Robert Chang, is our Farmer Business Navigator who supports socially disadvantaged farmers and coordinates the Land Ownership Readiness Course and the Business of Farming Course. In this position, Robert helps farmers navigate available resources and connect to additional assistance as needed.
Our Hybrid Course
This is hybrid course with 2 online sessions and 3 in person classes is designed for farmers who have less than 3 years of experience operating a farm business, but it is open to beginning farmers who may have been operating for more than 3 years. Participants will learn how to create and develop a business plan using the AgPlan web application. The course will also provide information on marketing, branding, financial management, filing taxes, legal business formation, crop and liability insurance, local town and state regulations plus helpful resources from the state, USDA and local farm organizations.
Next Class to be announced soon.
At the end of the course, farmers will be able to:
- Create, develop and maintain a business plan using AgPlan
- Develop a marketing plan for selling their crop
- Learn about effective branding for their farm business
- Create and use the Balance Sheets, Income Statements and Cash Flow financial statements to make financial decisions for the farm
- Learn how to file a Schedule F for reporting federal income taxes, and how to file state sales taxes
- Learn about the different business legal entity types and which might be appropriate for their farm
- Learn about available liability insurance programs and what to consider when selecting policies and managing risks on farm
- Learn about local town and state regulations that impact farming, and how to use in property tax abatement programs
- Meet state and federal service providers who will explain about state and federal funding programs to help farmers
- Meet representatives of local farm organizations for networking with other beginning farmers
Course Instructors
- Tyler Archer, Shipman & Goodwin LLP
- Rachel Berg, Four Root Farm
- Richard Brock, Family Business Insurance
- Andrew Desiderio, Farm Credit East
- Murray Gates, Small Business Development Center
- Diane Dorfer, UConn Extension
- Ella Kennen, New CT Farmer Alliance
- Christopher Laughton, Farm Credit East
- Jiff Martin, UConn Extension Solid Ground
- Rebecca Toms, UConn Extension Solid Ground
General Agenda
Session 1:
- Legal Issues for Farms
- Legal Entity Formation
- Local Regulations
- Introduction to AgPlan: Business Plan 1 – Business Description
Session 2:
- Introduction to AgPlan
- Business Description
- Operations and Marketing Plan
Session 3:
- Financial Statements
- Taxes
- Liability Insurance
Session 4:
- AgPlan – Management & Organization
- Financial Plan
- Executive Summary
Session 5:
- Marketing
- Branding
- Unique Opportunities