Winter Workshops
Virtual workshops to be held in winter of 2027 to be announced here by early Fall of 2026.
Financial Foundations: Virtual workshop for farm owner/operators and farm managers who want to learn or get a refresher on financial information including how to set up your financial statements, cash flow budgeting, fixed vs. variable expenses and Cost of Goods Sold. This course, taught by Ray Belanger of Fish Park Consulting, instructor with agricultural financial and business expertise, will help you with tools to evaluate your farm business for greater efficiency and profitability. *Recording of this workshop here.
Contact Jess at Jessica.Camp2@mass.gov with any questions about the workshops.
Growing Your Farm Business Plan Course
Structured support to help you set goals for your farm business resulting in a written business plan with financial projections by attending 6 sessions over 7 weeks. Topics include assessing your resources, risk management, marketing strategy, financial & capital planning, goal setting and quality of life, and applying it on your farm. The course is taught by instructors with years of experience working with farmers – Ray and Jaqueline of Fish Park Consulting. Enrollment is open to farmers who have been managing a farm business in Massachusetts for at least the three prior years, but could also have years of experience and utilize the course to plan for growth or to obtain financing.
Prior to taking this course, participants should understand how to generate financial statements by attending or listening to recording of Farm Financial Foundations, or have had similar financial management training. Note: Those who take both the Farm Financial Foundations workshop and Growing Your Farm Business Planning course will meet requirements for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) certified borrower training for financial management.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until a course is filled.
- To register for the farm business plan course, fill out application at this link: Growing Your Farm (Application)
For more information or to submit an application, contact Melissa.L.Adams@mass.gov. The course fee, subsidized by MDAR, has been reduced to $100 per farm for up to two owner/operators from each farm. It is important to us that the course fee does not create a barrier to participation. If the fee would prevent you from participating, please contact Melissa to discuss waiving the fee at the above email or at 857-276-2377.
Farm-Pass: Farm Transfer Planning Assistance
Farm-Pass Informational webinar – note that timeline and dates mentioned in this webinar no longer apply but the program overview remains consistent - Farm Pass webinar recording here.
MDAR’s new Farm-Pass will provide direct assistance to help Massachusetts farm owners pass their farm on to the next generation. This service is targeted to owners who have already identified a successor – either within the family or not – who is interested in transitioning to own and manage a commercial farm business on the farm property in the near future. This is a no-cost opportunity for farm owners, family members, and the identified successor to work one-on-one with an experienced, dedicated Planner to create a customized farm transfer plan. Participants will meet regularly over the course of approximately one year to set goals for retirement and the future farm business, and create tangible next steps to transfer assets and management. The Planners will NOT provide legal or tax advice but WILL help you develop a written action plan that identifies concrete next steps to work on with your attorney and/or CPA/tax advisor to make the transfer happen.
The next opportunity to apply to Farm Pass is expected to be available in Fall 2026.
Contact: Laura Barley, 857-507-5548 or email MDARFarmPass@mass.gov with any questions.
Succession School
MDAR hosts Land for Good’s Succession School for MA farmers, in different locations throughout Massachusetts, typically January – March each winter.
This is an opportunity for senior generation farmers to talk with peers, learn from advisors, and get support on the challenging process of farm succession and transfer planning.
- Have questions about retiring that you don't know how to answer?
- Feel like your family needs to start talking, but you don't know where to start?
- Are you unsure who will take over your farm?
- Can the farm support two generations?
Succession School provides farmers and farming partners with the structured and sustained support to make decisions, engage their families, and organize the legal and financial mechanics. It is an opportunity for senior generation farmers, with or without identified successors, to talk with peers, learn from advisors, and get support on the challenging process of farm succession and transfer planning.
For questions about the course, contact Jae Silverman Jae@landforgood.org or 603-357-1600. It is important to us that course fees do not create a barrier to participation - if the course fee would prevent you from participating, please contact Jae to discuss waiving the fee.