 (starting in Jan) Sign up Here: s.uconn.edu/bofcohort1

Cohort 2 (starting in Feb) Sign up Here: s.uconn.edu/bofcohort2

A hybrid course where participants will complete 7 modules that include both virtual and in-person meetings . It is designed to develop and strengthen the business and technical skills for beginning farmers with 0 – 3 years of experience.
Participate in this learning experience with farmer peers and develop new networks in a safe environment to foster informal interactions, knowledge sharing, and relationship building. It is never too early to acquire some of the fundamental skills and habits in farm business management, such as How to Write a Business Plan, Statements for Financial Management, Grant Opportunities, Marketing/Branding, Tax Filing and more. Dates for sessions below:

Cohort One:

Online Sessions: January 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd 12:00pm-1:30pm
In Person Sessions: January 10th and 24th, 9:00am-3:30pm at the Hartford County Extension Center

Cohort Two:

Online Sessions: February 12th, 19th, 26th, and March 5th, 12:30pm-2:00pm
In Person Sessions: February 21st and March 7th, 9:00am-3:30pm at the Tolland County Agricultural Center