MSU Extension Farm Management

Planning for Profits - A Production Economics and Farm Marketing Workshop

March 13, 2026 8:30AM - 3:30PM

Registration Deadline: March 12, 2026 - 05:00PM

Montcalm Community College, 2800 College Drive, Sidney, Michigan

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Contact: Steve Whittington , Jonathan LaPorte , Vicki Newcomb

MSU Extension in partnership with Montcalm Community College will host a Planning for Profit Workshop agriculture workshop. This workshop is a new workshop designed to address a myriad of farm profitability topics in production agriculture.

This one-day workshop will begin with an overview of enterprise budgeting and cost of production concepts in agriculture economics, which will help producers evaluate the profitability of current enterprises. Participants will learn basic economic concepts and enterprise budget components which will help producers make sound and timely decisions in their production systems. A practical application of skills will be conducted with a “Back of the Envelope” budget exercise by participants.

Farm marketing will also be discussed including how to cover cost, creating margin goals, alternative markets, and marketing price considerations.

The workshop will conclude with a farmer panel made up of local producers to discuss various profitability concepts on their farm using real-life examples and discussing ”Agriculture in the Future.”

8:30 – 9:00am	Check-in/Registration
9:00 – 9:15am	Welcome and Introduction by Brian Gardner – Program Coordinator Montcalm Community College Institute of Agriculture Technology Program
9:15 – 10:45am	Introduction to Enterprise Budgeting and Cost of Production Understanding enterprise budgets and economic profit Opportunity costs Cost of production Depreciation and margins
10:45 – 11:00am	Break
11:00 – 12:00pm	Agricultural Marketing Discussion Marketing and costs Records Margin goals and cost of production Smaller farms and agritourism
12:00 – 1:00pm	Lunch with Q&A
1:00 – 2:30pm	Local Farmer Panel – “Forecasting Agriculture in the Future” A farmer panel discussion with local farmers who have achieved successful profitability and the decision-making that led to success
2:30 – 3:30pm	Practical Application – “Back of the Envelope” Enterprise Budget Putting it all together with the concepts learned in the workshop, participants will construct a quick, enterprise budget to evaluate profitability of an enterprise on their own farm

Register

Get Directions

Related People

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  Steve Whittington
  whitti34@msu.edu

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  Jonathan LaPorte
  laportej@msu.edu

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  Vicki Newcomb
  newcombv@msu.edu

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