Farm Biz: A business planning course for farmers
“Farm Biz provided me with a tool belt with which I am able to focus and plan my farm more effectively to make money.”
In this 6-week business planning course, you’ll learn each component of accurately planning and projecting the financial side of a farming season. Work to predict yields, set prices, project sales, tally-up expenses, discovering the numbers needed to understand the health of your farm. Find out all that is required to start a farm and learn directly from guest farmers. This class is designed for people with a strong business idea or up to 5 years running a farm or ranch. Note: this class is geared towards folks in the Nevada County region but is applicable to beginning farmers anywhere!
All classes 3-5:30PM – Taught by Zoom.
Class 1: Making a Living From your Farm – Thurs. Feb. 2 (Guest speaker – Kristin Draz, Fog Dog Farm)
Class 2: Estimating Costs & Setting Prices – Thur. Feb. 9th (Guest speaker – Jeremy Mineau, Super Tuber Farm)
Class 3: Projecting Yields & Sales – Thurs. Feb. 16th (Guest speaker – David Benson, BriarPatch Food Co-op)
Class 4: Build a Cash Flow Calendar & Budget – Thurs. Feb. 23rd (Guest speaker – Deena Miller, Sweet Roots Farm)
Class 5: Analyzing your Farm and Farm Products – Thurs. March 2nd (Guest speaker – Aleta Barrett, Starbright Acres Family Farm)
Class 6: Farmer Professionalism & Cultivating Customers (Guest Speaker Sean Dockery, Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co.) – Thurs. March 9th
Email Miriam Limov at miriam@sierraharvest.org with questions.
Limited scholarships available. Apply here.
Want to Certify Organic? Take our 4-part certification course!
Want to access new markets and better prices for your products? Certify your farm or ranch Organic! Join us for a 4-part course taught by Organic certification experts and learn how to become a certified Organic farm or ranch. Next course will be offered in Spring 2023.
Details and registration information here.
Which class is right for me?
Learn more about classes offered by Sierra Harvest and our partners at UC Cooperative Extension
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers (years 0-3):
UCCE: So You Want to Start A Farm
Sierra Harvest: Farm Biz, Sustainable Food & Farm Conference, Ag Skills
Middle Beginners (years 3-5):
UCCE: Beginning Farming Academy
Sierra Harvest: Farm Biz, Organic Certification Intensive, Sustainable Food & Farm Conference, Ag Skills
Advanced Beginners (5+ years):
UCCE: Farm Business Planning, Crop Profitability Workshops
Sierra Harvest: Ag Skills, Organic Certification Intensive, Sustainable Food & Farm Conference
UCCE does not offer all classes all years. Contact them to learn more.
We want to purchase Produce from your Farm for the 2023-2024 Harvest of the Month Program!
Sierra Harvest is seeking organic farmers to supply 9,000 tastes of a produce item (fruit or vegetable) for western Nevada County students and several community organization members to taste. Sierra Harvest will pay wholesale pricing.
Read all the details here and apply today!
