BF 104: Access to Capital

Funding Your Farm Plans

Do you have good ideas for a farm business you'd like to start, or for expanding or diversifying your existing farm business? Do you have access to all the funding you'll need to bring your ideas to fruition? If not, this course is for you. It can be very difficult to navigate the process of getting grants or loans, especially if you did not come to farming with a background in finance. If you do have a background in finance, that's a great advantage, but there are many opportunities available to food- and farm-related businesses that don't exist in other sectors.

This course will start by emphasizing the importance of a business plan to this process, including cash flow projections. Once we have created a baseline understanding of what work needs to be done before seeking funding, we will have guest speakers talk about funding from a bank’s perspective, from Farm Credit East, from USDA's various grant programs, and from economic development agencies. We will also highlight funding streams that are particular to different groups such as minority- and women-owned businesses or veterans.

Target Audience

All levels - This course is for anyone who is seeking funding for a farm enterprise. Participants will get the most out of the course if they already have familiarity with basic business and financial concepts and terms, but the instructor will also explain these as the course progresses.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, all active participants will have a better understanding of how they can prepare their business for funding, find funding that is out there and available, and then put in an application that has the potential to be approved.

Webinars

The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from presenters and ask questions in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.

Webinar Schedule

In 2024, this course will be offered live for 6-weeks on Mondays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Eastern) from January 15 – February 19. While we encourage live attendance, so you have the opportunity to engage with presenters and ask questions, all webinars are recorded and posted in the online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely, and can return to participate in the live webinars in future offerings of the course if you wish. Join us!