Midwest School for Beginning Apple Growers

You bring your interest and hopes for your own orchard business. We expose you to what you need to know and plan for as you plant trees and grow.

This school will not be held in 2012. You can view the 2011 brochure here.

Details about the Midwest School for Beginning Apple Growers

The intensive three-day course demonstrates what it takes to set up and run a successful orchard business.

What do we offer?

  • A unique program that combines knowledge from experienced growers and UW faculty
  • Opportunities to understand basic concepts in apple production and what it takes to organize and succeed in this type of business
  • A holistic approach to growing and marketing
  • Extended time with experienced growers, each offering unique perspectives, invaluable tips and practical know-how
  • A chance to network and learn from fellow orchardists, farmers and entrepreneurs

Our intensive, three-day course gives you a realistic picture of what it takes to run a successful orchard operation—including capital, management, labor and other resources. Topics include soil fertility, pest management, business planning, risk management, recordkeeping, marketing and economics.  Grower-instructors primarily teach the course, with featured presentations and hands-on labs by UW faculty and other specialists. Grower-instructors’ farms vary in scale, marketing strategies and growing methods.

Scheduling

The three-day course is usually held in January, February or early March.

Is this course right for you?

This course is intended for people who are serious about starting an orchard business in the Midwest. To learn more about this school, contact John Hendrickson at the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, UW-Madison, (608) 265-3704 or jhendric@wisc.edu.

For more information and application materials contact:

John Hendrickson
Phone: (608) 265-3704
Fax: (608) 265-3020
E-mail: jhendric@wisc.edu

U.S. Mail:
c/o CIAS
1535 Observatory Drive
UW-Madison
Madison, WI 53706

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CIAS in the community

CIAS recognized for work on value chains

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development has recognized CIAS and Agriculture of the Middle as "influential initiatives" working on value chains over the past ten years. Value chains are strategic alliances between farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and other partners in the food supply chain. These partners work together to deliver high quality, differentiated food to the marketplace and share profits equally. CIAS has researched and developed teaching materials on value chains. CIAS researcher Steve Stevenson contributed to two articles in the value chain issue of JAFSCD; view the abstracts here and here.

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