Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDF)

Emphasizing Business Planning and Pasture-Based Farm Management

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A Business Planning Emphasis

September 11, 2015 by mattraboin

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Beginning dairy and livestock farmers face significant obstacles in getting started: accessing land, financing early investments, maintaining sufficient cash flow, troubleshooting the inevitable challenges that come up, and sustaining a viable business. A strong business plan can serve as a road map for navigating these obstacles.

Throughout the Grass-Based Dairy Seminar, students are encouraged to reflect on their farming goals and possible business approaches. Then, taking everything learned through the course, each WSBDF student will develop his or her own business plan as a final project.  Students are then given the opportunity to present their plans to a panel of experts for feedback and input.

Business-Plan-Presentation
WSBDF student David Galbraith presents his business plan to a panel that includes farmers, an extension agent, and two loan officers

As the following testimonials suggest, numerous students have gone on to use the business plans that they developed through WSBDF to secure the financing that got their businesses up and running:

“I’d have to say the whole business plan process was really valuable,” said Robert Klinker, a graduate of the program who went on to start a successful dairy farm. “The plan I wrote up in class is the one I used when I applied for my original FSA [Farm Service Agency] beginning farmer loan.”

Similarly, Sarah Mumm, another program graduate who is farming successfully, said, “Life came at me a lot faster than I expected, and the school helped me out in so many ways. I remember when I went to get my loan, looking up my paperwork from those classes. I know my loan officer was impressed with me when I went in because he thought my plan was good.”

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Student Testimonials

“I took the grazing courses [with WSBDF]…and this is the best crash course I’m ever going to get.”

“My fears were primarily financial. The WSBDF showed me that there were different institutions…to loan me money and that is what really got me started."

"We came away with a barn-full of inspiration, and the solid ground-under-our-feet feeling of having been shown 'how it is' with all the beauty and the sweat right there."

“The School opened my eyes up to a different direction of farming that has worked out very well for me. WSBDF was very important in my decision to start a grass-based dairy farm.”

"The quality and depth of the presenters for the WSBDF has given our family a top notch how-to manual for entering into a grazing based business and life."

“The business plan put it all into reality. It gave me confidence."

“You have the opportunity to make lifelong friends; you have so many people there that have the same interests and the same drive.”

“The School made me think outside of the box…and look at the many ways to approach a farm business.”

“The most beneficial thing by far was…the network of people I met – classmates and mentors – that are actively farming…to learn from what they are doing and compare [these things] to what I’m doing.”

"I'm by nature a cynic who doesn't often run into programs, meetings, or groups that truly embody optimism and change, but WSBDF manages to accomplish that in a humble and practical way."

"I can sincerely say that the WSBDF course was everything I had hoped for, and then some. I met a lot of great people, learned an incredible amount, and came out of the experience feeling inspired"

“I really enjoyed all the speakers we had and all the real life experiences they were able to share.”

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Ride to Farm

Link to Ride to Farm Website

Each year the WSBDF hosts Ride to Farm, a 100K bike ride with rest stops at local farms. All proceeds from this amazing event support the WSBDF endowment. Click the Ride to Farm logo above to learn more.

Barn Dance

Barn Dance

The Partnering for Progress’s Barn Dance & Chautauqua celebrates Wisconsin’s working lands, and raises funds to support the important work of the nonprofit partner organizations, including WSBDF. And it's a lot of fun! Click on the image above to learn more!

WSBDF

Sponsored by the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Farm and Industry Short Course, both within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and by Badgerland Financial, Culver’s Restaurants, Organic Valley, Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and Wisconsin Farmers Union; with additional support from the NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and individual and corporate contributions to the UW Foundation WSBDF Endowment Fund. A full list of each year's contributors is available in our newsletter, available through the link below:

2015 Newsletter

Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers

The WSBDF office is located in the Soil Science Building on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus.

Mailing Address:

1535 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone:

608-265-6437

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