Over the course of six winter sessions, Maine farmers have a chance to connect with other experienced farmers in a low-key environment while picking up some new business management skills.

The winter 2019-2020 schedule is as follows:

• Session 1: Business Planning Basics, Purpose & Vision, Wednesday, Dec. 18
• Session 2: Keeping Better Books and Understanding How To Read Them, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020
• ​Session 3: How to Discover Where You’re Making (or losing) Money, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020
• Session 4: Marketing, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020
• Session 5: Cultivating Your Farm Team, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020
• Session 6: Your Strategic Plan for Growth, Investment, Finance, and Retirement, Wednesday, March 11, 2020

The course is designed for farmers with at least 2 years’ experience who are ready to restrategize their farm business plan. Those just starting farms will not be able to take full advantage of the course material.  

Maine has many good business planning options for beginning farmers, including the “So You Want to Farm in Maine?” course offered by the Cooperative Exension and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners’ Farm Beginnings course.

This course is FSA certified to provide Borrower Training.

While all six sessions will take place live in Augusta, you can participate in one or all of them remotely via any internet-linked computer. Recordings of each class will also be available to all participants.

Sessions take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the dates noted above at Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Deering Building, 90 Blossom Lane, off Route 9 in Augusta. Cost is $275 per farm; up to two people from each farm may attend; lunch provided.

A la carte registration available too. Don’t want to sign up for all six sessions? You can sign up for just the ones you want to attend at cost of $50 per session.

Register Online

Questions? Contact Jed Beach, FarmSmart Business Services, at jed@farmsmartmaine.com or 207-370-9238.