2012/2013

ADVANCED FARM
MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM

Take the Next Step to Improving

Your Farm Management
The Advanced Farm Management Program (AFMP) is designed for Ontario farm business
owners and managers who want to elevate their management skills.
AFMP will provide a unique combination of advanced farm business management training
and a practical approach that can be immediately applied to your farm. It gives Ontario farm
business owners and managers the knowledge and insights to improve the performance and
sustainability of their farm business.
The program will be offered for the first time beginning in November 2012 by the Agricultural
Management Institute (AMI) in partnership with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement
Association (OSCIA).

How Does the Program Work?

The AFMP is designed to help you take your farm business management to a higher level.
Over the course of five sessions, you will work with industry specialists and farming peers to
improve your business management plan and successfully implement it on your farm.
Farmers enrolling in the program will attend five intensive one-day training sessions over a
five-month period.

One day per month from November 2012 to March 2013

During each session you will work with farm management specialists as you discuss key
business management concepts and fundamentals. You will also learn from other farmers in
small-group shared learning sessions where you will apply these concepts to a case study.
At the end of each day you will be asked to take what you have learned and apply it to your
own farm using AFMP business templates and submit it to the instructor for review and
comment. Your plan will remain confidential.
At the end of the program, you will have a cohesive business management plan and the
skills, knowledge and insights to effectively implement it.
After completing the AFMP you will receive a certificate celebrating your achievement. You
will be one of the first graduates of a new program that will play an important role in the future
success of many Ontario farmers.

How Will Your Farm Business Benefit?

The AFMP program is designed to help you think strategically about your business, build a strong
business plan, and provide you with practical knowledge and insights to improve the everyday
management of your operation.

Session ONE - November 2012

What does a successful management plan look

like? Understand what goes into an effective plan
and how to build one.

Session TWO - December 2012

Think strategically and pick the right direction

for your operation. Consider how your business
should be structured, how to plan for the
next generation, and how you can
leverage innovation.

Session THREE - January 2013

Apply key financial cost concepts and use them

to the advantage of your business. Consider
your markets, managing risks and developing an
effective marketing strategy.

Session FOUR - February 2013

Maximize your capital and labour resources, and

target and achieve process improvement.

Session FIVE - March 2013

Take action, lead change and effectively

implement and execute your management plan.

Planning A Foundation for Success

Building a Winning Strategy

Getting an Edge Financial

Management and Marketing

Getting the Most Out of Your Operation

Making it Happen

Work with Management Specialists

Michael R. Bossy, HBA, CA, CFP, TEP, CAFA, KCC

Bossy Nagy Geoffrey Group Chartered Accountants (BNG)

President, Founding Partner
Michael Bossy will be the lead instructor for the AFMP team. He has been
a trusted business advisor to clients for over 25 years. He is a strategic
thinker, and combines his extensive experience as a Chartered Accountant
with his numerous other business designations to help farmers build their
farm management skills. His background is in accounting, trust and estate
planning, taxation and business consulting, with particular expertise in inter-generational business and
farm transfers.
Throughout the program, Michael will be joined by other leading farm management professionals who
will help facilitate specific program sessions.
Michael is a graduate of The University of Western Ontarios Ivey School of Business. He is also
a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), Certified Agricultural Farm
Advisor (CAFA) and Kolbe Certified Consultant (KCC). Part of Michaels continuing education
includes participation in The Strategic Coach program.

Who Should Enrol?

AFMP is designed for farmers who want to advance their management skills through engaging in a
dynamic learning environment. Farmers who have completed the Growing Your Farm Profits (GYFP)
program, an equivalent or those who have accumulated management experience are encouraged
to enrol.

Other Program Requirements

Accountant prepared financial statements on an accrual basis.
An active business plan would be an asset, but is not required.

When and Where

Two sessions of the AFMP will be offered in 2012/13:

Group ONE

Group TWO

Where: Elm Hurst Inn, Ingersoll

Where: Benmiller Inn, Goderich

When:

When:

Nov. 8, 2012
Dec. 13, 2012
Jan. 10, 2013
Feb. 14, 2013
Mar. 21, 2013

Nov. 13, 2012

Dec. 11, 2012
Jan. 8, 2013
Feb. 12, 2013
Mar. 19, 2013

Each session begins at 9:00 am and ends at 4:30 pm. Continental breakfast and lunch is provided.

Registration Fee
2012/13 AFMP program registrants will be offered a special, one-time fee of $1,250, a 50%
savings from the full tuition amount. The fee will increase to $2,500 in year two of the program.
Tuition must be paid in full by Nov. 1, 2012 and is payable to OSCIA.

Register NOW
If you are interested in applying to the AFMP
program this winter, please submit your
completed application form and post-dated
cheque to OSCIA before October 15, 2012.

Mailing Address:
OSCIA
Attn: John Laidlaw
1 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2
E-mail: jlaidlaw@ontariosoilcrop.org
T: 519-826-4218
F: 519-826-4348

This project is funded through the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI). The AMI is part of the Best Practices Suite of programs for
Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.