Source: PRESS RELEASE, 7/20/16

AgCarolina Farm Credit is currently accepting applications for the eighth class of Ag Biz Planner.  Ag Biz Planner features an e-learning curriculum including financial and business planning, budgeting and other money matters essential to a farm’s success.  

AgCarolina Farm Credit is offering the Farm Credit University on-line program in conjunction with the Farm Credit Associations in North Carolina and Virginia including Cape Fear Farm Credit, Carolina Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias, and Colonial Farm Credit.  Participants will have the opportunity to interact and benchmark with producers from the other associations throughout the program and network at a conference at the conclusion of the program in Raleigh, NC.  

Farm Credit’s e-learning program targets young, beginning, small, and minority farmers throughout the state.  Participants will be assigned an AgCarolina Farm Credit loan officer to serve as their mentor throughout the course.  Highlights of the program include modules that cover business and personal financial planning, understanding income statements, cash flow, and the smart use of credit on the farm.  Each participant will have completed a business plan for their operation at the conclusion of the class.   

“Working through the Ag Biz Planner program, as a farmer myself, was an integral part of forming a business plan for my farming operation,” says AgCarolina Farm Credit Loan Officer and Wake County farmer, Weston McCorkle. “Thinking through various financial and business scenarios, while also being able to interact with Farm Credit and other ag industry experts was very beneficial being a young, beginning, and small farmer.”     

AgCarolina Farm Credit will accept up to five participants for the program which will begin in October 2016 and run through March 2017.  Applications, a course outline, and program information are available via our website.  Applications will be accepted through September 1, 2016. Individuals selected for the program will be notified after September 15.  The course
will conclude with a group conference in Raleigh, NC March 20-21, 2017.

“AgCarolina Farm Credit continues to support programs like Ag Biz Planner because of the proven track record graduates have in growing their operation,” states President and CEO Dave Corum.  “Investing back into the young, beginning, and small farmers will ensure a vibrant future for agriculture in North Carolina.”   

The tuition, hotel, speaker fees and meals bring the total cost of this program to approximately $1,500 per participant, of which, up to $1,400 of the cost will be paid by AgCarolina Farm Credit. Upon acceptance into the program, each participant will be asked to pay $200.  We will refund $100 to the participant upon successful completion of the 10 modules and presentation of their business plan. The final program cost to those completing is only $100.

AgCarolina Farm Credit is a farmer owned financial cooperative with headquarters in Raleigh.  They are the leading provider of credit to farmers in central and eastern North Carolina.  AgCarolina Farm Credit has over $1.4 billion in loans and commitments outstanding to nearly 3,000 North Carolina farmers.  Loans are made to finance land, homes, farm buildings, operating expenses, livestock and equipment, as well as other purposes.  Credit life insurance, crop insurance, appraisal services, and leasing are also available through AgCarolina Farm Credit.