Join us for an apple and pear tree grafting and small farm business workshop. Learning how to graft your own apple and pear trees can be a cost-effective way to expand your orchard and fruit plantings. Any fruit tree purchased from a nursery is a grafted tree. Grafting can help you get the varieties you want on the rootstock that has the characteristics you need, such as a shorter tree on a dwarf rootstock.
The workshop will feature an Introduction to Small Farm Business Planning class, and a demonstration of how to use a crop enterprise budget for high density orchards commonly found on U-Pick apple farms. Developing a business plan and understanding a crop budget are the foundations to developing profitable small-farm enterprises. USDA Farm Service Agency staff will discuss small-farm loan programs.
The USDA Farm Service Agency is the lender of first opportunity for small farms, offers below-market interest rates, and funds agricultural enterprises that other lenders might not be willing to extend credit to.
This workshop will feature a class on orchard establishments and fruit tree grafting, and a hands-on grafting activity. You will take home 3 fruit trees that you have grafted yourself.
Agenda:
- Orchard Establishment and Fruit Tree Grafting
- Hands-on Grafting Activity
- Intro to Ag-Business Planning and Crop Enterprise Budgets
- FSA Resources for Small Farmers
Cost: $15
Contact: Eli Isele, elihuisele@missouri.edu, 6369703000
