A new program is being offered to farmers and agricultural managers.
The Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management project, developed by the George Morris Centre, at the University of Guelph and Canadian Farm Business Management Council, will begin instructing producers this November.
The program was developed after the centre received numerous requests from groups who felt a need for training in all aspects of agriculture from business and financing to production.
“We’ve had people come to us from government, departments of agriculture and some farmers,” said Lynn Punnett at the centre.
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“They thought it was time we put on a program for Canadians. They wanted one … that had to do with issues that are unique to Canadian farmers and managers.”
The program, which is run in four stages, is a Canadian version of the Agricultural Executive Program for Agricultural Producers at Texas A&M University.
The course instructs farmers on financing, strategic planning, risk management and business planning, environmental issues and international marketing.
During the program, each participant will develop and implement a strategic plan and present it to instructors at the end of the term.
The purpose of the plan is to have farmers think about long-term goals, think creatively and to profit from their unique ideas.
“We’d rather have people who want to add value (to their products) rather than growing straight commodities,” she said.
“We are more interested in people who are really developing their business and doing something unique with it.”
Participants will also visit Canadian operations such as nurseries and meat processing plants in each session to give them a first-hand look at how businesses operate.
At the end of the program, participants should have more experience in all areas of production and a course certificate.
The program is separated into four modules, which are run at different times beginning this year in November and ending in February 2000, and are spread out between Ontario, Alberta and Quebec.
Registration for the program costs $4,700. Anyone interested in applying can call the George Morris Centre at 519-822-3929. The deadline for applications is Oct. 14.
