Discover FBM

Our vision is to provide educational opportunities for students to be successful in a competitive agricultural environment and our mission to deliver management education for decision making that achieves individual business goals.

Introduction To

Farm Business Management


Farm business management programs are designed to provide education to farm owners and operators or persons interested in farming. The purpose of the program is to assist students in meeting their business and personal goals.

This is best accomplished through the use of quality records and sound business decisions. Effective financial management in the business is the best way for the business to maintain that competitive edge.

Urban Agriculture Farm Business Management

Emerging Farmers encompasses both those individuals who are entirely new to farming as well as those individuals who have been farming for generations but were outside the scope of traditional state and Federal agricultural support programming.

FBM Guiding Principles
  • Improved Quality of Life in Rural communities
  • Achievement of Student Goals
  • Awareness of the Global Importance of Agriculture
  • Integrity in Student Interaction
  • Timely and Student Focused Programming

Did FBM improve your competitive advantage in farming?

  • Strongly disagree
  • Somewhat disagree
  • Neither agree or disagree
  • Somewhat agree
  • Strongly agree
  • Strongly disagree
  • Somewhat disagree
  • Neither agree or disagree
  • Somewhat agree
  • Strongly agree

Program Details

Yes, the annual tuition is $2100 (10 credits a year) as you are enrolling into a community college system. The student farmer can spread those credits over 3 semesters and there are multiple scholarships available to help with tuition. Contact your FBM instructor on how to apply for them.

Find Your FBM Instructor

As long as you want. The program is credit based and so you work towards a certificate. Once you obtain one certificate you can enroll for the next level, then the next level and so on if you so choose.

Since 1951 and there has been a database of historical farm data since 1955 that is available on our website

View Historic Reports

There are 66 instructors across the state that work through 7 different community colleges. You can find a complete listing of instructors on our Deans and Instructors page.

Find Your FBM Instructor

Estimated Gain per Year

  • Beginner $10,903
  • Organic $20,727
  • Specialty Crop $18,638
  • All Others $20,552

Participating Colleges

Resources

Find An Instructor


Every instructor at our partner colleges is an experienced member of the farming community. They are available to consult with you on financial and management needs.

Find by region
Resources

Farm Transition


To encourage the continued growth of new generations of farmers, resources are available to help beginning, transitioning, and retiring farmers ensure future success.

Learn More
Resources

Rural Mental Health


Minnesota has taken great strides to ensuring the mental well-being of our farmers. If you're in need of assistance, call and speak with someone today.

Talk to an expert
Farm Business Management Map

Farm Data Reports

These reports summarize the individual farm records of farms in Minnesota that are enrolled in Farm Management Education programs. The current financial status of farm operators and net returns from each crop enterprise is reported. In addition to the average of all farms, the averages for the high and low net income groups are also presented. To insure anonymity, only averages of five or more farms are reported.

What is best about the FBM program?

  • Accounting/Recordkeeping
  • Benchmarking against others
  • Benchmarking against self
  • Cash flow planning
  • Estate planning
  • Financial statements
  • Instructor/analyst as a 3rd party reviewer
  • Interpreting financial results
  • Other
  • Tax planning

FBM Resources

Learn more on our Farm Transition page.

Learn more on our Emerging Farmer page/Página de agricultores emergentes.