Have you been thinking about starting a farm and feel ready to start the process? Whether you’re an aspiring farmer or a grower looking to refine your business skills, our Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Farm Business Planning short course is designed to help you lay the groundwork for a successful business plan.

About the Course

This 3-week online course provides a flexible and engaging learning experience that fits into a busy schedule. The program is tailored for aspiring and beginner farmers, ranchers, and agricultural entrepreneurs looking to develop a solid farm business plan. Our course lessons assist you with:

• Choosing Farm Enterprises – Identify the best fit for you.
• Defining Your Vision & Goals – Clarify your mission and objectives.
• Business Planning – Provides strong building blocks for your farm business plan.
• Legal & Operational Setup – Navigate registration, permits, and regulations.
• Marketing & Social Media Strategy – Understand the basics of marketing and develop a plan to reach customers.
• Farm Financing & Financial Planning – Explore funding options and budgeting.

Registration

Since 2019, more than 256 participants have taken advantage of our learning materials. This course is popular and capped at 35 participants, so secure your spot today. The registration fee is $90.

To register, visit the IFAS Catalog at https://ifas-ag-entrepreneurship.catalog.instructure.com/courses/ag-entrepreneurship-farm-business-planning-2025 

Alachua County Residents!! – 2025 Alachua County Farmer Grant applicants will have the course fee paid for if:

• You are new to farming and want to develop or improve your business plan.*
• You register for this course by July 31st; as long as the course cap has not already been met.

*If you are an established producer and already have a business plan, you do not have to take the course to apply for the grant.

Why Enroll?

Our course is designed for flexibility and engagement. Over the course of 3 weeks, explore content at your own pace with interactive live sessions every Thursday (8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28) from 11:30 AM to 1 PM, scheduled to fit into your lunch break. Each week includes two lessons with recorded presentations, worksheets, videos, and quizzes. Engage in discussion forums to connect with instructors and fellow participants, exchange insights, and strengthen critical thinking. Upon completion, earn a certificate to show proof of participation on a farm management curriculum program as described by the USDA FSA loan programs.

2025 Program Dates

Online access from August 7 through August 28, 2025 with Live Sessions on Thursdays (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM). Two of the live sessions will be hybrid (dates TBD) and you can join either via zoom or by visiting us at the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County office in Newberry, FL.

Course Platform & Requirements

The course is hosted on Canvas, an easy-to-use e-learning platform. Participants must complete all lessons, quizzes, and discussions to receive their certificate of completion.

For questions or more information

• About the course: Dr. Kevin Athearn (athearn@ufl.edu) or Dr. Tatiana Sanchez-Jones (tatiana.sanchez@ufl.edu)
• About the Alachua County Small Farmer Grant: Sean McLendon (smclendon@alachuacounty.us)

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