Farm Beginnings Nebraska
The Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society (NSAS) will hosts its next Farm Beginnings Nebraska Program at the First National Bank in Syracuse January 4th. As part of a USDA Farmer and Rancher Grant, NSAS is facilitating the Farm Beginnings Nebraska Program. The Farm Beginnings Nebraska Program is an educational training and support program designed to help people who want to evaluate and plan their farm enterprise. Farm Beginnings Nebraska participants engage in a mentor-ship experience and network with a variety of successful, innovative farmers; attend practical, high quality seminars, field days and conferences. The program is unique in that it is farmer led and coordinated. A majority of the presenters include farmers explaining firsthand the ins and outs of their farm and are followed up with tours. A major focus of the program is for those interested in utilizing sustainable and holistic management principles, including organic farming. The Farm Beginnings Nebraska Program consists of a series of 10 sessions from January to April that cover a variety of topics including: holistic management, building networks, goal setting, whole farm planning, building your business plan, financing, marketing, business and farm management and financial management. While the class participants will learn firsthand from the farmers, they will also work on developing their own business plan as they progress through the course. As part of the class tuition, participants will also have the opportunity to attend the Healthy Farms Conference at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney February 14th and 15th. The Healthy Farms Conference has been held annually for over 35 years and is the annual conference of NSAS. Sessions this year will include; hugelkulture, homeopathy for the farm, vegetable production, grass-fed beef, local foods policy council, cover crops, organic farming, bee keeping, young and beginning farm opportunities, farm transitioning, agri-tourism and more. Farm tours are also part of the Farm Beginnings Nebraska program. Both during the course and at the concluding we will visit around 10-15 farms highlighted by a twilight tour and potluck. Tuition for the is $500, but you may qualify for a partial scholarship. Your tuition includes; Farm Beginnings notebooks and handouts Joel Salatin's, Holy Cow and Hog Heaven book Meals at each session, An NSAS membership, Registration to the annual Rural Advantage and Healthy Farms Conference For details and to sign-up email William at [email protected]
2014 Healthy Farms Conference 2014 Farm Beginnings Nebraska Application 2014 Farm Beginnings Nebraska ProgramFarm Beginnings Participants.
- Tap the knowledge of some of the most innovative and skilled farmers operating in the Midwest.
- Develop lifelong friendships and networks with other beginning farmers.
- Learn critical farm management skills such as creative financing and innovative marketing strategies.
- Mentor with a farmer engaged in a similar enterprise.
- See sustainable farming practices being used on real farms under a variety of conditions.
- Learn to view a farm as an interconnected system and learn how goals determine farming practices.
- Craft a tailor-made farming/business plan.
In the News
Group Aims To Raise Young Farmers:The Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society has created a new support group for young farmers to help each other get started. Click here to read the rest
Upcoming
Farmer Support Group
Hosted by the Farm Beginnings Nebraska program: The Farmer Support group will have their monthly coffee talk on March 12th at Darby Springs Farm near Ceresco, Nebraska. Hosted by William & Crystal, the group meets monthly to discuss farming in Nebraska with an emphasis on the sharing of ideas, practices and coffee!. This is event is open to anyone farming or interested in farming or concerned about farming and farmers. Coffee and rolls will be ready by 7:00am. For questions or directions email Crystal at [email protected] or call 402.525.6397. [email protected]
Farm Beginnings Nebraska: a joint project of UNL Extension, NSAS, Center for Rural Affairs & Nebraska RC & D's. This exciting program is modeled after other projects in the Midwest, and combines class time and mentoring for beginning farmers (or not-yet-beginning farmers!) in a format that works towards the practical decisions of what, why, and whether or not in the decision to farm, what to farm and all that entails. Next class will begin Fall 2012. We will be holding two classes, one in Western Nebraska ( Ogallala/Sidney/Scottsbluff/etc) and the other in Eastern Nebraska (Omaha/Lincoln). Contact William at [email protected]
for informationView Farm Beginnings Nebraska Graduates in a larger map
How to Reach Us
William Powers
NSAS Executive Director
414 County Road 15
Ceresco, Nebraska. 68017
402.525.7794; [email protected]