Training
The Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems offers a range of training and educational opportunities for aspiring farmers, agricultural support professionals, UW students, and high school students.
Want to learn more? There are a variety of classes available to further your understanding of agriculture best practices in Wisconsin and beyond.
Classes for farmers and practitioners
Apples
A three-day workshop for people wanting to start an orchard business. Understand the business from site selection, land preparation, selecting varieties, maintenance, marketing, sales, management and more.
Midwest school for beginning apple growers
Urban agriculture
Learn production and business practices of urban and peri-urban farming: land access, resource management, annual and perennial cropping systems, animal agriculture, with an emphasis on food justice and social equity.
School for Urban Agriculture
Flowers
A two-day workshop designed to help new and beginning growers learn the ins-and-outs of producing and marketing cut flowers. Topics including variety selection, seed starting, planting, harvesting and more.
Wisconsin Cut Flowers Growers School
Beginning Farmers
The introductory edge you need to succeed in the pasture-based dairy and livestock business. It is the only program of its kind in the nation, and your best resource for an education in pasture-based dairy and livestock farming.
Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers
Fresh Market Produce
Serving new and beginning farmers of fresh market produce growers, emphasizing organic methods and direct marketing. Topics include fertility management, greenhouse use, season extension, pest management, and equipment needs.
Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers
Grapes
A three-day workshop for anyone planning to start a vineyard business. Topics covered include market assessment and profitability, site selection and soil preparation, variety selection, pest management, economics, equipment, and labor needs.
Midwest school for beginning grape growers
Classes for agricultural support professionals
Organic farming
Teaching organic dairy farmers how to manage their pasture acreage can enhance their success and profitability.
Organic pasture management and soil health trainingOpportunities for UW-Madison students
F.H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture
A student organization working to promote sustainable agriculture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
F.H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture
Graduate Student Research in Sustainable Agriculture
Graduate students are invited to apply for our summer mini-grant award program. Receive up to $2,500 for research aligned with CIAS work.
Apply for a CIAS Mini Grant in sustainable agriculture
Curriculum for high school students
Toward a Sustainable Agriculture
A curriculum for high school students developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems.
Educators are welcome to adapt and reproduce sections of the curriculum for non-commercial use. This curriculum is a work in progress. We welcome your questions and comments. Please contact:
This curriculum was funded in part by a grant from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program.
Access Toward a Sustainable Agriculture curriculum