Aspiring and established small farmers can improve their business planning and orchard management skills through hands-on workshops in March and April.

University of Missouri Extension will offer “Root to Profit: Apple and Pear Tree Grafting and Small Farm Business Essentials” workshops across the Show-Me State this spring:

• March 25 in Maryville, 4-7 p.m.
• April 2 in Mountain Grove, 1-4 p.m.
• April 9 in St. Louis, 9 a.m.-noon.
• April 11 in Troy, 9 a.m.-noon.

“From harnessing the power of grafting to uncovering business planning resources, attendees will walk away equipped with tools to grow their operations in 2025,” said Eli Isele, MU Extension field specialist in horticulture.

Isele said the workshops are an excellent opportunity for small farmers looking to expand their knowledge, improve profitability and gain hands-on experience.

“Root to Profit” workshops will lend insights into business planning and available resources through MU Extension, including high-density orchard enterprise budgets that can be customized to evaluate costs and returns, he said.

Attendees will also learn about orchard establishment and management, including the use of grafting as a cost-effective means to expand fruit plantings. Isele noted that attendees will participate in a hands-on activity and leave with three fruit trees that they have grafted themselves.

“Root to Profit” workshops will also feature presentations from U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency staff, who will share information about the agency’s loan programs and resources available to small farmers.

The spring workshops are made possible through MU Extension’s partnership with FSA, focusing on equipping urban and nontraditional producers with knowledge and resources to pursue agricultural enterprises.

“FSA is a tremendous partner to Missouri agriculture,” said Mallory Rahe, MU Extension associate professor and FSA project lead. “We hope that workshop attendees can better understand how to work with FSA as they start or grow their farm.”

Learn more about the workshops and register for a location near you at http://muext.us/roottoprofitworkshops.

For questions or accommodations, contact Eli Isele at elihuisele@missouri.edu or 636-970-3000.

These workshops are supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency through project award number FSA23CPT0012862.