UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Farmers and other agricultural producers can sharpen skills and develop analyses to test the soundness of their ideas and assess the economic factors that will affect their business potential in a course offered through Penn State Cooperative Extension.

"Tilling the Soil of Opportunity" is a multi-session program that combines business planning, market research and financial management instruction in a curriculum tailored to the needs of Pennsylvania agriculture.

Jeffrey Hyde, assistant professor of agricultural economics, says "Tilling the Soil" can help small- to mid-sized farm operators, food processors, distributors, retailers and others in the agricultural sector to look at their existing businesses in a new way.

"This course will assist producers in developing and testing innovative ideas," Hyde says. "The curriculum will help them ask questions that are critical to the success of their business.”

Sessions include:

--"Take Stock of Your Resources" covers developing a concrete business mission, identifying goals and assessing resources.

--"Manage from the Ground Up!" focuses on identifying management strategies, managing risk, and learning the discipline to maintain a record-keeping system.

--"Reap the Benefits: Marketing Strategies" teaches the key concepts, terms and techniques of agricultural marketing. Participants will learn how to develop a marketing strategy and attract customers.

--"Get Your Budgets in Line" explores how budgets provide performance feedback. Participants will prepare budgets including fixed assets acquisitions budget and cash flow projection.

--"Cultivate Your Money Resources" offers information about sources of financing, financing barriers and options.

The program, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, is a statewide project administered by Penn State Cooperative Extension and extension's Keystone Agricultural Innovation Center. It will be offered at different times at several locations across the state, and Continuing Education Units can be earned through this course. For more information on "Tilling the Soil of Opportunity," call 814-865-5666 or visit the Web at http://kaic.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Jeffrey Hyde at 814-865-5666 or by e-mail at jeffhyde@psu.edu.

Writer/Editor: Gary Abdullah Office 814-863-2708 FAX 814-863-9877