Farm Management School

Producers new to farming or those who operate small farms and ranches can learn how to create a business plan and develop a balance sheet from farm management experts with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.

The 2016 Farm Management School, a five-session workshop series, will focus on the financial education that goes along with operating a successful farming operation, said Sam Custer, an OSU Extension educator who is organizing the program.

Although the farm management school targets those who are new to agricultural fields, any farmer, producer or agriculture-related industry person is welcome to attend. The goal of the program is to help young and beginning farmers learn how to become financially savvy and how to make their agricultural operations successful.

“We’ll work with producers to help them with their balance sheets and enterprise financial planning to help them determine which parts of their enterprise is profitable to expand in their business plan and which isn’t profitable,” Custer said. “Based on that, they can decide if the enterprise is something they want to continue to do or if they’d need to reduce or end the enterprise that isn’t profitable.”

The farm management school runs January 7, 14, 21, 28 and February 4 for two hours each night. The workshop will be held at Andersons Marathon Ethanol, 5728 Sebring Warner Road in Greenville, Ohio.

Topics will include:

• Jan 7
  • What Is the Mission of Your Farming Operation?
  • Making Record Keeping Do More Than the Tax Return
• Jan 14
  • Developing Your Balance Sheet
  • Basics of Finance
• Jan 21
  • Developing Your Business Plan
• Jan 28
  • Farm Transition Planning
• Feb 4
  • Ag Law 101

The farm management school is sponsored by Farm Credit Mid-America. Registration for the workshop series is $50 and includes the program, handouts and refreshments. Contact Custer at 937-548-5215 for more information or a registration form. The deadline to register is Dec. 21. Payment can be sent to OSU Extension – Darke County, 603 Wagner Ave, Greenville, Ohio 45331.