Farm Export Marketing - A Self-study Resource for Export-Interested Farmers

Export marketing of agricultural products is a rapidly growing business area full of opportunities for farmers. Most farmers who decide to enter export marketing have no previous experience in exporting to foreign markets. Risks can be high but so can the rewards if the exporter avoids common pitfalls. The Canadian Farm Business Management Council (CFBMC) has sponsored development of a self-study resource to assist farmers in developing the necessary skills to enter export markets. Specific skills are identified and presented in a matrix form. In-depth case studies have been prepared which profile the skills within the matrix. . These case studies show the real life experiences of successful farm-based exporters and illustrate the skills needed for successful export marketing. This presentation will outline the specific skills needed for successful export marketing from a farm business perspective. Selected case studies will be reviewed to illustrate how the resource utilizes actual examples to demonstrate the skills required for success. The interest level in export marketing is very high among Canadian farm managers. The goal of the resource is to help prepare farm managers for success in export marketing by identifying the types of skills needed to succeed in export markets.