ISLAND FALLS, Maine — Registration is underway for a free business skills workshop for agriculture producers and would-be producers this November in Island Falls.
Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) staff, representatives from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and others will present a four-hour workshop at the Island Falls Town Office Monday, Nov. 13, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants will explore record and bookkeeping, accounting processes, cash flow statements and more.
Farm Credit of Maine will discuss tax planning and preparation, while Farm Service officials will explain federal programs designed to help producers.
Earlier this year the USDA announced cooperative agreements with partners to educate producers, including those who have been historically underserved by USDA programs, about FSA programs that provide financial, disaster or technical support. Under a cooperative agreement with FSA, NMDC received funding to provide educational services to agricultural producers in Aroostook County.
“With an increase in younger and start-up producers, there is a need for additional business skills and knowledge of government programs, which can be of tremendous value to the agricultural community,” said Alain Ouellette, planning and development director at NMDC.
“NMDC has designed a series of five workshops, held at various locations throughout the region, to provide information about FSA programs, all while giving producers additional skills to better manage their business,” he said.
Ouellette encouraged producers to attend, but said the information is also valuable to anyone who wishes to better their business skills.
Pre-registration is required at www.nmdc.org.
For more information, contact Ouellette at 551-5837, or by email at aouellette@nmdc.org.
