Each year CISA brings market managers together for a time to meet, share best practices, get ideas for new concepts to implement at your market, learn from one another and improve overall operation of markets in and around Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties. We realize many of you have started your season and others will […]
Come get clarity about the many grants and incentives available to help you implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on your farm! Wally Czajkowski of Plainville Farm will show us improvements he has made and discuss his experiences getting funding. Gerry Palano from MDAR will talk about Ag Energy grants. The Center for EcoTechnology […]
If you use hot water year round and are wondering if installing a solar hot water system might be an affordable and practical option, join us at Atlas Farm to learn about solar thermal applications for farms. Gerry Palano of MDAR will discuss solar thermal technology, applications, and funding opportunities. Gideon Porth will discuss his […]
We invite produce growers to CISA's first fall workshop, "Setting Prices for Farm Produce." Come learn what prices various markets will bear (one of the more common questions we get), and gain new tools for determining prices that will both move product and support farm profitability. A panel of presenters with a wide range of […]
Farmers, join CISA, Sean Buchanan from Black River Produce, Bill Barrington from Pioneer Valley Growers Association, and Matt Boulanger from Whole Foods Market to learn about food safety and other wholesale requirements, the wholesale market, how to build wholesale relationships, and much more. Michael Botelho from the MA Department of Agricultural Resources will also be […]
The first class of the series will be an Introduction to QuickBooks class taught by Debbe Dugan from Simply Computing. She will provide a brief overview of your Chart of Accounts (a listing of all your assets, liabilities, income items, costs of goods sold, and expenses) and the Item list (what do you charge for?). This class will also cover the basics of accounts receivable and accounts payable. We will explore your customer lists and how the billings process affects your income. On the flip side, we will explore paying bills and maintaining your vendor list, including ‘specialty vendors’, like contract labor. Accounts receivable versus accounts payable makes up your Profit and Loss statement.
Looking for help exploring funding opportunities for your farm? This workshop will help you learn which grants might be a good fit for your farm, understand the range of loan programs and business assistance that farm lenders offer, and more.
This is the second workshop of CISA's Winter workshop series. This advanced workshop, led by Amy Grabowski will start with a review of the Profit & Loss report and how to locate possible errors. We will then review other reports available in QuickBooks with an emphasis on analyzing reports important to farmers. Other topics covered will include using QuickBooks to budget income and expenses, the reason for classes and understanding journal entries. Participants should come prepared with specific QuickBooks concerns and the instructor will answer as many questions as possible. You are encouraged to bring a backup version of your QuickBooks file, or your laptop, so that you may work on your company file during the class.