Free Online Farm Management Courses – Are They Worth Your Time?

Farm management education is critical to small farm success

You might have noticed that about half the pages on this website and more than half my books talk about the importance of planning, marketing, management and operations for small farms. I’ve spent a significant amount of time and money over the years learning about and applying farm management principles and practices. These days there are a number of free online farm management courses available to anyone with a phone. Obviously the cost isn’t a issue, but are they worth your time?

Understand that I'm a big believer in containing education.  I got my college diploma more than forty years ago, but most of what I learned about the business of farming came after that, through reading and both self-directed and guided coursework. So how do the free courses stack up?

This article will look at what these courses typically cover, their pros and cons, and point you toward a selection of free resources available.

Why Farm Management Education Is Critical

Bottom line, farming is a business. And a business needs management systems and structures to survive and thrive. The small farmer needs an understanding of strategic planning, financial management, marketing, and sustainability practices.

You need to be able to 1- plan for the results you want; and 2 – track your results compared to the plan.

Free online farm management courses promise an accessible way to gain this critical knowledge without the expense of traditional education.

What Do These Courses Typically Cover?

My research discovered free online farm management courses that encompass a broad range of topics. Here's sample:

• Financial Planning and Budgeting: Learn how to manage expenses, forecast revenues, and make informed financial decisions.
• Crop and Livestock Management: Gain insights into best practices for cultivating crops and raising animals sustainably.
• Agricultural Marketing: Understand how to market your products effectively, including branding, distribution channels, and customer engagement.
• Use of Technology in Farming: Explore how modern tools like GPS, drones, and farm management software can optimize operations.
• Sustainability and Environmental Practices: Study methods to reduce environmental impact and promote long-term soil health.
• Risk Management: Learn strategies to mitigate risks related to weather, pests, and market fluctuations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Get up-to-date information on laws and regulations that affect farming activities.

The Pros and Cons of Free Online Farm Management Courses

Pros

• Cost-Effective: As these courses are free, they eliminate the financial barriers to education.
• Flexibility: Self-directed courses let you learn at your own pace and schedule, which is ideal for busy farmers (is there such a thing as a non-busy farmer)?
• Accessibility: Access course materials from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Diverse Resources: Exposure to a variety of teaching styles and materials from different institutions, in multiple media formats

Cons

• Lack of Certification: Free courses may not offer accredited certifications upon completion. Some offer certificates, but the usefulness of these is questionable
• Variable Quality: The quality of content can vary significantly between courses. Some that I researched were quite superficial and appeared to be written by academics rather than people experienced in the field
• Limited Interaction: Opportunities for guidance and interaction with instructors may be minimal.

Some Free Online Farm Management Courses to Consider

1. Farm Management and Maintenance by ALISON

URL: https://alison.com/course/farm-management-and-maintenance

ALISON offers a course that covers the fundamentals of farm management, including financial planning, marketing, and sustainability practices. The course is delivered through short video clips. Includes an assessment module, and a certificate is available. The certificate must be purchased.

Learning outcomes for the Allison farm management course

Usefulness: very much Farm 101, an introduction to the topics but no in-depth coverage. Worth doing if you want a CPD certificate for the resume.

2. University of Guelph Foundations in Agricultural Management

URL: https://www.guelphagriculturalmanagement.com/

The University of Guelph offers this course in collaboration with RBC and Farm Credit Canada. Topics covered include agricultural business strategy and planning, farm management, succession planning and financial fundamentals.

The material is presented in a series of short videos delivered by teaching staff at the University.

University of Guelph farm management course outline

Usefulness: Provides an overview of the topics, but you couldn’t actually apply this material without further study or guidance. It does serve as a good introduction to topics the small farmer SHOULD know about.

3. Sustainable Agriculture Courses by SARE

URL: https://courses.sare.org/courses.htm

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program offers courses focused on environmentally friendly farming practices.They offer free courses covering farm planning, marketing and management.

I’ve read and applied a lot of information I learned from SARE, highly recommended for the new grower.

4. class central free Agriculture Courses and Certifications

URL https://www.classcentral.com/subject/agriculture

Class central has curated 668 agricultural-related courses delivered by video. Here’s how they describe their material: “Learn Agriculture, earn certificates with free online courses from Harvard, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Yale and other top universities around the world. Read reviews to decide if a class is right for you”.

Usefulness: I did NOT audit 668 courses, many of which consist of 20+ hours of video. The handful I looked at seem to provide a comprehensive presentation of their topics. If you are comfortable learning through video instruction, my advice is check them out and do you own research into topics that interest you.

5. USDA New Farmers Training Portal

URL: https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmers

The USDA has a variety of resources for beginning farmers, including free training courses in farm management, business planning, and conservation practices. It’s a good introduction for those just starting out in the field. The portal also has links to funding opportunities for new farmers and USDA resources for military veteran farmers.

Usefulness: Lots of resources here in addition to training. This should be one of your first stops if you are a US-based new or soon to be farmer.

Conclusion: SOME free online farm management courses are worth your time

If you want to learn more about farm management principles and practices, these courses are a good place to start. But understand you are trading time for money; you will have to research the various course offerings to find those that meet your learning needs.

But investing time in learning about farm management can yield significant returns for your small farm business. Free online courses offer a flexible and cost-effective way to enhance your skills and stay competitive in the industry. While they come with certain limitations, the knowledge gained can be invaluable.

I Offer Some Farm Management Courses of my Own

Not free, but feedback from course participants suggests they are worth the investment.

Bootstrap Market Gardening Course

Planning For Profit Course

Bootstrap Boot Camp Success Plan Course