Institute for Sustainable Agriculture

Agriculture is a major economic driver in the Madison College district. The Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (ISA) provides connections between the agricultural community and the resources of the college. These connections come in many forms to meet the needs of individuals and organizations. We offer certificates, courses, and workshops on a variety of topics to assist in farm or food related businesses. 

Check out the different ways that ISA can assist you.

Madison College Farm Partnership


  • Workshops

    Intro to Farm Financials                          

    This workshop will provide an introduction to the tools for understanding the financial part of your farm business. We will explore some simple and free tools that can help any farm start to use their financial information to make decisions. Some of the tools are balance sheet, income statement, cash flow budgeting, enterprise budgeting, and partial budget analysis. We will explore some tools available for free to develop these documents and analysis through our model managed grazing beef farm. 

    Course #64135

    Cost: $139   

    Fridays, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, 1/18-2/8  

    Portage Campus

    More information and registration.

     

    Farm Financial Analysis                         

    This course provides best practices and business plan structures to help you utilize your business plan to better manage and grow your operation.  Evaluate your financial records against your business plan to calculate your current financial position, needed expenditures, and growth capacity.  You will assess your risk and risk management strategies, develop marketing plans, create short-term goals and long-term projections to spur growth and success.

    Course #64396

    Cost: $139    

    Fridays, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm, 2/15-3/8  

    Portage Campus

    More information and registration.

     

     

     

    Developing Farm-to-Table Supplier Relationships

    Learn how to establish and foster relationships between farm-to-table producers and end users like restaurants, institutions, grocery stores and customers. This workshop will help you overcome some of the challenges of setting up and maintaining purchasing relationships.

    Join us for a panel discussion with farmers, processors and buyers about building strong networks. Then hear about some partnerships and enjoy a chef/farmer collaborated meal.

    This workshop will be scheduled in Spring of 2019. Please check back for details.

     

  • Farm

    Madison College leases Fountain Prairie Farm in Fall River, WI. The farm is Madison College's first entrepreneurial incubator and serves as an educational resource for our community. It's the ideal location to gain a better understanding of farming practices that focus on soil health, grazing and sustainability. 

    The farm is a classroom and hands on laboratory for a variety of individual and cross-disciplinary programs at Madison College.

    In addition to crops and cattle, a large portion of the farm is restored tallgrass prairie and wetlands, which provides a haven for birds and other wildlife. It is an ecological treasure, nurtured by artisan farmers. Come see this work of art.

    Fountain Prairie Farm
    W1901 State Road 16
    Fall River, WI 53932

    Image of Fountain Prairie Farm
  • Diplomas and Degrees

    Earn a diploma or Degree in one of these agriculture-related fields: