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SAN ANGELO _ Texas Cooperative Extension's Tomorrow's Top Agricultural Producer Program is meant to make good producers better.
Dr. Jason Johnson, Extension economist in San Angelo, said registration is open for the two-year program that starts this fall. Participants receive business management training, individualized business plans, and follow-up advice and guidance from a team of professionals.
Extension educators and instructors from universities and private industry will conduct four, four-day sessions over a two-year period.
Topics, dates and locations for the progressive-styled courses are:
•Basics of Business Management, Amarillo, Nov. 15-18;
•Production and Financial Planning, College Station, Jan. 17-20, 2006;
•Agricultural Marketing, Dallas, Nov. 14-17, 2006; and
•Wrap-up and mentor introduction, Kerrville, Jan. 15-17, 2007.
Dr. Blake Bennett, Extension economist at Dallas, said regardless of the commodity, the program offers the opportunity to learn more effective and efficient ways to manage an agricultural operation.
"The most typical comment we hear from previous program graduates is that they were keeping fairly good records before the program, but those records didn't tell them anything when it came time to make decisions," Bennett said. "After the program, their records are useful, practical and informative. Graduates leave with a clear vision of the direction their operation is taking and the role each family member contributes to its success."
Registration is $1,000 per operation, due by Oct. 1. The fee covers all workshop materials, meals and an individual strategic planning analysis using Extension's FARM Assistance program.
For further information or to obtain a registration packet, contact Bennett at (972) 231-5362 or b-bennett@tamu.edu . Information can also be obtained from the following website, http://ttap.tamu.edu/.
