Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: There was widespread dissemination of our final report and findings across West Virginia and the surrounding region (See description of dissemination efforts below). Our target audience includes farmers, extension agents, university professors and researchers, policymakers, agency staff, farmers market organizers, and nonprofit organizations working on issues related to agriculture and local food systems. Changes/Problems: The original proposal envisioned a future OREI Integrated Project Proposal that uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and a web-based utility to coordinate organic producers across Central Appalachia with regional organic market demand in major metropolitan areas. This proposal was not created due to uncertainty regarding federal funding for such projects. Additionally, the USDA organic certification appears an unlikely fit for producers farming on smaller mountain farms in areas with limitations for distribution and minimal local demand for certified organic agricultural products. Project partners remain interested in submitting a follow-up proposal if funding is available. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? There was widespread dissemination of our final report and findings across West Virginia and the surrounding region. James Farmer presented results at the 6th National Small Farm Conference in Memphis, Tennessee in 2012. In addition, states where it was posted or sent out include at least West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. As of September 2013, seven local and regional organizational mailing lists confirmed that they were going to send out the study and/or did. Eleven local and regional organization Facebook pages posted or shared the link to download the study and at least three personal pages posted or shared the study on Facebook. There was a radio piece highlighting the report, and four websites confirmed that they would post it on their news pages. Mailing lists include Greenbrier Valley Local Foods Initiative, Greenbrier Valley Pasture Network, The Value Chain Cluster Initiative, West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, Tygart Valley Growers Association, Central Appalachian Network, and Appalachian Foodshed Project. We also requested dissemination via the following organizations: Green Wheeling, West Virginia University Small Farms Center, West Virginia Department of Agriculture Market Bulletin, and West Virginia University Extension. OnFacebook, the following organizations provided links to the final technical report: Greenbrier Valley Pasture Network, Greenbrier Valley Local Foods Initiative, The Value Chain Cluster Initiative, West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, Fairmont Needs and Fairmont Organic Community Garden, WV SAGE (West Virginia Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurs) , West Virginia Farmers Market Association, Downstream Strategies, Friends of the Lower Greenbrier, The STAY Project (Sault Tribe Alive Youth Project-KY), and Central Appalachian Network. Individuals also shared and posted links to the report on Facebook. Several websites also provided links: Cannetwork.org, West Virginia University Organic Agriculture Farm, West Virginia Public Radio, and Greenbriervalley.org (Greenbrier Valley Local Foods Initiative), and Downstream Strategies. West Virginia Public Radio produced a radio piece about the project. In addition, requests were made to the following individuals to help spread information about the final report and its findings: Tom McConnell, WVU Small Farms Center, James Farmer – Indiana University, 4 WVU Organics Professors, Cheryl Brown – WVU Agricultural Economics, Dee Singh-Knights – WVU Small Farms and WV NE SARE, Savanna Lyons –West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, Alan Arnold –WVFarm2u.org/ Collaborative for the 21st Century Appalachia, Annie See -WV Farm 2 U.org, Steve Weir – Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation, Scott Smith- Highland Center, Jill Young - The Value Chain Cluster Initiative, Jennifer Jones –Greenbrier Valley Pasture Network, Mary Oldham –Grad Student / VC2, Mary Beth Lind –Tygart Valley Growers Association, Kelly Crane- West Virginia Farmers Market Association, Quincy Gray McMichael Lewis – Greenbrier Valley Local Foods Initiative, Managers at Monroe Farm Market, Walt Helmick Staff – Commissioner of Agriculture, and Jean Smith – WV Department Of Agriculture. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
There are very few certified organic farms in West Virginia. Consequently, the aim of this project was to comprehend the market variables affecting organic production, certification, and distribution through a multi-phase research design. Phase 1 used informal in-depth interviews and a literature review. In Phase 2, 884 questionnaires were mailed to potential participants.This questionnaire solicited data on farmer and farm characteristics; farmers’ motives, values, and risk perceptions; and farmers’ opinions and considerations on organic production and certification. Phase 3 solicited detailed data from some individuals through the use of semi-structured telephone interviews.Additional research was performed on policies that impact decisions by West Virginia farmers to transition to organic methods, as well as on the costs and potential price premiums that impact the economics of transitioning to organic. Geographic information systems were used for spatial analysis of results. In general, West Virginia farms are small, both in terms of size and income. Respondents farm 78 acres on average, but approximately one-half of respondents farmed less than 20 acres. Further, approximately one-half of respondents generated gross revenues of less than $5,000 per year, and approximately two-thirds generated between $5,000 and $10,000. The small size and low incomes of West Virginia farmers underlie several of the issues related to a transition to organic certification. There are very few organic farms in West Virginia. While the 2007 Agriculture Census counted 84 farms as certified organic and 132 as in transition, this study was able to find only six farms that are currently USDA-organic certified and another seven that are in transition. There are several interrelated issues that explain why so few West Virginia farmers are organic: the size and scale of West Virginia farms, potential consumers, cynicism about USDA-organic certification, misconceptions about USDA certification processes and costs, perception of costs versus benefits, and the need for certification in order to meet the goals of the farm. The following main conclusions emerged from this research: 1. Many West Virginia farmers have an interest in, value for, and motivation to adopt organic practices. 2. Several differences exist between potential converters and conventional growers. 3. There is a need for more knowledgeable and well-trained agricultural extension employees. 4. There is a need for farmers to increase the size and scale of their operation to make the certification costs and process beneficial for their operation. 5. West Virginia farmers have limited access to potential markets. 6. Alternative certifications systems may be most appropriate in West Virginia. 7. Perception by farmers is a lack of economic benefits, which differs from the potential economic risks/constraints with using organic methods and pursuing certification. 8. Association with certified organic farmers statistically lowers the chances of having an interest in USDA organic certification.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Farmer, J., C. Peters, E. Hansen, F. Boettner, and M. Betcher. 2013. Overcoming the Market Barriers to Organic Production in West Virginia. Downstream Strategies and Indiana University School of Public Health. June 28
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Farmer, J., Peters, C., & McConnell, T. (2012). Market barriers to the pursuit of organic certification in WV. 6th National Small Farm Conference. Memphis, TN.
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We completed three primary outputs, which were performed sequentially to learn from four groups of West Virginia farmers: USDA-certified organic growers, non-USDA certified organic growers, conventional growers, and in-transition growers. The first output was a set of open-ended telephone interviews and a literature review to develop two questionnaires that were to be used to solicit data in Phase 2. Telephone interviews were utilized to gather data from a variety of farmers from across the state in order to minimize project costs. Additionally, this allowed for a greater representation of farmers who otherwise may have not been able to convene for focus group interviews. Participants were purposely selected to focus on individuals who would have some knowledge about organic farming and USDA organic certification. In total, 14 individuals participated in the telephone interviews. Data was phenomenologically analyzed. The second output included mailed questionnaires. One questionnaire was developed for USDA-certified organic farms while a second was developed for all other farm types (non-certified organic, in-transition, and conventional). The two questionnaires were developed and refined between December 2011 and February 2012; however, only one was used due to the low number of USDA-certified organic farms. The third output included semi-structured telephone interviews to solicit follow-up data among questionnaire participants. Participants were purposely grouped and selected to participate. Five groups were developed: Group 1 consisted of farmers who were once USDA-certified organic and no longer are;Group 2 consisted of farmers who are in transition to USDA-certified organic; Group 3 consisted of farmers who are practicing organic farming methods and have an excess gross income of $5,000 or more; Group 4 consisted of conventional farmers grossing in excess of $5,000 from farming of specialty crops; and Group 5 consisted of farmers who are practicing organic farming methods and have a gross income less than $5,000. Each group had several questions that overlapped between scripts, as well as a few unique to each group. Data was phenomenologically analyzed. PARTICIPANTS: James Farmer took the lead in conducting the data collection via open-ended interviews, mailed questionnaires, and semi-structured telephone interviews with questionnaire participants. Kathryn Peters monitored and served as a resource for Dr. Farmer's work. In addition, Ms. Peters took the lead in researching policy options and in overseeing the GIS portion of the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
A draft final report has been written that describes the methods and results from the initial telephone interviews, mailed questionnaires, and semi-structured telephone interviews to follow up with questionnaire participants. In addition, this draft report identifies key questions and presents salient ideas and recommendations. This draft report has not been published yet, and dissemination and outreach of our results has not yet taken place. Therefore, we report no outcomes or impacts in this progress report.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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