CISA - Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture

Exploring the Small Farm Dream: Self-Assessment and Researching the Farming Landscape
2022-03-07 18:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | MA
Exploring the Small Farm Dream
Mondays, 6:30-9pm
Zoom
March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
This workshop is a partnership between Penn State Extension and Cornell Cooperative Extension/Broome County.
If you considering launching a small farm enterprise, but are not sure where to start, this 4-session series will give you the tools to start making choices to determine if farming is right for you.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Exploring the Small Farm Dream course (designed by the New England Small Farm Institute and taught by trained facilitators) is designed to help you, and your partner, decide whether starting a farm business is right for you. This ten-hour (four evening sessions) virtual course includes exploratory discussion, curated research tools, and self-assessment activities provided by the instructors as well as a workbook for hands-on application both during class and at home. Each week we will hear from subject matter experts and community partners, as well as existing farmers. By the end of the series, you will create an action plan that works best for you and will have the tools and contacts to help you get started.
SCHEDULE: Participants are expected to attend all four sessions since the program builds upon the knowledge of the previous session.

Monday March 7th
Session I: Self-Assessment and Researching the Farming Landscape
Monday March 14th
Session II: Assessing Resources and Risks
Monday March 21st
Session III: Marketing and Market Channel Evaluation
Monday March 28th
Session IV: Next Steps

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Anyone interested in starting a small farm business
Hobby and lifestyle farmers that are considering developing their farm into a business
Recently retired individuals or individuals who will retire soon who think they may want to start a small farm business
Immigrants with agricultural experience who wish to start farming in the US
Recent high school or college graduates who are considering a career in agriculture
Individuals who are inheriting or taking over a farm from a family member
Those who are considering an on-farm market, farmer’s market vendors, farm stands, livestock and poultry growers, and specialty products – such as mushrooms or maple syrup, are all agricultural businesses that started somewhere.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

Learn how new and beginning farmers can access agricultural resources
Learn about opportunities to connect with local farm business owners, agricultural professionals, and others interested in new farm enterprises
Learn how to manage a small business
Learn how to assess and manage risks
Learn how to assess and identify available and necessary resources for your farm business
Learn how to engage your family and resource partners in decision-making related to your enterprise choices
Learn how to evaluate various farm enterprise choices
Learn how to create an action plan to move your farm dream towards reality

Fee: $75 per family, includes a workbook valued at $25. Extra workbooks can be purchased for $25. Please include all email addresses of those who should receive the zoom link in your registration.
Veterans located in NY or NJ may attend free of charge with support from the Canandaigua VA and Cornell Small Farms Program Farm Ops Initiative.
Any questions can be directed to Laura Biasillo at lw257@cornell.edu.
Click here to register.

Best Practices: SNAP and welcoming low-income customers at your farm
2022-03-01 10:00 - 11:30
Making Local Food More Accessible: Welcoming SNAP & WIC/Senior Coupons, and All Who Use Them
Part 2: Best Practices – SNAP and welcoming low-income customers at your farm
Your farm accepts SNAP (or you’re working on setting up SNAP), but how to make the most of this tool and have it be a success? Join us to hear a panel of farmers on how they incorporate accepting SNAP at their business in a way that makes clients feel welcome and keeps customers coming back.
Attendees will come away with context for how other farms effectively incorporate SNAP at their business and ideas for best practices they can use themselves. The panel will cover how accepting SNAP affected their business, how they effectively promote that they accept SNAP, how they do outreach to low-income customers, and how they tailor their offerings in ways that meet their customers demands and expectations. There will also be time for questions.
CISA and Berkshire Grown will also be sharing other resources attendees can use to make the most of the SNAP program at their business. This workshop is co-hosted by CISA and Berkshire Grown.
Register here!

Panelists:
Emily Chiara of Just Roots
Just Roots is a nonprofit farm that has been accepting SNAP since 2015. Just Roots runs one of the the largest SNAP CSAs in the state and serves hundreds of SNAP customers each year. Emily is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Just Roots and has ample experience in doing outreach to customers and partners around SNAP and HIP.
Harrison Bardwell of Bardwell Farm
Harrison had Bardwell Farm became authorized to accept SNAP in the spring of 2021. They now accept SNAP at their farmstand and at the multiple farmers’ markets they attend throughout the year. Bardwell Farm is a twenty five acre diversified vegetable farm in Hatfield, MA.
Meg Bantle and Laura Tupper-Palches of Full Well Farm
Meg Bantle (they/she) is a sixth generation farmer in the Berkshires with eight years of organic vegetable growing and gardening experience under their belt, including three seasons of co-owning and managing Full Well Farm. They grew up on the farm property in Adams and are excited to be growing food for the community that they grew up in. Laura Tupper-Palches (she/her) is a co-owner and manager of Full Well Farm in Adams, MA. After briefly living in a food desert in New York city she became interested in food security which, combined with her passion for nature, led her to agriculture. She had several years of organic farming experience before starting Full Well Farm with Meg Bantle in 2019. Going into the fourth season at Full Well, she is focusing on soil health and furthering community connections.
Sharon Wyrrick of Many Forks Farm
Many Forks Farm is in Clarksburg, Massachusetts. With 2 acres in cultivation of vegetables, berries, flowers and herbs, the farm has an 85-member household CSA and sells produce through other direct-to-consumer markets and on-farm sales. The farm has taken SNAP for its CSA shares and other eligible farm products since 2013, is a HIP certified vendor, and participates in other programs and community collaborations supporting food access such as WIC/Senior Coupons, Berkshire Grown/Share the Bounty, and Hoosac Harvest.

Responding to Change, Pivoting for Profitability: Session 4: Roadblocks
2022-02-28 15:30 - 18:00, 2022-01-26 10:30 - 12:00
Join farmer and Carrot Project business advisor and lead trainer Cian Dalzell for one of two, four-session online training series. This training is designed to provide you skills and support for both short and long term improvement in business operations and financial security.
Sessions can be mixed and matched to fit your schedule.
Session 4: Roadblocks
Wednesday Feb 9, 2022 or Monday Feb 28, 2022
This session is all about the things that get in the way of keeping up on recordkeeping, using your financial plans and real time results during the season to manage operations or respond to unplanned conditions.
Then we will show you how to devise a realistic path to overcome those obstacles.
Who It’s For:
These trainings are designed for farmers and food business owners with moderate or greater experience in operations and who have an established financial recordkeeping system in place. Priority will be given to businesses in RI, MA, and CT.
Fishermen, aquaculturists, and small processors using local farm and sea ingredients are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Details:
Series 1: Mondays – Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, and 28: 10 AM to 12:30 PM
Series 2: Wednesdays – Jan 12, 19, 26, and Feb 9: 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

2022 Agriculture & Food Conference
2022-02-27 08:00 - 16:00
Sunday, February 27th is SEMAP’s 15th Annual Agriculture & Food Conference! Farmers, foodies, and agricultural advocates alike are all welcome. Join us for 12 engaging workshops and panels with more than 20 speakers – farmer and academic experts from our region!
We are also excited to welcome our keynote speaker, Ray Archuleta. Ray is a farmer, soil scientist, and the founder of the Soil Health Academy.
With over 30 years of experience in soil science at NRCS which led him across the entire country, Ray is an expert on all things soil. Prior to that, Ray served with the Peace Corps in Guatemala as a Livestock Specialist. After his retirement from the NRCS in 2017, Ray founded Understanding Ag, LLC, and Soil Health Academy, LLC, to bring his soil teachings to a wider audience. Ray also owns and operates a 150-acre farm near Seymour, Missouri along with his wife and family.
Tickets will be sold on a sliding scale and you should choose the level that makes sense for you; if cost is still a barrier, scholarships will be available. Please email shickey@semaponline.org for more information.
Get your ticket today!

Business Planning Virtual Workshop Series: Production Management
2022-02-24 19:00 - 21:00
Business Planning Virtual Workshop SeriesFinancial, Marketing & Risk Management Planning
Geared to New, Beginning & Expanding Vegetable & Small Fruit Producers
All Sessions (6), Thursday Evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pmJanuary 27, February 3, 17, 24 & March 10, 17
•Are you thinking about starting your own farm?• Are you a beginning farmer and wonder what’s out there for assistance to fund capital improvementsand upgrade your equipment?• Where can I go to get production advice/information?• Do you want to upgrade your marketing outlets but don’t know how to go about doing this?• Do you want to learn how to better manage risks on your farm especially in light of recent adverseweather?• Are you a small farmer looking to grow and expand your business?
If you answered “Yes” to any of the above then this business planing workshop can help you answer thosequestions. National Crop Insurance Services in conjunction with the UMass Extension Risk ManagementEducation Program is offering this workshop series at no cost to participants. Each session will include a formalpresentation on the subject topic as well as guest speakers who are farmers or agricultural service provers withexperience in the topics and provide adequate time for questions.
This is a great opportunity to learn about a variety of topics that can benefit your farming operation.To register, email either Tom Smiarowski: tsmiarowski@umass.edu or Paul Russell: pmrussell@umass.eduand include your name, email address and location (City/Town & State
Session 4 ( February 24): Production ManagementThis session will focus on where to find information on production issues and Best Management Practices (BMP’s).Guest speakers will include representatives from Extension as well as a young farmer who will explain the sourceshe uses to obtain production information as well as how he goes about deciding what crops to grow in his operation.
Each session will include a homework assignment in which you will take the information discussed duringthe session to complete your assignment. Don’t worry you won’t be graded and you don’t have to submit theassignment! The purpose of the assignments are to get you to put to use in your operation the informationcovered during each session!

Budgeting tools to keep your farm on track
2022-02-24 16:00 - 18:00
This is the third of CISA’s three-workshop series on “Farm financial management: taking it to the next level.” Click here for information about this workshop series. It’s not too late to register!
Learn why budgets are an incredibly powerful — though underutilized — tool for farm business management. This session will equip you with a flexible budgeting tool that you can use year after year for your farm. You’ll get expert advice on how to identify past trends, methodically forecast sales, and plan for contingencies, plus practical tips for using your budget to steer mid-season decision making.
This three-session series is geared towards experienced farm managers and QuickBooks users who are looking to step up their farm financial management game. The series will be taught by Elaine Lemmon of Kitchen Table Consultants, and farmers attending all three sessions will be eligible to receive up to three hours of expert one-on-one assistance in financial recordkeeping, planning, or analysis.

Business Planning Virtual Workshop Series: Risk Management
2022-02-17 19:00 - 21:00
Business Planning Virtual Workshop Series —Financial, Marketing & Risk Management Planning
Geared to New, Beginning & Expanding Vegetable & Small Fruit Producers
All Sessions (6), Thursday Evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pmJanuary 27, February 3, 17, 24 & March 10, 17

Are you thinking about starting your own farm?
Are you a beginning farmer and wonder what’s out there for assistance to fund capital improvementsand upgrade your equipment?
Where can I go to get production advice/information?
Do you want to upgrade your marketing outlets but don’t know how to go about doing this?
Do you want to learn how to better manage risks on your farm especially in light of recent adverseweather?
Are you a small farmer looking to grow and expand your business?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above then this business planing workshop can help you answer those questions. National Crop Insurance Services in conjunction with the UMass Extension Risk Management Education Program is offering this workshop series at no cost to participants. Each session will include a formal presentation on the subject topic as well as guest speakers who are farmers or agricultural service provers with experience in the topics and provide adequate time for questions.
This is a great opportunity to learn about a variety of topics that can benefit your farming operation. To register, email either Tom Smiarowski: tsmiarowski@umass.edu or Paul Russell: pmrussell@umass.edu and include your name, email address and location (City/Town & State)
Session 3 (February 17): Risk ManagementThis session will look at the 5 areas of risk (Production, Marketing, Financial, Human Resources and Legal). Participants will learn how to complete a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) Analysis on their operation. Guest speakers will include farmers explaining how they manage risks on their farms.

Each session will include a homework assignment in which you will take the information discussed during the session to complete your assignment. Don’t worry you won’t be graded and you don’t have to submit the assignment! The purpose of the assignments are to get you to put to use in your operation the information covered during each session!

Finding cash in your farm business: profitability vs. cash flow
2022-02-17 16:00 - 18:00
This is the second of CISA’s three-workshop series on “Farm financial management: taking it to the next level.” Click here for information about this workshop series. It’s not too late to register!
Just because you have $40K in net profit doesn’t mean you have $40K in the bank. These two ideas get confused very often, but net income and cash flow are each important — and distinct — measures of success. Learn the best ways to track where your cash is going, control your cash flow, and identify your options when cash gets tight.
This three-session series is geared towards experienced farm managers and QuickBooks users who are looking to step up their farm financial management game. The series will be taught by Elaine Lemmon of Kitchen Table Consultants, and farmers attending all three sessions will be eligible to receive up to three hours of expert one-on-one assistance in financial recordkeeping, planning, or analysis.

Listening Session on the development of the MA Farmland Action Plan
2022-02-16 17:30 - 19:30
You are invited to attend a Listening Session to provide input for the development of the MA Farmland Action Plan. The purpose of the MA Farmland Action plan is to develop state level goals and recommendations for increasing farmland protection, farmland access, food security, and the long-term economic and environmental viability of farms across all regions of the state. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is supporting the development of the plan, and has engaged the UMass Donahue Institute to gather the input and recommendations from farmers, advocates, investors, landowners, land trusts, agricultural technical assistance providers, scientists, public officials, policy makers, and other agricultural stakeholders.
Toward that end, we hope you will attend one of two Listening Sessions to share your ideas and suggestions for strategies to be included in the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan. Input from stakeholders like you are key to the successful development of a plan.
The Listening Sessions will be held via Zoom on:

Tuesday, February 15 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Wednesday, February 16 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Click HERE to register for the Listening Sessions by February 14. The expanded link is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXZdpPS0TU2Mxv68t5TLlLNcyWU_DwSLdywklubEv-soIIyw/viewform?usp=sf_link.
Please share this email broadly with those within your network who you feel would be interested. We want to hear from as many stakeholders as possible.
After you register, you will receive information to join a Zoom meeting with a unique link and enhanced security settings. Please do not share this link with others.
We hope you can join. If you have questions please contact Sonia Bouvier, Project Manager with UMass Donahue Institute. If you are unable to attend the session, you may also submit written suggestions to: sbouvier@donahue.umass.edu.

Listening Session: on the development of the MA Farmland Action Plan
2022-02-15 15:00 - 17:00

How to accept SNAP and WIC/Senior Coupons
2022-02-15 13:00 - 14:00
Making Local Food More Accessible: Welcoming SNAP & WIC/Senior Coupons, and All Who Use Them
Part 1: How to accept SNAP and WIC/Senior Coupons
Learn what it takes to accept SNAP and WIC & Senior coupons at your farm and how being a part of these programs enables you to feed your neighbors and boost your bottom line. We’ll be covering what these programs are, how they can fit into your business, and what it takes to register with these state and federal programs in order to accept these forms of payment at your business.
Participants will come away with an understanding of how to set up SNAP at their business, their options for getting SNAP processing equipment, how to accept WIC and Senior coupons, and who to ask for help when they go through these application processes. Attendees will also come away with a step-by-step list of how to accept SNAP and coupons at their business plus a contact list of relevant people they can ask questions along the way.
We’ll be joined by Lisa Roach of MarketLink, an organization that administers grants for SNAP equipment and helps farms navigate the SNAP application. We’ll also be joined by Rebecca Davidson, Program Coordinator for the coupon program from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture.
The sister workshop to this session is Best Practices: SNAP and welcoming low-income customers at your farm on March 1. This second session will cover best practices in welcoming customers, training your staff, and SNAP outreach. It will feature a panel of farmers who incorporate SNAP well in their business, who will share how they implemented SNAP and accommodate low-income customers. This workshop is co-hosted by CISA and Berkshire Grown.
Register here!

Farm Succession School
2022-02-15 09:00 - 16:00
Farm Succession School
Three Tuesdays – February 15, March 8, and March 29, 2022 – Greenfield, MA
MDAR is hosting Land For Good’s Farm Succession School for Massachusetts farmers this winter! This is an opportunity for senior generation farmers to talk with peers, learn from advisors, and get support on the challenging process of farm succession and transfer planning.

Are you unsure who will take over your farm?
Feel like your family needs to start talking, but you don’t know where to start?
Have questions about retiring that you don’t know how to answer?
Can the farm support two generations?

Succession planning is a process of exploring how to transfer the farm business and assets to a future owner. Succession School provides farmers and farming partners with the structured and sustained support to make decisions, engage their families, and organize the legal and financial mechanics.
Meet in-person following current COVID-19 protocols at the John W. Olver Franklin Transit Center in Greenfield for a three-session program between 9:00am – 4:00pm on the following Tuesdays: February 15, March 8, 2022, and March 29, with snow dates on each Friday of the same weeks. (*Originally scheduled to begin in January, this course has been postponed to start in Feb due to the recent increase in COVID cases.)
The cost is $100 per farm.
Learn more and register here. Contact: Shemariah at Land For Good shemariah@landforgood.org or 603-357-1600 with any questions.
Funding provided by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ Agricultural Business Training Program.

Responding to Change, Pivoting for Profitability: Session 3: Adjusting
2022-02-14 15:30 - 18:00, 2022-01-26 10:30 - 12:00
Join farmer and Carrot Project business advisor and lead trainer Cian Dalzell for one of two, four-session online training series. This training is designed to provide you skills and support for both short and long term improvement in business operations and financial security.
Sessions can be mixed and matched to fit your schedule.
Session 3: Adjusting
Wednesday Jan 26, 2022 or Monday Feb 14, 2022
A budget is simply a numerical representation of your plan for the year. Even if your plans are thrown for a loop, it still helps to look back at your budget, so you can make real-time adjustments when things go off the rails.
This session will prepare you to address problems and create solutions before you continue down a path that is just not working.
You will come out of this session understanding:

The process of comparing your budget to your real numbers.
How to assess what changes you need to make to get back on track.
How to make adjustments to your budget to ensure that it helps you going forward.

Who It’s For:
These trainings are designed for farmers and food business owners with moderate or greater experience in operations and who have an established financial recordkeeping system in place. Priority will be given to businesses in RI, MA, and CT.
Fishermen, aquaculturists, and small processors using local farm and sea ingredients are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Details:
Series 1: Mondays – Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, and 28: 10 AM to 12:30 PM
Series 2: Wednesdays – Jan 12, 19, 26, and Feb 9: 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Soil Management in Response to Climate Change
2022-02-10 17:00 - 19:00
Soil Management in Response to Climate Change
with Jim Schultz; owner of Red Shirt Farm, Lanesboro, MA
Thursday, February 10, 2022
5:00 – 7:00 pm
$10 members/$15 non-members
Droughts, floods, high winds, increasing temperatures, intensified storms, shifting seasons and more diseases and pests. As farmers we have always had to contend with the vagaries of weather but climate change has upped the ante. What strategies can we employ to meet the daunting challenge of producing food in a changing climate? What techniques can increase our resilience and adaptability while enhancing economic and ecological sustainability? This workshop will mesh concept with practice as Jim Schultz shares strategies and techniques that are working on his farm and small- to medium-sized farms.
For more information, and to register, click here.

Taking your farm financial recordkeeping to the next level
2022-02-10 16:00 - 18:00
This is the first of CISA’s three-workshop series on “Farm financial management: taking it to the next level.” Click here for information about this workshop series. It’s not too late to register!
This session will help you optimize your chart of accounts setup, tease apart which parts of your farm are and aren’t making money, and use your financial statements for more strategic farm decision making. Learn how to draw key information from your farm’s profit and loss statement and balance sheet to help you monitor the health of your business and improve its profitability.
This three-session series is geared towards experienced farm managers and QuickBooks users who are looking to step up their farm financial management game. The series will be taught by Elaine Lemmon of Kitchen Table Consultants, and farmers attending all three sessions will be eligible to receive up to three hours of expert one-on-one assistance in financial recordkeeping, planning, or analysis.

SNEFCC Virtual Course on Land Access for Farmers of Color
2022-02-10 08:00 - 17:00
The Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative (SNEFCC) is now offering their first course on land access for BIPOC farmers in CT, MA and RI. In this course, students will learn about the history of the land and the original people in Southern New England, how we can steward the land in ways that uphold our values, and how to evaluate farmland for farm enterprises. Students will learn about alternative and creative models for gaining access to land that may allow them to start farming soon even if they cannot afford to purchase a farm on their own. Students will begin to develop knowledge and skills to navigate the rules, regulations, and systems that affect agriculture. And they will learn about how they can influence local, state and federal policies that impact their access to land. Please see the attached PDF for more details.
There is a lot to learn over the course of 7 weeks. The class will meet live, online, every Tuesday from 5:30pm to 7pm, starting on February 15 and ending on March 29. Students will have access to pre-recorded video presentations on these topics so that class time is devoted to discussion and answering their specific questions. They will also have an opportunity to meet some great farmers of color in New England who will share how they started farming. Plus they will develop a personal network of other farmers just like them in CT, MA and RI.
To allow for in depth discussions with all participants, enrollment is limited. But we encourage everyone who is interested to apply because we plan to offer this course again in the near future. Students can apply using this link:
https://airtable.com/shrK7nDwaMiCFriRA
Please note that the deadline for applications is February 10. Because SNEFCC received some additional funding related to COVID relief, we are able to offer students a stipend of $160 to attend this course. If you have any additional questions, please contact them at info@snefcc.org.
The priority of the space in this course is for farmers/market gardeners who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian,
or another ethnicity or race of color.
Applications must be received by 11:59 pm EST on February 10, 2022
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@snefcc.org

Responding to Change, Pivoting for Profitability: Session 2: Evaluating Options and Making Plans
2022-02-07 15:30 - 18:00, 2022-01-19 10:30 - 12:00
Join farmer and Carrot Project business advisor and lead trainer Cian Dalzell for one of two, four-session online training series. This training is designed to provide you skills and support for both short and long term improvement in business operations and financial security.
Sessions can be mixed and matched to fit your schedule.
Session 2: Evaluating Options and Making Plans
Wednesday Jan 19, 2022 or Monday Feb 7, 2022
Use your records to figure out what really makes you money and what doesn’t, plus what changes will help you increase your profits.
You will come out of this session understanding:

How to evaluate a change in. operations or investments – time/labor, materials, equipment, you name it.

How to incorporate risk into decision making.

How to evaluate segments of your business (enterprises) .

How to know if you need to borrow money – and how much and for how long?

Who It’s For:
These trainings are designed for farmers and food business owners with moderate or greater experience in operations and who have an established financial recordkeeping system in place. Priority will be given to businesses in RI, MA, and CT.
Fishermen, aquaculturists, and small processors using local farm and sea ingredients are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Details:
Series 1: Mondays – Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, and 28: 10 AM to 12:30 PM
Series 2: Wednesdays – Jan 12, 19, 26, and Feb 9: 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Business Planning Virtual Workshop Series: Marketing Basics
2022-02-03 19:00 - 21:00
Business Planning Virtual Workshop SeriesFinancial, Marketing & Risk Management Planning
Geared to New, Beginning & Expanding Vegetable & Small Fruit Producers
All Sessions (6), Thursday Evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pmJanuary 27, February 3, 17, 24 & March 10, 17
•Are you thinking about starting your own farm?• Are you a beginning farmer and wonder what’s out there for assistance to fund capital improvementsand upgrade your equipment?• Where can I go to get production advice/information?• Do you want to upgrade your marketing outlets but don’t know how to go about doing this?• Do you want to learn how to better manage risks on your farm especially in light of recent adverseweather?• Are you a small farmer looking to grow and expand your business?
If you answered “Yes” to any of the above then this business planing workshop can help you answer thosequestions. National Crop Insurance Services in conjunction with the UMass Extension Risk ManagementEducation Program is offering this workshop series at no cost to participants. Each session will include a formalpresentation on the subject topic as well as guest speakers who are farmers or agricultural service provers withexperience in the topics and provide adequate time for questions.
This is a great opportunity to learn about a variety of topics that can benefit your farming operation.To register, email either Tom Smiarowski: tsmiarowski@umass.edu or Paul Russell: pmrussell@umass.eduand include your name, email address and location (City/Town & State
Session 2 (February 3): Marketing BasicsThis session will explain basic marketing principles including the 5 P’s (Product, Price, Place, Promotion &People). Participants will learn how to identify their audience and in turn target that audience. Guest speakers willinclude farmers discussing how they have gone about identifying and targeting their audience.
Each session will include a homework assignment in which you will take the information discussed duringthe session to complete your assignment. Don’t worry you won’t be graded and you don’t have to submit theassignment! The purpose of the assignments are to get you to put to use in your operation the informationcovered during each session!

Responding to Change, Pivoting for Profitability: Session 1: Better Bookkeeping
2022-01-31 15:30 - 18:00
Join farmer and Carrot Project business advisor and lead trainer Cian Dalzell for one of two, four-session online training series. This training is designed to provide you skills and support for both short and long term improvement in business operations and financial security.
Sessions can be mixed and matched to fit your schedule.
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022 or Monday Jan 31, 2022
Understanding and evaluating what’s going on in your business starts with having good records – and you want to make sure you’re getting the best information about your business.
If your records don’t give you the answers you need, or you need to be more efficient in your bookkeeping effort, this session is what you need.
We’ll cover the keys to success in maintaining current and accurate financial information, and understanding how to use it.
You will come out of this session understanding:

When cash or accrual bookkeeping works best, and how it affects your data and reports.
Using your chart of accounts to both file your taxes and make important management decisions.
How to understand and use your balance sheet to evaluate your business operations in addition to your income statement (Profit & Loss).

Who It’s For:
These trainings are designed for farmers and food business owners with moderate or greater experience in operations and who have an established financial recordkeeping system in place. Priority will be given to businesses in RI, MA, and CT.
Fishermen, aquaculturists, and small processors using local farm and sea ingredients are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Details:
Series 1: Mondays – Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, and 28: 10 AM to 12:30 PM
Series 2: Wednesdays – Jan 12, 19, 26, and Feb 9: 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Santander's Cultivate Small Business: Information Session
2022-01-28 08:00 - 17:00
Santander’s Cultivate Small Business: Information Session
BEST FOR: Early-stage food entrepreneurs in low-income neighborhoods in MA, NY, or NJ
DATE: January 11, 11am-12pm EST (online)
COST: Free
Santander’s Cultivate Small Business is a 12-week dynamic education and training program created to help early-stage food entrepreneurs in low-income neighborhoods (focused on women, people of color, and immigrants) build strong businesses. Join us on January 11 to learn more and hear from past participants.
The program is ideal for people who have been running their food businesses for at least a year and are looking to strengthen their skills, knowledge, and peer network. Applications due January 28, 2022.
Cultivate Small Business is fully funded by Santander and run in partnership with CommonWealth Kitchen, Babson College, Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Latin American Education Development Association (NJ), and The Columbia-Harlem Small Business Development Center (NY).

Register now

Business Planning Virtual Workshop Series: Financial Planning
2022-01-27 19:00 - 21:00
Business Planning Virtual Workshop SeriesFinancial, Marketing & Risk Management Planning
Geared to New, Beginning & Expanding Vegetable & Small Fruit Producers
All Sessions (6), Thursday Evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pmJanuary 27, February 3, 17, 24 & March 10, 17
•Are you thinking about starting your own farm?• Are you a beginning farmer and wonder what’s out there for assistance to fund capital improvementsand upgrade your equipment?• Where can I go to get production advice/information?• Do you want to upgrade your marketing outlets but don’t know how to go about doing this?• Do you want to learn how to better manage risks on your farm especially in light of recent adverseweather?• Are you a small farmer looking to grow and expand your business?
If you answered “Yes” to any of the above then this business planing workshop can help you answer thosequestions. National Crop Insurance Services in conjunction with the UMass Extension Risk ManagementEducation Program is offering this workshop series at no cost to participants. Each session will include a formalpresentation on the subject topic as well as guest speakers who are farmers or agricultural service provers withexperience in the topics and provide adequate time for questions.
This is a great opportunity to learn about a variety of topics that can benefit your farming operation.To register, email either Tom Smiarowski: tsmiarowski@umass.edu or Paul Russell: pmrussell@umass.eduand include your name, email address and location (City/Town & State
Session 1 (January 27): Financial Planning
This session will focus on basic financial planning and include information on preparing a Balance Sheet andIncome Statement. Guest speaker is Chris Laughton, Director of Knowledge Exchange & Farm Start ProgramManager, Farm Credit East, who will explain how Farm Credit East uses financial statements in making creditdecisions and what you as a potential borrower should focus on.
Each session will include a homework assignment in which you will take the information discussed duringthe session to complete your assignment. Don’t worry you won’t be graded and you don’t have to submit theassignment! The purpose of the assignments are to get you to put to use in your operation the informationcovered during each session!

Brand Integrity of Your Farm – Online and In Print
2022-01-26 17:00 - 19:00
Brand Integrity of Your Farm – Online and In Print
with Caroline Alexander
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
5:00 – 7:00pm
$10 members/$15 non-members
Your website is the ideal platform to increase your farm’s visibility. Websites create a visual and content-rich branding opportunity, giving you a voice of authority and educating potential customers about your products, markets and services. Learn how to tell your story through eye catching website design and informative newsletters. Website photos and text show transparency in business, an imperative for food producers. Newsletters reinforce and supplement website information and keep you in touch with customers.
For more information, and to register, click here.

Entity Formation Workshop
2022-01-25 17:30 - 18:30
Entity Formation Workshop

BEST FOR: For anyone planning to start a food business
DATE: January 25, 5:30-6:30pm EST (online)
COST: Free
When starting a food business (or really any business), it’s important to set up a separate legal structure for tax, finance, and insurance purposes. In this workshop, you will learn about the pros and cons of different business structures, like S-corporations, B-corporations, and LLCs, and the implications of each one, including liability, taxation, management, control, continuation of the business, and raising capital.

Register now

Farm Finance for Beginning and Part-time Farmers (webinar)
2022-01-21 12:00 - 13:00
Farm Finance for Beginning and Part-time Farmers
Farm Credit East to host informational webinar
ENFIELD, Conn., January 18, 2022 — Are you interested in starting a farm? Or, do you already have a farm and would like to learn more about managing it profitably or obtaining credit? Then join Farm Credit East and the Worcester County Conservation District for a free webinar on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 12:00 p.m., to dive into farm finance for beginning and part-time farmers.
This webinar is open to anyone interested in learning more about farm finance. Topics covered will range from recordkeeping, cash flow budgeting and understanding financial statements, to how to work with lenders to obtain financing.
Join Farm Credit East and the Worcester County Conservation District for this free, informational webinar on January 21. Register at FarmCreditEast.com/Webinars. Contact Chris Laughton at (800) 562-2235 or Chris.Laughton@farmcrediteast.com for more information.

Business Planning Workshop
2022-01-20 17:30 - 18:30
Business Planning Workshop
BEST FOR: For anyone planning to start a food business or businesses needing assistance with creating a business plan for our application
DATE: January 20, 5:30-6:30pm EST (online)

COST: Free In this workshop, you will have an opportunity to craft the mission and vision of your food business and learn about the components of a business plan.

Register now

Tour of CommonWealth Kitchen & Information Session (Virtual)
2022-01-20 12:00 - 13:00
Tour of CommonWealth Kitchen & Information Session
BEST FOR: Food business owners in the Greater Boston area looking for a shared commercial kitchen
DATE: January 20, 12pm-1pm EST (online)
COST: Free
Come hear what CommonWealth Kitchen has to offer small food businesses and take a virtual tour of our commercial kitchen space.

Register now

Start a Food Biz Workshop
2022-01-19 17:00 - 19:00
Start a Food Biz Workshop
BEST FOR: Aspiring food entrepreneurs thinking about starting or about to launch their food business
DATE: January 19, 5-7pm EST (online)
COST: Free
***On February 23, we’re hosting this workshop in Spanish. Sign up here to attend.***
In this two-hour workshop, you will get an introduction to what it takes to launch your own food business. We will cover:

Regulatory requirements for different types of food businesses
Considerations for starting a food truck, catering, or product company
Best practices and resources for food safety, packaging, branding, and more
Creating a business plan
Case studies of strong food companies

Register now
