Choosing or expanding a livestock enterprise requires more than an interest in animals. Producers should consider infrastructure, nutrition, threats (e.g. pests and diseases), animal health, labor, markets, natural-resource management, production schedules, and the financial realities of the enterprise before purchasing livestock.

The new Florida Cooperative Extension Small Farm Livestock School will help beginning and expanding producers explore those decisions using research-based information, practical examples, and guidance from Extension faculty, university specialists, and experienced farmers. Enterprises covered include honey bee, goat, sheep, cattle, horse, and poultry with an additional focus on pond management and budgeting.

The first statewide offering is planned to start in February 2027. It will combine online instruction with a farmer panel and locally coordinated farm tours, allowing participants to learn both the principles of livestock management and how those principles are applied on working farms.

Who Should Participate?

Small portable enclosure with poultry inside laying on fresh grass. Goats barely visible with fenced pasture and open sky. — Small farm livestock operation in St. Johns County, Florida in 2026. Small Farm Start-up School farm tour 2026. Photo credit: Jeet Ramjattan, UF/IFAS Extension.

The Small Farm Livestock School is designed for:

Landowners evaluating how livestock might fit their property
Beginning farmers considering a livestock enterprise
Established farmers interested in diversifying their agricultural enterprise
Producers seeking a better understanding of recommended management practices
Farm partners or family members involved in management decisions

Participants do not need extensive livestock experience. Curiosity, an interest in learning, and a willingness to evaluate the demands of different enterprises are good places to start.

Build Knowledge Before You Invest

Purchasing animals may be one of the most visible steps in starting a livestock enterprise, but it should not be the first decision. Producers should understand the resources necessary to provide the best animal husbandry such as necessary facilities, feed and forage, veterinary needs, production timelines, markets, regulations, and ongoing costs before bringing animals onto the farm.

The Small Farm Livestock School provides a structured way to ask those basic questions, compare enterprises, connect with reliable sources of information (specialists and mentors in the field), and learn from people working in Florida agriculture.

Whether you are exploring your first livestock enterprise or looking to strengthen an existing farm, the 2027 Small Farm Livestock School can help you move forward with a clearer understanding of the opportunities, responsibilities, and resources needed.

One School, Multiple Livestock Enterprises

Ten sheep in an enclosed pasture with access to water and forage with native Florida trees in the background and additional pasture — Small farm livestock operation in St. Johns County, Florida in 2026. Small Farm Start-up School farm tour 2026. Photo credit: Jeet Ramjattan, UF/IFAS Extension.

Small farms are diverse, and the right livestock enterprise will not be the same for every operation. Land availability, fencing, feed resources, water, facilities, labor, experience, finances, and personal goals and interests can all influence whether an enterprise is a good fit.

The Small Farm Livestock School will introduce participants to several popular enterprises and related management topics:

Honey Bees
Goat/Sheep
Cattle
Horse
Poultry
Pond management and budget planning

Although the school covers multiple enterprises, participants do not need to raise every type of livestock. The broad curriculum is designed to help producers compare opportunities, recognize potential challenges, understand the realities of the enterprise, and make better-informed decisions before committing substantial time or money.

Practical Topics for Better Decisions

During the online portion of the school, participants will examine core management topics that apply across livestock enterprises. These include:

Facilities, fencing, housing, equipment, and other infrastructure
Breed and genetic selection
Species-specific anatomy and animal function
Nutrition, feed, forage, grazing, and feed storage
Pest, disease, and biosecurity management
Annual production calendars
Rules and regulations
Best management practices
Budgeting and enterprise planning

These topics will help participants evaluate what an enterprise requires, identify questions to ask, and recognize costs or management needs that may not be obvious at the beginning.

Hear Directly from Farmers

Honey bee frame comb with active honeybees. Comb is 1/2 full with honey and the frame is being held by an Extension agent that is wearing protective clothing for his entire body. — Florida Cooperative Extension agent Luis Rodriguez holding a frame of bees. Photo credit: Luis Rodriguez, UF/IFAS Extension.

Research-based information is important, but producers also benefit from hearing how other farmers have applied that information under real-world conditions.

A statewide farmer panel and local farm tours will give participants opportunities to hear about production decisions, lessons learned, and the challenges of implementing recommended practices. Farmers may discuss topics such as infrastructure, animal care, labor, markets, recordkeeping, environmental stewardship, and the best management practices that have been most difficult to implement.

These conversations can help participants understand that successful livestock management often involves balancing recommendations with available land, labor, finances, and other farm-specific circumstances.

Connect Online Learning with Local Farms

The final portion of the school will feature locally coordinated farm tours. Tours will help participants observe livestock enterprises, production systems, infrastructure, soil or water testing, farm safety, and other issues relevant to their county or region. They will also provide opportunities to meet farmers, Extension Agents, and other course participants.

County instructors are expected to host the 2027 program in 14 Florida counties: Brevard, Columbia, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando/BAERS, Indian River, Lee, Marion, Martin, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, and Volusia.

Local availability and tour arrangements will vary by location.

2027 Livestock School Logistics

Six chickens in an enclosed area with access to soil, forage, and insects. One chicken pecking at the ground. — Small farm poultry. Photo credit: Jessica Ryals, UF/IFAS Extension.

The 2027 Small Farm Livestock School is an 8-week hybrid course, beginning with online live sessions starting February 24 through April 7, 2027 on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. EST (5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST). The course will culminate with farm tours during the week of April 14, 2027 and participant feedback will be solicited to improve the next course offering.

The hybrid format will combine:

Virtual classroom instruction
Presentations from agricultural experts
Farmer panels
Local farm tours (day/time set by farmer availability)
In-person networking
Statewide interaction through Zoom
Course activities and resources in Canvas
- Participants will need to have access to reliable internet to participate during live sessions

A minimum and maximum enrollment requirement will be established for each participating county. If minimum requirement for county enrollment is not met, participants will be invited to join another county. Farm-tour attendance is strongly encouraged, but it is not required to complete the course. Participants have two opportunities to submit a business plan for review. If interested, visit the Extension Online Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises landing page for more information.

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Authors: David Campbell*, Laura Bennett, Rachel Fernandez, Ashley Stonecipher, Caitlin Justesen, Jonael Bosques-Mendez, Morgan Yoder, Danielle Treadwell, Yvette Goodiel, Amy Vu, and Andrea Lazzari.

*Corresponding author, campbell@ufl.edu

The Small Farm Livestock School is offered through the Florida Cooperative Extension Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Program, a collaborative effort involving FAMU and UF/IFAS state and county faculty. The program supports economically viable farms, strong local food systems, and responsible natural-resource conservation through research, demonstrations, and practical Extension education.

Volusia County

Narrower Topics

Volusia County Soil and Water

Introducing Florida’s Small Farm Livestock School

Starting a Small Farm? Learn, Plan, and Connect Before You Invest

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