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January 11, 18, 25, February 15, 22, and March 1, 2023


January 11

Week #1:  Introduction, Risk, and Business Mission Statement

Moderator: Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Union County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University

6:00-6:20pm

  • Introduction – Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Union County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University

6:20-6:30pm

  • Welcome from the Dean – Invited: Laura Lawson, Professor, Landscape Architecture, and Dean of Academic Programs, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University

6:30-8:00pm

  • From Dream to Reality Goes Beyond Production: How we manage marketing, financial and human resource risks to survive and thrive through Covid and post-Covid years – Keynote speaker Dr. Wenfei Uva, Co-Owner, Seaberry Farm, Federalsburg, Maryland
  • Watch the Video.

8:00-8:15pm

  • Class Survey

8:15-9:00pm

  • Develop a Mission Statement for Your Farm – Robin G. Brumfield, Professor, Agricultural Economics and Marketing, Farm Management Specialist, NJAES, Rutgers University
  • Watch the Video

 

January 18

Week #2: Personnel and Asset Management

Moderator: Rick VanVranken, Agricultural Extension Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County

6:00-6:15pm

  • Review homework – Mission Statement

6:15-7:15pm

  • State and Federal Hiring Regulations in Agriculture – Ben Casella, Research Associate, New Jersey Farm Bureau
    Watch the video.

7:15-7:55pm

  • Hiring, Managing, and Retaining Seasonal Labor for Fresh Market Produce – Sherry Dudas, Owner/Manager, Honey Brook Organic Farm, Pennington and Chesterfield, NJ

7:55-8:20pm

  • Smart Women Have Rocks in Their Pockets – Staci Dempsey, Agent, Dempsey Weiss & Associates Insurance, Elmer, NJ
    Watch the video.

8:20-8:40pm

  • Developing a Risk Management Plan with Crop Insurance – Grace Wheeler, Northeast Senior Marketing Agent, Crop Growers, LLP/Farm Credit East, ACA, Bridgeton, NJ
    Watch the video.

8:40-9:00pm

  • Developing a Personnel Plan for Your Farm – Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Union County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

 

January 25

Week #3:  Financial Planning

Moderator: Robin G. Brumfield, Professor and Farm Management Extension Specialist, Agricultural Food and Resource Economics, NJAES, Rutgers University

6:00-6:15pm

  • Review homework – Personnel Plan

6:15-6:55pm

  • Can Farmers Ever Afford to Retire? – Barbara O’Neill, Emeritus Distinguished Professor in Financial Resource Management, NJAES Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

6:55-7:10pm

  • Creating a Financial Plan for Your Farm – Robin G. Brumfield, Professor and Farm Management Extension Specialist, Agricultural Food and Resource Economics, NJAES, Rutgers University
  • Watch the Video

7:10-7:25pm

  • Crop/Livestock Budget Schedule F. – Melissa Bravo, Salem County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University

7:25-9:00pm

  • Farm Financing and Managing your Money – Dawn Edmonds, Loan Officer, and Keith Dickinson, Business Consultant, Farm Credit East, Bridgeton, NJ

 

February 7-9

NJ Agriculture Convention and Vegetable Growers Conference

9:00-5:00pm

  • In person – No virtual option. Attendance is optional

 

February 15

Week #4:  Legal Risks and Resources

Moderator: Melissa Bravo, Salem County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University

6:00-6:35pm

  • Review homework – Financial Plan and Crop/Livestock Budget

6:35-7:20pm

  • Food Safety – Meredith Melendez, Mercer County Agricultural Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University
  • Watch the Video

7:20-7:55pm

  • Water Regulations – Salvatore Mangiafico, County Extension Dept. Head and County Agent, Cumberland County, NJAES, Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

7:55-8:45pm

  • Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS): Striving to meet farmers’ needs – Ash Dunlevy, Program Technician (FSA), Susan Hoover, Farm Loan Trainee (FSA), and Morgan Devine, Urban Conservationist (NRCS)
    Watch the video.

8:45-9:00pm

  • Creating a Legal Plan for Your Farm – Melissa Bravo, Salem County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

 

February 22

Week #5: Production

Moderator(s): Melissa Bravo, Salem County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University

Amy Rowe, County Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex and Passaic Counties

6:00-6:15pm

  • Review homework – Legal Plan

6:15-6:50pm

  • Livestock/Poultry Biosecurity Risk – Melissa Bravo, Salem County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

6:50-7:35pm

  • Review of Various Controlled Environment Crop Production Systems – A.J. Both, Professor, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Extension Specialist in Controlled Environment Engineering, NJAES, Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

7:35-8:10pm

  • Storm Water Management and Climate Risk – Amy Rowe, County Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex and Passaic Counties
    Watch the video.

8:10-8:45pm

  • Sustainable Agriculture Rooted in Soil Health – Joseph Heckman, Professor, Plant Biology, Agricultural Extension Specialist, NJAES, Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

8:45-9:00pm

  • Biosecurity Planning for Your Farm – Melissa Bravo, Salem County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University

 

March 1

Week #6:  Marketing in Agriculture

Moderator(s): Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Union County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University

Rick VanVranken, Agricultural Extension Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County

6:00-6:20pm

  • Review homework – Biosecurity Plan

6:20-6:45pm

  • Producing for Your Market – Rick VanVranken, Agricultural Extension Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County
    Watch the video.

6:45-7:15pm

  • Ins and Outs of Agritourism – Claudia Gil Arroyo, Agricultural Extension Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County
    Watch the video.

7:15-7:40pm

  • Creating a Marketing Plan – Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Union County Agriculture Extension Agent, NJAES, Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

7:40-8:05pm

  • Marketing Through On-Farm and Community Farmers’ Markets – Rose Robson, Owner, Robson’s Farm, Wrightstown, NJ
    Watch the video.

8:05-8:25pm

  • Review of the Five Areas of Risk – Robin G. Brumfield, Professor and Farm Management Extension Specialist, Agricultural Food and Resource Economics, NJAES, Rutgers University
    Watch the video.

8:25-9:00pm

  • Graduation Talk – Invited: Brian J. Schilling, PhD, Director, Rutgers Cooperative Extension/Senior Associate Director, NJ Agricultural Experiment Station

 

 

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34693.

 

Funding for scholarships was made available through Farm Credit East