Students will learn the steps to set up their business and manage risk on their farm. *Information includes getting a Farm Number, business license, insurance considerations, business structures, and estate planning.
Students will have a fairly robust farm business plan outlined, which will be very useful when applying for loan or other support programs. *ASD will provide a variety of opportunities: state and federal grants, cost-share, and loan programs available to farmers with a special focus on the Farm Service Agency’s micro-loan program for beginning farmers.
Join Jenni Roop, ASD's Agriculture Education Communications Manager for a Q&A on the Farmer and Rancher Mentoring program. What you will learn: How to register for MyASDWhat can you do on MyASDHow to establish a FARM Mentor/Intern relationshipWhat is expected of mentors and internsHow to complete a season of the FARM program
Join Appalachian Sustainable Development on April 13th at the Appalachian Harvest Food and Herb Hub to learn all about ASD, AH, and the agriculture programs and projects we offer. There will be 2 times available for groups to participate in a presentation, facility tour, and Q&A with ASD staff. Group 1 10:15am - 11:00am (45 […]
Join us at Creative Seeds Farm for a session on Specialty Produce and Irrigation. With local food in high demand, this course will help you determine what type of crops will help you stand out in a crowded market place. We will also cover how using niche produce can really help drive farm sales and […]
Join us at TNT Farm N Greenhouse for a class of Season Extension. Season extension provides early and late harvests, winter harvests, and longer harvest windows. These techniques also offer pest and disease control. These opportunities translate into more income. TNT began in 2012 as a greenhouse and vegetable farm selling retail at three farmers […]
Join us at Appalachian Harvest for a class on Aggregation and Distribution services and more. Season extension provides early and late harvests, winter harvests, and longer harvest windows. These techniques also offer pest and disease control. These opportunities translate into more income. Founded in 2000, Appalachian Harvest is Appalachian Sustainable Development’s rural food and herb […]
Integrating operations is key to incremental success in farming. Farms aren't about single product lines, but about how you can design your operations to support each other and build your assets (and soils) for the long haul. Shift away from extractive farming methods and focus on long term success. I will discuss our experience (both […]
Darrell Wess and family started Valor Valley Farm in 2017 as a cow/calf operation. They have specialties in good land stewardship, quality cattle, and environmental conservation and sell at livestock markets and to other producers. Join us at the farm for a class on rotational grazing and cattle work to gain knowledge on production methods […]
Debbie Mott grew up on a ranch in Arizona. Her and her husband had a horse ranch in Coeur d’Alene Idaho and now have a farm in Southwest Virginia.” At The Old Virginia Farm & FunGirl Farms, they are growing hay and mushroom as well as raising bees, horses & German Shepherds. During this class, […]
Join us at Appalachian Cove Forest Farm & Homestead to learn about Forest Farming with Ryan Huish. Appalachian Cove farmers have been gardening/farming for several decades at various places. At their current location, they steward a forest farm (growing edible, medicinal, and handicraft plants), practice permaculture, no-till, animal rotation, and alley cropping. They also raise […]
Visit Tumbling Creek Cider Company’s expanding orchards to learn about cider apple varieties, propagation, planting, maintenance and how to re-establish the apple industry in our region. We’ll tour the Old Orchard where we are rejuvenating 50 year-old trees and have planted many 3 year-old trees, the New Orchard as a high-density trellised system and the […]