2022 Beginning Farmer Classes Start with New Focus

FARM FRESH — The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food’s winter Beginning Farmer Classes start Jan. 11, 2022.  (U of A System Division of Ag photo by Matt Rainwaters)

Media Contact

John Lovett

U of A System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
(479) 763-5929 |  jlovett@uada.edu

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food will present a new round of Beginning Farmer Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Jan. 11 to March 1.

The 2022 Beginning Farmer Classes have been redesigned to highlight the practices of successful farmers and offer learning activities with information from local service providers and regional farmers.

“Even if you’ve taken the course before, you can expect new knowledge and insights,” said Heather Friedrich, program manager for the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food.

CAFF was created to help increase the number of farms and farmers in Arkansas. The goals of the center are centered on supporting a regional food system by connecting to established farms and training the next generation of farmers. CAFF is a center of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Each course costs $10 and will be presented via Zoom. Class times are 6-8:30 p.m. except for the first session, “Farming as a Profession,” which will be 7-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 11.

To register, visit https://farmandfoodsystem.uada.edu/classes/.

 

Class dates and courses include:

Jan. 11, Farming as a Profession — Learn about farming as a profession from successful farmers.

Jan. 13, Soil Health — What is soil health? Why is it important? And how to get it.

Jan. 18, Sustainable Crop Production I — Crops and Nutrients: Crop needs, practices for soil fertility and soil testing.

Jan. 20, Sustainable Crop Production II — Planning and Rotation: Crop families, rotations and how to plan your production.

Jan. 25, Recordkeeping for Success — Effective record keeping for production and business.

Jan. 27, Farm Finances 101 — Learn about the primary financial sheets for a farm business, why farms need them, and the basics for using them.

Feb. 1, Sustainable Crop Production III — Insects, weeds, and disease. Learn prevention and management.

Feb. 3, Post-Harvest Handling — Learn post-harvest handling and food safety, packing and cooling.

Feb. 8, Exploring Markets — Explore options like farm stands, CSAs, farmers markets and wholesale.

Feb. 10, Social Media Marketing — Promote your farm business with these social media tips.

Feb. 15, Protect Your Farm — Learn more about your farm business structure, and liability.

Feb. 18, Access to Credit — Discover how to access financing and credit options for your small farm.

Feb. 22, Fighting for Food Justice — How do we create food and agriculture systems that are diverse, equitable and inclusive?

March 1, Planning Your Farm Business — Plan your sustainable farm business. Learn tools and methods.

To learn more about the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food, visit https://farmandfoodsystem.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter @caff_ar.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and Instagram at @ArkAgResearch.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

 

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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