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Agricultural Business Training Program (ABTP)FAQQ: When do courses start and where? ABTP NxLevel courses are offered on a flexible schedule, usually in the winter months. We teach them wherever the minimum 8 ag businesses can be expected to register. Class participants have input in the schedule, with the most common format being weekly three hour evening sessions over 10 weeks, with individual follow-up after. We can also offer special sessions such as a year long “Ag Business Cluster” , and various short courses and seminars on topics you may want to help us bring to farms In your area. In general, MDAR will pay costs of offering a program if you can manage the local site responsibilities and help with recruiting. For most MDAR courses, participants must be Massachusetts agricultural enterprises (see next question if you are out-of-state) with a record of at least two years in business. It is fine to be contemplating a change to a new way of operating or even a new business pursuit on your farm, but you must have some experience in being an agricultural entrepreneur - and you must have enough capacity to implement the steps you identify through participation in our training. This course is not for start-up or pre-venture farms. However, we do partner with other agencies that offer courses for those needs, and can refer you if you call us. ABTP offerings are heavily subsidized by MDAR and/or our partners for Massachusetts farms. We charge a registration fee to secure your commitment and place in the class. Some scholarships are available if the fee is truly a barrier to your participation. We may accept some out-of-state businesses in border regions at extra cost. The fees include all materials and, for MA farms, a substantial amount of extra individual on-site technical assistance. Q: Does ABTP link to other MDFA/USDA programs? The Farm Viability Enhancement Program and ABTP are sometimes linked and often cross-refer participants. ABTP can also qualify successful participants for USDA/FSA borrower training certification. The business plan you will create through ABTP is thorough enough to be well received by any commercial lender, and will help you work with other MDAR Departments/grant programs such as marketing, environmental enhancement and innovative technologies.  |
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Related linksFarm Viability Enhancement Program |
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