Advanced Workshops

The advanced workshops outlined below provide opportunities for a deeper dive into relevant topics for the emerging farmer audience.  These workshops are offered on an à la carte basis and will held either in-person or online via Zoom.  In-person advanced workshops are $50 per person (includes lunch) and will be held at various locations across the state of South Carolina. Online advanced workshops will be held via Zoom and are $35 per person.  SCNBFP Class of 2023 cohort members can receive a discount on workshops held prior to December 2023 using their assigned promo code.

These workshops will usually be between 4 and 6 hours in length.  Workshop descriptions and dates are below.  Workshop locations and times will be provided closer to the workshop date.  Advanced workshop dates and times are subject to change. Click here to view all workshops on our Eventbrite page.

Registration Questions and Refunds
If you have a workshop logistic or content question please contact the workshop coordinator listed for each workshop (see below).  If you have a registration question or you can no longer attend a workshop that you have registered for please email Ben Boyles at boyles2@clemson.edu to request a refund.  Note: refunds can only be issued before the workshop registration deadline.

2023-2024 Advanced Workshops

Organic Production and Certification

Thursday, September 14, 2023 | In-person | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
South Carolina Crop Improvement Association Building
Clemson University Campus
Your GPS might use 191 Old Cherry Road or 191 West Cherry Road
Clemson, SC 29631

If you are contemplating organic production practices and/or certified organic, this is the workshop for you! We will start with an introduction to what organic is, walk you through the certification process, and show you organic production in action. A combination of lecture, discussion, and tour will be used to share information.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: September 7, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Matt Fischer, Clemson Extension, fische3@clemson.edu

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Comprehensive Business Planning & Business Plan Development

Thursday, September 21, 2023 | Online via Zoom | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Turn your ideas and efforts into a roadmap for success!  Gain an understanding of costs of starting and running a business: capital costs, cost of goods sold, overhead costs, and necessary profit. Understand the concept of positioning. Learn how to calculate costs, plan for profit, and develop a pricing strategy. Take your basic business concept and transform it into a comprehensive business plan using the University of Minnesota’s AgPlan business planning tool.

Prerequisite Knowledge: This workshop assumes that participants will have a basic understanding of financial management as well as a clear concept for your business.
General Public Cost: $35.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: September 14, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Note: You will be emailed a zoom link 2-3 days prior to the workshop.
Coordinator: Bethany Funkhouser, Clemson Extension, bnf@clemson.edu

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Opportunities in Agritourism

Thursday, September 28, 2023 | In-person | 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Meet at Clemson Extension - York County
120 N. Congress Street
York, SC 29745

Interested in adding an exciting revenue stream for your farm business? Agritourism might be for you!  Hop aboard a charted bus as we learn all about agritourism trends and resources while touring 3 unique agritourism farms in York County, SC.
 
Topics will include on-farm sales, u-pick operations, tour logistics, hosting workshops and events, school tours, farm dinners, food sales and more!  Get your questions answered from experienced agritourism providers! Farm tours include: Tatanka Bison Ranch, Black's Peaches, and Five Blossoms Farm.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: September 21, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Ben Boyles, Clemson Extension, boyles2@clemson.edu

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Farm Financial Management and Recordkeeping

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | Online via Zoom | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Understanding financial management and recordkeeping is crucial to responsible and profitable management of any farm business. This workshop focuses on advanced topics of farm financial management including everything from liquidity analysis to solvency analysis, and profitability analysis. Recordkeeping will also be covered with instruction on how to track your progress, plan for changes, budget, and find your business’s strengths and weaknesses.

Prerequisite Knowledge: This workshop assumes participants will be familiar with basic financial management tools such as income statement, profit & loss, and balance sheets.
General Public Cost: $35.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: September 27, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Note: You will be emailed a zoom link 2-3 days prior to the workshop.
Coordinator: Will Culler, Clemson Extension, wculler@clemson.edu

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Developing a Year-Round Operation Plan

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | In-person | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Charleston Airport & Convention
3025 W. Montague Ave
North Charleston, SC 29418

Developing an operation plan is essential for any business, and planning production and marketing of agricultural products has unique challenges.  A year-round planning program model will look different depending on production cycles.  This workshop looks to engage all levels of production and various enterprises and will cover a wide array of planning components.

Prerequisite Knowledge: This workshop assumes basic understanding of the seasonality of production and marketing. Participants should be prepared by having knowledge of their own individual production needs.
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: October 3, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Charley Maxwell, Clemson Extension, chmaxwe@clemson.edu

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Enterprise Budgets and Profitability

Thursday, October 19, 2023 | Online via Zoom | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Learn how to calculate your cost of production so you can price for a profit! Explore the concept of an enterprise budget including how they use costs, sales, and labor data to determine the profitability of your market channels.  Learn how to use the Veggie and Livestock Compass Tools to predict the financial impact of different farm scenarios for the future and to assess your farm’s financial progress over time to locate efficiencies, set prices based on actual costs of production, and increase farm profits.

Prerequisite Knowledge: This workshop assumes that participants will have a basic understanding of financial management as well as a clear concept for your business.
General Public Cost: $35.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: October 12, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Note: You will be emailed a zoom link 2-3 days prior to the workshop.
Coordinator: Matt Fischer, Clemson Extension, fische3@clemson.edu

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Tax Management for Farm Businesses

Thursday, November 2, 2023 | Online via Zoom | 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Stay legal while leveraging tax laws to your best advantage by learning about advanced tax management specifically for farm businesses. This workshop will also cover the Schedule F form and you will learn who should file and go through step-by-step instructions for completion.  Note: This workshop is for general educational purposes only.  Participants are responsible for obtaining individual tax advice based upon their circumstances from their own independent professional advisors.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $35.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: October 26, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Note: You will be emailed a zoom link 2-3 days prior to the workshop.
Coordinator: Ben Boyles, Clemson Extension, boyles2@clemson.edu

Register >>


Advanced Social Media and Web Presence Optimization

Thursday, November 9, 2023 | In-person | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Pee Dee Research and Education Center
2200 Pocket Road
Florence, SC 29506

Having an online presence is critical for all businesses, including farm businesses.  During this training participants will learn techniques for best utilizing popular social media and other web-based platforms to gain exposure for and market their farm businesses and products.  This training will also cover interpretation of web analytics for critical decision making, optimizing branding and online presence, and web-based marketing techniques.

Prerequisite Knowledge: This workshop assumes participants will have a general knowledge of social media use and basic website navigation.  It will be to your benefit to have established at least one social media account.
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: November 2, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Bethany Funkhouser, Clemson Extension, bnf@clemson.edu

Register >>


Financial Assistance through Farm-Focused Grants

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 | Online via Zoom | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Learn about specific funding opportunities relevant to new farmers and techniques for successfully applying to these programs!  Learn how to determine your eligibility, planning and write your proposal, prepare supporting documentation including business plans, and what to do if you are awarded.  This workshop will cover current Federal, State, and Local grant opportunities.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $35.00 (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: November 8, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Note: You will be emailed a zoom link 2-3 days prior to the workshop.
Coordinator: Charley Maxwell, Clemson Extension, chmaxwe@clemson.edu

Register >>


Land Acquisition, Transfer, and Stewardship

Tuesday, November 28, 2023 | In-person | 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Clemson Extension - Lexington County Office
605 W Main St # 100
Lexington, SC 29072

What is common to all farms?  Land. This in-depth workshop will feature a series of lectures from specialists on a variety of agribusiness and production topics related to your farm’s biggest investment. Participants can expect to learn how to access, finance, conserve, preserve, and make plans to transfer land to the next generation. Come with your current and future land goals in-mind (or written!) and learn about tools, practices, and assistance that can help you reach them.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch (SCNBFP Class of 2023 Discount Available)
Deadline to register or request refund: October 18, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Will Culler, Clemson Extension, wculler@clemson.edu

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Scaling Up to Wholesale Markets

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 | In-person | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Livingston Farms (Orangeburg County)
3371 Savannah Hwy
North, SC 29112

Get your farm business wholesale market ready!  Learn about production and packaging needs, food safety considerations, and market access opportunities when selling your products through wholesale markets in South Carolina.  This on-farm workshop will provide an opportunity to see the wholesale marketing process first-hand from a farmer who currently sells through wholesale market channels.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: January 17, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Jim Johnson, SC Small Business Development Center, JIMMYMJ@mailbox.sc.edu 

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Advanced IPM: Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation Strategies

Thursday, February 15 | In-person | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Clemson University Coastal Research & Education Center
2700 Savannah Hwy
Charleston, SC 29414

Learn how to use a cutting edge advanced IPM (Integrated Pest Management) technique for reducing soil-born pests, especially nematodes. Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) has been used in Asia and northern Europe for some time now but is slowly making its way into the Southeast region of the United States.  With the loss of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant, this technique, that uses available sources of biologically derived carbon, is a promising strategy.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: February 12, 2024 at 12:00 Noon
Coordinator: Dr. Dave Lamie, Clemson University, dlamie@clemson.edu

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Leaping into Creative Conservation: Issues and Techniques for Farmers

Thursday, February 29, 2024 | In-person | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Aiken County Agricultural Services
1555 Richland Ave East
Aiken SC 29801

Explore a variety of conservation techniques recommended to farmers who prioritize environmental stewardship.  Topics include no-till cover crops, rotational grazing, and mobile irrigation.  This on-farm workshop will include a hands-on demonstration of a grain drill, illustrating how this technique can help improve soil, increase profit and efficiency, while benefiting the environment.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: February 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Sonya Terry, Aiken County Soil & Water, aikensoilandwater@gmail.com

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On-Farm Water Management

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 | In-person | 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center
64 Research Road
Blackville, SC 29817

Water is a critical resource in all agriculture production.  This workshop will present topics pertaining to on-farm utilization of groundwater and surface water. Discussions will include the best options for accessing the water source, specific water use systems on the farm, and conservation of water quantity and quality.

Specific workshop topics will include:

  • Hydrology of groundwater and surface water
  • The basics of accessing water for farm use
  • What does my water report mean?
  • Drip irrigation: where do I start?
  • Livestock watering, pasture management
  • Water conservation and protection and NRCS programs related to these practices

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: March 4, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Becky Davis, Clemson Extension, rwllms@clemson.edu

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Getting Out of Nature’s Way: Soil Health in Practice for Grazing and Vegetables

Thursday, March 14, 2024 | In-person | 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Augusta Road Ruritan Club
7788 Augusta Road
Piedmont, SC 29673

Learn soil health principles and dig deeper into the practices that increase soil health for both grazing and growing.  Learn about four experiments that you can do on your own farm to determine soil health and bring home testing tools! Tour Pecan Dale Farmstead to see their regenerative grazing program and Farm in the Wildwood to learn about their intensive soil health focused market farming that includes a farm stand, agritourism, high tunnel, cover crops, intercropping, CSA, and restaurant sales.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: March 7, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Kirsten Robertson, Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District, kirobertson@greenvillecounty.org

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Advanced Soil Health: Alternative Crop Nutrition Sources and Bio-Stimulants

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | In-person | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Clemson University Coastal Research & Education Center
2700 Savannah Hwy
Charleston, SC 29414

This workshop will cover alternative sources of nutrition for crops. Learn about a wide range of alternative "solutions" coming on the market in response to increased costs of NPK (nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium) fertilizer inputs. The day includes discussion of research from University of Illinois and Clemson University, as well as efforts to create soil stimulants based on algae being produced in South Carolina.The workshop will include a presentation from an algae-producing facility on Kiawah Island and a special guest speaker from the University of Illinois.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: March 18, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Dr. Dave Lamie, Clemson University, dlamie@clemson.edu

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Best Agricultural Management Practices for Forage-Livestock Systems

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | In-person | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center
64 Research Road
Blackville, SC 29817

This multidisciplinary workshop will focus on best management practices for forage-livestock systems aiming to enhance forage production and quality, profitability, and sustainability of operations. Topics include soil fertility and health, forages establishment and management, economics, weed control, animal nutrition, greenhouse gas emissions, among others.

There will be hands-on demonstrations including:

  • Weed ID, control, calibration, and herbicide application
  • Using a Grazing Stick, Forage mass and how much do livestock eat per day?
  • Forage defoliation frequency and intensity and soil health
  • Improved management strategies to extend the grazing days (stockpiling, overseeding stands)
  • Nutrient cycling, litter decomposition and carbon sequestration
  • Hay Bale Quality and Nutrition, Sampling, & Weight Calculations
  • Forage Field Scouting and Stand Assessment

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in follow-up online educational sessions. This workshop fulfills 1.5 South Carolina Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education Recertification Credits

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: March 21, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Liliane Silva, Clemson Extension, lseveri@clemson.edu

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Website Development and Analytics

Monday, April 1, 2024 | Online via ZOOM | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Websites are often the “front door” to your farm business. Having an online presence that reflects the quality of your products is critical in expanding your customer base. During this workshop you will learn about various website creation platforms as well as how to measure the effectiveness of your website and make improvements accordingly.  You will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from farmers who have experience in developing and leveraging high quality websites to grow their bottom lines.

Prerequisite Knowledge: This workshop assumes participants will have a general knowledge of basic internet use and website navigation.
General Public Cost: $35.00
Deadline to register or request refund: March 28, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Bethany Funkhouser, Clemson Extension, bnf@clemson.edu

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Good Agriculture Practices and FSMA Produce Safety Rule

Thursday, April 11, 2024 | In-person | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location TBD, Charleston County

Explore best practices in fruit and vegetable food safety on the farm!   Participants will learn about Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs); how to develop a farm food safety plan; understand the GAP audit process through a mock audit.  Participants will also learn about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements and exemptions.  Learn how to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: April 4, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Chad Carter, Clemson Extension, ctcarte@clemson.edu

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Labor Issues & Personnel Management for the Small & Beginning Farm

NEW DATE: Monday, April 22, 2024 | In-person | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
SC Farm Bureau Federation
Main Conference Room
724 Knox Abbott Drive
Cayce, SC 29033

Managing labor and personnel for the agricultural producer is an ongoing challenge.  Post-COVID dynamics have only increased the barriers and difficulties.  Each agricultural production operation has its unique and specific personnel needs that must be addressed to ensure success.  Engaging best practices and processes for identifying, attracting, hiring, and retaining employees can aid in creating a cohesive team that helps your agricultural operation thrive. This workshop will explore basic human resource actions, employee scope and scale (full-time/part-time/seasonal work), employee recruitment and retention, state and federal regulations, and lessons from successful ag-focused employers.

Prerequisite Knowledge: None
General Public Cost: $50.00, includes lunch
Deadline to register or request refund: NEW DEADLINE: Monday, April 15, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Coordinator: Dr. Kirby Player, Clemson University, kplayer@clemson.edu

Register >>