Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Target Audience: Over the course of the project, partners provided information, education, training, and referrals to 1263 aspiring and beginning farmers, primarily from Vermont, with most of the other participants residing in New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts. At their initial point of contact, 325 people described themselves as aspiring farmers (not yet in commercial operation), 204 were farm workers, 191 were apprentices or interns and 543 were operating a commercial operation that had been in business fewer than 10 years. Sixty percent of participants were women. At the initial point of contact (including online registration forms) it was optional to provide ethnicity information and many participants declined to do so. Of total participants, there were at least 130 individuals from socially disadvantaged and/or limited resource groups, primarily immigrant and refugees populations from Bhutan, Burundi and Somalia. Attendance in project offerings was as follows: Referrals/individual information requests (Up to 2 hrs service): 706; Workshops (up to 6 hrs instructional time): 718; Courses and classes (6+ hours instructional time): 225; Field-based training sesions (hands on/skill-building, 1-20 hrs): 556; Mentoring and apprenticeship training: 95 Internet-based learning (webinars, online-tools and self-assessments): 431 Individual technical assistance (2-20 hrs service per individual): 161 Beginning farmer networking events: 129 Many individuals participated in multiple project offerings – combining in-person and online education, coaching and technical assistance that met their particular learning needs and abilities. As a result, the sum of the above categories exceeds the number of total participants. The Vermont New Farmer Project website (www.uvm.edu/newfarmer) served as a key access point to organizations, services and educational services for new and aspiring farmers from Vermont and throughout the country. As new pages and resources were added to the website, we focused on helping farmers streamline their access to information relevant to their enterprises and stage of farm development. Google Analytics data on traffic to our website indicates that the approach was successful. Over the life of the project, the website received 64,076 visits (with 23,017 visits from 14,663 users in the final year of the project. About 40 percent of site traffic came from Vermont, with sessions from adjacent states – Massachusetts, New York and New Hampshire – accounting for an additional 25% of traffic. While the number of users grew steadily throughout the project, returning users comprised about two-thirds of all traffic – indicating that users found the site worth returning to for additional information and resources. Our online coach has been accessed by 619 users, of whom 492 are in the US and 204 are from Vermont. The coach is designed to allow users to do a self-assessment anonymously or to create an account in order to access individualized learning plan tools and services. Of all users, 120 have created accounts. Changes/Problems: Almost all partner organizations experienced staffing changes during the project. These changes resulted in the need for training and professional development of staff that was not anticipated. Also, time table for rule making related to the Food Safety Modernization Act affected our ability to complete some publications we anticipated. Instead, we were able to do more work regarding land access and access to capital and credit. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? With regard to increasing the effectiveness of the network, we have developed a online and in-person intake assessment and individual farm development planning tools, which project partners are using and which farmers can access and use independently online. We have also conducted ongoing professional development of the project partners and offered full-day trainings (each attended by about 30 agricultural service providers each) for our partners and representatives of the broader network of agencies and who serve beginning farmers in Vermont and adjacent states. Evaluation surveys from these trainings show that the large majority (91-100%, depending on the session) find these sessions useful. Service providers reported that the trainings help them identify and deepen their understanding of topics to discuss with farmers, and connect with other people and organizations to collaborate with in the future. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The partners in the project routinely communicate with farmers and agricultural service providers and educators from public and nonprofit agencies. Partners produce newsletters, maintain websites and blogs, post on Facebook and Twitter, and submit articles to local newspapers and magazines. Over the course of the project, partners published 97 newsletters issues, 348 new web pages, 190 blog posts and received media exposure 76 times. Project staff have presented on about the network, its progress and accomplishments at several conferences, including the 2012 and 2013 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Project Directors' meetings, the 2013 Women in Agriculture Conference in Des Moines, and the 2014 Women in Agriculture Educators Conference in Indiananpolis is 2014. We have also presented to Food Hub project managers and BFRDP project directors via webinar. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
What has been accomplished? Project partners delivered information, education, training and referrals to1263 aspiring and beginning farmers. Of those, 463 obtained at least 6 hours of education or individual coaching or technical assistance related to production, marketing or business management. Data from our client surveys shows that participants used the education and technical assistance the project provided to help with goal setting (77%), decision making (79%), strengthen production skills and knowledge (68%), business management (71%), Financial management (64%), and marketing (65 %). Combining 2013 and 2014 survey data, 332 participants reported that the education and technical assistance they received helped them make decisions, and plan and implement changes. By the mid-point of the project, 63 individuals reported using the education/technical assistance they received through the project to start a new farm enterprise, and 103 reported implementing a change to an existing farm. As a result of assistance they received in the second half of the project, an additional 43 people reported starting a new enterprise and 100 beginning farmers implemented improvements to their farm. With regard to our overall project outcome targets related to increasing the number of profitable beginning farms (100 farmers with sales less than $50K increasing sales by 20% and 65 farmers increases to above $50,000 or farm contributions to household income to at least 51%), data in our 2014 survey (total 289 responses) shows that the 93 commercial farms who provided farm sales figures saw aggregate sales grow from about $1.6 million in 2012 to about $2.03 million in 2013, an aggregate gain of about 25.5%. Aggregate household income from farming rose from about $502,916 to $659,530 (an aggregate gain of over 31%) among the 104 commercial farms that reported household income from farming. Of these farmers, 32 reported that farm enterprises contributed more than 50% of household income in 2013. However, most survey respondents still reported less than $10,000 in annual income from farming, and 38 farmers indicated zero household income from farming. In open-ended comments, several of these respondents indicated that they are opting to use farm profits to reinvest and grow the farm business, rather than as household income. With regard to outcomes related to helping farmers access capital and credit, 181 beginning farmers obtained technical assistance related to accessing land and/or financial resources (three-year target= 200). Of the 176 farmers who answered final survey questions about the impact these services had on farm operations, 55 reported improvements in access to land and 70 reported improved access to credit. Additionally 50 farmers accessed USDA-NRCS programs to plan and/or implement water and soil conservation practices, organic production practices and install hoop houses (3 year-goal was 50). With regard to outcomes related to increasing the effectiveness of the Vermont New Farmer Network the number of new farm starts (above) indicate that we are making progress toward our goal of helping to help more new farms get started in less time than before this project. We have developed and implemented a common set of coaching, new farmer assessment and farm planning tools that are facilitating referrals between organizations and helping beginning farmers sequence learning opportunities in a way that makes sense for their situation. Following are brief descriptions profiles of beginning farmers who have participated in our programs. Wilder Farm Jess Simpson grew up in Vermont, visiting her grandfather’s farm. The dairy herd was sold in the ‘80s, but her grandfather held onto the farm, leasing the land to neighbors.In 2013, Simpson returned to start a new farm business, Wilder Farm, with her family. A coaching session in 2013 with a Vermont New Farmer Project farm business advisor helped Simpson complete a SWOT analysis for their farm business. Then Simpson turned to her farmer mentors and resources available online through the New Farmer Project website, blog, webinars, and emailing with program coordinators. “The most helpful thing,” said Simpson, “was just asking direct questions and saying, ‘This is what I need to know. Can you help me figure it out?’” The Wilder Farm is growing slowly and experimenting with different markets and products. A CSA, farmers market, and wholesale accounts provide sales outlets for their 2 ½ acres of vegetables, pastured poultry and dried beans. Currently, about 25% of the family’s income comes from farming, which is an increase over last year, and has them on the path to their goal of 50% of their income from farming. Flywheel Farm Flywheel Farm owners Justin Cote and Ansel Ploog made thorough use of BFRDP-sponsored New Farmer Network (VT NFN) programs and services. In 2012 they contacted the land access specialist to discuss strategies for finding a farm to lease. The specialist connected the farmers to a landowner, helped both parties navigate a lease agreement, and by January 2013 the farmers had secured a five-year farm lease. In 2013 they initiated production of livestock and vegetables, and completed a business plan with the assistance of the Intervale Center. They went through the Northeast Organic Farmers Association journey farmer program, gaining hands-on production and marketing assistance. The VT NFN helped the farmers access services not directly funded through BFRDP, such as food safety training and technical assistance with irrigation from UVM Extension. “We wouldn’t have had a chance of being profitable without the assistance of the Vermont New Farmer Network,” says Ploog. Barely two years after accessing land, sales in the second year in August 2014 already surpassed sales from the entire first year. The farm added seven new wholesale accounts at local colleges and food hubs. Vermont African Eggplant Farm With a lifetime background in farming, Janine Ndagijimana came to Burlington, Vermont in 2011 through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. She approached Vermont New Farmer Network (VT NFN) partner, Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV) in the fall of 2013 seeking farmland in Burlington. She requested coaching from a VT NFN marketing specialist. AALV assigned an outreach worker to meet weekly with Ndagijimana, which led to a partnership between UVM Extension New American Farmer Program and Ndajigimana to get the Vermont African Eggplant Farm off the ground. She now has a half acre of Inhori in full harvest, and is already profitable in her first significant year of sales. Demand still exceeds supply and Ndajigimana plans to expand onto three more acres of leased land to triple her sales for next year. Alchemy Gardens Scott and Lindsay of Alchemy Gardens first accessed services through the Vermont New Farmer Network in order to connect to a network and get help with their business plan. They have attended many workshops in the Rutland Region offered collaboratively by RAFFL and NOFA-VT and find these networking opportunities invaluable. Scott and Lindsay participated in NOFA-VT’s Journey Farmer program, which prepared them well for entering and completing the Farm Viability program. Over the course of their five years in business, Lindsay and Scott have completed a business plan and developed financial goals for their farm using holistic management principles. They are trying to “work smarter, not harder” and “think outside the box when problem solving.” Specifically, they have increased the efficiency of their production systems and developed tracking systems that allow them to make informed decisions about what they grow and what markets they serve. In year three, farm income had increased enough to allow Scott to work full-time on the farm and enable them to begin hiring farm help.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Vermont New Farmer Project website, http://www.uvm.edu/newfarmer
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Holtzman, Beth, "The Vermont New Farmer Network," part of the Local/Regional Agriculture Projects Panel at USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 4th Annual Project Director Meeting
Cruzando Fronteras: Supporting Diversity in Agriculture
Hosted by The University of Texas-Pan American, Dec. 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Holtzman, Beth, "Web-based Tools to Enhance Outreach to Women Farmers," presentation at the 2014 Women in Agriculture Educators National Conference, Indianapolis, April, 2014.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Peabody, Mary, "What Farmers Need to Know about Social Media and Marketing," at the at the 2014 Women in Agriculture Educators National Conference, Indianapolis, April, 2014.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Planning for Profit: Pricing Strategies for Diversified Farmers presentation at the 2013 Women in Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Des Moines, Iowa.
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: In this reporting period, project partners had 791 contacts with aspiring and beginning farmers, primarily from Vermont. Of those, 159 people identified themselves as aspiring farmers (not yet in commercial operation), 67 identified themselves as farm workers, 83 were apprentices or interns, and 232 were people who are currently operating a commercial farming operation and who have been in business fewer than 10 ten years. Of total contacts, 204 were with socially disadvantaged individuals (primarily immigrant and refugee populations from Bhutan, Burundi and Somalia). Of the total, 258 were male and 395 were women. (Some of our programs education and services are offered online and not every individual provides information about gender, race, etc.). Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? With regard to increasing the effectiveness of the network, we have developed and are using a common set of intake and assessment tools, which project partners are using. We have also conducted ongoing professional development of the project partners and offered to full-day trainings (each attended by about 30 agricultural service providers) for our parners and representatives of the broader network of agencies and who serve beginning farmers in Vermont and adjacent states. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The partners in the project routine communicate with farmers and agricultural service providers and educators from public and nonprofit agencies. Partners produce newsletters, maintain websites and blogs, post on Facebook and Twitter, and submit articles to local newspapers and magazines. In the reporting period, the partners have produced an aggregated 26 newsletters, 244 new web pages, 28 blog posts and received media exposure 50 times. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will continue the activities we have been conducting, with more emphasis on helping farmers use the skills and knowledge farmers they have gained to make positive improvements on their farms.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
To date through this project we 1364 individuals have received information, education, training and referrals from the project (3-year target = 1200), Of those, 390 people people have received at least six hours of education (3-year target 474), and 181 individuals have obtained technical assitance related to accessing land and/or financial resources (3 year-target = 200). As of our mid-project survey (completed in March 2013), 332 farmers reported increasing knowlege and/or skills. With regarding to using increased knowledge and skills to improve farm operations, as of the end of year 2, 150 people were planning changes and 100 had implemented changes in their farm business operations (3-year target = 185). The project has not conducted focused evaluation on the impact on sales, revenue, and farm contributions to household income. That evaluation will be conducted at the end of the project. Between Sept. 1, 2012 and Aug. 31, 2013, our website received amost 23,000 visits from 10,982 unique visitors. Our online coaching and intake tools have received 475 visits since the site became fully operational in April of 2013. Following are three brief descriptions demonstrating how project partners are collaborating to support farmer success: After receiving coaching from UVM Extension in early 2013, "JR" was selected for a NOFA VT Journey Farmer position in 2013. A young farmer (in his mid-20s), JR has used the services and support available from the Journey Farmer program to scale up his organic garlic production and has diversified into potatoes and other root storage crops. He increased his retail market sales this year and is working on new marketing and packaging ideas. He will be applying for a SARE Farmer and Rancher Grant for 2014 to work on nematode free organic garlic seed. "EP," is a "junior generation" farmer who participated in the project's apprentice training and mentoring programs in 2012 and was also selected for the NOFA VT Journey Farmer position in 2013. NOFA-VT technical assistance staff made two technical assistance visits to her farms. In 2013, EP expanded her CSA offerings and increased her CSA shares this year from 10 to 25. She is working on expanding the area she cultivates and improving her crop rotation. "EP" and "JR" collaborated to market his garlic through her CSA. "CK" is working on a business plan with Intervale Center staff. After attending an intensive workshop on high tunnel production (offered by NOFA VT with UVM Extension and farmer collaborators), CK successfully applied for a USDA-NRCS high tunnel, and focused her business planning effort on an enterprise and cash flow analysis for her new tunnel production. She completed her enterprise analysis for producing greens for a restaurant account and began making sales this fall. CK also received technical assistance from on storage and refrigeration on a small, energy efficient scale and mentorship on tunnel production from other Vermont farmers.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Since the Vermont New Farmer Network: Strategies for Success project was launched in the fall of 2011, we have conducted 52 training sessions that had a combined attendance of 727 participants. These sessions were quite diverse, addressing a broad range of production and marketing topics, business planning, financial management, access to capital, access to land and food safety and other regulatory topics. Eighty new and aspiring farmers participated in seven classroom based courses covering pre-start-up feasibility, business planning, financial management and food safety basic training. Fourteen individuals participated in mentoring opportunities. Ninety people attended 11 one-hour webinars covering a range of beginning farmer topics. Network partners also offered 15 workshops (both on-farm and classroom based) with a total attendance of 266 participants. Workshop topics included: equipment and tools for small-scale vegetable growers, low energy farming systems, diversified Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) management, introduction to HAACP, federal and Vermont food regulations, developing a farm enterprise, leasing land, farmland and financing, regulations for selling safe canned foods, identifying niche markets, financing the community supported farm, and starting CSA. Additionally, 47 immigrant and refugee new farmers attended a series of five mini-workshops (each lasting between 15 and 30 minutes) that addressed this audience's specific production and post-harvest quality information and skill development needs. Overall, the number of participants in the individual sessions is not equal to the number of people participating in the project because many individuals have attended more than one training session. Outreach to our target audience was accomplished via 58 newsletter issues reaching aggregated mailing lists of approximately 2280. Project partners developed and published approximately 52 new web pages that received 7479 unique visits during the reporting period. Project partners also hosted a training session for service providers and agricultural educators who work with beginning farmers, focusing on the challenges beginning farmers face as they scale up their businesses. Thirty service providers attended that training. A preliminary version of our online "coach" self-assessment tool has been accessed 210 times. We are currently re-developing the coach using a new software platform that will provide additional features that will also assist beginning farmers in developing their personal learning and farm development plans. A new chapter for the Legal Guide to the Business of Farming in Vermont has been completed and is in review, and additional updates to the guide are in process. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Because we conducted some of our education online, and because not all participants provided ethnic, gender or other information, the sum of gender categories and ethnic categories is less than the total number of participants. In our first year, participants included 340 women and 262 men. Fifty one people were identified as socially disadvantaged and limited resource farmers. In terms of type of beginning farmer, 181 people are currently farming, 98 identified themselves as farm workers, 114 identified themselves as apprentices and 146 identified themselves as aspiring farmers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Activities conducted in the first project year have yielded the following aggregated impacts: 332 aspiring or beginning farmers indicated an increase in knowledge and 200 indicated an increase in skill level. Participation resulted in a change in attitude among 50 people, 101 people reported that they are planning to make a change in their farm operation and 29 have implemented a change. Participants reported planning and implementing changes with regard to production, management of their land, food safety practices, marketing, business management and financial management. This data is compiled from direct observation and evaluation surveys conducted at the conclusion of education and trainings. Some project partners have conducted follow-up surveys several months after trainings to collect information about how participants are using the knowledge or skills they gained. Additional evaluation is planned for late 2012 and early 2013 to further assess impacts of our work and ways we can better serve our audiences in years 2 and 3. Following are some specific partner highlights. The New Farms for New Americans project utilized community liaisons to improve services to 51 socially disadvantaged and limited resource New American farmers and aspiring farmers. The community liaisons translated and/or assisted in business and farm planning mentoring, classroom training, and on-farm production technical assistance sessions. All participants improved skills and knowledge, eleven are planning changes in their farm operations and 8 have already made changes. All 12 participants in the NOFA-VT advanced apprenticeship pilot project indicated that their knowledge and skill levels increased. They identified the potluck socials and discussions following the host workshops as an important component of the shared learning community experience, but found that it was challenging to find time to be away from the farm where they were apprenticing to attend workshops. Of the 19 start-up farmers As a result of participation in the Intervale Center's Success on Farms program, nine have implemented improvements in their farm operations. Ten farmers have developed individual learning plans that are guiding their farm development. At least 74 people increased knowledge and or skills as a result of participating in workshops and one-on-one assistance provided by the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link. Of the 45 people who participated in at least one of several multi-session, non-credit business development courses offered by UVM Extension (in person and on-line), 43 indicated that they increased knowledge and 34 gained skills. "Growing Places provided an important framework of questions, goals, and next steps for my partner and I to discuss . . . The discussions that this class inspired were extremely beneficial to our beginning planning for the farm," one participant said. Additionally, UVM Extension's Land Access Coordinator to provide over 60 individualized consultations and referrals. Most of the beginning farmers who accessed these services were exploring options and considerations in land acquisition. Information about leasing and alternative tenure was also provided.
Publications
- Women's Agricultural Network Newsletter, 2012. Bi-monthly electronic newsletter. Provides profiles, news and updates relevant to the learning needs of women farmers.
- Rutland Area Farm And Food Link newsletter, 2012. bi-weekly electronic newsletter. Resources, events and learning opportunities geared to farmers in the greater Rutland Vermont area.
- UVM Extension New Farmer Project newsletter, 2012. Monthly electronic newsletter. Resources, events and learning opportunities geared to beginning and aspiring farmers in Vermont and adjacent states.
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