Learn. Grow. Do.

Events and Resources

Listed below are a number of events and resources that would be of general interest to people in the Farm Business Management program.  The events come from a variety of resources. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

FBM 70th Anniversary (September 11, 2023, St. Cloud, MN)

To recognize 70 years of FBM in Minnesota, a celebration event is being planned for Monday, September 11 in St. Cloud. If interested in attending, please contact Minnesota FBM at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 218-894-5141.  You can also visit https://www.agcentric.org/fbm-70th-anniversary/.    pdfFBM 70th Anniversary - News Release.pdf323.35 KB

PAST EVENTS:

Listening Session with Senator Putnam and Representative Pursell (March 18, 2023, 2PM - 3:30PM)

Please join MN Senate Ag Chair, Aric Putnam, House Ag Vice Chair Kristi Pursell, and Commissioner Thom Petersen for a listening session on Saturday, March 18 from 2-3:30 p.m. at South Central College, Faribault Campus, 1225 3rd St SW, Faribault, MN 55021. Thank you to Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence for hosting. The goal of the event will be for Chair Putnam and Vice Chair Pursell to hear directly from farmers about how their work at the legislature can help expand markets, promote rural economic development, create opportunities for new farmers, and otherwise support Minnesota agriculture.  pdfListening Session Postcard.pdf1.19 MB

Please come with ideas, concerns, problems you’re facing on your farm, or opportunities you think the state could help you leverage. And invite your friends—all are welcome! 

Please RSVP using this link (http://bit.ly/AgListening) and contact Gail Donkers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (507) 202-2042 with questions. We’re looking forward to the conversation.

FBM 70th Anniversary (September 11, 2023, St. Cloud, MN)

Multi-Generational Farm Transition Retreat (February 24, 2023 from 5PM to 8:30PM AND February 25, 2023 from 8:30AM - 4:30PM in Mankato OR March 10, 2023 from 5PM to 8:30PM AND March 11, 2023 from 8:30AM - 4:30PM in St. Cloud)

Join us for hands-on planning and discussion on farm transition for the whole farm family.  All generations actively involved in the farm should attend the retreat together, including spouses, partners and/or other relevant parties.  Pick the location most convenient for you (Mankato or St. Cloud).  Attend to dive deeper into conversations about: family and business goals, job responsibilities, financial needs of farms and families, inheritance considerations, and mechanisms of transfer.  Registration for this no-cost event will be available later this year at http://z.umn.edu/farmtransition23. pdfFarm Transition 2023 Retreats - 3 locations.pdf552.24 KB

Roller Coaster Economics and the Management Mindset by Dr. Kohls (December 19, 2022, 12PM)

The economic environment is surrounded by uncertainty which creates risk but also rewards and opportunities for those with the management mindset. Join Dr. Kohl for another engaging webcast during which he will discuss variables that will impact your bottom line and balance sheet, as well as short and long-run decision making.  Please contact your FBM instructor for more details on this event.  pdfDr. Kohls Webinar Flyer1.47 MB

Weather Risk in Production Agriculture Webcast by Eric Snodgrass (November 21, 2022, 12PM)

In this talk, we will discuss how weather patterns (i.e., El Nino/La Nina, Polar Vortex, MJO, etc) influence the a growing season. We will talk about weather factors in other major production regions like Brazil and look at long term trends impacting total productivity around the world. We will learn about advancements tech that are leading to increased predictive skill but we will highlight the known limits of predictability and how to interpret long-range forecasts. We will finish with a forecast for the remainder of 2022 and talk about the upcoming growing season in South America.  Please contact your FBM instructor for more details on this event.  pdfMr. Snodgrass Webinar Flyer1.53 MB

Dairy Business Innovation Alliance

The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) is offering free webinars in its Let's Keep Your Business Going series for value for value-added dairy entrepreneurs (or prospective entrepreneurs).  DBIA is funded by USDA and provides technical assistance and grants to help dairy farmers and processors in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin improve their profitability.  

Supporting Farm Youth (these are recordings of the sessions previously held)

A struggling farm economy and other concurrent production, social, and cultural challenges, including COVID, have been difficult and even destructive for farm families. And they don’t just affect the well-being of farm and ranch owners – they impact family members as well. Children and adolescents may be living in tense situations, feeling isolated, and with little ability to make sense of what is going on around them. Caring adults in the community can make a big difference.

Minnesota West Farm Business Management Podcasts

Farm Business Management instructors at Minnesota West Community and Technical College are putting together bi-weekly podcasts about topics of interests to farmers.

In this series of four interactive 45-minute sessions, you’ll develop insights and skills to help you recognize, understand and support farm youth experiencing  stress. These online sessions are an adaptation of a three-hour workshop we offered at several Minnesota locations in 2019. Whether the content is new to you or you simply want a refresher, we hope you’ll participate and will share the opportunity with friends and colleagues.

  1. Day 1 - Factors and Expression:  Stress in Farm Youth
  2. Day 2 - Impact of Farm Stress and Trauma on Adolescent Development
  3. Day 3 - Building Intentional Relationships with Farm Youth
  4. Day 4 - Building Community Initiatives to Support Farm Youth (start about 2 minutes in; there was an audio hiccup at beginning)

RESOURCES:

Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Scholarship

The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) Farm Business Management Scholarship provides scholarships to water quality certified producers to learn business management strategies that will lead to profitable and competitive farming operations.  The scholarship form is found here.

A study shows that farmers enrolled in MAWQCP had higher profits than non-cerified farms.  Specifically, the 64 MAWQCP farms in the study saw 2020 profits that were an average of $40,000 or 18% higher (median of $11,000) than non-certified farms. The 2019 data showed an average of $19,000 or 20% (median of $7,000) in higher profits for certified producers. Other key financial metrics are also better for those enrolled in the MAWQCP, such as debt-to-asset ratios and operating expense ratios.  These two years of data serve as an early indicator of a positive return on investment for the whole-farm conservation management farmers implement in order to become certified.

Cover Crop Scholarship Program

Are you a MN farmer growing cover crops?  You can receive a $100-$150/credit scholarship to participate in Minnesota Farm Business Management.

Ag Tax Seminar

The Agricultural Tax Issues Course targets income tax professionals who work with farmers. The course also is relevant to agricultural professionals such as agricultural lenders and farm management instructors.

Farm Transfer and Estate Planning

The University of Minnesota Extension is offering various farm transfer and estate planning webinar series. The MN Agricultural Centers of Excellence have also teamed up with with the U of M to produce a farm transition newsletter and they are found below.

Dr. Kohl Newsletters

Dr. David M. Kohl is a Professor at Virginia Tech in Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management. He has written a series of articles for the Minnesota State FBM education program.

Youth Tractor and Farm Safety Training

Youth tractor and farm safety training teaches youth 14 years and older about safe equipment operation and general farm safety.  This program is offered each summer at multiple training locations across the state. The cost of the training is $40 per student.  Students who complete the program are eligible to receive a U.S. Department of Labor certificate of training. This certificate is required for 14- and 15-year-olds who wish to work on farms as employees.  Visit https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/youth-tractor-and-farm-safety-training for more details.

AgCentric

Visit our partner, the Minnesota State Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence and also known as AgCentric, as they offer additional Farm Business Management Resources.

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