Educational Opportunities
AgCarolina Farm Credit offers an online educational opportunity to individuals before or during their business venture. The AgBiz courses consists of AgBiz Planner and AgBiz Basics.
- Ag Biz Basic: Designed for YBS and Veteran individuals looking to begin, or are currently in the very beginning stages of an agricultural operation
- Ag Biz Planner: Designed for YBS and Veteran individuals currently involved in an agricultural operation. Participants will either be the primary decision maker or have major influence in decisions involving their farming operation.
Participants that complete the requirements for their program, which includes completing the online modules and business plans for Ag Biz Planner participants only, will be invited to an in-person conference in February 2027. This leadership conference will allow participants to network and apply what they learned in a group setting.
Application Information
The 2026 online application will open May 1, 2026.
Ag Biz Program Overview
Goals
- Assist young, beginning, and small farmers (YBS) and veterans in becoming more successful business people through knowledge of the marketplace, financial, and business management topics
- Develop a relationship with a loan officer mentor who will guide and direct throughout the course
- Provide a value-added service to customers by helping them understand the lending process
- Take advantage of the convenience of technology by providing an online training curriculum, to improve their individual skills and help them become more responsible financial managers
- Host a face-to-face meeting allowing course graduates to network, have healthy discussions with their classmates, and create lasting connections to equip these individuals to operate successful farm operations
Eligibility
Ag Biz participants must reside within AgCarolina Farm Credit's service territory in North Carolina and meet one of the following qualifications:
- Young Farmers – farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products who are age 35 or younger
- Beginning Farmers – farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products who have 10 years or less farming or ranching experience
- Small Farmers – farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products who normally generate less than $350,000 in gross cash farm income
- Veterans – A former member of the Armed Forces of the United States
Ag Biz Programs
Courses
For the 2026 program, participants that complete all online modules will be invited to a three-day in person conference held in Eastern NC in February 2027. AgCarolina Farm Credit covers all conference e costs including one hotel room for two nights, all meals, and speaker fees. Each participant is responsible to provide their own transportation to the conference.
Ag Biz Basic Program
Courses
The Ag Biz Basic course holds a time commitment of approximately 3 months and includes four online modules including:
- Side by Side with your Lender
- Do you Cash Flow? Cash Flow Planning
- What are you worth financially? Balance Sheet
- Did you make a Profit? Income Statement
Cost
- For AgCarolina Farm Credit Members, there is no cost for this program.
- For non-member, there is a $150 fee to participate in this program.
- For both members and non-members, participants that complete the program will be invited to a three-day conference. AgCarolina Farm Credit will cover all other conference costs including two-night lodging, meals and speaker fees.
Ag Biz Planner Program
Courses
The Ag Biz Planner course holds a time commitment of approximately 6 months and includes ten online modules including:
- Megatrends Facing the Industry
- Strategic Business Planning
- Preparing for Your Lender
- Constructing Financial Statements: The Balance Sheet
- Constructing Financial Statements: The Income Statement and Cash Flow Statement
- How Lending Decisions Are Made
- Farm Business Management Factors
- Growth and Transition Management
- Personal Financial Management
- Communications, Ethics, and Professionalism
Cost
- For AgCarolina Farm Credit Members, there is no cost for this program.
- For non-member, there is a $250 fee to participate in this program.
- For both members and non-members, participants that complete the program will be invited to a three-day conference. AgCarolina Farm Credit will cover all other conference costs including two-night lodging, meals and speaker fees.