Annual New Farmer School
The nuts and bolts of farming as a business in New Hampshire
Registration for the 2025 New Farmer School will open on June 13, 2025. Sign up for the UNH Extension Food and Agriculture Newsletter to keep up to date.
Get a jump-start on growing your agricultural business with this intensive multi-session course! Each session will build upon knowledge gained in previous sessions and address a wide variety of topics that will be applicable to any new farmer. This course is a great way to get up to speed quickly on the business and science of agriculture, network with other new farmers, and work closely with Extension staff as you develop your business and production ideas.
Course topics include soils and site assessment, food safety basics, enterprise selection, infrastructure considerations, marketing, insurance basics, and financial and production record-keeping. Participants will also learn about state agencies and other agriculture service providers in New Hampshire.
There are eight total sessions, some on zoom and some in-person. Though in-person sessions are optional, we recommend attending, as they are engaging opportunities to network with other new farmers and learn from experienced farmers in the state.
Full attendance and completion of coursework fulfills the borrower training requirement for USDA Farm Service Agency Loans.
The registration cost for this course is $250 per person or $450 for two people from the same farm.
2025 Schedule
- August 6: In-person, 6 - 8:00 p.m. | Merrimack County | Whole Farm Planning, Tech Support, Course Overview
- August 20: In-person, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Rockingham County | Site and Soil Evaluation, Farm Infrastructure & Equipment
- September 3: Zoom Session, 6 to 7:30 p.m. | Production Records and Scheduling
- September 17: In-person, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Merrimack County | Food Safety & Biosecurity
- October 1: Zoom Session, 6 to 7:30 p.m. | Enterprise Budgeting & Cash Flow Budgets
- October 15: In-person, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Sullivan County | Markets & Marketing
- October 29: Zoom Session, 6 to 7:30 p.m. | Financial Statements
- November 12: Zoom Session, 6 to 7:30 p.m. | Course Wrap-up & Next Steps
In-person sessions are optional but highly recommended. Class materials are available to participants who cannot attend in-person sessions.
Download the course expectations
Contact your Extension Course Instructors:
Technology:
- Technology needed for this course includes internet access, the ability to participate in video conferencing sessions, word processing and spreadsheet software, and the ability to read pdf files.
Scholarships:
- A limited number of scholarships are available for those with financial need.
For help with technology, scholarships, or other accommodations please contact Caroline Beaton at least 10 business days prior to the course start date.
