Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Enterprise Development -Financing and Enterprise budgets for beginning farmers trainings in Espanola, Albuquerque, and Grant County, January, February, and August 2012, 48 farmers benefited. -LandLink planning meetings (Feb and Aug) and outreach to farmers in north, central, south and southwest NM, 27 farmers learned about LandLink opportunities for expanding production in their region -1 to 2 consultations/month with livestock producers desiring to enter local markets, improving production to meet organic and grass-fed standards, developing cooperative production/marketing strategies, or seeking meat processing facilities for retail sales, 18 livestock producers benefited. -5 consultations/month with fruit, vegetable, value-added, and dairy producers desiring to enter local restaurant, grocery store, and institutional markets, by improving production, accessing capital, developing cooperative production/marketing strategies, 60 producers benefited. -Supported Tohatchi Red Willow Farm to investigate and apply for funding for their water well project, serving 450 Navajo farmers/families on a 938 acre cooperative farm (see Red Willow Report for details). Value Chain Development -Participated in Annual Beef Council/NM Cattlegrower Conference, December 2011, special session to prioritize next steps for connecting producers to appropriate meat processors in NM, CO, and TX for 3 potential value chains (natural, organic, grassfed) or improve profit for calve sales. 8 producers and 1 cooperative of 10 producers benefited: 18 ranchers benefited. -Participated in Value Chain training by Anthony Flaccavento, Feb 2012 in Espanola, consulted individually with 18 producers; presented to 75 producers and 50 service providers. -Conducted 2 workshops focused on producers working collaboratively to meet institutional market demand at the Southwest Marketing Network Conference, (Sept). 27 farmers and 22 service providers participated. Peer Networking -Conducted sessions at Quivira Coalition Conference, Albuquerque (Nov.), Beginning Farmer training, Espanola (Dec.), Taos Municipal Schools Production Planning training, Taos (Jan.), NW Region Food Summit, Farmington (Jan.), NM Organic Conference and Albuquerque Public School Production Planning meeting, Albuquerque (Feb.), NM Farmers Marketing Association Conference, Santa Fe (March), Southwest Marketing Network Conference (Sept); 82 producers participated in special sessions and 597 producers benefited by attending the events. Farm to Institution: GAPs Due to institutional buyers not requiring GAPs certification, but requiring 1) traceability (verification that product was locally grown), 2) product liability insurance, and 3) quality assurance protocols related to post-harvest handling, we modified our trainings to focus on these three areas as "Quality Management Systems(QMS)". -Conducted 3 on-farm QMS workshops (Dec, Jan) with 3 farmer mentors in Dixon, Pojoaque, and La Mesilla. 13 farmers benefited. -Conducted GAPs training at NM Organic Farming Conference. 42 farmers benefited. Farm to Institution, On-farm Workshops -(see GAPs section for 3 on-farm trainings.) PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Pamela Roy, Tawnya Laveta, Kathleen Gonzalez, Shauna Woodworth (Farm to Table) for fiscal management, project coordination, and technical assistance provision. Collaborators include: Dine College, Tohatchi Red Willow Farm Board, Healthy Community Food Systems, Tucson Community Food Bank, Agri-Cultura Network, Rocky Mountain Cooperative Development Center, La Semilla Food Center, The Volunteer Center of Grant County, El Morro Valley Cooperative, NM and AZ Cooperative Extension for presentations and farmer trainings; Referral organizations for technical assistance include: NM Farmers Marketing Association, Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute, La Semilla Food Center, NM Department of Agriculture, Southwest Marketing Network, La Montanita Cooperative, Mora Soil and Water Conservation District, Mid-Region Council of Governments, NM USDA Rural Development TARGET AUDIENCES: The main target audiences for project effort have been: socially disadvantaged producers, especially those exploring entering new markets or trying to scale up their businesses; producer groups with a large portion of socially disadvantaged members; and agricultural service providers that work with socially disadvantaged producers. We have reached these audiences throughout the state (and in southern and eastern Arizona and southern Colorado) especially on Navajo Nation and in the Colonias, the southern part of NM. The northern part of the state with mostly Hispanic producers engaged in on-going trainings and have begun to develop cooperative marketing strategies after working together on improving production systems via QMS trainings. Most growers selling to institutions are from the mid-region and northern New Mexico. 29 stipends and scholarships were provided to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers and organization participants representing socially disadvantaged groups in the last year specifically through this grant. 12 mentors/presenters were provided with stipends during this reporting period to provide QMS planning strategies for production and marketing systems. Translation Services were provided by Elvis Bitsilly at all Tohatchi Red Willow meetings (Navajo/English) Translation Services were provided by organizations and individuals at the Southwest Marketing Network Conference (Spanish/English, Navajo/English) PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: All trainings are now co-planned with specific producer groups, service provision groups, and committed and interested institutional buyers to meet unique producer needs according to region and market opportunities. On-farm trainings are proving most effective for planning and implementing Quality Management Systems (post-harvest handling and traceability). On-site food service trainings are proving most effective for farmers to learn from buyers: product specs, bidding protocols, vendor qualifications, and pre-season crop planning. Trainings also combine relationship development between producers, service providers, and buyers, rather than being "producer only" workshops which has stimulated future market connections and economic outcomes. Due to innovative and accessible local microloan programs at local lending institutions, producers were not interested in USDA loan guarantee programs or VAPG due to the onerous application processes. Several producers have accessed EQIP cost-share funds by using local micro-lending programs for the "match" requirement in 2011 and 2012, which appears to be a trend as producers network with one another. EQIP interest was for purchase of greenhouses, drip irrigation systems, and transition to Organic Certification. VAPG interest was for salad mix equipment, marketing/invoicing software, prepared foods for vending machines, entering retail sales for beef and poultry, but no producers applied in 2012 that we worked with.
Impacts
Enterprise Development Target Outcomes: 40 producers per year receive some enterprise development consulting. 15 producers per year receive in-depth assistance 75% of participating producers report increased skill-levels 10 producers per year apply for a USDA program 8 producers per year develop new markets for their products 6 producers per year significantly expand their businesses Actual Outcomes 2012 78 consultations for 52 producers 14 producers 100% of producers reported increased skill-levels after trainings. 2 producers applied; 1 for EQIP, 1 for VAPG 14 producers entered institutional markets 14 producers significantly expanded their businesses Value Chain Development Targets Outcomes: 60 food system stakeholders receive basic training in value chain analysis 25% of participating stakeholders later contact Farm to Table for more information or consultation. 15 agricultural service providers receive in-depth training in value chain analysis 25% of service providers report that using value chain methodology improves their efficacy in assisting farmers and ranchers. 15 producers develop new relationships with other participants in their value chain (producers, processors, distributors, retailers, etc.) per year 3 value chain participants per year apply for USDA programs Actual Outcomes 2012 120 producers, 82 service providers, 10 buyers: 212 total 18% of stakeholders contacted FTT for more info. 10 service providers received in-depth training 75% of service providers report improved efficacy 20 producers developed new relationships 3 participants applied; 2 commercial kitchens, 1 producer Peer Networking Target Outcomes 2012: 60 producers participate in networking sessions per year 20 producers per year develop ongoing personal and/or professional relationships with other producers 80% of participating producers report increased skill-levels 2 producers who participate in peer networking sessions will apply for USDA programs each year. Actual Outcomes 2012: 82 producers participated 37 producers developed ongoing relationships 100% reported increased skill levels 2 (see Enterprise Dev.) Farm to Institution Target Outcomes: 80% of producers who participate in on-farm trainings report increased skill levels 50% of surveyed producers report improvements in sales as a result of trainings. 10 additional producers sell to institutions each year 3 producers apply for USDA programs each year Each year, 3 producers pursue GAPs certification Actual Outcomes 2012 100% reported increased skill levels 80% reported improvement in sales; the other 20% did not meet buyer specifications in 2012 12 additional producers sold to institutions in 2012 2 (see Enterprise Dev.) No producers pursued GAPs certification; 12 developed QMS plans per buyer requirements. Overall Sales through this program for 3 year project: 2010 $25,000 2011 $36,254 2012 (to October) $59,048
Publications
- Published the Summer edition, 2012 Southwest Marketing Network Newsletter which featured producers and farm projects in NM, AZ, CO implemented by Native American and Hispanic innovators. Distributed to 3,600 producers in the southwest.
- Program Guide for Southwest Marketing Network, Border Food Summit 2012, www.swmarketingnetwork.org
- Program Guide for New Mexico Organic Farming Conference 2012 access through www.farmtotablenm.org, hit conferences.
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Value Chain Development Provided January, Value Chain training for 40 people focusing on 2 groups of producers who are entering institutional markets at public schools and colleges. Followed up with 7 producers, individually, to assist them with the bidding process for the schools and establishing harvesting and delivering protocols that met the buyer's specifications. Also advised 12 producers on entering institutional sales at 2 local hospitals, one senior center and the regional Farm to Restaurant project (12 restaurants). Assisted with a meat processor report for the NM Beef Industry Improvement Initiative to evaluate how NM meat processors can increase their overall capacity to address the local market demand for NM beef products. Enterprise Development Provided 5 trainings on using the "The Guide": NM Farmers Marketing Association, 120 market managers and producers participated, provided 6 one-on-one consultations related to grant opportunities and micro loans; NM Organic Conference, 600 attendees with 40 participants in our Business and Finance session, provided 10 one-on-one consultations related to business plans, marketing plans and grant opportunities; Albuquerque's Agricultural Collaborative, monthly educational series with 55 participants, advised 4 requests for farmer grant and loan programs; Micro finance and Grant training at the Beginning Farmers of the West, 8-week training, consulted with 3 beginning farmers for grant and micro loan programs; Southern NM Food Summit, provided Finance 101 training to 10 participants with a request for a business and finance intensive scheduled for November 2011, also advised 2 NGOs who exclusively serve Hispanic farmers, about federal and private grant programs for food and agriculture. Provided one-on-consultations to a Navajo Beef Cooperative in Farmington area preparing them for a loan application at FSA and advised Dine Agriculture on 2 grant applications to assist Navajo ranchers and farmers with trainings. Provided technical assistance to Red Willow Farm Board to prepare them to apply for Navajo Nation infrastructure assistance and USDA Rural Development assistance for drilling an agricultural well to irrigate 928 acres. Farm to Institution Provided 4 Food Safety, GAPs, Quality Management trainings in Anthony, Albuquerque, Espanola, and Santa fe to over 40 producers and service providers working on Farm to Institution and Farmers Markets connections. Peer Networking Conducted the Southwest Marketing Network Conference in April with 130 participants, over 90% Native American, trainings in marketing Native American Livestock and Traditional Crops (white and blue corn, beans, squash, Indian tea, business planning, developing marketing cooperatives, producer networks to learn about dryland farming and how to access tribal land and water resources in Navajo Nation. Conducted Shiprock Farm Tour, 45 participants, visiting 4 Navajo farms to learn about production and marketing practices from Navajo farmers. Also learned how to apply for land and water permits in the Shiprock Chapter. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Pamela Roy, Tawnya Laveta, Kathleen Gonzalez, Shauna Woodworth (Farm to Table) for fiscal management, project coordination, and technical assistance provision. Collaborators include: Shiprock Extension Service, Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture, Dine Agriculture, Red Willow Farm Board, for farmer trainings; NM Farmers Marketing Association, La Semilla Food Center, NM Department of Agriculture, NMSU Extension, Southwest Marketing Network, La Montanita Cooperative, providing outreach and expertise at farmer trainings and conducting referrals for technical assistance after the trainings. TARGET AUDIENCES: The main target audiences for project effort have been: socially disadvantaged producers, especially those exploring entering new markets or trying to scale up their businesses; producer groups with a large portion of socially disadvantaged members; and agricultural service providers that work with socially disadvantaged producers. We have reached these audiences throughout the state, especially on Navajo Nation and in the Colonias (the southern part of the state) and the Northern part of the state working with mostly Hispanic producers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: All trainings are now co-planned with specific producer groups and service provision groups to meet unique producer needs according to their respective regions and market opportunities. We made this modification to address "local needs" which has resulted in increased participation by producers ranging from micro farming to small farming and from informal (family and community) sales to formal, market sales. Trainings also combine relationship development between producers, service providers, and potential buyers, rather than being structured as "producer only" workshops which seemed to stimulate future market connections with buyers, repeat sales with dependable buyers, and motivation to work together as farmer groups to meet local market demand from institutional buyers.
Impacts
These outputs have influenced the following outcomes: 4 socially disadvantaged producers and 1 producer group sold produce weekly or monthly to 4 public schools, 1 senior center and 1 hospital during the growing season (April to October)due to the value chain training, SWMN conference trainings and one-on-one enterprise consultations. 5 Navajo farmers began to sell produce at the Shiprock farmers market and 4 Navajo sheep producers and 1 Navajo Sheep Cooperative contacted Ramah Navajo Foods to learn about becoming a supplier of local mutton products resulting from the SWMN conference trainings and peer networking. As a result of last year's Sedillo Livestock Association Ranch tour, Shiprock Extension hosted a training with Sedillo's leadership for 15 Navajo sheep and cattle ranchers desiring to sell livestock cooperatively. As a result of the SWMN conference, 2 hoop houses were constructed as workshops at 2 chapter houses on Navajo Nation where food is being grown through November this year. As a result of The Guide being distributed, 3 producers requested technical assistance for farmer grants, 2 producers successfully applied for the VAPG grant, and 2 service provider organizations (for Native Americans) successfully applied for HUFED, WRME, CFP.
Publications
- Success Stories from the Field: NM Guide to Business and Financial Resources for Food System Entrepreneurs. January 2011
- Food Safety on the Farm: Assessing your Risks, A Quick Guide Based on Good Agricultural Practices. December 2010
- Southwest Marketing Network Newsletter. October 2011
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We have accomplished a number of effective outputs: We provided enterprise development consultation to 30 producers, including in-depth consulting with 10 producers. We held a "Scaling Up" workshop in three locations in November 2009 which included information on season extension, marketing, business planning and accessing USDA resources. The workshops reached 35 people, 20 of which were socially disadvantaged. We provided ongoing administrative assistance and strategic planning consultation to the Beef Industry Improvement - NM initiative, which included assistance in writing a USDA grant. It also included work to develop a brand of New Mexico beef. We assisted the Northern New Mexico Stockman's Association (whose hundreds of members are primarily Hispanic) in developing a strategic plan for outreach, education, and fundraising activities. This included providing information about USDA resources. In October 2009, we hosted a farm tour for 6 young Native American farmers focusing on season extension. In July 2010, we hosted an on-farm workshop at the Red Willow Center in Taos Pueblo focusing on season extension and marketing. Five socially disadvantaged producers attended. We provided consultation to five Santo Domingo pueblo (Native American) producers on opening a farmers market. We planned for a tour (held in October 2010) of the Sedillo Livestock Association which was attended by 40 Native American ranchers. We provided five scholarships to the New Mexico Organic Farming Conference to Native American producers to learn about production practices and marketing opportunities. We provided two presentations to producers in Shiprock, NM (Navajo Nation) on marketing. At the first workshop, 40 producers were present. At the second, 8 producers were present. We provided technical assistance to the Red Willow Farm Board and farmers (Tohatchi, Navajo Nation) to apply for a USDA Community Facilities grant to drill a well for irrigating their 938 acres of farm plots that are being farmed by 450 Tohatchi individuals and families. We provided technical assistance to Dine Ag, a Native American agricultural producer group in Shiprock, NM, including advice on applying for and managing USDA grants. We provided value chain consultation to a project working to develop marketing opportunities for producers to low-income communities. We provided basic training to 60 producers on the value chain methodology. We provided in-depth training to 20 agricultural service providers on the value chain methodology. We established a planning committee to develop the agenda for the Southwest Marketing Network conference that will focus on water and land issues to be held in Window Rock, AZ, March 2011. Committee members include Navajo farmers, ranchers and service providers. We provided technical assistance to and facilitated strategic planning for the Developing Innovations in Navajo Education, Inc. in Flagstaff, AZ (Navajo serving organization) to 6 organizers (3 Navajo farmer organizers). We provided a list of Federal Funding Opportunities for farmers and ranchers at all meetings, convenings, conferences, and field trips. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Pamela Roy (Farm to Table) is the project director. She has been responsible for financial management of the grant and for overseeing all grant activities to ensure they meet grant requirements and obligations. Ms. Roy has also been an active technical assistance provider, particularly with Red Willow Farm Board, and DINE Inc. Tawnya Laveta (Farm to Table) is a technical service provider. She has worked individually with several Native American producers. She is also the primary service provider working with Dine Ag, a Navajo producer group. Ilana Blankman (Farm to Table) is a value chain specialist and technical service provider. She has coordinated the value chain trainings and worked on the beef, farm to restaurant, b-grade fruit, and farm to school value chains. She has also worked to organize the farm tours and on-farm trainings. She has also provided one on one technical assistance to producers and worked with the N NM Stockman's Association. Collaborators We have worked closely with the following organizations on this project: The Santa Fe Alliance (Farm to Restaurant, value chain training) The NM Farmers' Marketing Association (marketing to low-income communities, value chain training) Beef Industry Improvement--NM (beef value chain development) La Montanita Coop (value chain training, b-grade fruit, beef, farm to restaurant) New Mexico Department of Agriculture (Farm to School value chain, food safety work) Sedillo Livestock Association (organizing livestock tour/networking) AISDevelopment (provided value chain training) Shiprock Cooperative Extension (assisted with Scaling Up training) Southwest Marketing Network (working toward 2011 Navajo conference, newsletter publication). Training/Professional Development 20 agricultural service providers received training in the value chain methodology. Numerous trainings were provided to producers (see outputs section for more details). TARGET AUDIENCES: The main target audiences for project efforts have been: socially disadvantaged producers, especially those exploring entering new markets or trying to scale up their businesses; producer groups with a large portion of socially disadvantaged members; and agricultural service providers that work with socially disadvantaged producers. We have reached these audiences throughout the state, but especially on the Navajo Nation, in Northern NM pueblos (Native American communities), the Colonias in the southern part of the state, and Northern New Mexico hispanic ranchers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We found that because producers are very busy, that rather than doing both peer networking sessions and on-farm trainings that it works best to combine these activities. We have also found that rather than plan a training and do outreach for it, that it has been more effective to work with specific groups of producers and plan trainings with them to meet specific needs.
Impacts
These outputs have fostered the following outcomes and impacts: 10 producers or producer groups have applied for USDA or other grants. So far, we have heard that 4 of these have been successful. We assisted four socially disadvantaged producers to sell to New Mexico schools. We developed a new distribution entity to help producers sell to restaurants. Over $25,000 worth of product has been sold through this system. Three of the producers are socially disadvantaged. As a result of one of the successful grant applications, a group of 10 Navajo ranchers received training that enabled them to get $0.1 per pound more for their cattle than the average price at a recent auction. Through value chain facilitation, a pomegranate apple juice product was created that allowed two socially disadvantaged producers to develop a market for their "b-grade" fruit. Two socially disadvantaged producers began selling to a collaborative CSA. Participants in the Native American season extension tour have implemented a number of season extension systems they learned about on their farm. As a result of our value chain consultation, 150 producers at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market had access to new senior citizen customers. Plans are in the works to develop additional marketing opportunities for the farmers to Headstart families. 27 Navajo individuals and families have applied for and been given permits (through the Bureau of Indian Affairs) for plots at the Red Willow Farm. An additional 30 permits are pending receipt of plot plans -- in anticipation of the water well being funded and installed.
Publications
- Farm to Table. Financial Resources for Food and Farming Businesses. (to be published) December 2010.
- Blankman, Ilana. Federal Funding Opportunities for Farmers. 2009.
- Southwest Marketing Network. Southwest Marketing Network Newsletter (distribution approximately 4,000). 2010.
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