Grow Your Farm to be held at Jackson, MO

A Grow Your Farm course comprised of 8 sessions with 2 farm tours will begin February 21st, 2013 through April 11, 2013 to be held at the Cape Girardeau County Extension Center, 684 W. Jackson Trail Rd. Jackson, Missouri.

Grow Your Farm is an educational training and support program designed to help people who want to evaluate and plan their farm enterprise. Participants will attend a set of practical seminars and field days to learn and network. Instructors and farmers teach the sessions.

 Build networks

 Create a mission

 Set goals

 Plan for profit

 Explore new agricultural alternatives

 Study practical legal issues

 Tour farms

 Obtain new resources

 Gain technical advice

 Learn sustainable practices

Schedule:

Session 1: Identifying Values & Creating Goals, Thursday, February 21, 6:00 pm

Session 2: Walking the Farm, Thursday, February 28, 6:00 pm

Session 3: Assessing Opportunities, Thursday, March 7, 6:00 pm

Session 4: Planning Your Farm, Thursday, March 14, 6:00 pm

Tour: Walking the Farm Tour, Saturday, March 16, 10:00 am

Session 5: Keeping Track of Finances, Thursday, March 21, 6:00 pm

Session 6: Marketing Your Farm Products Thursday, March 28, 6:00 pm

Tour: Farm Tours, Saturday, March 30, 10:00 am

Session 7: Understanding Legal Issues Thursday, April 4, 6:00 pm

Session 8: Presenting Your Farm Plan, Thursday, April 11, 6:00 pm

Grow Your Farm Participants will have an opportunity to:

 Tap into the knowledge of skilled, innovative farmers.

 Network with other farmers and make friends.

 Learn critical farm management skills such as creative financing and innovative marketing strategies.

 See local farming practices being used on real farms under a variety of conditions.

 Learn to view a farm as an interconnected system and learn how goals determine farming practices.

 Craft a tailor-made farming and business plan.

 Meet farmers who have diversified their products.

Program Specifics

Who: Prospective farmers, beginners with limited experience and experienced farmers who want to make a "new beginning" with alternative methods.

Fee: $225 per farm business. Scholarships of $175 available so cost is $50. Fee includes seminar materials, speakers, refreshments, and a subscription to "Ag Opportunities" — a monthly e-newsletter from the Missouri Alternatives Center. Registration Deadline: February15th, 2013

Make check payable to: Ste. Genevieve County Extension and return with registration form to: University of Missouri Extension, 255 Market St., Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670.