Performing Department
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Non Technical Summary
New Jersey is an exciting and challenging place to farm. Its combination of high-quality and high-value farmland and access to some of the most densely populated and diverse markets in the world make it fertile ground for agricultural innovation. In 2022, New Jersey's farmers produced over 1.3 billion dollars in sales on 11,000 farms situated on 635,382 acres of land (USDA Census of Ag, 2022). The majority of these sales came from diversified fruit and vegetable, nursery crop, floriculture, and greenhouse operations. The state of New Jersey and its counties and towns also maintain a strong public commitment to agriculture which has led to the permanent preservation of over 250,000 farmland acres statewide (State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC), 2023).Yet for all its advantages, New Jersey still faces many of the same problems that impact the agricultural industry nationwide. The rising cost of land, equipment, and inputs as well as the lack of a skilled next generation of farmers to work the land has contributed to the increasing average age of New Jersey farmers, which now stands at 58.7 years, notably above the national average of 58.1 (USDA Census of Ag, 2022).In developing this proposal, the RU Ready to Farm program team met with State agencies, farm service non-profits, and beginner farmer program participants to gain an understanding of the most critical issues that the program should address. Building on this stakeholder input, the program team has formulated three objectives for this grant proposal that directly correspond with the needs expressed by beginner farmers and other stakeholders.(1) Maintain, improve, and expand the pre-existing RU Ready to Farm program: The continuation and refinement of this award-winning program will allow the program team to keep teaching, supporting, and growing the population of beginner farmers in NJ.(2) Increase collaboration with statewide agricultural organizations: The program team is partnering with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ), Foodshed Alliance, the New Jersey Food Democracy Collaborative (NJFDC), North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), and the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) to develop collaborative support for farmers.(3) Develop and implement farmers market training: Expanding the program to include a hands-on farmers market training component will be instrumental in better equipping beginner farmers to diversify their income streams.
Animal Health Component
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Research Effort Categories
Basic
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Applied
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Developmental
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Goals / Objectives
At least 20 beginner farmers per year will gain an enhanced understanding of agricultural business practices through participation in the Phase 1 Online Farm Education course.At least 20 beginner farmers will create a farm business plan.At least 8 beginner farmers per year will gain understanding of small-scale vegetable farm production and CSA business management through participation in the Phase 2 On-Farm Training course.At least 3 beginner farmers per year will start an agricultural business.At least 3 beginner farmers per year will find employment on established farms.At least 30 farmers will gain increased understanding of organic transition and practices through educational materials developed in partnership with NOFA-NJ.At least 5 beginner farmers will gain long term land access through Foodshed Alliance and SADC owned farmland.At least 30 beginner farmers will join RU Ready to Farm as a result of promotion and outreach efforts conducted by all of the above partners.At least 40 beginner farmers will access services from the above organizations as a direct result of this closer collaboration.At least 8 beginner farmers per year will gain understanding of marketing fresh produce directly to customers.At least 8 beginner farmers per year will gain understanding of how to price their products for direct sale.At least 8 beginner famers per year will gain understanding of produce safety, proper care, and transport of produce to a farmers market.
Project Methods
The project team will work closely with beginner farmer representatives to design program objectives, goals and activities. Efforts to deliver program content will include:Two full-time program coordinators will deliver program content in accordance with project goals.Basic courses with complementary web-based and in-person elements.Advanced training modules focused on innovative crop systems and long-term business viability.Development and launch of farm business incubator sites to provide access to land and equipment for prospective beginnerfarmers.Working with beginner farmers to determine whether apprenticeship, incubator, or independent land leasing is the bestoption for them.Evaluation efforts will include:Pre and post education skills questionnaires to track impact of courses.Videotaped exit interviews with interested course participants which can be used to evaluate program effectiveness and promote future course sessions.Development of follow-up questionnaires that can be repeated at given intervals of 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years. Consult with farm mentors to determine if educational modules translated into on-farm competence.The project team will be monitoring participant actions and knowledge through surveys and interviews to establish a quanitative count of desired results listed in both the "goals" and "outcomes" sections.