The most recent Farminars are made possible with financial support from the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21843 and a grant from Assets For Independence (AFI). Earlier editions were funded by The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the Ceres Foundation, the Wallace Genetic Foundation, and private individual donations to Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI). Like what you see here? Join PFI!
Vegetable Irrigation Basics for Beginning Farmers
Production
2/26/13
New to irrigation? Get the basics you need to build a system to more efficiently water your vegetable crops in the field this summer.
View Farminar
Speakers: Chris Blanchard (Flying Rutabaga Works)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Selecting the Right Genetics for a Grass‐based System
Production, Business Planning
02/19/13
Three graziers share their path to find animals that work on grass. Hear what traits to select for in your beef cowherd and choose superior genetics for finishing on grass.
View Farminar
Speakers: Bruce Carney, Jacob Myers, Jake Wheeler
Enterprise: Livestock, Grazing
Feed Alternatives to Corn and Soybeans
Production, Business Planning
2/12/13
Feeding livestock and cringing at the high prices of feed corn and soybean meal? Find out how to add alternate grains to your ration to cut costs.
View Farminar
Speakers: Drew Lietz, Cindy McCollough (Bluestem Enterprises)
Enterprise: Livestock
Considerations for Year-Round Employment for Vegetable Farms
Business Planning
2/5/13
Do you plan to grow your farm to offer year-round employment to staff? Learn practical ways to build your farm's capacity to provide work and pay for employees all year.
View Farminar
Speakers: Melissa Dunham (Grinnell Heritage Farm), Pete Johnson (Pete's Greens)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Explore the Profit Potential of High Tunnels
Production, Business Planning, Recordkeeping
1/29/13
Learn how to harvest not just great winter greens, but profits as well from your season-extending structure.
View Farminar
Speakers: Adam Montri
Enterprise: Horticulture
Specialty Crop Insurance: One Farmer's Experience and Vision
Risk Management
1/24/13
Have you considered insuring for your fresh produce farm this summer? Hear a farmer's take on what is available as well as his vision for a more suitable insurance program for fruit and vegetable farms.
View Farminar
Speakers: Richard deWilde
Enterprise: Horticulture
Cover Crop Basics for Corn and Soybeans
Production
1/22/13
Learn from farmers with experience using cover crops in conventional and organic systems.
View Farminar
Speakers: Steve McGrew and Earl Hafner
Enterprise: Rowcrops
Selecting Corn Hybrids and Soybean Varieties
Production, Business Planning, Crop Rotation
1/15/13
Gain a diverse view of the nuts and bolts of genetic selection and decision-making for corn and soybean seeds. Farmers and a seed production expert will cover genetically-modified, non-GMO, open-pollinated and organic seeds.
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Speakers: Eric Franzenburg, Laura Krouse, and Maury Johnson
Enterprise: Rowcrops
Yeomans Plow and Keyline Design
Production
1/8/13
Get to know the Yeomans Plow and Keyline Design and learn how subsoil plowing can improve your farm productivity, water holding capacity, and reduce compaction.
View Farminar
Speakers: Jeremy Peake and Darren Doherty
Enterprise: Livestock, Grazing
Pricing and marketing produce at farm stands and wholesale to grocers
Pricing, Marketing
12/18/12
Learn how to price and better market your produce to increase retail and wholesale revenue.
View Farminar
Speakers: Atina Diffley (Organic Farming Works)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Beginning a crop and livestock farm: Equipment
Production, Business Planning, Equipment Purchases
12/11/12
Are you wondering if you should buy that planter for your crops or the ripper for primary tillage? Hear perspectives from farmers about what equipment a beginner should own to make profits on a beginning farm.
View Farminar
Speakers: Brian Bagge and Jeff Olson (J&G Olson Farms, Inc.)
Enterprise: Rowcrops, Livestock
Poultry enterprise budgets: Know your expenses and keep your profits
Poultry Production, Marketing
12/4/12
Learn how to price your poultry to ensure profits return to your farm.
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Speakers: Patrick Standley, Matt Russell (Coyote Run Farm) and Karla Hanson
Enterprise: Poultry
Drought recovery grazing: Ideas to get through the winter and plan for a resilient farm
Grazing Livestock
11/27/12
Are you keeping livestock through the drought? Hear from an experienced farmer on how to get through the winter and plan for next year. Learn how to build resilient soils with managed grazing and more.
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Speakers: Jay Jung (Big River Meat Company) and Dan Specht (Prairie Quest Inc.)
Enterprise: Livestock, Hay, Grazing
Production in high tunnels: Salad greens, microgreens and more
High Tunnel Production
11/20/12
Hear how to grow higher quality salad greens and microgreens in a season-extending high tunnel.
View Farminar
Speakers: Paul and Alison Wiediger Au Naturel Farm) and Sara Hanson (Prairie Sky Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Profitable direct-to-consumer meat and dairy opportunities
Marketing
11/13/12
Learn more strategies to market your own meats and dairy products directly to families in your community.
View Farminar
Speakers: Terri Lawton (Lawton Family Farm) and Cheryl Hopkins (Frog Hollow Farm)
Enterprise: Livestock
Farmers as employers: legal responsibilities
Labor Regulations
11/6/12
Learn farmers' legal responsibilities for hiring farm employees. Two farmers will share their farm labor employment scenarios and ask questions of a Labor Department director, who will also summarize Iowa farm labor laws.
View Farminar
Speakers: Jan Libbey, Tim Landgraf (One Step at a Time Gardens) and Michael Staebell (US DOL)
Enterprise: Horticulture, Any
Long-Term Fertility Management, Adding Livestock and Longer Crop Rotations to Reduce Costs
Production, Longer Crop Rotations
3/13/12
High costs can quickly eat up all your profits. Learn how livestock management and longer rotations can increase your profitability while nurturing healthy soils, plants and animals on your farm.
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Speakers: Ron Rosmann (Rosmann Family Farms) and Nathan Anderson
Enterprise: Rowcrops, livestock
Determining Whether Your Produce Farm Will Flourish or Wilt
Business Planning
3/6/12
Want to grow healthy food for your local community and make a profit doing so? Learn how to plan for profit by using financial record-keeping to help guide your farm's development of production systems and markets.
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Speakers: Chris Blanchard (Rock Spring Farm) and Grant Schultz (Heirloom Love)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Integrate Small Grains into Large Grain Row Crops and Integrated Livestock Farms
Production, Longer Crop Rotations
2/21/12
Farmers who attend this session will learn how adding alternative crops can reduce input costs and pest pressure while helping them raise more profitable and healthy livestock.
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Speakers: Tom Frantzen (Frantzen Family Farms) and Wade Dooley (Glenview Heritage Farm)
Enterprise: Rowcrops, livestock
Improve your Farmer's Market Sales
Direct Marketing
2/7/12
Coming home from market with only $50 and a vehicle full of product can be discouraging. Participants will learn how to calculate the costs of attending farmer's markets, how to set a farmer's market income goal and strategies to reach that goal and achieve a profit that's worthy of the effort.
View FarminarSpeakers: Dru Montri (Ten Hens Farm) and John Wesselius (The Cornucopia)
Enterprise: Horticulture, Poultry
Profitable Recordkeeping: Simple Strategies for Keeping Better Records
Recordkeeping
1/31/12
Designed with farm profitability in mind, this farminar will focus on how to track expenses and income, and collect data that can help farmers make informed business decisions.
View FarminarSpeakers: Ryan Herman, Joel Winnes
Enterprise: Beef and Dairy Cattle
Insect Pest Management in Organic Vegetable Production
Pest Management
1/24/12
Participants will learn organic-approved strategies to mitigate the damage caused by flea beetles, cucumber beetles, thrips, European corn borer, cabbage root maggot, and aphids.
View FarminarSpeakers: Steve Pincus (Tipi Produce) and Kate Edwards (Wild Woods Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Scale and Profit: A Financial Snapshot of Three CSAs
Scale, Business Planning
1/17/12
This Farminar is targeted to those currently operating or thinking about starting a CSA. It will help CSA farmers determine the proper scale for their CSA based on their skill level, farm size and markets. The presenters will cover profit potential, legal structure, goals, vision and more!
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Speakers: Blue Gate Farm, Grinnell Heritage Farm, and Fair Share Farm
Enterprise: Horticulture, Beef Cattle
Tax Preparation Training for Farmers
Taxes
1/10/12
Farmer Jerry Peckumn and CPA Leo Brooker talk about tax preparation basics and how to properly file farm business taxes. Topics covered will be guided by participant questions but will likely include business deductions, preparing tax documents for farm employees and recordkeeping tips to make tax season less stressful.
View FarminarSpeakers: Jerry Peckumn, and Leo Brooker (Brooker and Associates, CPA)
Enterprise: Rowcrops, livestock
Grow better with High Tunnels
Production
12/27/11
How do I get the best germination rates, design the best crop rotation, and earn the most with this season extending technology? Learn this and more as our guest from Michigan returns for his third annual farminar!
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Download MP3 or listen now:
Speakers:Adam Montri (Ten Hens Farm) and Ann Franzenburg (Pheasant Run Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture, Floriculture
Setting up a system of recordkeeping (and sticking to it)
Recordkeeping
12/20/11
Enterprise budgets help farmers know, in detail, what crops are making money for the farm. Learn how to setup a system of recordkeeping for your farm that will allow you to run these budgets and increase your profit.
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Download MP3 or listen now:
Speakers: Julie Wilber (Wilber's Northside Market) and Linda Halley (Gardens of Eagan)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Inexpensive, effective season extension
Production
12/13/11
Join in to find out how to extend your season without overextending your budget.
View FarminarSpeakers:Ellen Rosmann (Pin Oak Place), and Rob Faux (Genuine Faux Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
The marketing end of grass-fed beef
Direct Marketing: Farmers Markets
11/29/11
For many farmers, raising a good product comes first, but marketing it is equally important to create a viable business. This Farminar will cover techniques to successfully market your products.
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Download MP3 or listen now:
Speakers:Tom and Mary Cory (The Cory's at Prairie Hill Farm), and Dave Schmidt (Rock Valley Livestock Company)
Enterprise: Livestock
Pasture Seed Mixes for Success
Production
11/22/11
Attend this Farminar to learn which species of grasses and legumes to choose for your pastures and what seeding rates will establish a good stand.
View Farminar --
Download MP3 or listen now:
Speakers: Karl Dallefeld (Prairie Creek Seed), and Eric Madsen (Madsen Stock Farm)
Enterprise: Livestock
How to better use Facebook to increase your farm’s sales
Marketing: Social Media
11/15/11
Do you want to begin or better your use of this free online social media tool? Attend to hear how to make Facebook an effective marketing agent for your farm.
View Farminar
Speakers: Lorna Wilson (Seven W Farm) and Thomas Burkhead (Juan O'Sullivan's Gourmet Salsa)
Enterprise: All
Wholesale marketing with distributors, what farmers need to know
Marketing to Distributors
11/8/11
From food safety, to packaging, order, and delivery details, this farminar will discuss what it takes to successfully sell produce commercially to a wholesale market.
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Download MP3 or listen now:
Speakers: Mike Gooder (Stone Creek Farms), and Phil Danowsky (Local Harvest Supply)
Enterprise: All
Financing options for beginning farmers
Financing
11/1/11
From bank loans, to USDA beginning farmer loans, to small business development loans, this farminar will overview the multitude of financing available for beginners.
View Farminar --
Download MP3 or listen now:
Speakers :Jason Jones and Erin Drinnin (Wilted Leaf Farm), and Andy Hunziker (Farm Service Agency)
Enterprise: All
Putting a Face on your Farm
Branding
7/12/11
This Summer Farminar on creating a brand for your farm features experienced marketing consultant and a beginning farmer. Create WOW Marketing president Andrew B. Clark, (self proclaimed "The Brand Chef"), is renowned for his more than 15 years of expertise in the branding and marketing communications arena.
View FarminarSpeakers:Andrew Clark (The Brand Chef)
Enterprise: All
Keeping Good Records on a Vegetable Farm
Recordkeeping
4/5/11
Managing records for a diverse vegetable operation can be tedious, but good records equal better production and profit potential.
View FarminarSpeakers: Linda Halley (Gardens of Eagan)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Brokering Tips
Direct Marketing: Buying Clubs
3/29/11
Brokering other farmers’ products has great potential for expanding the profitability of your direct sales while helping other farmers expand their sales. Get some great advice from Nick Wallace on maintaining fairness, transparency and accountability when brokering products for other farmers.
View FarminarSpeakers: Nick Wallace (Wallace Farms), and Ryan Marquardt (Wild Rose Pastures)
Enterprise: Livestock
Profitable Grass-based Livestock Systems
Production, Marketing, Business Planning
3/22/11
Thirty-seven year veteran rancher and author Cody Holmes will teach Torray and Erin Wilson how to plan for a profitable grazing system, how to work smarter with animals, how to track sales and costs, and how to maintain profit with grass–based livestock.
View FarminarSpeakers: Cody Holmes (), and Erin and Torray Wilson (Seven W Farm)
Enterprise: Livestock
Building Wholesale Relationships
Marketing to Specialty Grocery Stores
3/8/11
Farmers, do you want to sell to wholesale outlets like groceries and restaurants? Grocers and chefs, are you interested in offering more local fare? Hear from both sides of the transaction to learn how to build strong wholesale relationships that are beneficial to both parties.
View FarminarSpeakers: Derek Roller (Echollective Farm), and Michael Krogh (New Pioneer Co-op)
Enterprise: Horticulture
CSA Members as Partners
Direct Marketing: CSA
3/8/11
Community supported agriculture (CSA) fosters a relationship between farmers and their customers in which customers have a keen interest in their food system. By taking a partnership role, your member customers can help you increase productivity and profits. Hear from Elizabeth Henderson how to better integrate members into your CSA through core groups, work hours, distribution and farm events.
View FarminarSpeakers: Elizabeth Henderson (Peacework Organic Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Managing Farm Labor
Labor Management
3/1/11
Experienced farmer Eric Franzenburg Pheasant Run Farm produces corn, soybeans, swine, meat poultry, flowers and high value herbs, near Van Horne, IA. This diverse farm requires the helping hands of many skilled laborers to succeed. Eric will be coaching beginner Morgan Hoenig, Mogo Organics, who began a CSA in 2009.
View FarminarSpeakers: Eric Franzenburg (Pheasant Run Farm), and Morgan Hoenig (Mogo Organics)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Organic Cucurbit Production
Production
2/22/11
Glenn Drowns with his wife Linda manage Sand Hill Preservation Center near Calamus, Iowa. They save farm genetic diversity with heirloom seeds, and poultry breeds. Glenn has been perfecting his techniques growing cucurbits organically for decades and is eager to share his knowledge. Ben Saunders has worked at Turtle Farm CSA near Granger, IA, for several years and is working to transition the farm to the next generation. With a university degree in Horticulture, Ben loves working with nature and educating on the farm.
View Farminar
Speakers: Glenn Drowns (Sandhill Preservation Center), and Ben Saunders (Turtle Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Farm Fresh Eggs, Handlers Licenses and Profitability
Production, Business Planning
2/8/11
Tai Johnson-Spratt’s Foxhollow Poultry Farm sells pasture-ranged meat birds and eggs of specialty poultry breeds, including guinea fowl, duck, quail, chicken and turkey, to central Iowa customers. Theresa Gould is co-owner with her husband Robert of Cornucopia Family Farms, which is a new vegetable CSA located in the suburbs of Chicago. She and her family of 10 dream of having a bit of everything on their farm from veggies and eggs to a variety of animals.
View FarminarSpeakers: Tai Johnson-Spratt (Foxhollow Poultry Farm), and Theresa Gould (Cornucopia Family Farms)
Enterprise: Poultry
Tomatoes Inside and Out
Production
1/25/11
Adam Montri, Outreach Specialist for Michigan State University, and operator of Ten Hens Farm, a year-round farm near Bath, MI, will share how to grow crops well in high tunnels, manage for pests, fertility and rotations. Sara Hanson a beginning farmer is putting the finishing touches on a hoophouse of her own in northern Iowa.
View FarminarSpeakers: Andrew Knafel and Matthew Patterson (Clear Brook Farm), and Jennie Smith (Butcher Creek)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Growing in High Tunnels
Production
1/11/11
Adam Montri, Outreach Specialist for Michigan State University, and operator of Ten Hens Farm, a year-round farm near Bath, MI, will share how to grow crops well in high tunnels, manage for pests, fertility and rotations. Sara Hanson a beginning farmer is putting the finishing touches on a hoophouse of her own in northern Iowa.
View FarminarSpeakers: Adam Montri (Ten Hens Farm) and Sara Hanson (Prairie Sky Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Value-Added Legal Considerations
Legal/Regulations
12/28/10
Sean Sullivan manages Juan O’Sullivan’s Gourmet Salsa Co. and adds value to fresh produce by converting it to salsa for supermarket shelves. Beth Kemp is a beginning farmer who sells at the Ames farmers market as Jumping Bean Farm. Her products include fresh produce, breads, and she is planning on adding more value-added products like jams and jellies.
View FarminarSpeakers: Sean O'Sullivan (Juan O'Sullivan's Gourmet Salsa), and Beth Wilbur (Jumping Bean Farm)
Enterprise: Value-Added, Horticulture
Financing Niche Pork
Financing, Business Planning, Production
12/14/10
Jason Penner is a PFI member and beginning farmer with six years of experience producing niche pork in Minnesota. Jason will share his experiences, what worked for him and what he would have done differently, with beginners Devan Green and James Frantzen.
View FarminarSpeakers: Jason Penner (Niman Ranch), Devan Green, and James Frantzen (Organic Prairie)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
Setting Marketing Goals
Marketing, Business Planning
11/30/10
Grass Run Farms is a small business started by PFI members Kristine and Ryan Jepsen. Their business has developed an increasingly specific mode of operation in the way they present themselves, brand the company, approach potential customers, and nurture relationships with existing customers. Says Kristine: In the meat business, the goal is to have a "home" (one or more customers) for all parts of the carcass you're selling; this determines where we focus our marketing energy.
View FarminarSpeakers: Caitlin Grieshop, and Ryan and Kristine Jepsen (Grass Run Farms)
Enterprise: Livestock
Growing Greens Better
Production, Business Planning
11/16/10
Larry Cleverley (Cleverley Farms) has been a horticulture farmer leader for more than a decade and has had success growing high quality greens. Joining Larry will be beginner Northeast Iowa horticulture farmer Glen Elsbernd (G it’s Fresh).
View FarminarSpeakers: Glen Elsbernd (G its Fresh), and Larry Cleverley (Cleverley Farms)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Cover Crops and Natural Manures
Production
11/2/10
Building and maintaining soil health is essential to all farmers. Watch the first “Fishbowl” farminar of the season with eastern Iowa farmer Mark Quee (Scattergood Friends School Farm) and cover crop beginner Sally Gran (Wild Greens Farm). Learn how to manage cover crops, rotation recordkeeping, compost and manure applications.
View FarminarSpeakers: Sally Hertz Gran (Wild Greens Farm), and Mark Quee (Scattergood Friends School Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Vegetable Storage in Existing Facilities
Production, Business Planning
10/19/10
Fruit and vegetable farmers are growing their operations, but don’t always have the financing to build new structures for all their needs. Join Denise O’Brien (Rolling Acres, Atlantic) and Melissa and Andrew Dunham (Grinnell Heritage Farm, Grinnell) to hear how they are storing their crops in existing facilities on the farm.
View FarminarSpeakers:Andrew and Melissa Dunham (Grinnell Heritage Farm), Denise O'Brien (Audubon County Family Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Stewardship
6/1/10
Get the lowdown on the new CSP from NRCS specialist Tom O'Conner and Plainfield, IA farmer Scott Weinburg. Includes questions and answers to help get your farm paid to do the right thing for the conservation of your land.
View FarminarSpeakers:Scott Weinberg, and Thomas O'Conner (Natural Resource Conservation Service)
Enterprise: Rowcrops, livestock
Beginner Fishbowl - Grass-Fed Beef
Production, Business Planning
3/23/10
Grass-based livestock expert Doug Gunnink, Gunnink Forage Institute, and beginning farmers Dave Schmidt and Ethan Book talk about grass-fed beef production, setting up a system for the beginning grazier. Topics include what forage mixes, what breeds, pasture management, and tips on grass-finishing.
View FarminarSpeakers: Doug Gunnink, Ethan Book (Crooked Gap Farm), and Dave Schmidt
Enterprise: Livestock
Beginner Fishbowl - Vegetable Marketing
Marketing: CSA
3/16/10
Farmer Susan Jutz, ZJ Farms, has produced vegetables on her farm near Solon, IA for years supplying a large weekly delivered share-based CSA market. Learn from her all the marketing techniques that she finds to be worthwhile. Beginning Farmer Chris Corbin will lead questions and share his input.
View FarminarSpeakers: Susan Jutz (ZJ Farms), and Chris Corbin (Onion Creek Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Beginner Fishbowl - Vegetable Production
Production, Business Planning
3/9/10
Farmer Gary Guthrie, Growing Harmony Farm, the "Carrot King" of Iowa, has 12 years of experience producing vegetables on about 2 acres of intensively managed land in a five-year rotation near Nevada, IA. Come with your small-scale "high intensity" questions and learn the system of roto-tiller/hand tool vegetable production.
View FarminarSpeakers: Gary Guthrie (Growing Harmony Farm), and Jeni Zieser (Legacy Gardens)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Beginner Fishbowl - Pastured Poultry
Production
3/2/10
Farmer Tim Daley produces and markets poultry on pasture. He will share his extensive knowledge on this topic with beginning farmers Brian and Cheryl Ness. Join in with all your questions will be answered - ensuring you will not fowl-up your beginning operation.
View FarminarSpeakers: Tim Daley (Shamrock Acres) and Brian and Cheryl Ness (Thousand Generations Farm)
Enterprise: Poultry
Opportunities in Agroforestry
Production, Business Planning
2/16/10
Tom Wahl will overview the potential for various high value tree crops suitable for Iowa’s climate, including cultural practices, production, prices, markets, pests and diseases. Tree fruits to discuss include chestnut, persimmon, heartnut, paw paw, and more. Tom and his wife Kathy have grown high value tree crops since 1986 and also operate a small tree nursery which provides high quality varieties.
View FarminarSpeakers: Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice (Red Fern Farm)
Enterprise: Tree Crops
Grow Vegetables Year-Round
Production
2/9/10
Ramp up Vegetable Production
Production
2/2/10
Martin Stosiek and his wife Christa have farmed near Hillsdale, NY since 1988. Martin will provide a virtual tour of his Markristo Farm while discussing areas he has ramped up production, and how he made decisions to scale up in these areas. Martin will also discuss to which markets he sells his products and why.
View FarminarSpeakers: Martin Stosiek (Markristo Farm)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Whole Farm Soil Planning
Production, Business Planning
1/26/10
Learn how to use the online Web Soil Survey to access valuable soils information for your Farm. Learn the best place to put perennials, annuals, and building structures.
View FarminarSpeakers: Amber Anderson-Mba
Enterprise: All
Financing Your Enterprise
Business Planning
12/22/09
How do you put together a financing plan for your new business? This webinar will describe some scenarios to consider and describe a basic strategy for assembling monetary assets for your new or expanding farm business. Utilizing resources available that might include loans or grants from government or private sources.
View FarminarSpeakers: Dave Baker, (ISU Extension Beginning Farmer Center)
Enterprise: All
Product, Placement, Pricing, Promotion, People
Marketing
12/15/09
Rick and Stacy Hartmann own and operate a small direct-market horticultural farm. Rick will take a version of the much used marketing formula, 'the five p's' - product, placement, promotion, product and people - and apply it to their operation.
View FarminarSpeakers: Rick Hartmann, (Small Potatoes Farm)
Enterprise: All
Enterprise Budgets - Pricing for Profit
Pricing, Production, Marketing
12/8/09
Pricing products that do not have an established market can be difficult. For example, let's assume you are producing tomatoes and notice the local grocery store is selling California tomatoes for $1.50 per lb. In addition, you have asked potential buyers and they say they are willing to pay 10-20% above grocery store prices. From this information you sell your tomatoes for $1.80 per pound. Were you profitable? The key to long-term success is the ability to sell products at a profit. To do this you need to know your costs.
View FarminarSpeakers: Craig Chase (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Horticulture
Fitting in the New Enterprises
Business Planning
12/1/09
Wade Dooley, a young farmer from central Iowa, discusses his family farm story and the challenges and opportunities of "adding an enterprise" to an exisiting operation. Features 39 full-color photos of his farm life. Dave Baker from the Beginning Farmer Center also available with pointers and suggestions for ensuring a smooth enterprise addition.
View FarminarSpeakers:Wade Dooley (Glenview Heritage Farm)
Enterprise: Rowcrops, livestock, horticulture
Which Enterprise? Market ID
Marketing
11/24/09
One starting point with selecting an enterprise is to look to the marketplace to identify unmet opportunities. This session will start with an overview of a business plan outline, with particular emphasis on the marketing plan section.
View Farminar
Speakers:Gary Huber, (Practical Farmers of Iowa)
Enterprise: All
Estate Planning
Estate Plans
11/17/09
Led by John Baker from the Beginning Farmer Center.
View FarminarSpeakers: John Baker, (ISU Extension Beginning Farmer Center)
Enterprise: All
Legal Issues in Succession
Succession
11/10/09
Planning the succession of a farm business and starting a farm business have a great deal in common. In both instances legal issues such as the selection of business entity, buy sell agreements, options, leases and other types of contract can and will have either a positive or negative impact on success. A basic knowledge of the legal "tools" can help those involved in either a succession or in starting a new business can help them to avoid costly mistakes. Led by John Baker from the Beginning Farmer Center.
View FarminarSpeakers: John Baker, (ISU Extension Beginning Farmer Center)
Enterprise: All
Whole Farm Planning
Business Planning
11/3/09
Tips on how to manage the whole farm with the Critical Path Method. Led by Dave Baker from the Beginning Farmer Center.
View FarminarSpeakers: Dave Baker, (ISU Extension Beginning Farmer Center)
Enterprise: All
Ron Mardeson farm tour
Production
3/10/09
Virtual tour of a niche pork farm led by the farmers and Iowa State University extension specialist Dave Stender
View FarminarSpeakers: Ron Mardeson, and Dave Stender (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
Tom Frantzen farm tour
Production
3/3/09
Virtual tour of a niche pork farm led by the farmers and Iowa State University extension specialist Dave Stender
View FarminarSpeakers: Tom Frantzen (Frantzen Family Farms) and Dave Stender (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
John Kenyon farm tour
Production
2/27/09
Virtual tour of a niche pork farm led by the farmers and Iowa State University extension specialist Dave Stender
View FarminarSpeakers: John Kenyon, and Dave Stender (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
Tim Roseland farm tour
Production
2/17/09
Virtual tour of a niche pork farm led by the farmers and Iowa State University extension specialist Dave Stender
View Farminar
Speakers: Tim Roseland, and Dave Stender (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
Dan Wilson farm tour
Production
2/10/09
Virtual tour of a niche pork farm led by the farmers and Iowa State University extension specialist Dave Stender
View FarminarSpeakers: Dan and Lorna Wilson, and Dave Stender (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
Steve Howe farm tour
Production
2/3/09
Virtual tour of a niche pork farm led by the farmers and Iowa State University extension specialist Dave Stender
View FarminarSpeakers:Steve Howe, and Dave Stender (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
Lyle Rossiter farm tour
Production
1/27/09
Virtual tour of a niche pork farm led by the farmers and Iowa State University extension specialist Dave Stender
View FarminarSpeakers: Lyle Rossiter, and Dave Stender (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
Martin Kramer farm tour
Production
1/20/09
Virtual tour of a niche pork farm led by the farmers and Iowa State University extension specialist Dave Stender
View FarminarSpeakers: Martin Kramer, and Dave Stender (ISU Extension)
Enterprise: Niche Pork
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