Financial Health To Soil Wealth: A Webinar Series for Farmers & Landowners

Join us for a free five-part webinar series designed for beginning and underserved farmers! Gain knowledge about how to build the foundation of financial health for resilient soil health transitions and wealth building. Boost your financial literacy through financial health basics such as bookkeeping, business planning, planning for land access and heirs' property, and accessing aligned capital. Participants will also receive farming-specific resources and access to programs to achieve soil health-building practices.

Upcoming Sessions:

1. Resources to Build Your Farm’s Financial Health for Long-Term Resilience

September 23, 12–1pm CT

Learn how financial health practices create the foundation for resilience, soil health transitions, and wealth-building opportunities. Explore the FARMWISE Hub, an interactive platform supporting underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.

Presenters: Mary Bell, Lorena Muñoz-Holladay, Zara Aspenson (Croatan Institute); Ashley Waggoner (USDA ARS, SHARE)

2. How Soil Health Transitions Can Build Financial Resilience

October 28, 12–1pm CT

Discover the financial benefits of soil health practices and how ecological resilience on the farm strengthens financial resilience and wealth-building opportunities.

Presenters: Zara Aspenson, Josh Humphreys (Croatan Institute)

3. Foundations of FARMWISE Financial Health Practices

November 25, 12–1pm CT

Learn foundational practices, like bookkeeping and business planning, that will set your farm up for long-term success.

Presenters: Mary Bell, Lorena Muñoz-Holladay (Croatan Institute)

4. Long-Term Planning for Land Access and Heirs’ Property

December 2, 12–1pm CT

Explore tools for land access and heirs’ property planning, including the VT Law School Land Access Legal Toolkit.

Presenters: John Fenderson (Croatan Institute); Francine Miller (VT Law School, Heirs Property Practitioner Network)

5. Accessing Aligned Capital for Soil Health Transitions

December 9, 12–1pm CT

Learn how to fund your business by identifying the right partners and accessing capital that supports your farm’s vision.

Presenters: Josh Humphreys, James Smith (Croatan Institute)

Questions? Reach out to Ashley Waggoner, SHARE Engagement Coordinator at ashley.Waggoner@usda.gov

This event is presented by Croatan Institute, with support from Michael Fields Agricultural Institute and funded by The Agricultural Research Service and Soil Health Alliance for Research and Engagement.

About Croatan Institute

Croatan Institute is an independent, nonprofit research and action institute whose mission is to build social equity and ecological resilience by leveraging finance to create pathways to a just economy.

About Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI)

MFAI is a non-profit organization that has been cultivating resiliency through research, education, and policy work since 1984. With a broad coalition of public and private partners, The Institute supports farmers, food systems and communities in the Upper Midwest and beyond through a range of programs and initiatives. We believe agriculture can sustain both human and ecosystem health, while advancing food security, independence, and justice. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for news and events.

About The Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table.

About Soil Health Alliance for Research and Engagement (SHARE)

SHARE is a collaborative effort focused on soil health research and outreach. Our goal is to investigate and promote profitable, community-supporting, and practical strategies to building agricultural soil health in Wisconsin and beyond.