Small and Midsize Iowa Farmer Training Program: Marketing entrepreneurship and business planning skills

Two University of Northern Iowa business programs collaborated over the past year to assess the needs of farmers in northeast Iowa for technical assistance and training to start or expand alternative businesses to commodity farming. The goal of the project was to conduct a survey of NE Iowa farmers to evaluate their current economic circumstances, identify their plans for alternative business operations and measure demand for a variety of small business assistance services. Based upon the survey results, new technical assistance and training opportunities will be developed and beta tested in early 2006.

The random sample survey of 4,000 northeast Iowa farmers was conducted in the spring of 2005. Preliminary results indicated a great deal of interest among farmers for small business technical assistance and training, including specific topical needs. A summary of the survey and responses will be presented. A partnership of business service providers statewide has been developed to create a series of technical assistance and training offerings which will be launched in January 2006.

Maureen Collins-Williams - Director
UNI Regional Business Center/ SBDC
Phone: 319.236.8123
Email: maureen.collins-williams@uni.edu