Program Schedule
FBP = Farm Business Planning; Mkt = Marketing
3/7/2022 - FBP 1: Intros + Farm Welcome! + Values & Goals + Farm Business Plans
3/14/2022 - Soils 1: Understanding Soils & Soil Mapping + Farmland Access
3/21/2022 - Soils 2: Assessing & Managing Soils + Site Planning
3/28/2022 - Soils 3: Fertility + Cover Crops + Compost
4/4/2022 - Production 1: Transplant Production + Microgreens
4/11/2022 - Production 2: Plant Biology + Season Extension
4/18/2022 - FBP 2: Enterprise Selection & Enterprise Budgets + Greens
4/25/2022 - FBP 3: Production Planning & Crop Rotations + Herbs
5/2/2022 - Mkt 1: Organic/Other Certifications + Race/gender/economics in food & ag
5/9/2022 - Mkt 2: Market Selection: CSA, Farmstand, Farmers’ Market, Wholesale
5/16/2022 - Mkt 3: Market Research & Marketing Plans + Solanaceae
5/23/2022 - Field Trip 1: 4 Detroit Farms
5/30/2022 - No Class – Memorial Day
6/6/2022 - Production 3: Irrigation + Planting & Transplanting
6/13/2022 - Production 4: Food Safety, Harvest & Post-Harvest
6/20/2022 - Production 5: Tractors & Equipment + HRM Decisions
6/25 - 6/27 - Field Trip 2: 8 Traverse City Farms
7/4/2022 - No Class – 4th of July
7/11/2022 - Production 6: Cut Flowers + Alliums
7/18/2022 - Field Trip 3: 4 Lansing Farms
7/25/2022 - Production 7: Livestock
8/1/2022 - Ecology 1: Conservation Programs and Techniques + Brassicas
8/7/2022 - Field Trip 4: 4 Ann Arbor Farms
8/15/2022 - Ecology 2: Weed Management
8/22/2022 - Field Trip 5: 4 Grand Rapids Farms
8/29/2022 - Ecology 3: Insect Pests & Beneficials
9/5/2022 - No Class – Labor Day
9/12/2022 - Ecology 4: Disease & Mammal Management + FBP Prep
9/19/2022 - Field Trip 6: 4 Southwest Michigan Farms
9/26/2022 - FBP 4: Startup Budget + Capital Access
10/3/2022 - FBP 5: Planning & Analysis: Business/Non-Profit Structures
10/10/2022 - FBP 6: Farm Records & Pricing + Taxes + FBP Presentation Prep
10/17/2022 - FBP 7: Labor/Self-Employment + Risk/Insurance
10/24/2022 - FBP 8: Presentations + OFTP Feedback
10/31/2022 - No Class – Halloween
11/7/2022 - FBP 9: Presentations + FBP Partner Review Session
11/14/2022 - FBP 10: Presentations + Graduation celebration
Typical Schedule
May vary due to guests, weather, or activities.
9 – 10 am: Classroom time
10 – 10:20 am: Break
10:20am – noon: On Farm Rotations, 3 groups rotate through 3 activities
Noon – 1pm: Lunch Break
1 – 3:10pm: Guest Speaker / Classroom Time
3:10– 3:30pm: Break
3:30 – 4:45pm: Farm Walk, Observation and Questions
4:45 – 5pm: Evaluation, Questions and Feedback
Field Trip Schedule
Carpool, drive solo, or ride in the MSU van.
8am - 6pm: Travel to 3-4 farms.
*The Traverse City trip is Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with group camping or solo options.