Beginning Farmer Training Program
The California Farm Academy Beginning Farmer Training Program is a seven-month program that provides an intensive overview of what it takes to succeed as a farmer. It's held part-time at the Land-Based Learning headquarters, Farm on Putah Creek in Winters, a small town in the agricultural heart of Solano County in Northern California.
Over 30 weeks from February to September, students gather at the incubator farm to learn and practice basic crop planning and production, soil science, pest management, irrigation methods and other field and greenhouse work. They even learn to drive a tractor. But that's not all. The academy also spends considerable time on the business aspects of running a farm successfully: writing a business plan, obtaining financing, risk management, record-keeping, food safety, and even decision-making and problem-solving.
Visits to regional farms are a regular part of the curriculum. Classes visit some organic farms, whether certified or not, as well as conventional farms, to learn different ways of farming. Each individual decides how they want to farm. Certainly no one can learn everything about farming in seven months, but that's the beauty of the California Farm Academy program.
The curriculum is designed to provide the next generation of motivated, hard-working farm entrepreneurs with the support and connections they need to contribute to the $20 billion specialty crop industry in California.
Visits to regional farms are a regular part of the curriculum. Classes visit some organic farms, whether certified or not, as well as conventional farms, to learn different ways of farming. Each individual decides how they want to farm. Certainly no one can learn everything about farming in seven months, but that's the beauty of the California Farm Academy program.
The curriculum is designed to provide the next generation of motivated, hard-working farm entrepreneurs with the support and connections they need to contribute to the $20 billion specialty crop industry in California.
More information
California Farm Academy classes meet Tuesday and Thursdays, 4:30-7:30 p.m. and 2 Saturdays/month at the Center for Land-Based Learning farm or at other nearby locations.
Check out the Curriculum and Application & Deadlinessections or contact Sri Sethuratnam, California Farm Academy Director, for more information.
The California Farm Academy (CFA) training program consists of 30 weeks of classes, hands-on experience, farm visits and other field trips during a seven-month period. Session 6 will start in February 2017 and meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm and two Saturdays per month through September 2017.
You will get more than 250 hours of training time between courses and farm visits, time spent learning by doing, as well as mentoring and lectures by farmers and agricultural professionals. Your time will be spent in the classroom, the greenhouse, out in the field or packing shed, and on the farms of some of the region's most successful farmers and ranchers.
Attendance and participation are critical to your success in the training program and as a beginning farmer. Graded (pass/fail) work will consist largely of class participation, including activities and worksheets, keeping a field journal, take-home reading and short homework assignments.
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