Source: UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI submitted to
COLLABORATIVELY BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR FARM FINANCIAL BENCHMARKING TO GROW THE NATIONAL DATABASE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1026960
Grant No.
2021-38504-35300
Cumulative Award Amt.
$499,820.00
Proposal No.
2021-05868
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2021
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2024
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[FBMB]- Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Program
Project Director
Simonsen, J.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
(N/A)
COLUMBIA,MO 65211
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The overall project goals include: increasing the amount of farm financial analysis data andexpanding benchmarking data interpretation through collaborative efforts of six partners in Illinois,Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina and Wisconsin; enhancing instructional tools and techniquessupporting farmers submitting data; and magnifying the value of the FBMB National Databaseusing new data sharing and mentoring.Proposed objectives include breaking down barriers by: enhancing the diversity of crop andlivestock farms submitted; publishing an benchmarking environmental practices sort; expandingdelivery to underserved farmers with a Spanish translation and closed captioning; partnering withthe 1890's Center for Innovation and Sustainable Small Farms, Ranches, and Forestlands (CISFR)and e-Xtension; expanding use of the FINPACK-enhanced Plan-on-a-Page; developing eight videopresentations to increase financial literacy; increasing knowledge of the FBMB National Database;enriching current collaborative mentoring programs for early career FBM professionals; identifyingnew strategies for sharing FBMB National Database information to all audiences.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
60160303010100%
Knowledge Area
601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management;

Subject Of Investigation
6030 - The farm as an enterprise;

Field Of Science
3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
1. Expand the FBMB National Databasei. Add 120 farms to the FBMB National Databaseii. Enhance the diversity of crop and livestock farms submitted.iii. Publish a special benchmarking Intensified Environmental Practices report.2. Enhance instructional methods and tools to support of farmers submitting datai. Expand educational delivery to minority farmers with a Spanish translation.ii. Share content and partner with the 1890's Center for Innovation and Sustainable Small Farms, Ranches, and Forestlands (CISFR) and eXtension.iii. Expand the use of the FINPACK version of the Plan-on-a-Page instructional tool, adding digital delivery methods.iv. Develop short, 3-5-minute video presentations to increase financial literacy.3. Magnify the value of the FBMB National Database using data sharing and mentoringi. Increase knowledge by publishing an Intensified Environmental Practices report.ii. Enrich current collaborative mentorship program for early career FBM professionals.iii. Identify new strategies for sharing FBMB National Database facts to all audiences.
Project Methods
One technique which brings a new emphasis to this project is the use of previously developed presentations and tools in new and expanded ways. Prior project funding has enabled this partnership to develop basic mentoring presentations and instructional tools that have been translated and will be used with non-English speaking audiences. Existing, as well as, new presentations will also have closed captioning added.A second technique that brings a new emphasis is the incorporation of lessons learned in distance education and online meetings. Face-to-face meetings have historically been critical to building relationships, but have been limited due to health restrictions. The required move to online education and project meetings provided a learning opportunity and has promoted a "best practices" approach for this project. A more realistic approach for online mentoring of new FBM professionals, partner meetings, and instructional meetings with farmers will be employed.The third technique that provides a new emphasis is the development of short educational videos focusing on farm business management education and the FBMB National Database. These videos will use experienced FBM professionals to present for 3-5 minutes per topic. Topics will include: financial literacy, cost of production, and income-expense relationships.A fourth technique of this project that supports a new emphasis is the inclusion of the 1890's CISFR in target audiences for implementation of both presentations & tools, and the sharing of lessons learned in distance delivery. Institutions affiliated with the Center will receive direct contact via electronic communications and information sharing during online workshops.Translated materials and closed caption materials will also be shared as appropriate.Successful techniques from prior grants will continue to be incorporated into this project.Mentorship efforts for this project include: meetings with experienced and new FBM professionals, instructional meetings in a group and individual format, and 3-way instructional meetings with the farmer and the new FBM professional, and the experienced FBM instructor.Transition steps to face-to-face meetings will also being prepared. Discussions with eXtension will continue to bring a new audience to this partnership, expanding the understanding of the FBMB National Database and the process for data collection. Ongoing implementation efforts for the "Plan-on-a-Page" instructional tool continue to build understanding of the value of the FBMB National Database. Once incorporated into the FINPACK software, this tool expands Database value and provides a unique instrument for professionals beyond this partnership.The PI and Co-PIs will jointly design and develop an evaluation instrument to document and assess the effectiveness of project coordination efforts and financial management and benchmarking outcomes. PI and Co-PIs will meet with stakeholders to communicate and collaboratively develop a template that will be used to further guide the collection of financial data. The project team will follow the logic model to identify key activities and intended outcomes; and explain how change may be causally linked to unexpected outcomes.A mixed method design will be used, combining quantitative assessment with qualitative interviews to gather feedbacks from project partners, farm management educators, farmers, and stakeholders. The quantitative assessment includes numbers of farm management educators participating, number of farms contributing to the FBMB National database, number of hours of contact between mentors and new farm management educators. A survey instrument will be developed by the PI and Co-PIs after consulting with stakeholders to include questions about individual's satisfaction levels in working with farm management educators , mentors, and other project partners (time spent between mentors and mentees, quality of information shared, and responsiveness between mentors and mentees); number of farms with consistent benchmarking data contributed to the FBMB National database (accuracy and quantity); and levels of understanding of financial analysis using the Plan-on-a-Page (quality of information presented, ease of use, design and format). The assessment is an on-going process to gather outcomes, providing a timely, in-process, and formative assessment to improve these outcomes. The Project Coordinator will assist in gathering, organizing, and conducting performance measurement.

Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is farmers within a 5 state area. The data collected and the benchmarking analysis will be utilized by not only the farmers that participate in the program but other producers, education specialists, potential lenders, and agricultural business people. Changes/Problems:There were not major changes in approach made to the plan. At the beginning of this grant we were still working to overcome COVID challenges with respect to face-to-face interaction and the ability to build trust with new farmers. Added to this there seemed to be continual change and turn-over in staff and collaborators. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The final year of the grant demonstrated similar activies in training and professional develpment as identified in previous progress reports. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The final year of the grant demonstrated similar dissemination activies as identified in previous progress reports. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The final year of this grant was a continuation of the activties described in the previous years' progress reports. The number of farms in the national database increased with more crop and livestock enterprise information. An environmental report was developed and shared with stakeholders and for the first time included cover crop information. There were some of the educational tools translated to Spanish and were mostly utilized in North Carolina. Plan-on-a-Page was used with more farmers and the discussion of delivery method/access continues (apps) along with video resources. An environmental report was assembled and a wider net was cast to share information with broader audiences.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The primary target audience is farmers within a 5 state area. The data collected and the benchmarking analysis will be utilized by not only the farmers that participate in the program but also other producers, education specialists, potential lenders, and agricultural business people. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In Illinois...More than 100 producer visits have been completed.4 hours of training and professional development have occurred either in-person or virtual at training. In Minnesota...MN State FBM Database shared, database information shared with farmers and stakeholders around MN at spring meetings (In excess of 3,000 attending), updates made to official MN FBM website including new reports (FBM webpage receives in excess of 10,000 visits per year). In Missouri...Fall conference held for adult educators and pre-service college students. In Wisconsin....Received mentorship training on data interpretation and delivery from a Minnesota FBM instructor. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In Illinois...All 150-enterprise analysis have been completed and delivered to producers. In Minnesota...Presentationsto the National Farm and Ranch Business Management Association Annual Conference, presentation at Nat'l Benchmark Leaders Meeting, presentations to area Soil and Water Conservations District meetings, NRCS technical committee presentation, MN Bankers Association, Farmer Veteran Coalition, MN Farm Bureau, Headwaters Ag Sustainability Partnership meeting.3 regional reports of MN data and 4 special sorts were produced (Exec Summ, Dairy, Crop, and Environmental) plus a new insert for Cover Crop incorporation, and developed a new Beginning Farmer Statewide Report. In Missouri...Updates made to the FBMA website for easier access to information. In Wisconsin...Conducted multiple face to face and virtual trainings.Recruited and promoted FBPM around the state at many industry meetings and farm shows.Created short videos of farm analysis and benchmarking.Collaborated with NRCS on environmental data. Held lender meetings to promote the work of financial benchmarking. In North Carolina (mostly minority farmers in attendance)....Liang, C. Creating a game plan to develop entrepreneurial farmers, NC Cooperative Extension conference, online, (7 participants); Liang, C and Humphries, W. Small Farm Unit specialty fruit and vegetable production training, online. (30 participants); Liang, C. Specialty fruits and vegetables for niche market, Small Farm Unit demonstration, (42participants). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In Minnesota...Greater interest in Environmental Report than anticipated. In Missouri...Planning to do the environmental sort soon on the farms identified as utilizing environmentally sustainable practices.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? In Illinois....60 farms have been identified and submitted to FINPACK. There are a handful of farms that have errors and Illinois FBFM is working through the error report to finalize the 2021 submission to FINBIN.85 comparative analysis reports have been completed and sent to producers.51 farms have received a Plan on a Page. There is data an information available to assemble more but the data was collected after the initial sending of Plan on a Page reports. In Minnesota...Prepared and shared benchmarking data statewide and shared with stakeholders, expand environmental sort to include cover crops, support mentoring in-state and WI, work through transition to new Specialty Crops Mgmt instructor, support new Urban Ag. Mgmt instructor. In Missouri...99 Farms included in the summary. 33 Farms identified by instructors utilizing environmentally sustainable practices. (submitting whole farm w/enterprise analysis). 7 farms identified by instructors as "new" (first or second year of submission to the National database). In Wisconsin...Increased the database, but did not hit our target of 145, but rather had 135 farms, up 11 farms. 62% completed an enterprise analysis.Instructors used the Plan on a Page with many new beginning farmers in their one-on-one meetings.Created a whole farm environmental benchmark report. Compared WI data to MN environmental report.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

      Outputs
      Target Audience:NC - Educators were able to reach audiences through: Liang, C. and Richardville, K. (2022). Supporting Veteran Farmers Program, Goldsboro, NC, August 17. (75 participants) Liang, C. (2022). Small Farm Unit Demonstration Day, organizer, July 13, Goldsboro, NC. (121 participants) Liang, C. (2022). Pricing strategies for cut flowers, online training workshop, July 6. (7 participants). Liang, C. and Crandall, J. (2022). NRCS conservation program introduction, online, June 15, online. (48 participants). Liang, C., Bell, M., and Humphries, W. (2022). Transplanting training and specialty vegetable cooking demonstration live, online, Feb 14. (43 participants) Liang, C. (2022). Farm Financial Analysis, webinar, Jan 13 and Jan 14. (67 participants) MN - Data collected includes a percentage of historically underserved workers. Educators prepared and shared benchmarking data statewide to share with stakeholders and farmers. Now working with a new specialty crops and urban agriculture instructor. MO - Provided annual summaries to participants and conducted multiple presentations to stakeholders. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?WI - Working on short professional development videos. Educators received mentorship from the MN FBM educators. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Much of this described previously in the report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continued mentoring activities and fine tuning information dissemination. MN was able to acquire 3 Cover Crop grants totaling $273,000 were based on data from this benchmark grant activities.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? WI - Grew from 124 farms to 135 farms. Of those, 62% of farms completed a crop or livestock enterprise analysis. Educators were able to create an environmental vs. traditional farming practices report. There were 21 farms that completed a cover crop analysis with "grown after cover". SWMN - Added 7 new members with a net gain of 2 to the benchmarking database Provide mentorship to staff on technology assisted membership delivery Implemented Plan-on-Page with emphasis on new members Started the process to identify and analyze farms using environmentally sustainable practices Developed virtual delivery method using secure procedures MN -Growth in producers served: 6% or 126 new farms added to the database in 3 years. MO - Provided presentations at the MO Young Farmersconvention comparing Missouri FBMA averages to Missouri FBMA Small Farms and Missouri FBMA Farms utilizing environmentally sustainable practices. Website under continued development. Farms submitted to the database dropped by 8 producers in the report timeframe.

      Publications