Feb 5, 2016

MSU Farmer Field School to host financial fitness workshop

The Michigan State University (MSU) Farmer Field School will host a two-day workshop on Farm Financial Fitness: Business Planning and Managing for Profit on Feb. 20 and March 12. The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the MSU Student Organic Farm. Attendance is required for both days.

The Farmer Field School is part of a collaboration between the MSU Student Organic Farm, the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and Michigan Food and Farming Systems.

Operations management, production planning, labor, asset analysis, business structures, taxes, and marketing will be covered as they relate to development of a sound and profitable business, including looking at the future and planning for your retirement or exit strategy.

The workshop will emphasize financial management tools for understanding, calculating and utilizing key financial metrics (cash flow, balance sheet, partial budget analysis, enterprise budgets, return on investment, etc.) and will look at computer and web tools for financial management and record keeping that allow you to get a clearer picture of what is working and what needs changing to improve your bottom line.

Presenters include:

• Tomm Becker– Sunseed Farm
• Fred Monroe– Monroe Organics
• Jeremy Moghtader – farm manager, MSU Student Organic Farm; director, MSU Organic Farmer Training Program
• D. Jordon, retired farm loan manager (20 years experience) and former farmer

Presenters will cover business planning including values and visioning for your farm business, your goals, objectives and sound strategies for getting there.

For workshop details and registration, visit the Farmer Field School website.