Cornell Cooperative Extension works with a wide array of farmers to help them operate profitable businesses. Some of the topics that are addressed in workshops or one-on-one meetings include:
- Cash flow analysis
- Retirement planning
- Tax management
- Start-up and diversification planning
- Loan procurement
- Farm Start-up programs for new farmers wanting to start a farm operation in the region or established farmers who want to diversity operations. Focuses on business planning and regional resources that can help new farmers succeed.
We are ready to help farmers operate successful business endeavors, and also keep abreast of changes in local, state and federal regulations as they relate to agricultural businesses.
To Market, To Market Series
CCE Educators Mariane Kiraly, David Cox, Nichole Tommell and Jim Barber have partnered up to offer this exciting six-week class which will help you develop a product or service from start to finish! Participants will learn how to develop and screen an idea, analyze current trends, develop a budget, consider cash flow, determine pricing, manage marketing and distribution, access funding, test a prototype, consider legalities, manage risk, navigate regulations, and much more. A logical, process-oriented curriculum will lead to dynamic business plans that create new economic opportunities in the region. Program was offered virtually and in person at CCE offices in Hamden, Cooperstown, Cobleskill, Binghamton and Norwich. To Market, To Market is supported by the Chobani Community Impact Fund at the Community Foundation for South Central New York. Presentations were recorded and are available for participant viewing at the links below:
Day 1
- Part 1/6: Introduction of Speakers & Program Overview
- Part 2/6: Analyzing trends, markets, competition, honing your idea
- Part 3/6: Business Plans
- Part 4/6: Generating Ideas and utilizing resources
- Part 5/6: Case Studies
- Part 6/6: Risk Management and Homework Assignments
Day 2
- Part 1/8: Idea Sharing Round Robin
- Part 2/8: Regulations and Liability
- Part 3/8: Safety Planning during Covid-19
- Part 4/8: Cornell Food Venture Center Presentation
- Part 5/8: Ag & Markets Regulations
- Part 6/8: Produce Safety Alliance
- Part 7/8: Food Safety Overview, Inspection Services, USDA 20c and 5A licensing, Farm Brewery, Distillery Licensing,
- Part 8/8:Production Risk and Crop Insurance
Day 3
Manage Your Risk in An Agritourism Business – Web Series
Bringing visitors to your farm can create new income streams as trends indicate that nature and agricultural tourism is on the rise the Catskills region. Agritourism can also be a source of risk to the farm business. This is a 5-part seminar that will teach how to manage risk followed by a panel of successful agritourism operators. In-between each seminar, participants were expected to build their knowledge and develop their own risk management plan. The five areas of risk that were covered included: legal, marketing, human resource, financial and weather/production risks. This 5-county program was offered simultaneously in Delaware (the host county), Otsego/Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster via Zoom technology. The program was sponsored by the Northeast Extension Risk Management Education agency and the five Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations. Recordings of each session are available below:
For more information, contact Mariane Kiraly Farm Business Management Educator mk129@cornell.edu (607) 865-6531