Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience: Audience Emphasis Limited resource producers Organic producers Small farms Specialty crop producers Women Participants Served Record the total number of unique participants who participated in your program: Total Number of Participants: 1,641 Enter the actual cumulative number of participants who as a result of your program: Started farming: Target - 23, Actual - 305 Helped prepare to start farming: Target - 1000, Actual - 1641 Improved farming success: Target - 678, Actual - 1280 Changes/Problems:Upon reflection, the only improvement that we would make would be more in-depth research of the farmer programming needs in other areas of the Midwest. We had excellent regional partners in Iowa and Illinois, but they already offer beginning farmer programs to the farmers in their region. We collaborated in planning meetings to offer unique programming, but still struggled to fill the attendee numbers we originally quoted when writing our grant proposal. In the states that we are most familiar with, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the attendee numbers were very close to those predicted. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Task 1.1: Project Director Jennifer Nelson, MOSES Staff and partners Renewing the Countryside, and Land Stewardship Project met to plan and held the final New Farmer U event in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. April 2018. Ten workshops, two Expert-Led sessions, and a general session Farmer Insight Panel were developed for each event. We planned the activities based on survey data collected from beginning farmers at the 2018 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, which helped us identify the most pressing current issues for beginning farmers. The conference sessions were presented by local farmers and educators, and include small group discussion for peer-to-peer learning. Local and national resource organizations were in attendance as exhibitors. Task 2.1:Activities for the 2018 MOSES Organic Farming Conference were planned for new farmers. These included targeted 90-minute workshops, a New Organic Stewards booth in the exhibit hall, a meet and greet event at a nearby coffee bar and a New Farmer Mixer. A page in the conference program outlined the diverse offerings planned for new farmers. The MOSES Organic Specialist team planned 7 workshops for beginning farmers. Of the 3,200 conference attendees, 692 self-identified as "beginning farmers (10 years or less)." Workshop topics (with attendance numbers) included: Soil Fertility Management Demystified- 390 Brand Your Booth for More Sales - 146 Renting Land for Managed Grazing - 76 Financing Options for Your Farm - 134 127 Easy Steps to Land Ownership - 106 Plan Your Business Before You Pick Up a Seed Catalog - 96 Painless Organic Certification - 100 Why Farm? Challenges & Rewards - 55 The New Farmer Mixer on Friday night, including snacks, a trivia game and beverages, planned in partnership with Renewing the Countryside and National Young Farmers' Coalition, helped new farmers meet and connect with each other. New Organic Stewards hosted a booth in the beginning farmer section of the conference exhibit hall, staffed by Project Director Jennifer Nelson and trained volunteers, offering a meeting point throughout the conference as well as access to new farmer resources. A survey done at the booth collected ideas from beginning farmers to use in planning upcoming/future New Farmer U events. Task 2.2: MOSES staff sustained year-round social networking under the New Organic Stewards umbrella, and various platforms including a moderated Facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/neworganicstewards/) that facilitates sharing of ideas and questions among community members. MOSES staff also connects the greater MOSES beginning farmer demographic via MOSES social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter as well as the MOSES conference app. Task 2.3: Project Director Jennifer Nelson and MOSES staff regularly updated the New Organic Stewards webpage (https://mosesorganic.org/projects/new-organic-stewards/) offering a variety of national resources and information for beginning farmers. Between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2018, the New Organic Stewards websitewas accessed 11,517 views by 9,548 individuals. Task 3.2: Two contractors, Paul Dietmann and Craig Chase, worked with Project Director Jennifer Nelson to hold the final three one-day Fearless Farm Finance presentations on the book content. Held in Iowa with 17 attendees on November 10, 2017, in Illinois with 27 attendees on December 8, 2017, and in Wisconsin with 45 attendees on April 27, 2018, the events were attended by a total of 89 attendees. *Organize and host USDA BFRDP Project Director Meeting in St. Paul, Minn. August 2016. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?MOSES staff sustained year-round social networking under the New Organic Stewards umbrella, and various platforms including a moderated Facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/neworganicstewards/) that facilitates sharing of ideas and questions among community members. MOSES staff also connects the greater MOSES beginning farmer demographic via MOSES social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter as well as the MOSES conference app. MOSES staff produced and gave out the following promotional materials: Promotional Materials New Farmer U Program- 2016 Activities to be held October 21-23 in Lanesboro, MN for new farmers Press Release - Illinois New Farmer U Reach all relevant news sources to share with potential participants. Press Release - Iowa New Farmer U Reach all relevant news sources to share with potential participants. 2017 New Farmer U and Fearless Farm Finances Rack Card Hand out to potential attendees at all MOSES- hosted, and other relevant beginning farmer events. 2017 Iowa New Farmer U Program To inform participants of workshops, presenters, networking and schedule. 2017 MOSES Organic Farming Conference Program New Organic Stewards page Beginning farmer conference attendees Press Release - Wisconsin New Farmer U Promote New Farmer U in Wisconsin Dells, April, 2018. 2018 Wisconsin New Farmer U Outline schedule and program for New Farmer U in Wisconsin Dells, April 27-29, 2018. 2017 Illinois New Farmer U program Outline schedule and program for the New Farmer U, Streator, Illinois, Dec. 8-10, 2017. 2018 MOSES Organic Farming Conference Program New Organic Stewards page Outline beginning farmer workshops and events offered at the 2018 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Results: What Producers Learned, Achieved, Applied Result 1. Producers have increased knowledge of resources available to assist them in their path to farming. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Organic production When measured: end of project Estimated Number: 1000, Actual Number: 1641 How verified: Online and written evaluations, follow up phone and online interviews. Result 2. Producers implement changes that make their farms more profitable and sustainable in the long-term. Producer action: Implement, Topic: Organic production When measured: end of project Estimated Number: 678, Actual Number: 1280 How verified: Extrapolation from phone interviews and online surveys. Result 3. Producers implement production methods that improve their farming operation. Producer action: Implement, Topic: Organic production When measured: end of project Estimated Number: 678, Actual Number: 1280 How verified: Extrapolation from phone and online interviews Result 4. Producers choose to participate in additional MOSES or partners' farm education programs. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Organic production When measured: end of project Estimated Number: 678, Actual Number: 1669 How verified: Usage statistics Result 5. Producers initiate new financial recordkeeping or analysis systems to improve their financial success. Producer action: Implement, Topic: Financial records and analysis When measured: end of project Estimated Number: 113, Actual Number: 156 How verified: Evaluations at end of programs Result 6. Producers will begin new farm operations where they are making their own decisions. Producer action: Implement, Topic: Product and enterprise diversification When measured: end of project Estimated Number: 23, Actual Number: 305 How verified: Extrapolation from phone and online interviews Steps Steps taken to help participants Objective 1: Provide a learning environment where at least 600 new farmers (150 each for 4 events) participate in education, collect resources and gain inspiration to take the next steps toward successful sustainable farm operations. Task 1.1: Organize and hold four, 2-day mini-conferences (New Farmer Summits) located in Wis., Minn., Ill. and Iowa with a focus on peer-to-peer learning and issues for new farmers. Objective 2: Gather at least 500 new farmers at each of three annual MOSES Organic Farming Conferences to learn best practices for sustainable farming, share stories and strengthen a new farmer learning community. Create an ongoing regional learning network where new farmers comfortably share information and questions with each other. Task 2.1: Hold four targeted workshops and events at each annual MOSES Conference, topics and activities based on recommendations of new farmers from the NOS Network. Task 2.2: Sustain year-round social networking under the New Organic Stewards umbrella, facilitating sharing of ideas and questions among community members. Task 2.3: Develop web support for the network offering universal resources and information. Objective 3: Provide new farmers with updated tools for understanding farm financial management. Task 3.1: Update Fearless Farm Finances book. Task 3.2: Conduct one-day trainings at Summits using updated materials. Task 3.3: Create an online Fearless Farm Finances course based on the book and utilizing video footage from the in-person trainings. Objective 4: Evaluate program impacts, learn from and report the results. Task 4.1: Collect online and paper evaluations from Summits, Conference and FFF training participants. Task 4.2: Complete online or phone follow up interviews of 8% of the program participants. Task 4.3: Assess the program impacts and report project results to USDA. What was accomplished under these goals? Task 1.1: Project Director Jennifer Nelson, MOSES Staff and partners Renewing the Countryside, and Land Stewardship Project met to plan and held the final New Farmer U event in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. April 2018. Ten workshops, two Expert-Led sessions, and a general session Farmer Insight Panel were developed for each event. We planned the activities based on survey data collected from beginning farmers at the 2018 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, which helped us identify the most pressing current issues for beginning farmers. The conference sessions were presented by local farmers and educators, and include small group discussion for peer-to-peer learning. Local and national resource organizations were in attendance as exhibitors. Task 2.1:Activities for the 2018 MOSES Organic Farming Conference were planned for new farmers. These included targeted 90-minute workshops, a New Organic Stewards booth in the exhibit hall, a meet and greet event at a nearby coffee bar and a New Farmer Mixer. A page in the conference program outlined the diverse offerings planned for new farmers. The MOSES Organic Specialist team planned 7 workshops for beginning farmers. Of the 3,200 conference attendees, 692 self-identified as "beginning farmers (10 years or less)." Workshop topics (with attendance numbers) included: Soil Fertility Management Demystified- 390 Brand Your Booth for More Sales - 146 Renting Land for Managed Grazing - 76 Financing Options for Your Farm - 134 127 Easy Steps to Land Ownership - 106 Plan Your Business Before You Pick Up a Seed Catalog - 96 Painless Organic Certification - 100 Why Farm? Challenges & Rewards - 55 The New Farmer Mixer on Friday night, including snacks, a trivia game and beverages, planned in partnership with Renewing the Countryside and National Young Farmers' Coalition, helped new farmers meet and connect with each other. New Organic Stewards hosted a booth in the beginning farmer section of the conference exhibit hall, staffed by Project Director Jennifer Nelson and trained volunteers, offering a meeting point throughout the conference as well as access to new farmer resources. A survey done at the booth collected ideas from beginning farmers to use in planning upcoming/future New Farmer U events. Task 2.2: MOSES staff sustained year-round social networking under the New Organic Stewards umbrella, and various platforms including a moderated Facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/neworganicstewards/) that facilitates sharing of ideas and questions among community members. MOSES staff also connects the greater MOSES beginning farmer demographic via MOSES social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter as well as the MOSES conference app. Task 2.3: Project Director Jennifer Nelson and MOSES staff regularly updated the New Organic Stewards webpage (https://mosesorganic.org/projects/new-organic-stewards/) offering a variety of national resources and information for beginning farmers. Between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2018, the New Organic Stewards websitewas accessed 11,517 views by 9,548 individuals. Task 3.2: Two contractors, Paul Dietmann and Craig Chase, worked with Project Director Jennifer Nelson to hold the final three one-day Fearless Farm Finance presentations on the book content. Held in Iowa with 17 attendees on November 10, 2017, in Illinois with 27 attendees on December 8, 2017, and in Wisconsin with 45 attendees on April 27, 2018, the events were attended by a total of 89 attendees. Task 3.3: One contractor worked with MOSES staff Lauren Langworthy to create a Fearless Farm Finances online course with multiple modules and teacher support. Task 4.1: MOSES staff collected online and paper evaluations from the 2018 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. MOSES staff collected paper and online evaluations from all events in 2017 and 2018. Please see "Evaluations and Reports." Task 4.2: Project Director Jennifer Nelson conducted phone interviews with 18 New Farmer U and Fearless Farm Finances attendees to assess ongoing project results. Task 4.3: MOSES staff assess program impacts and report project results to USDA, August 2018.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience: Audience Emphasis Limited resource producers Organic producers Small farms Specialty crop producers Women Participants Served Record the total number of unique participants who participated in your program: Total Number of Participants: 1,232 Enter the actual cumulative number of participants who as a result of your program: Started farming: Target - 23, Actual - 0 Helped prepare to start farming: Target - 1000, Actual - 1,232 Improved farming success: Target - 678, Actual - 555 Changes/Problems:We've had some staffing changes at MOSES, but this presents no major changes or problems to the project management and implementation. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Project Director Jennifer Nelson; MOSES Staff and partners Renewing the Countryside and Land Stewardship Project met monthly to plan the first New Farmer U, held in Lanesboro, Minnesota October 21 - 23,2016. With 129 registrants, New Farmer U held ten workshops, fiveExpert-Led sessions, and a general session Farmer Insight Panel. Local USDA Farm Service Agency and National Resource Conservation Services representives were on hand to exhibit resources and answer questions, as well as the local National Young Farmers Coalition.The conference sessions werepresented by local farmers and educators, and included small group discussion for peer-to-peer learning as well as ample opportunity for networking. A one-day Fearless Farm Finances training was held as an add-on to the New Farmer U on Friday, October 21, 2016. MOSES Organic Farming Conference, February 23-25, 2017 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Publicity about the New Farmer U events, MOSES Organic Farming Conference, updated Fearless Farm Finances Book, and the one-day Fearless Farm Finances trainings have been broadly distributed. All were announced via ads, print, web and in-person announcements as part of the New Farmer U and Organic Farming Conferences, reaching over 15,000 individuals. Written stories and notices were printed in the bi-monthly MOSES Organic Broadcaster and monthly e-news, each with a distribution of 11,183. Social media, Facebook and twitter, have been used to announce events and offerings. Email blasts have been sent to beginning farmers in the MOSES database, and press releases shared with local newspapers, and through many MOSES partner networks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The facilitated online FFF course will go live in 2018. The class will be evaluated at the end of the training. MOSES staff willdecide onfuture access to these valuable modules. Three additional one-day Fearless Farm Finances trainings will be offered: Nov 10, 2017 in Iowa, Dec 8, 2017 in Illinois, and April 27, 2018 in Wisconsin. The FFF book will continue to be offered for sale via the MOSES website, as well as drop-shipped for resellers and sold through Amazon.com. Promotion for the books, eLearning classes and events will continue into the third year of the project and beyond. Three more New Farmer U events in Montour, Iowa, November 10-12, 2017, Streator, Illinois, December 8-10, 2017 and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, April 27- 29, 2018 including ten workshops, twoExpert-Led sessions, and a general session Farmer Insight Panel will be held. The conference sessions will be presented by local farmers and educators, and include small group discussion for peer-to-peer learning as well as ample opportunity for networking. The MOSES Organic Specialist team will choose 7 90-minute workshops targeted towards beginning farmers at the 2018MOSES Organic Farming Conference, February 22 - 24in La Crosse, Wis. The New Farmer Mixer, a social and educational networking opportunity will be held at the conference in partnership with Renewing the Countryside. New Organic Stewards will hold a booth in the "New Farmer Alley" section of the exhibit hall, staffed with trained volunteers educating attendees with resources. Beginning farmer attendees will be surveyed for content data to use in planning upcoming New Farmer U events. Project Director Jennifer Nelson and MOSES Staff will continue to disseminate information through the channels outlined above.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Task 1.1: Project Director Jennifer Nelson; MOSES Staff and partners Renewing the Countryside and Land Stewardship Project met monthly to plan the first New Farmer U, held in Lanesboro, Minnesota October 21 - 23, 2016. With 129 registrants, New Farmer U held ten workshops, fiveExpert-Led sessions, and a general session Farmer Insight Panel. Local USDA Farm Service Agency and National Resource Conservation Services representives were on hand to exhibit resources and answer questions, as well as the local National Young Farmers Coalition.The conference sessions werepresented by local farmers and educators, and included small group discussion for peer-to-peer learning as well as ample opportunity for networking. Project Director Jennifer Nelson; MOSES Staff and partners Renewing the Countrysideand regional partners Practical Farmers of Iowa, Angelic Organic Learning Center and University of Illinois Extension met monthly to plan the second and third New Farmer U events in Montour, Iowa, November 10-12, 2017 and Streator, Illinois, December 8-10, 2017. Ten workshops, twoExpert-Led sessions, and a general session Farmer Insight Panel were developed for each event. The expert planning team also informed by survey data collected from beginning farmers at the 2017 MOSES Organic Farming Conference planned activities to meet the most pressing needs of beginning farmers. The conference sessions will be presented by local farmers and educators, and include small group discussion for peer-to-peer learning as well as ample opportunity for networking. Task 2.1: Targeted activities and programming were held at the 2017 MOSES Organic Farming Conference for beginning farmers. These included seven 90-minute workshops, a New Organic Stewards booth in the exhibit hall, an open mic night at a nearby coffee bar and a New Farmer Mixer. A New Organic Steward page in the conference Program outlined the diverse offerings planned for new farmers. The MOSES Organic Specialist team planned 7 workshops for beginning farmers. Of the 3,100 conference attendees, 700 self-identified as "beginning farmers (10 years or less)." Workshop topics (with attendance numbers) included: Access New Markets - 357 Fencing for Organic Livestock - 136 Pastured Poultry Success - 130 Road Map to Organic Certification - 75 Soil Test Results for Farm Fertility - 94 Sound Decision-Making Tools - 140 Start-Up Organic Vegetables - 100 The New Farmer Mixer on Friday night, including snacks, a trivia game and beverages, planned in partnership with Renewing the Countryside and National Young Farmers' Coalition, helped new farmers meet and connect with each other. New Organic Stewards also hosted an exhibitor booth in the beginning farmer section of the conference exhibit hall along with partners Renewing the Countryside, staffed by trained volunteers, offering a meeting point throughout the conference as well as access to new farmer resources. A survey done at the booth collected ideas from beginning farmers to use in planning upcoming/future New Farmer U events. Task 2.2: MOSES staff sustained year-round social networking under the New Organic Stewards umbrella, and various platforms including a moderated Facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/neworganicstewards/) that facilitates sharing of ideas and questions among community members. MOSES staff also connects the greater MOSES beginning farmer demographic via MOSES social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter as well as the MOSES conference app. Task 2.3: Project Director Jennifer Nelson and MOSES staff regularly updated the New Organic Stewards webpage (https://mosesorganic.org/projects/new-organic-stewards/) offering a variety of national resources and information for beginning farmers. Between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2017 the New Organic Stewards webpage, neworganicstewards.org was accessed by 7,145 unique individuals online. MOSES staff also updated the Fearless Farm Finances webpage (https://mosesorganic.org/events/fearless-farm-finances-workshop/) with information about the book and upcoming one-day presentation. Task 3.1: Editing, design and layout were completed in time for the 2nd edition of Fearless Farm Finances to be introduced at the end of February in La Crosse at the 2017 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. 3,100 people attended, and the book was highlighted in publicity materials, at the MOSES information booth and bookstore, and introduced at keynote talks. Author Paul Dietmann held a book signing at the event. Publicity for the new edition continued throughout the year, via articles and social media, as well as a dedicated webpage. Additional in-person one-day trainings are planned before each of the next three New Farmer Us, one each in Ill, Iowa and Wis. The same presenters and format as the first successful event is planned. Task 3.2: Friday, October 21, 2016, a one-day training was held in conjunction with the project's first New Farmer U in Minnesota. 78 people attended the full-day learning experience, taught by two of our book authors, Paul Dietmann and Craig Chase. 49% of attendees were 1-5 years into their farming careers, and 37% had not yet started. Paul and Craig covered a full range of financial management topics, from creating a balance sheet to developing enterprise budgets. Evaluations for the event were spectacular, with the average rating of the experience 4.56 on a scale of 1-5, and included comments such as: Good effort to make a complex, boring subject more accessible. Good overview. Speakers were clear, provided context as they went along. Topic as covered was concise in detail. The speakers were well immersed in their fields. We had hoped to have the revised Fearless Farm Finances book finished for the Oct event, but were not quite done with it, and so all attendees received copies of the first edition. Task 3.3: MOSES staff is working to create an online Fearless Farm Finances course based on the book and utilizing video footage from the in-person trainings. The training will be completed in 2018. Task 4.1: MOSES staff collected online and paper evaluations from the 2017 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, and October, 2016 Minnesota New Farmer U and Fearless Farm Finances participants. Task 4.2: MOSES staff is in progress completing online or phone follow-up interviews of 8% of the program participants in 2018. Task 4.3: In process and ongoing - assess program impacts and report project results to USDA.
Publications
- Type:
Books
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Fearless Farm Finances: Farm Financial Management Demystified 2nd Edition
The updated Fearless Farm Finances 2nd Edition is a one-of-a-kind resource packed with instructions, tips and tools for setting up and managing a farms financial system. A must-have for every farmer, the book addresses one of the biggest stumbling blocks to farm success managing finances. The 2nd Edition contains new detailed information and worksheet templates for those using paper-based systems, a new chapter on farm transition, an updated chapter on farm business structures, new from-the-farmer profiles and updated resources. All added to the strong base of material in the first edition.
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:572 new and beginning farmers attended 15 workshops about organic and sustainable farming at the 2016 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. 503 new and beginning farmers participate in a New Organic Stewards Facebook page Changes/Problems:USDA asked us to host the annual Partner Project Meeting, which we planned for August 23-25, 2016. The meeting went well, with 118 participants from around the country attending the 3-day meeting, which included 3 bus tours to local farming operations. No other changes or problems have been encountered. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?MOSES hosted New Organic Stewards participants to the 2016 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, as reported above. 15 90-minute workshops were held on a broad diversity of topics relevant to new farmers. MOSES hosted the 2016 USDA BFRDP Project Director's Meeting in St. Paul, Minn. August 23-25, 2016. MOSES facilitated USDA and 118 BFRDP 2014, 2015, and 2016 Project Directors from around the country that attended the three-day meeting, presented projects, attended best practices workshops and one of three tours including the Hmong American Farmers Association, The Good Acre Food Hub, and Minnesota Food Association. The other events are upcoming, after the August 31, 2016 report date. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project Director Jennifer Nelson, MOSES Communications Director Audrey Alwell and MOSES Staff updated the New Organic Stewards webpage (https://mosesorganic.org/projects/new-organic-stewards/) with resources and information relevant for beginning farmers. We also updated the Fearless Farm Finances webpage (https://mosesorganic.org/events/fearless-farm-finances-workshop/), highlighting resources, the book and upcoming one-day presentation. MOSES staff sustained year-round social networking under the New Organic Stewards umbrella, utilizing various platforms including a moderated Facebook group page. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/neworganicstewards/ This Facebook page facilitates sharing of ideas and questions among community members. We're also using Instagram, and offer communication via the MOSES conference app. MOSES staff promoted New Organic Steward programming at the 2016 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, with listings in the mailed Registration Guide (reaching 24,000 farmers and shareholders in the MOSES network) and the Conference Program, given to the 3,600 conference attendees, as well as the conference app. MOSES staff wrote two articles highlighting the New Organic Steward programming at the 2016 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, and upcoming New Farmer U event, and published them in the MOSES Organic Broadcaster. The Broadcaster is direct-mailed to over 4,000 households around the U.S, and also free online, and announced via email to another 4,000 addresses. Partners Renewing the Countryside and Land Stewardship Project have sent out information about the New Farmer U via their social media, newsletter and email list channels. MOSES sent an email blast to our New Organic Steward email list, 2,387 beginning farmers, with information about the New Farmer U. MOSES staff promoted beginning farmer programming with additional Facebook postings, Instagram and Twitter. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?New Farmer U and Fearless Farm Finances workshop events are planned for October 21-23, 2016 in Lanesboro, Minn. Ten workshops, five "Ask the Expert" sessions, and a general session Farmer Insight Panel will be presented by local farmers and educators and include small group discussion for peer-to-peer learning. Two more New Farmer U and Fearless Farm Finances workshop events will be planned in Iowa and Illinois for fall, 2017. The MOSES Organic Specialist team will choose 7 90-minute workshops targeted towards beginning farmers at the 2017 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, Feb in La Crosse, Wis. The New Farmer Mixer, a social and educational networking opportunity will be held at the conference in partnership with Renewing the Countryside. New Organic Stewards will hold a booth in the "New Farmer Alley" section of the exhibit hall, staffed with trained volunteers educating attendees with resources. Beginning farmer attendees will be surveyed for content data to use in planning upcoming New Farmer U events. The updated Fearless Farm Finances book will be published and available at the 2017 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. A broad publicity campaign will be undertaken to get the word out to farmers and educators about the updated book's availability. Content for the online course will be planned and the course completed and made available from the MOSES website. Project Director Jennifer Nelson and MOSES Staff will continue to disseminate information through the channels outlined above,
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Task 1.1: Project Director Jennifer Nelson, MOSES Staff and partners Renewing the Countryside and Land Stewardship Project met monthly to plan the first New Farmer U event in Lanesboro, Minn., October 21-23, 2016. Ten workshops, five Ask the Expert sessions, and a general session Farmer Insight Panel were developed. We planned the activities based on survey data collected from beginning farmers at the 2016 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, which helped us identify the most pressing current issues for beginning farmers. The conference sessions will be presented by local farmers and educators, and include small group discussion for peer-to-peer learning. Task 2.1: Activities for the 2016 MOSES Organic Farming Conference were planned for new farmers. These included targeted 90-minute workshops, a New Organic Stewards booth in the exhibit hall, an open mic night at a nearby coffee bar and a New Farmer Mixer. A page in the conference Program outlined the diverse offerings planned for new farmers. The MOSES Organic Specialist team planned 15 workshops for beginning farmers. Of the 3,600 conference attendees, 572 self-identified as "new farmers." Workshop topics (with attendance numbers) included: Time & Productivity Management - 185 Hack Your Farm Tools- 260 Use Your Good Financial Records- 81 Taking the Mystery Out of Organic Certification- 190 Financing and Creative Land Options- 150 Creating Healthy Soil- 400 Small Scale On-Farm Composting- 130 Promoting Organic by Finding Common Ground- 90 Organic Row Crop Farming 101- 190 Quality Produce from Field to Table- 230 Increase Farm Income via Diversification- 305 Introduction to Holistic Management- 170 Origins & Evolution of the Organic Farming Movement- 67 Formal Apprenticeship for Beginning Dairy Farmers- 16 Integrating Family Safely on the Farm- 35 The New Farmer Mixer on Friday night, including snacks, a trivia game and beverages, planned in partnership with Renewing the Countryside and National Young Farmers' Coalition, helped new farmers meet and connect with each other. New Organic Stewards hosted a booth in the beginning farmer section of the conference exhibit hall, staffed with trained volunteers, offering a meeting point throughout the conference as well as access to new farmer resources. A survey done at the booth collected ideas from beginning farmers to use in planning upcoming/future New Farmer U events. Task 2.2: MOSES staff sustained year-round social networking under the New Organic Stewards umbrella, and various platforms including a moderated Facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/neworganicstewards/) that facilitates sharing of ideas and questions among community members. The group also utilizes Instagram and the MOSES conference app. Task 2.3: Project Director Jennifer Nelson and MOSES staff regularly updated the New Organic Stewards webpage (https://mosesorganic.org/projects/new-organic-stewards/) offering universal resources and information for beginning farmers. Between January 1 and March 1, 2016 the New Organic Stewards webpage was accessed by 1,088 people online. We also updated the Fearless Farm Finances webpage (https://mosesorganic.org/events/fearless-farm-finances-workshop/) with information about the book and upcoming one-day presentation. Task 3.1: Two contractors worked with project staff Jody Padgham to update the Fearless Farm Finances book. The group met in October 2015 to review the book content and plan changes. Each author took portions to revise. Revisions were underway throughout the spring and summer, and submitted to Jody for compilation and editing. As of August the majority of the revisions were submitted and ready for editing. The book layout redesign was completed and a cover design update initiated. Task 3.2: The two contractors planned a one-day presentation on the book content. The first event was planned for Oct 21, 2016, publicized and registration opened in August. Task 3.3: A videographer was engaged to film the Oct 21 event, to generate content for the online course. Task 4.1: MOSES staff collected online and paper evaluations from the 2016 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. MOSES staff worked with an Evaluation Consultant to create a relevant programming survey for New Organic Stewards at the 2016 Conference, and online and paper evaluations for upcoming New Farmer U and Fearless Farm Finances participants. Task 4.2: Not yet completed- Complete online or phone follow up interviews of 8% of the program participants. Task 4.3: In process - Assess program impacts and report project results to USDA.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
New Organic Stewards website
https://mosesorganic.org/projects/new-organic-stewards
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Fearless Farm Finances website
https://mosesorganic.org/fearless-farm-finances
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