Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: 6th NATIONAL SMALL FARM CONFERENCE REPORT The 6th National Small Farm Conference was held September 18th - 20th, 2012, in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, Director of the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), gave the keynote address on creating and sustaining small farms. USDA Administrative officials, academia and non profit brought remarks at the opening general session. This conference's theme, "Promoting Successes for Small Farmers and Ranchers," brought together 725 participants representing small farmers, land-grant universities, community-based organizations, agricultural foundations, and other public and private sector organizations. A diverse panel of farmers discussed the opportunities and challenges facing small farmers, and scientists and educators shared research, extension, and education ideas to enhance small farm enterprises as well as improve the quality of life in farming communities. The preconference short courses included workshops on Food Safety for Small Farmers, Using New and Emerging Technologies, Evaluation Strategies, Whole Farm Planning and Grant Writing. Approximately 60 posters, 44 exhibits and 20 success stories were featured at the conference. With over 200 oral presentations and 65 break-out sessions, this train-the-trainer conference aims to strengthen partnerships and build capacity in the following areas: marketing opportunities, outreach for underserved communities, research and extension priorities, program planning and implementation, and alternative and traditional enterprises. Five educational tours were conducted covering Biodemensions/Solar farming systems, Organic Farms, Wineries, Farmers Markets and varied farming systems that were featured at the Ames Plantation. The overall goal of this conference is to promote the successes of small farmers and ranchers with a long term projection of ensuring that small farmers and ranchers enhance their capacity to earn higher income and improve the quality of life within their local communities. Additional conference details are provided at the conference website at www.tnstate.edu/smallfarmconference. The conference was co-hosted by NIFA, Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee. Conference proceedings will be posted on the conference website in the near future. Please direct any questions pertaining to this conference to Dr. Fitzroy Bullock, State Specialist, Integrated Pest Management and Small Farms, Cooperative Extension Program, Tennessee State University at fbullock@tnstate.edu or 615-963-5449. PARTICIPANTS: ATTENDence: Agricultural professionals, including Extension, small farm advisers, USDA agencies to include NIFA,NRCS,FSR,Rural Development,ARS, land grant university state specialists, county educators, community-based organizations, researchers, state agency personnel fron TFBF, TDA, farmers, limited resource farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, beginning farmers, under represented farmers, unserved farmers, students and others with vested interests in small farm programs The 6th National Small Farm Conference -"Promoting the Successes of Small Farmers and Ranchers"--was held September 18-20, 2012, at the Memphis Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Successes in small farm activities will be shared as well as innovative ideas in research, extension and outreach to strengthen collaboration and partnership among state specialists who work to ensure that small farmers and ranchers not only survive, but thrive in today's economy. This Conference will also serve as a forum to discuss the results of research geared towards addressing challenges facing small farmers and ranchers. Strengthening partnerships created at the five previous National Small Farm Conferences will continue to be a priority for the Memphis meeting. This conference will consist of short courses, oral presentations, exhibits, poster paper presentations and educational tours within Tennessee and Arkansas. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION - CRITICAL NEEDS: Small farmers face many challenges such as facing an agricultural economy where success is dependent on excelling in all areas of management. For many producers, marketing is the most challenging management area that needs to be addressed. Market planning and training programs will be developed that can be delivered nationally as a means of producing alternative enterprises, improving marketability such as developing and establishing cooperatives for niche crops with the ultimate goal of enhancing profitability. TARGET AUDIENCES: According to USDA statistics, nearly 40% of the value of farm products in the US is still generated by small farms. The share may be declining, but we still depend upon small farms for a significant portion of our food. The loss of farms-and farm families-has had an impact on the fabric of rural and small-town life throughout the region. School populations have declined, forcing many rural communities to close or consolidate their schools, resulting in long and costly bus rides for the remaining students. Businesses in small towns suffer many pressures, but declining agricultural populations have accelerated their decline, and today many rural towns have more boarded-up windows than functioning stores. Our agricultural system is producing enough food for now, but at what cost Current production relies heavily on unsustainable consumption of fossil fuels and water from aquifers built up over thousands of years. Pesticides and nutrients wind up in drinking water supplies and contribute to ecological and economic problems close to home and thousands of miles away. Small and moderate-sized farms tend to be more diversified than large farms, and in particular, they are more likely to integrate crop and livestock production, allowing for better nutrient cycling than highly specialized farms. They are better abl rely on ecological management rather than primarily on chemical inputs to manage fertility, pests, and diseases. They are less likely to engage in exploitative labor practices than large farms. And they tend to be innovators in sustainable food and fiber production. Not all small farms are diverse, sustainable, innovative, and good employers. Some large farms are all of those things. But it is often easier and more likely for small farms to have those attributes. In part, it is a question of time. On small farms, there is more likely to be enough time to visit and observe each field. In part it is a question of complexity. The challenge of managing many fields and employees and a lot of area leaves less time and energy for the challenge of managing many different crops and experimenting with new techniques. In part it is also a question of capital. When you have invested in the specialized equipment needed to work a large farm it is financially inefficient to let it stand idle. As a result of these and other issues and concerns, agencies, universities and organizations have developed programs and activities to support small farms. The 6th National Small Farm Conference will provide an opportunity for educators, agency personnel, researchers, non-profits and farmers to share examples of unique and innovative programs that will help them to better understand and act on these challenging issues as well as promote successes of small farmers and ranchers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Additional conference details are provided at the conference website at www.tnstate.edu/smallfarmconference. The conference was co-hosted by NIFA, Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee. Conference proceedings will be posted on the conference website in the near future. Please direct any questions pertaining to this conference to Dr. Fitzroy Bullock, State Specialist, Integrated Pest Management and Small Farms, Cooperative Extension Program, Tennessee State University at fbullock@tnstate.edu or 615-963-5449.
Impacts
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OUTPUTS: These include sharing of practices learned at the conference; improve the already established national network system with peers from land grant universities with similar clientele needs and challenges; acquaint participants from across the nation with the numerous types of agricultural pursuits practiced in the area where farm tours will be held during the conference; Outcomes: Increased understanding of stakeholder participation; collaboration with stakeholders in developing tools which can be utilized to increase knowledge; conduct training that will allow for easy adoption and use of new methods and improved technology; developing strategies that will enable small farmers to compete in the marketplace. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS: Improved quality of life; enhanced farm income and productivity; increased market opportunities; sustained productivity and success in replacing the growing number of retiring farmers and ranchers; increased number of new and beginning farmers; increased farm management skills; increased production and labor efficiency
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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