Progress 01/01/24 to 12/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience: Urban, rural and small scale (<100 acres) farmers: Our work matters to this audience because they represent farmers who historically have not been able to access the same resources as conventional farmers from land grant universities and the USDA. We seek to increase both the participation in USDA programs and the success of these farmers in the food system to create more resilient, equitable, and thriving communities. The Urban Agriculture Summit targeted urban farmers and small scale, peri urban farmers through direct contact, social media, email, and word of mouth. We have not calculated the final numbers for attendees, but over 240 people registered for the Urban Ag Summit; over 100 attendees identified as farmers. This will also include spanish speaking growers and workers. Policy, academic, food systems, educators, non-profit organizations that support urban agriculture and urban farmers. We target these groups to enhance access and network opportunities for urban and rural farmers to connect with markets and resources. Changes/Problems:Lack of availability of program officers at USDA is resulting in the delay in our ability to reallocate funding to key community partners delivering USDA technical assistance, that isidentified in this report which may stall relationship development and trust building. Uncertainty of USDA funding freeze impacts on programs have exacerbated longstanding trust issues between the target audience, USDA, and institutional partners. There is often intense technical assistance provisions required to support farmers in the target audience in accessing relief funding from USDA, which may be needed if we experience food supply chain disruptions. We will be working with the network, workgroups, community partners to assess and directly respond to emerging needs (such as the highly pathogenic avian influenza). This team will be discussing best practices for data security and farmer confidentiality related to this project in support of producer engagement and food system development. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The MSU Urban Agriculture Summit provided workshops covering technical assistance for crop production, policy work, business management skills, farmer education, working with institutions for funding, and network building between farmers, MSU CRFS, MIFFS, and MSU Extension. Specific topics covered during conference workshops/sessions included: Climate resilience and regenerative agriculture Micro-business/ small business management, product aggregation Utilizing MSU, USDA, and other institutional resources for funding, equipment, and farm infrastructure Farmer education programs available around the state Environmental stewardship - water, soil, ecosystem management Land access MIFFS participated in NRCS train-the-trainer workshops planning and delivery to midwest patterns through the Midwest Agriculture Conservation (MAC) Network and connected MI community organizations with upcoming training opportunities. MIFFS participated in several technical assistance networks providing USDA technical assistance to partners in the wake of federal funding freezes and potential impacts on programs and farmers. These include networks hosted by MSU, community partners, and national partner organizations centered around: CSA Networks, Transition to Organic Partnership Programs, NRCS Technical Assistance, Risk Management, gap funding for frozen programs, and Local Food Procurement Agreements to identify emerging needs of partners and farmers. Key challenges and opportunities identified by MIFFS and recommended to MSU partners for developing collaborative response include: Technical assistance to demonstrate eligibility for USDA disaster assistance and emergency relief funding for extreme weather events and food system disruption. Record keeping is a key barrier that reduces eligibility for the target audience to participate in farm safety net programs and results in the underutilization of programs. Outreach and technical assistance to Spanish-speaking farmers about the Tree Assistance Program. A number of Latinx farmers in MI operate blueberry farms that are often prone to flooding. There is a need to increase awareness of the Tree Assistance Programs existence, how to access the program, and set farmer expectations about how the program works. Training materials and exams for Restricted Use Pesticide Applicators available in Spanish are outdated and poorly translated. These materials are generally developed by EPA in partnership with universities like MSU. MIFFS collaborated with MSU staff to address concerns and differences between English and Spanish resources and MSU identified opportunities to improve the Spanish training materials. They also confirmed the Restricted Use Pesicide exam differs between the English and the Spanish version. MSU is coordinating to update training materials and are working with the state to get permission to update the exam. This will also be connected to updated worker protection training offered by MSU. Legal assistance and risk management technical assistance is a major need identified by farmers. As farmers move toward collaborative farming models, and partnering with institutions they are seeking technical assistance on developing partnership Memorandums of Understandings and transition plans to protect business viability in the event a partner leaves or stops farming. MIFFS referred 5 farmers to the USDA Regional Food Business Center managed by MSU CRFS for fund development support and grant writing technical assistance for Value Added Producer and Resilient Infrastructure grants. MIFFS, CRFS and MSU Extension have worked with a grower and food hub in Kalamazoo MI to support them in leveraging local funds to host a community food systems extension educator at their offices. MIFFS worked with community partners to identify the need and explore developing a technical assistance provider summit/conference. MIFFS participated in the state of Michigan Regenerative Ag workgroup and connected with partners on USDA technical assistance. MIFFS joined a Michigan based land access network with key partners MIFFS has organized with national partners, and MI-based community orgs to evaluate best practices for equitable community engagement as an organization and is working to develop a theory of change and equity containers to guide our work. We are also undergoing an equity audit with a community-based contractor to identify room for improvement. MIFFS, MSU Extension, MSU CRFS, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are coordinating the development of Train the Trainer programs on Biosecurity best practices for urban and rural farms. These programs will be for technical assistance providers to minimize the impact on the food system of bird flu and the associated risks related to multi-species transmission and exposure from wild animal interactions. NIFBE members will be co-developing outreach strategies to reach small-scale and homestead operations to raise awareness about best practices to mitigate the spread of bird flu.? How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Promoted Urban Agriculture conference through a variety of listservs and MSU Extension outlets Provided Pesticide Safety and Worker Protection Safety training in spanish in a statewide conference (Great lakes EXPO) 10 attendees were in attendance We're in the process of synthesizing data from the urban agriculture summit and creating a report to email and post on participating organizations' websites. We will print copies as well as appropriate. One-on-one and community workgroup feedback was collected by MIFFS through their TA and farmers workgroups and disseminated to MSU colleagues. Workgroups included a grassroots farmer advocacy workgroup and other workgroups that MIFFS collaborates with (both in English and Spanish). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Organize a Worker Protection Train-the-Trainer for educators to program to underserved audiences Translate Restricted Use of Pesticide Applicator and Worker Protection certification program trainings, manual and exams into Spanish. Collaborate further with statewide and local community organizations to improve and expand technical resources provided rural and urban producers Host a Worker Protection and Pesticide Safety review and test for Spanish-speaking farms and farm workers Prepare unique and practical guides in multiple formats (social posts, printable, audio/video) in English and Spanish for farmers and food producers to increase access to resources from the USDA, MSU, MIFFS, and other organizations. Create a website hub that easily curates a whole library of relevant resources for producers and technical assistance providers to have easy access and shareability to USDA resources, programs, business support etc. USDA technical assistance navigator and farmer training on obtaining USDA farm numbers, conservation planning for NRCS programs, and record-keeping to demonstrate eligibility for USDA safety net programs (MIFFS). Continue to be involved in the codesign process of the Urban Agriculture summit which will be held in February 2025. Information from this summit will be processed, analyzed and discussed by the community, MSU Extension and others to decide on next steps which may include the formation of a statewide urban agriculture network or other model consisting of farmers, MSU staff, and other stakeholders to coordinate and inform future programs to support urban farmers. Continue to (MIFFS) collaborate with a group of community organizations to support the development of a community-led peer-to-peer technical assistance network, developed as the result of a USDA RMA cooperative agreement. MIFFS has been supporting fund development efforts to back the network and will be providing USDA technical assistance to farmers it reaches. To date $100k has been leveraged through these fund development efforts, to community partners leading this work. The network has been invited to submit a full proposal to the NCR SARE Research and Education grant. They have also been invited to request funding from this award. Host (MIFFS) USDA train-the-trainer trainings for community organizations that deliver conservation technical assistance to farmers in the target audience who are applying for USDA programs. Deliver (MIFFS and MSU Extension) New Worker Protection training required for farms in Spanish in April. MIFFS will continue to consult with and provide guidance to the MSU team about key barriers faced by farmers accessing USDA program and the co-development of guides to increase farmer and TA provider's awareness of these programs and how to navigate applications and implementation of awards/contracts. Collaboratively (MIFFS, MSUE and CRFS) develop resources about USDA program awareness outreach materials, understanding USDA service centers and services, and navigating pathways to USDA programs like NRCS costshare opportunities MIFFS will continue to work with the Great Lakes Navigators and the Land Access Workgroup currently under development in the state. MIFFS will work on the development of a Guide to NRCS practices and USDA programs for Blue Blueberry growers that will be translated into Spanish and developed into outreach at TA programs. Launch a biosecurity essentials program to rapidly build awareness and knowledge about disease, biosecurity, and disease response for small and medium sized livestock and poultry farmers - particularly as the Highly pathogenic avian influenza spreads in Michigan. Establish Evaluation and data collection metrics
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As planned, a productive network of MSUE, MSU and MIFFS educators working across MI has become more established this year with clear plans for working together that included the development of group norms, regular convening, clear outlines of work plans and processes for effective work together (such as grievance policies, a dashboard for information and regular monthly updates). A consultant assisted with this process on a part time basis. (Goal 1) After meeting with program officers at USDA in fall of 2024, a proposal system was set up for the NIFBE network to develop and implement community engaged projects to achieve the deliverables of the grants. A rubric was also set up to assess the projects for meeting program deliverables and goals. Multiple projects have been identified to engage communities to support easier access for producers to USDA programs, USDA resources and other business resources. Conversations with program officers to assess these as they relate to the budget is requested. Stronger collaboration with the partners on this project has been established and multiple plans for collaborative education and training are in place (as shared in this report). (goal 1) Trust building is underway with producers. Different educators are reaching out to community partners across Michigan in rural and urban areas to build communication channels and seek engagement and recognition of community expertise. (Goal 2 and 3) We have hired a partnership specialist (25% on this project) to support the goal of trust building. (Goal 2) (contributing to Goals 1-4 and others as possible) The Network synthesized needs assessments for producers resources needs for updating MSU, MIFFS, and CRFS resources. Based on this and MSUE needs assessments, identified MSUE resources to prioritize for updating and/or translating to provide producers with increased access to these resources. (Goals 1, 3, 6 and 7) Provided Pesticide Safety and Worker Protection Safety training in spanish in a statewide conference (Great lakes EXPO) 10 attendees were in attendance (goal 6) MIFFS developed draft guides for filling out USDA Farm Operating Plan Forms for LLCs and Nonprofits which were passed to the MSU team for collaboration and co-design of outreach materials and technical assistance services. MSU will work on the draft guide for Farm Operating Plan forms for individuals (goal 6) NIFBE members have been individually building relationships with local and statewide USDA staff.(Goal 1) During 2024 members of the NIFBE team conducted significant co-design and planning for the MSU - Urban Ag Summit. This was initiated and took place with Community partners, MSU CRFS, MIFFS, and MSU Extension. Three members of our NIFBE network were engaged throughout this process and began addressing goals 1-5 of the project. The one-day conference held in February, 2025 attended by over 220 farmers, educators, and urban agriculture stakeholders from local, state, and national institutions. The conference provided workshops covering technical assistance for crop production, policy work, business management skills, farmer education, working with institutions for funding, and network building between farmers, MSU CRFS, MIFFS, and MSU Extension.
Publications
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