Dear Aquaculture Producers,
A free, in-person farm finance workshop Friday, September 12, 2025, in Columbus Ohio. Registration link is below.
NCRAC Aquaculture Business Short Course
Practical Skills for Managing Farm Finances
Presented by Ohio Sea Grant/Ohio State University and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant/Purdue University
Dates: September 12, 2024
Location: Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
Program Length: 1-day, with personalized virtual follow-up with any instructor using workshop tools
Registration Link: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3shajD1stpYg9gy
Keeping on top of your farm finances can be a daunting task, but knowing what numbers to track, what the numbers mean, when to spend, and when to save can be critical for the long-term health of your aquaculture businesses finances. This business short course will provide you with an overview of practical information for managing your farms finances, hands on learning, and one-on-one time with an expert. Participants need to bring a laptop and farm numbers if possible. Space is limited. Seats will be reserved on a first come first serve basis. All participants will receive a hardcopy of Aquaculture Businesses: A Practical Guide to Economics and Marketing by Carole Engle (valued at $120+).
Meet the Instructors
Ganesh Kumar, Aquaculture Economist, Mississippi State University
Dr. Kumar is an aquaculture economist with research and Extension experience in production economics, farm management, operations research, consumer behavior, behavioral economics, and policy issues primarily related to the aquaculture industry. On the production side, his work focuses on topics such as cost efficiencies, technology adoption, risk modelling, and production optimization. On the marketing side Dr. Kumar has investigated various factors affecting seafood choices. On the policy side, his concentration is on economic impact assessment, impact of regulations on aquaculture, health economics, and other applied research pertaining to aquaculture production and marketing.
Matt Parker, Aquaculture Business Specialist, University of Maryland Extension
Dr. Matt Parker is the Aquaculture Business Specialist with University of Maryland Extension. He received his B.S. (Fisheries Science) from North Carolina State University in 1997, with a Master of Aquaculture (2001) and MBA (2002) from Auburn University. He completed his Ph.D in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland in 2019 focusing on the effects of debt financing on Maryland Oyster Aquaculture Farm Profitability. Prior to joining University of Maryland Extension in 2011, Matt was an Aquaculture Business Specialist with the North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services from 2003-2010. Matt has spent his career educating aquaculture producers about the need for proper business planning and assisting them in writing business plans and finding financing. He was recruited to provide aquaculture business planning instruction for the Myanmar Fisheries Federation as part of the USAID Farmer 2 Farmer program during the summers of 2014 and 2015. Matt’s current projects include robotics to improve shellfish aquaculture production, shellfish aquaculture financial benchmarking, developing online tools to aid with shellfish aquaculture business planning, striped bass aquaculture economics, assessing the economic impact of the US aquaculture industry, and providing one-on-one shellfish aquaculture business planning guidance to those currently operating and those interested in starting a shellfish aquaculture business. Matt is a Past-President and former Sec/Treasurer of the US Aquaculture Society. Matt is the current Treasurer for the World Aquaculture Society.
Kwamena Quagrainie, Aquaculture Economist & Marketing Specialist, Purdue University
Dr. Kwamena Quagrainie is an Aquaculture Economist & Marketing Specialist at Purdue University. His research focuses on market analysis, market definition, identification of value-added opportunities for aquaculture products, and the economic viability of aquaculture farming enterprises. Dr. Quagrainie works with the aquaculture industries in Illinois and Indiana, aquaculture producers, aquaculture associations, distributors, restaurants, and consumers to develop viable markets for Indiana and Illinois farm-raised aquaculture products.
Guest Presenter
Bruce Clevenger, Extension Field Specialist, Farm Management and Associate Professor, Ohio State University Extension
Clevenger began his OSU Extension career in 1994 as a County Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources where he specialized in agronomic on-farm research and farm management. In 2022, he took a new role with OSU Extension as Field Specialist, Farm Management. This position is state-wide and supports the farm management teaching and research needs of county Extension Educators and industry partners. His focus is in farm accounting and record keeping systems, and farm business analysis. Clevenger leads the OSU Extension efforts in agricultural lender seminars and grain marketing workshops and online course.
For questions contact Nicole Wright by email, wright.1128@osu.edu, or phone 330-202-3594
