Northeast Region

"Harvesting a Profit explains how to measure profitability in agriculture. It is targeted for students or farmers beginning a career in production agriculture with minimal exposure to financial analysis, farm management, marketing and economics. Harvesting a Profit emphasizes the positive side of agriculture.

"If you’ve been struggling to make your farm operation profitable without driving yourself into the ground, this financial planning course is for you.

"Whether you intend to borrow money or not, heading into a farm venture without a business plan is like setting sail across the ocean without a map.

"Most of us go into farming with the thought of making some – or all – of our livelihood through the sale of what we make or grow. As you grow your operation to provide more of your family’s income, having a carefully planned marketing strategy becomes more critical.

"Many new farmers get started with poultry, because it’s a relatively low-investment enterprise with a fairly quick turnaround time from investment to revenue. The margins can be slim though, and you need all the skill you can acquire in order to produce a safe product and have a profitable enterprise. This course was designed to help!"

"If you’re exploring the idea of adding berries and bramble fruits to your farm, this course will help you consider all the aspects of this decision, from varieties and site selection all the way through profit potential and marketing."

"This 5-week course will take you from transplanting to harvest, including information on in-season fertility; integrated pest management including pest ID and control; weed control options; harvesting strategies; and tips for marketing your products.

"Organic certification of your farm requires strict adherence to a set of farm management practices determined at the federal level and monitored by a 3rd-party certification agency.

"Many a farm operation has been sunk by “shiny equipment syndrome”; in other words, purchasing too much brand new equipment. On the other end of the scale, many new farmers have burned out their bodies by not adequately powering their farms with machinery.