4/5/17

1

So…YouwanttofarminMaine?

Mainefarmersarethestewardsof1.25millionacres.Thelandprovidesthepublicbenefitsofopenspaceandrecreation.TheyarethecornerstoneoffoodsecurityforMainepeople.

Theindustryhasa$1.2billionimpactontheMaineeconomy.

RickKersbergenRichard.kersbergen@maine.edu

4/5/17

2

4/5/17

3

4/5/17

4

• Information,Education,HelpfulHints,AdditionalKnowledge,ConnectionswithotherfarmersandincreasedunderstandingoftheCooperativeExtensionServices

• ThisarequirementformyFSAloans

• IwouldliketostartmakingabusinessplansothatIcanstartworkingtowardgrantsandmakingfarmingmyfulltimejob.

• Iwouldliketobemuchmorecomfortablewithrecordkeepingandabusinessplan.IthinkpartofwhyIfeelitisabigmountaintoclimbisthatIdon'thavetheknowledgetodoitefficiently

• Increasedconfidenceinoperatingourownprofitablebusiness.Runningthingssmoothly.:)

• Togainanyknowledgeonthebusinessend.loans,profitability,etc.• Obtainadviceandguidanceonpurchasinganexistingfarmandbusiness

andgainknowledgeonpermitting,marketing,andavailablebusinesssoftware.

• Evaluatingandselectingprofitableenterprises;understandingtaxes,permits,insurance&licenses;learningaboutcooperative/sharingopportunitieswithotherfarmers.

• Practicaleducationtorunandbuildmyfarmbusiness.Marketing,permits,taxesandanythingnew!

• Businessskillstorunandoperateasmallscalefarminthefuture.RulesandregulationsoffarminginMaine

• Ideas/inspirations,lookingatwhatotherfarmersaredoingIfitwouldbepossibletoopenastoreonsiteandsurvive.

• I'minterestedinlearningmoreaboutfarmingandthepossibilityofmakingmysmallhobbyfarmmoresustainablefinancially.

4/5/17

5