Irena Vélez
Farmers Forum
GUELPH — Farmers need a solid understanding of business basics to run a successful operation, especially as farms become larger and more complex. That’s why the University of Guelph is offering a virtual farm business program for free.
The Foundations in Agricultural Management program contains eight 20-minute modules on practical skills including business planning & strategy, financial literacy, human resources, risk management, family farm transition planning, and mental health resilience.
Participants view the modules at their own pace and must complete a quiz before moving to the next section.
The program will be offered four times a year over the next two years. The first session opened on January 17 and will close Mar. 25. The next session is from April 1 to June 22.
The video modules, which were all filmed on Guelph campus, feature faculty experts from the Ontario Agricultural College, the Ontario Veterinary College, and the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics.
At the end of the program, participants earn a certificate of completion from the University of Guelph.
The organizers are estimating that 50,000 producers will view at least one module over the next two years. They say the family farm transition planning and mental health modules will likely attract the most interest as they pose the greatest problems in the Canadian agricultural industry at the moment.
The program was designed under the collaboration of the university, RBC, and Farm Credit Canada. It’s being funded by a $1.25 million donation from the RBC Foundation and support from FCC.
To register, visit www.guelphagriculturalmanagement.com/
