FBM AgSpark - Certificate

14 Credits    CERT3135/CERT2154,  Academic Catalog 2026-2027

In effort to attact new farmers and beginning farmers to rural Minnesota, FBM instructors have identified several courses that would aid individuals as they start their farming careers.  Our mission is to meet the personal and career goals of a wide range of individual learners that enhances the quality of life as individuals sustain their agricultural entrepreneurial venture.

Campuses: Faribault and North Mankato
Program Start Semesters: Fall, Spring and Summer

The course requirements listed below are specific to the current school year (noted above). If you need to view the program from previous years view our Catalog Archive.

Required Technical Courses (2 Courses)

Select the following courses:

FBMT1112   Foundations for Farm Business Management (4 credits)

This course is an overview of the Farm Business Management Program. The student will be introduced to goal setting, self and business assessment, record keeping, and business projections to provide the foundation for personal and business management progress. Current issues affecting business management are an integral part of the course. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT1211   Intro to Farm Business Management (4 credits)

This course introduces basic farm business management concepts. Students will study the farm management planning cycle and develop an understanding of its relationship to: family and farm business goal setting, cash and enterprise accounting principles, and tax planning. (Prerequisites: None)

 

Elective Credits (6 Credits)

Choose 6 credits from the following courses:

FBMT1170   Intro to Farm Commodity Marketing (3 credits)

This course is designed to introduce the various methods and tools to market farm commodities. Students will study types of marketing contracts, cash markets, the role of brokers and market advisors, and the importance of insurance. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2205   Special Topics-General Farm Management (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in general farm management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Tax planning, balance sheet development, cash flow planning, analysis-whole farm, enterprise analysis, record keeping, bench marking, production yields, ration interpretation and goal setting. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2206   Special Topics-General Farm Management (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in general farm management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Tax planning, balance sheet development, cash flow planning, analysis-whole farm, enterprise analysis, record keeping, bench marking, production yields, ration interpretation and goal setting. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2207   Special Topics-General Farm Management (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in general farm management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Tax planning, balance sheet development, cash flow planning, analysis-whole farm, enterprise analysis, record keeping, bench marking, production yields, ration interpretation and goal setting. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2208   Special Topics-General Farm Management (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in general farm management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Tax planning, balance sheet development, cash flow planning, analysis-whole farm, enterprise analysis, record keeping, bench marking, production yields, ration interpretation and goal setting. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2209   Special Topics-General Farm Management (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in general farm management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Tax planning, balance sheet development, cash flow planning, analysis-whole farm, enterprise analysis, record keeping, bench marking, production yields, ration interpretation and goal setting. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2215   Special Topics-Marketing (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in marketing management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Small grains, corn, soybeans, pork, cattle, milk, canola, edible beans, vegetable crops, sugar beets, grass seed, forages, seed crops, wild rice, sunflowers, other commodities not listed and organic products. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2216   Special Topics-Marketing (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in marketing management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Small grains, corn, soybeans, pork, cattle, milk, canola, edible beans, vegetable crops, sugar beets, grass seed, forages, seed crops, wild rice, sunflowers, other commodities not listed and organic products. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2217   Special Topics-Marketing (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in marketing management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Small grains, corn, soybeans, pork, cattle, milk, canola, edible beans, vegetable crops, sugar beets, grass seed, forages, seed crops, wild rice, sunflowers, other commodities not listed and organic products. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2218   Special Topics-Marketing (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in marketing management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Small grains, corn, soybeans, pork, cattle, milk, canola, edible beans, vegetable crops, sugar beets, grass seed, forages, seed crops, wild rice, sunflowers, other commodities not listed and organic products. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2219   Special Topics-Marketing (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in marketing management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best fit student needs: Small grains, corn, soybeans, pork, cattle, milk, canola, edible beans, vegetable crops, sugar beets, grass seed, forages, seed crops, wild rice, sunflowers, other commodities not listed and organic products. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2225   Special Topics-Crops (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in crop management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Corn, soybeans, alfalfa, mixed grass, small grains, specialty crops (sunflower, berries, seeds, trees, etc.), pasture, corn silage, cover crops and vegetable crops. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2226   Special Topics-Crops (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in crop management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Corn, soybeans, alfalfa, mixed grass, small grains, specialty crops (sunflower, berries, seeds, trees, etc.), pasture, corn silage, cover crops and vegetable crops. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2227   Special Topics-Crops (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in crop management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Corn, soybeans, alfalfa, mixed grass, small grains, specialty crops (sunflower, berries, seeds, trees, etc.), pasture, corn silage, cover crops and vegetable crops. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2228   Special Topics-Crops (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in crop management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Corn, soybeans, alfalfa, mixed grass, small grains, specialty crops (sunflower, berries, seeds, trees, etc.), pasture, corn silage, cover crops and vegetable crops. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2229   Special Topics-Crops (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in crop management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Corn, soybeans, alfalfa, mixed grass, small grains, specialty crops (sunflower, berries, seeds, trees, etc.), pasture, corn silage, cover crops and vegetable crops. (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2235   Special Topics-Livestock (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in livestock management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Beef-cow/calf, dairy, swine, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken, dairy heifers, beef market and specialty livestock (organic, honey bees, deer, elk, etc.). (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2236   Special Topics-Livestock (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in livestock management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Beef-cow/calf, dairy, swine, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken, dairy heifers, beef market and specialty livestock (organic, honey bees, deer, elk, etc.). (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2237   Special Topics-Livestock (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in livestock management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Beef-cow/calf, dairy, swine, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken, dairy heifers, beef market and specialty livestock (organic, honey bees, deer, elk, etc.). (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2238   Special Topics-Livestock (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in livestock management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Beef-cow/calf, dairy, swine, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken, dairy heifers, beef market and specialty livestock (organic, honey bees, deer, elk, etc.). (Prerequisites: None)

FBMT2239   Special Topics-Livestock (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of special topics in livestock management for students actively engaged in the operation and management of a farm business. Student and instructor will choose from said topics to best serve student needs: Beef-cow/calf, dairy, swine, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken, dairy heifers, beef market and specialty livestock (organic, honey bees, deer, elk, etc.). (Prerequisites: None)

 

PLEASE NOTE: All program plans are preliminary and curriculum may change without notice. Your catalog of record may have different requirements.