Published: July 01, 2009 06:20 pm      

Farm Credit to provide financial training

ASHEBORO — Farm Credit has received a grant to cover the tuition and make a new e-learning financial and business management course available to North Carolina farm families. The on-line training will be offered statewide through North Carolina’s three Farm Credit associations.

The Farm Credit University curriculum includes training geared toward business plan development, financial planning, budgeting and other money matters essential to a farm’s success.

The program is funded by a $94,500 grant from the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The N.C. General Assembly established the commission in 2000 to help tobacco farmers, farm workers and related businesses impacted by the transition out of tobacco farming. The commission’s funding comes from money paid by cigarette manufacturers as a result of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement.

Farm Credit’s e-learning program targets young, beginning, small and minority farmers throughout the state. Priority will be given to former tobacco farmers and others impacted by the Tobacco buyout. The grant provides for training 30 producers in a set of two classes over the next two years.

Applications will be available soon with the first class beginning in September 2009. The local Carolina Farm Credit office is located at 251 Rock Crusher Road and can be reached at (336) 629-2141.