Maryland Beginning Farmer Success Course

PLEASE READ THE COURSE DESCRIPTION BEFORE REGISTERING

This course is designed for people in Maryland who are considering or in the beginning stages of starting a farm as a business. Topics covered will include business planning, marketing, crop production, livestock husbandry, soil health, pest management, food safety, and regulations and certifications. Additional elective resources will cover more specialized topics, such as organic production, urban agriculture, and direct marketing to local customers. Students will learn from over 14 speakers, including agricultural Extension educators, farmers, and agricultural industry professionals.

This 10-week course will be offered in a blended in-person and online format.

• The class will meet on Thursday evenings, from 7 to 8:30 pm, from February 2 through April 6, 2023.
• The course kick-off session on February 2 and the final class and graduation ceremony on April 6 will be held in person. Small groups of students will meet in person at one of several locations across the state of Maryland, in either Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Charles County.
• In weeks 2 through 9 of the course, students will complete at-your-own pace homework on the course website on campus.extension.org and will meet online each Thursday from 7 to 8:30pm for a live class using the software Zoom.

This course does not provide college credit or an exam-based certification. Students who complete the course will receive a certificate stating that they completed the course requirements. To complete the course, students will need to both attend the weekly class and complete weekly homework on the course website.

By actively engaging in this program, participants will

• Understand each of the topics covered at a beginner’s level, so they will be prepared to take more advanced trainings in future.
• Decide what they need to learn more about next to launch their farm business.

Topics covered:

• Marketing
• Financial planning
• Soil health
• Licenses, permits, and certifications
• Food safety
• Integrated pest management
• Acquiring land and zoning
• Specialty crops

Two course textbooks will be used, with supplementary readings and videos from additional sources. Both course textbooks are available for free digitally. Hard-copies of the course textbooks can be picked up at the Feb 2 in-person kick-off session.

Course registration is $65 plus eventbrite fees. Two people from the same family/couple may attend the course under one registration, if they are willing to share the hardcopy textbook.

If the registration fee is is a financial barrier, please fill out this scholarship application: https://ume.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_06QwgaBZ6qVczyZ

Learn more about resources offered by University of Maryland Extension on our website here: https://extension.umd.edu/

Equal Opportunity of Educational Programs:

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact Neith Little by phone at 410-856-1850 x 122 or by email at nglittle@umd.edu

Los programas, actividades e instalaciones de la universidad están disponibles para todos sin distinción de raza, color, sexo, identidad o expresión de género, orientación sexual, estado civil, edad, origen nacional, afiliación política, discapacidad física o mental, religión, estado de veterano protegido, información genética, apariencia personal o cualquier otra clase legalmente protegida.

Si necesita adaptaciones razonables para participar en cualquier evento o actividad, comuníquese con Neith Little a numero telephono 410-856-1850 x122 o a correo electronico nglittle@umd.edu

所有人均可使用大學課程、活動和設施，而不必考慮種族、膚色、性別、性別認同或表達方式、性取向、婚姻狀況、年齡、國籍、政治背景、身體或精神殘疾、宗教信仰、受保護退伍軍人身份、遺傳信息、個人外貌或任何其他受法律保護的階層。

如果您需要合理的住宿條件來參加任何活動，請聯絡您當地的馬里蘭大學推廣辦公室。

410-856-1850 x122 nglittle@umd.edu

대학 프로그램, 행사_및 시설은 인종, 피부색, 성별,성 정체성 또는 표현, 성적 지향, 결혼 여부, 나이, 출신 국가, 정치적 소속, 신체적 또는 정신적 장애, 종교, 보호재향 _군인, 정보, 외모 또는 법적으로 보호를 받고 있는_기타 계층에 관계없이 누구나 이용하실 수 있습니다.

행사 활동에 참여하기 위해 적절한 숙박 시설이 _필요하시다면 해당 지역의 메릴랜드 대학교 확장 사무소에 문의해 주시기 바랍니다.

410-856-1850 x122 nglittle@umd.edu