Winter Business Intensive: Infrastructure and Natural Resources

Plan the Physical Farm Around the Business

Winter Business Intensive: Infrastructure and Natural Resources is the third session in Appalachian RC&D’s 2026-27 Winter Business Intensive Field School. The November 3 class runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Langston Centre in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The session focuses on the physical systems that make a farm work and the natural resources that support production. Buildings, fencing, water, roads, equipment, soils, pasture, and other resources can determine what an operation can realistically produce and how efficiently it can grow.

Match Investments to Real Farm Needs

Participants can consider buildings, fencing, water systems, equipment, roads, utilities, and other infrastructure while also examining soil, water, forests, pasture, and related natural resources.

The goal is not simply to list improvements. Farmers can use the planning process to ask whether a proposed investment actually supports their production system, markets, and long-term business goals. A costly building or piece of equipment can become a burden if it does not solve a real production or labor problem.

Planning infrastructure before purchasing can help producers prioritize investments and understand how individual improvements fit into the larger farm system.

Put Conservation Into the Business Plan

Natural-resource decisions also have business consequences. Soil condition, water availability, erosion, pasture quality, and woodland management can influence productivity, costs, and resilience.

Farmers can use the session to think about conservation and resource stewardship as part of business planning, not as a separate activity. In some cases, conservation practices can also connect producers with technical assistance or cost-share programs that make improvements more affordable.

Prepare for Later Financial Decisions

This session builds on the earlier work of defining farm goals and assessing available resources. It also prepares participants for later discussions about markets, financial management, and production planning because infrastructure needs often shape both costs and capacity.

Appalachian RC&D’s Winter Business Intensive is an eight-session series for beginning and experienced farmers. Completion can also qualify participants for Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program education credit toward eligible Producer Diversification requirements.

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