Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience: African American Hispanic or Latino Organic producers Small farms Changes/Problems: What were the keys to success for your participants? Over the course of the four-year project, Glynwood found that the keys to success for participants were rooted in the program's flexibility and adaptive management. Direct technical assistance was provided to participants through site visits on an as-needed basis and on a schedule that suited and advantaged the participants. For instance, clustering the intensive workshop trainings outside of the Northeast farming season (i.e. in the winter) was critical. Program staff also found that participants appreciated that they were able to pause their engagement with service providers as needed through busy parts of the production season. Close communication with the network of service providers helped ensure that progress was noted and a plan for reengagement was understood by all parties. Additionally, the rolling cohort-based model meant that newly enrolled program participants could see that the program team had earned the trust and commitment of the continuing and graduated participants. The more advanced farmers have become an important part of the program's learning circle as mentors, which helps with onboarding new participants, as they clearly see the value of buying into the program. Similarly, because Glynwood actively sought opportunities to bring incubator participants together as a cohesive whole, a group camaraderie developed, giving participants the sense that there was a network present that would support them in hard times throughout the year. Offering childcare and transportation assistance to participants to increase attendance at in-person trainings was an important addition last year, and this will serve the program well when Glynwood is able to offer more in-person trainings post-COVID-19. The pandemic brought uncertainty to the whole agricultural sector, so increased communication and collaboration served all participants well. Program participants infrequently missed check-in calls or site visits because the advice, education and general support was valued more than ever during this stressful time. Describe any unexpected results of the project: Beginning in year two, Glynwood successfully developed a new partnership with the fast-casual restaurant chain Dig-Inn. Not only did this provide some modest financial support to the program, but it has also led to developing trainings and technical assistance services focused on wholesale marketing channels for incubator participants. Another area of unexpected benefit and partnership has been the opportunity for Glynwood (as a successful nonprofit) to share what it knows about fundraising with those program participants who have a social enterprise element to their farming model (low-income/sliding scale CSA shares), as well as to engage program participants in other areas of the organization's regional food systems work, when that engagement stands to benefit both their business and Glynwood's programs (see Stories section below for more detail). Glynwood views it as an accomplishment that future alumni are turning to the organization for support across a variety of areas, not just business and technical assistance. Secondly, because Glynwood made commitments through the program to serve a more diverse audience, the project motivated the organization to explore ways to offer bilingual trainings and materials across all its programs (not just efforts to train farmers). Additionally, the pandemic forced Glynwood to increase its remote delivery capacity in order to deliver classes and meetings in the early stages of the quarantine. Program staff's new proficiency with Zoom gives them another tool for reaching participants at a distance, but challenges their ability to gather evaluations. Although these workshops were very well attended, the switch from in-person, physical evaluation forms to digital copies sent after the workshop resulted in fewer completed evaluations. In an effort to collect more feedback, Glynwood has begun making time at the end of virtual workshops to put a survey link in the Zoom chat box. For those workshops that were held in-person, Glynwood limited attendance to ensure safe social distancing, and often offered the workshop only to its apprentice cohort (2-3 individuals). This resulted in both lower attendance numbers than in previous years, as well as fewer evaluations. Due to the fact that so many of the program's workshops were offered to the same subset of farmers in training, Glynwood did not include demographic questions in those evaluation forms. Glynwood can confidently say, however, that its workshops reached a diverse audience, including farmers who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrants, low-income and women. Lastly, Glynwood notes that its program participants respond very well to a direct, one-on-one approach to program coordination and delivery. Even if there are fewer attendees at a particular workshop, participants are offering their full attention and focus when the program staff are able to deliver on participants' specific needs through a personal and hands-on approach. Adjustments Glynwood made to the program reflecting this need were met with approval from the participants and resulted in greater overall participant engagement. How would you improve this project if you were to do it again? While Glynwood is quite pleased with the way the program developed over the course of four years, there are a few notable changes that it is contemplating for the future. One small shift is an increased emphasis on how the organization supports "alums" of the program, or affiliates/half-time participants in the program. This is especially important as Glynwood looks to continuing the program at a baseline level without USDA grant support. Additionally, Glynwood is exploring methods of gathering information from participants that reduces the administrative burden on both participants and program staff. When possible, staff will conduct more question and answer sessions, rather than sending voluminous questionnaires. The expectation is that this will improve the program experience for all parties, as participants will have fewer 'homework' assignments and program staff will get the information they need without having to chase participants for compliance. Another challenge is how to increase Glynwood staff's Spanish language capacity. The organization has been in dialogue with peer organizations to consider program options that allow it to serve farmers who are Spanish language only speakers. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Workshops Delivered from 9/1/2020 - 8/31/2021 From September 2020 through August 2021, program staff delivered the following workshops, funded through this grant. For more detail, see the delivery section: · Soil Lessons: Soil Testing (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) · Soil Lessons: Soil Science (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) · Cover Cropping (Instructors: Leon Vehaba and Dave Llewellyn) · Pasture Walk + Plant Species ID at Fat Apple Farm (Instructor: Sid Bosworth) · Soil Review (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) · Tractor Training (Instructor: Sarah Groat) · Business Planning + Financial Management I (Instructor: Faith Gilbert) · Business Planning + Financial Management II (Instructor: Faith Gilbert) · Marketing Roundtable (Instructor: Lauren Melodia) · Crop Rotation and Succession Planning (Instructor: Jarret Nelson) · Livestock Producer Group (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) · Farm Accounting and Payroll (Instructors: David Rifenburgh and Janyce Connor) · No-Till Vegetable Production (Instructors: Corinne Hansch, Kyle Nisonger, Julie Rawson and Ryan Maher) · High Tunnel Roundtable (Instructors: Leon Vehaba and Sam Zurofsky) · Livestock Producer Group (Instructors: Dave Llewellyn) · Democratic Decision-Making I (Instructors: Angela DeFelice, Micah Blumenthal, Caitlin Dourmashkin) · Democratic Decision-Making II (Instructors: Angela DeFelice, Micah Blumenthal, Caitlin Dourmashkin) · Holistic Visioning I (Instructors: Dave Llewellyn) · Shop Safety (Instructors: Matthew Ball) · Agritourism (Instructors: Katharine Millonzi) · Holistic Visioning II (Instructors: Dave Llewellyn) · Communications: Preparing for Difficult Conversations (Instructors: Claudia Kenny) · Mycorrhizal Fungi (Instructor: Wade Heller) · Irrigation (Instructor: Jarret Nelson) · Tractor Safety + Mechanization (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn and Matthew Ball) · Small Engine Operations + Maintenance (Instructor: Matthew Ball) · Tractor Practice (Instructor: Sarah Groat) · Local Food for Every Table (Instructor: Megan Larmer) · Pest + Disease Mgmt (Instructor: Ethan Grundberg) · Compost Class (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) · Livestock Producers Group: Marketing Presentation (Instructor: Camas Davis) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Total Meetings: 107 Total Meeting Participants: 880 Total Webinars: 17 Total Webinar Participants: 121? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
OVERALL: Glynwood's fourth and final BFRDP-funded project year witnessed the project team make meaningful advancements in setting this program up for long term success, including operationalizing several of the lessons learned throughout the first three years of the project's implementation. In particular, Glynwood made progress in reaching and serving a more diverse cohort of Farm Business Incubator Participants in 2021, as well as further diversifying the roster of collaborative service providers who deliver technical support and programming, which includes increased involvement from program alumni as farmer mentors. With support from USDA-BFRDP under this award, Glynwood expanded its farmer training curricula, specifically the courses and trainings offered through the Farm Business Incubator program, to include workshop content responding to the shifting needs and demands of new and growth stage farmers in New York's Hudson Valley (e.g., democratic decision making, expanded social justice trainings, food access trainings). As the fourth year drew to a close, the project team crystallized the program's format and delivery to be able to operate at a variety of scales allowing Glynwood to maintain the program moving forward as funding and resources are available. Glynwood continued important adjustments to the program begun in the previous reporting period, including adjusting the program schedule to deliver most incubator classroom-based education during the months of November-March, resulting in improved attendance rates. From April through October, the emphasis shifts to individual technical support, often done via site visits to the individual farming operations. As a result of the funding provided through BFRDP, Glynwood has been able to better serve the needs of new and beginning farmers in the Hudson Valley including by convening and establishing a Hudson Valley Livestock Producer group--funded through USDA-AMS-NERME Sub-Award No. #2018-70027-28588--for the purpose of understanding industry challenges and needs, as well as identifying strategies for solutions and opportunities for future educational programming. Lastly, because of this project, Glynwood has more deeply integrated the Farm Business Incubator participants into Glynwood's other farming and regional food programming, supporting their involvement as leaders in Hudson Valley agriculture. Business Incubation Services Delivered from 9/1/2020 - 8/31/2021 As 2020 drew to a close, Glynwood confirmed a cohort of four new farms for enrollment in the program in 2021, joining the three continuing participants from 2020 who would continue the program for a second year. Representing a greater expanse of the region than ever before, our decentralized Farm Business Incubator worked to transform the future for seven farm businesses in 2021, representing 11 new and beginning farmers. · Choy Division specializes in Asian varieties of vegetables grown for CSA, retail, and wholesale at the Chester Agricultural Center. Farmer Christina Chan is a member of the Hudson Valley CSA Coalition, and additionally collaborates with DIG, a Glynwood corporate partner. · Ever-Growing Family Farm (farmers Nfamara Badjie, Dawn Hoyte, Moustapha Diedhiou and Malick Diedhiou) grows rice and vegetables in Esopus, NY using traditional African growing methods. Through a SARE grant, the farm is conducting on-farm research to compare different planting methods and seed varieties. · Featherbed Lane Farm is a draft horse-powered vegetable CSA in Ballston Spa. Farmer Tim Biello additionally works as a project manager for American Farmland Trust. · Grassroots Farm raises grass-fed beef in Stone Ridge, NY. A member of the Hudson Valley CSA Coalition, farmer Ryan Martens is transitioning herd management from Charles Noble, a longtime livestock farmer in the region who is retiring. · Premier Pastures is a diversified livestock operation. Farmer Jon McDonald raises cattle, sheep, pigs, layer hens, and pastured poultry. · Soumppou Kaffo is a lamb and African vegetable operation in Saugerties, NY. Farmer Kama Doucoure is a former GrowNYC Farm Beginnings former participant and Glynwood livestock apprentice (2018). · Three Sisters Farm is a small vegetable operation run by Roberto Rodriguez. Roberto and his daughters Annette and Maria direct market a diverse range of produce grown in Kerhonkson. Graduating to mentor farm status in 2021 were five farms, including Fat Apple Farm, Gilded Farms, Lovin' Mama Farm, Maple View Farm and SpringRise (managed by Leslie Lewis and Anthony Post who had previously managed Second Wind CSA during their incubator tenure).
Publications
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:· African American · Hispanic or Latino · Organic producers · Small farms · Women Changes/Problems: What were the keys to success for your participants? As with the adaptations we made in our first two program years, we found that the keys to success for our participants were rooted in our flexibility and adaptive management. Direct technical assistance was provided to participants through site visits on an as-needed basis and on a schedule that suited and advantaged the participants. For instance, clustering our intensive workshop trainings outside of the Northeast farming season (i.e. in the winter) was critical. Additionally, with two years of program engagement under the belt, the newer program participants could see that our team had earned the trust and commitment of the farmers who have been in the program for a year or had recently completed the program. The more advanced farmers have become an important part of our learning circle as mentors, which helps us onboard new participants, as they clearly see the value of buying into the program. Similarly, because we actively sought opportunities to bring incubator participants together as a cohesive whole, a group camaraderie developed, giving participants the sense that there was a network present that would support them in hard times throughout the year. Offering childcare and transportation assistance to participants to increase attendance at in-person trainings was an important addition last year, and this will serve the program well when we are able to offer more in-person trainings again, post-COVID-19. The pandemic brought uncertainty to the whole agricultural sector, so increased communication and collaboration served all of us well. Program participants infrequently missed check-in calls or site visits because the advice, education and general support was valued more than ever during this stressful time. Describe any unexpected results of the project: In year two, we were happily surprised by a new partnership with the fast-casual restaurant chain Dig-Inn. Not only did this provide some modest financial support to the program, but it has also inspired us to explore developing trainings and technical assistance services focused on wholesale marketing channels for our incubator participants. Another area of unexpected benefit and partnership has been the opportunity for Glynwood (as a successful nonprofit) to share what we know about fundraising with those program participants who have a social enterprise element to their farming model (low-income/sliding scale CSA shares), as well as to engage our program participants in other areas of our regional food systems work, when that engagement stands to benefit both their business and our programs (see Stories section below for more detail). We are proud of the fact that our future alumni are turning to us for support across a variety of areas, not just business and technical assistance. Secondly, because we are seeking ways to serve a more diverse audience through our program, the project has motivated Glynwood to explore ways to offer bilingual trainings and materials across all its programs (not just our efforts to train farmers). Additionally, the pandemic forced us to increase our remote delivery capacity in order to deliver classes and meetings in the early stages of the quarantine. Our new proficiency with Zoom gives us another tool for reaching participants at a distance. Lastly, we have noted that our program participants respond very well to a direct, one-on-one approach to program coordination and delivery. While workshop attendance has proven to be occasionally spotty, we have their full attention and focus when we are able to deliver on their specific needs through a personal and hands-on approach. We plan to make some adjustments to program delivery accordingly. How would you improve this project if you were to do it again? While we are quite pleased with the way the project is developing, there are a few notable changes that we are contemplating for the future. One small shift is an increased emphasis on how we support "alums" of the program, or affiliates/half-time participants in the program. Additionally, we seek methods of gathering information from participants that reduces the administrative burden on participants and program staff. When possible, we will conduct more question and answer sessions, rather than sending voluminous questionnaires. We feel that this will improve the program experience for all parties, as participants will have fewer 'homework' assignments and program staff will get the information they need without having to chase participants for compliance. Another challenge area is how to increase our Spanish language capacity. We have been in dialog with peer organizations to consider program options that allow us to serve farmers who are Spanish language only speakers. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Developed a diverse curriculum of "winter intensive" trainings:These trainings covered a variety of topics and were offered to our formal Incubator participants, apprentice-level farmers in our region and other area farmers with whom we are networked. These intensives were offered in half-day, full-day and multi-day formats and were offered at a highly subsidized rate, thanks to our grant funding. A list of these intensives can be found under the "workshops delivered" section. Workshops Delivered: From August 2019 through August 2020, we delivered the following workshops, funded through this grant. For more detail, see the delivery section: Interpreting Soil Test Results (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Next Steps for New Farmers (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Chainsaw Safety and Operations (Instructor: Shane LaBrake) Business Planning + Financial Management (Instructor: Faith Gilbert) Food Safety (Instructor: Nathaniel Lartey) Land Access and Farmland Transition (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn with Hudson Valley Farmlink Network partners)* Farm Law Primer (Instructors: Jack Hornickel, John Brown, Linda Kagan, Jennifer Grossman)* Resiliency + Marketing (Instructors: Jeff Potent, Lynda Prim, Lauren Melodia, Chris Wayne)* Farm Financials (Instructor: Dorothy Suput)* Shop Safety (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Compassionate Communications (Instructor: Uma Lo)* Holistic Visioning (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Irrigation (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Practical Tools for Moving Forward and Adapting to Change (Instructor: Uma Lo) Tractor Safety (Instructor: Sara Groat) Turning Mistakes, Broken Agreements or Conflict into Learning and Connection (Instructor: Uma Lo) Composting (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Pest & Disease Management (Instructor: Ethan Grunberg) Ecological Monitoring (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Book Discussion: Intensive No-Till Vegetable Production (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) *Denotes a winter intensive training How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have been granted a 12-month No Cost Extension (NCE) for this project, making the new grant end date 8/31/2021.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
OVERALL: Solid program growth and performance continued through Year Three though the realities of COVID-19 forced adaptations to program delivery and brought new challenges to the farm businesses we serve. With the approval of our NCE through 8/31/2021, we will continue to make important changes to program delivery for the benefit of our program, continuing to assist our program participants as they adapt and strengthen their farm businesses in the wake of the pandemic. The culture of mutual support which we have endeavored to foster in our program cohort has shined during this time. Particularly since the onset of COVID-19, our farmers have leaned into one another to share resources and collaborate in a number of ways. The 18 farm businesses that we have served since 2017 have received guidance, education and training that has helped them navigate and succeed during a turbulent time in our nation's history. Several of our program participants are "graduating" -- transitioning to "mentor farm status" (Rise & Root Farm, Rock Steady Farm, Fat Apple Farm, Lovin Mama Farm and Maple View Farm) where they will play an important role in education and validating our program's effectiveness. Three farms (Featherbed Lane Farm, The Three Sisters Farm and Premier Pastures) will continue into their second year with the program. They have greatly valued the variety of supports the program has afforded them. As we head into our final project year, we will recruit four new farm businesses to join the Incubator cohort for 2021. Below, we highlight the primary areas in which we have experienced progress this past year. Delivered comprehensive and tailored incubation/technical assistance services: From 2015 through 2018, our Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator helped launch or strengthen seven new and beginning farm businesses. As 2018 drew to a close, we confirmed a cohort of seven farms for enrollment in the program in 2019. Representing a greater expanse of the region than ever before, our decentralized Farm Business Incubator worked to transform the future for the following eight farm business, representing 12 new and beginning farmers, this year: · Fat Apple Farm: John Agostinho, Nichole Martini (Pine Plains, NY) - diversified livestock operation in the incubator program 2018-20. We provided technical assistance with farm plan, enterprise selection, financial management and team communications. We additionally provide ongoing operational technical assistance with land use strategy and soil and fertility management. Program provided planning assistance for infrastructure (farm buildings). We provided additional support by identifying new sales opportunities in response to fewer sales outlets due to COVID-19. · Featherbed Land Farm: Tim Biello (Ballston Spa, NY) - a draft horse-powered CSA operation in Ballston Spa in the incubator program 2019-21. Farmer Tim Biello additionally works as the Hudson Valley Farmlink Network manager for American Farmland Trust. We are primarily providing technical assistance with financial management. We provided ongoing operational technical assistance with land use strategy, soil and fertility management, and irrigation. · Gilded Farms: Brandon Horton (Chester, NY) - small-scale vegetable operation at the Chester Ag Center, producing herbs and specialty vegetables, in the incubator program 2019-20. Farmer Brandon Horton will collaborate with Dig Inn Farm and the Dig Restaurant Group (NYC fast casual restaurant) to wholesale spring onions and parsley. We are providing technical assistance in farm financial management and QuickBooks training. Additionally we helped Gilded Farms identify new sales opportunities in response to lost restaurant and wholesale sales following COVID-19. · Lovin Mama Farm: Corinne Hansch, Matthew Leon (Amsterdam, NY) - small-scale no-till vegetable farm in the incubator program 2018-20. We provided technical support with QuickBooks use and financial planning. Additionally, we helped Lovin' Mama Farm identify new sales opportunities and provided marketing assistance in the wake of COVID-19. · Maple View Farm: Kyle Nisonger (Poughquag, NY) - small-scale, no-till vegetable farm piloting wholesale to restaurants and grocery stores, in the incubator program 2018-20. We provided farm labor strategy assistance, legal assistance with corporate structure and zoning issues, financial management technical assistance, and whole farm planning support. We provided additional operational technical support including compost operations, irrigation systems, and food safety education.We helped Maple View Farm identify new sales opportunities in response to lost restaurant sales following COVID-19. Maple View became a supplier to area food banks via mutual aid funds managed by Glynwood. · Premier Pastures: Jon McDonald (Clinton Corners, NY) - a diverse livestock operation at Meadowland Farm in Clinton Corners in the incubator program 2019-21. Farm manager Jon McDonald raises beef, pork and poultry for sale at regional farmers' markets. We are providing ongoing technical support including pricing strategy and identifying new sales opportunities. Additionally, we provided operational support in pasture improvement methods. · Second Wind Farm: Leslie Lewis, Anthony Post (Gardiner, NY) - diversified no-till vegetable CSA in the incubator program 2018-20. We provided technical support in land access, which included networking, site evaluations, soil testing, and land improvement consultation. Leslie and Anthony will transition their operation to new land in 2021 or 2022.Second Wind became a supplier to area food banks via mutual aid funds managed by Glynwood · The Three Sisters Farm: Roberto Rodriguez, Annette Rodriguez (Kerhonkson, NY) a small vegetable operation run by Roberto Rodriguez in the incubator program 2019-21. Roberto is expanding his direct marketed vegetable operation so that he can run a family business with his daughter, Annette. We are providing ongoing operational support in crop planning and direct marketing. We provided technical support to Three Sisters Farm as they identified new sales opportunities in response to lost sales opportunities due to COVID-19. The Three Sisters Farm became a supplier to area food banks via mutual aid funds managed by Glynwood. Expanded and improved the core project team for long term success and innovation: Program Staff, Consultant, Trainer and Faculty Relationships that directly service the project: Our core team is comprised of highly skilled and experienced direct service providers, the majority of whom are either working farmers or experienced faculty with direct farming experience. · Program Director and Primary Investigator Dave Llewellyn · Lynda Prim, previous Program Director, left the organization in July 2020 · Case Manager and Technical Service Provider Dave Llewellyn · Program Coordinator Kate Anstreicher · Finance & Business Training Consultants Julia Shanks and Faith Gilbert · Farm Marketing Consultant Lauren Melodia · Communications & Mediation Trainer Claudia Kenney Advisory relationships that directly enhance the project: · Consulting Coordinator Kevin "Kirby" Irby · Pace Food and Beverage Law Clinic (in partnership with NRDC) is available to take on participants from our incubator as ongoing pro-bono clients. · Kagan Law Group, along with founder Linda Kagan, is poised to become a key program trainer and counsel, providing discrete legal needs to our incubator participants. · Dig Restaurant Group is a corporate partner of the program, providing philanthropic support for participants in our program who market to Dig's restaurants / supply chain. · Carrot Project / Blueprint · HR / Communications - Carmela Frattellone
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, 2020. Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator Interim Program Evaluation
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience: Organic producers Small farms Women Changes/Problems: What were the keys to success for your participants? As with the adaptations we made to the program in year one, in year two, we found that the keys to success for our participants were rooted in our flexibility and adaptive management. Direct technical assistance was provided to participants through site visits on an as-needed basis and on a schedule that suited and advantaged the participants. For instance, clustering our intensive workshop trainings outside of the Northeast farming season (i.e. in the winter) was critical. Additionally, with a second year of engagement for our "advanced" participants (Rise and Root Farm and Rock Steady Farm), the five newer program participants could see that our team had earned the trust and commitment of these farmers, inspiring "generational mentorship" and accelerating the amount of ground we were able to cover with these new participants before the farming season got underway. Similarly, because we actively sought opportunities to bring incubator participants together as a cohesive whole, a group camaraderie developed, giving participants the sense that there was a network present that would support them in hard times throughout the year. Finally, offering childcare and transportation assistance to participants if it would allow them to attend more in-person trainings proved to be a simple, but powerful, key to success in year two. Describe any unexpected results of the project: In year two, we have been happily surprised by the new partnership with the fast-casual restaurant chain Dig-Inn. Not only has this provided some modest financial support to the program, but it is also inspiring us to explore developing trainings and technical assistance services focused on wholesale marketing channels for our incubator participants. Another area of unexpected benefit and partnership has been the opportunity for Glynwood (as a successful nonprofit) to share what we know about fundraising with those program participants who has a social enterprise element to their farming model (low-income/sliding scale CSA shares). We are proud of the fact that our future alumni are turning to us for support across a variety of areas, not just business and technical assistance. We are further encouraged that -- because of the heavy emphasis we place on cohort development and cohesion -- our participants are exploring forming their own collaborative ventures with one another, independent of our involvement (e.g., Maple View and Lovin' Mama Farm are exploring shared marketing opportunities in 2020). Lastly, because we are seeking ways to serve a more diverse audience through our program, the project has motivated Glynwood to explore ways to offer bilingual trainings and materials across all its programs (not just our efforts to train farmers). How would you improve this project if you were to do it again? At this time, we are very pleased with the way the project is developing, and do not anticipate making any significant changes heading into year three. One small shift is an increased emphasis on how we support "alums" of the program, or affiliates/half-time participants in the program, even as we confirm new full-time enrollees for the 2020 cohort. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Workshops Delivered: From August 2018 through August 2019, we delivered the following workshops, funded through this grant. (For more detail, see the delivery section): Cover Cropping (Instructor: Ethan Grunberg) Soil Science / Soil Health (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Chainsaw Safety and Operations (Instructor: Shane LaBrake) Agroforestry + Buffer Strips (Instructor: Connor Stedman) Business Planning and Financial Management (Instructor: Faith Gilbert) Soil Review (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Crop Planning (Instructor: Jarret Nelson) Winter Intensive on Cooperatively Owned Business Models (Instructors: Faith Gilbert) Winter Intensive: The Farmer's Edge, 10-session financial management course (Instructor: Julia Shanks) Winter Intensive on Compassionate Communications Level 1 (Instructors: Claudia Kenney) Winter Intensive on Compassionate Communications Level 2 (Instructors: Claudia Kenney) Winter Intensive on Climate Resilience (Instructors: Laura Lengnick, Andy Bicking, Samantha Levy, et al) Winter Intensive on Landowner - Lessee Relations (Instructors: Hugh Williams, Judah Kraushaar, Claudia Kenney) Winter Intensive on Building a Marketing Plan (Instructor: Myrna Greenfield) Successful Grazing / Intro to Grazing Charts (Instructors: Dave Llewellyn, James Walton-Fuentes, Nicole Scott) Technology Review (Instructors: Jarret Nelson, James Walton-Fuentes, Dave Llewellyn) First Aid Training (Instructors: Putnam County Emergency Medical Services) Tractor Safety and Mechanization (Instructor: Shane LaBrake) Small Engines (Instructor: Shane LaBrake) Mycorrhizal Fungi (Instructor: David Douds) Biodynamic Orcharding and Keyline Design (Instructor: Hugh Williams and Hanna Bail) Biodynamic Farm Management and Dairy Tour (Instructor: Steffan Schneider) Compassionate Communications Team Training (Instructor: Claudia Kenney) Ecological Monitoring (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Small Ruminant School (Instructors: Tatiana Stanton, Jason Detzel, Nicole Scott) Soil Science / Soil Health (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Irrigation (Instructors: Leon Vehaba and Dave Llewellyn) Pest + Disease Management (Instructor: Ethan Grundberg) Pasture + Soil Health Field Day (Instructors: Fay Benson, Juan Alvez, Dave Llewellyn) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?PLANNED: Conduct interim and final third-party evaluation IN PROGRESS: Provide customized technical assistance in the form of direct support from staff and consultants Provide workshop-style trainings on a variety of topics Provide farm mentorship through site visits from Glynwood staff Provide networking to support the development of participating businesses' marketing channels Provide (directly or through consultants) coaching on brand / visual identity design Provide coaching (directly or through consultants) on legal needs. Assess participating businesses' progress through annual reviews COMPLETED: for the "graduating cohort" (two farms) we completed: Provide customized technical assistance in the form of direct support from consultants Provide workshop-style trainings Provide farm mentorship through site visits from Glynwood staff Provide networking to support the development of participating businesses marketing channels Provide (directly or through consultants) coaching on brand / visual identity design Assess participating businesses' progress through annual reviews What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?PLANNED: Conduct interim and final third-party evaluation IN PROGRESS: Provide customized technical assistance in the form of direct support from staff and consultants Provide workshop-style trainings on a variety of topics Provide farm mentorship through site visits from Glynwood staff Provide networking to support the development of participating businesses' marketing channels Provide (directly or through consultants) coaching on brand / visual identity design Provide coaching (directly or through consultants) on legal needs. Assess participating businesses' progress through annual reviews
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
11/4/2019 Glynwood's Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator helps new and growth-stage agricultural entrepreneurs with business and financial planning, farm mentorship, market connections, training in technical skills and leadership, and support in accessing farmland. We made meaningful progress in the second year of our three-year grant to help new entry farmers (year 0-1) and growth stage farmers (years 2-5) in NY's Hudson Valley build sustainable, profitable businesses, allowing them to bring or keep farmland in production. OVERALL: There is a cohesion happening within the project as we wrap up year two, and we are poised to deepen our impact further into year three and beyond. Through this project, we are truly catalyzing a community of support rooted in farmer-to-farmer education and bolstered by broad-based emotional, personal and professional support for our trainees. The 14 farm businesses we've served since the inception of this program are thriving, because of the guidance and support they've received to date. As 2019 draws to a close, and after three years of active engagement with the program, two farms will graduate to "mentor farm" status (Rise & Root Farm and Rock Steady Farm and Flowers). We see this as an important indicator of program success. For the five farms continuing on in the program, though their individual annual evaluations will not take place until after this report is submitted, 100% of them are reporting an increase in business and financial management competency as a result of the training and technical assistance they have received through the program. As we head into project year three, we anticipate recruiting three new farm businesses to join the Incubator cohort for 2020. Below, we highlight the primary areas in which we have experienced progress this past year. Delivery of comprehensive and tailored incubation/technical assistance services: From 2015 through 2018 our Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator helped launch or strengthen seven new and beginning farm businesses. As 2018 drew to a close, we confirmed a cohort of seven farms for enrollment in the program in 2019. Representing a greater expanse of the region than ever before, our decentralized Farm Business Incubator worked to transform the future for the following 15 farmers this year: Fat Apple Farm: John Agostinho, Nicole Martini (Pine Plains, NY) - diversified livestock operation. Technical assistance with farm plan, enterprise selection, financial management and team communications. Operational technical assistance with land use strategy, fertility management and equipment selection. Planning assistance for infrastructure (roads / farm buildings). Lovin Mama Farm: Corinne Hansch, Matthew Leon (Amsterdam, NY) - small-scale no-till vegetable farm. Focused on quick books support and financial planning. This is an advanced beginning farm business that provides an excellent example of rigor in business development for the other members of the cohort. Maple View Farm: Kyle Nisonger (Poughquag, NY) - small-scale, no-till veg farm piloting wholesale to restaurants and grocery stores. We provided farm labor strategy assistance, and helped them identify successful crew members to meet their farm labor needs. The team also provided Maple View with legal assistance with corporate structure and zoning issues as well as compost and food safety technical assistance. Radiance Farm: Kayla Holterman (Chester, NY) - small-scale, specialized veg, wholesaling to Dig-Inn (NYC fast casual restaurant). We worked most closely with Radiance Farm on developing its wholesale production strategy. Rise & Root Farm: Michaela Hayes, Jane Hodge, Lorrie Clevenger, Karen Washington (Chester, NY)- diversified retail vegetable, herb and flower operation with a social justice mission. In 2019, the Incubator provided Rise & Root Farm with operational technical assistance with their weed management strategy, cover crop selection, field drainage and equipment selection. Rock Steady Farm: D. Rooney, Maggie Cheney (Millerton, NY) - diversified vegetable CSA and cut flower operation., w/social justice mission. In our last formal year of work with Rock Steady, we provided advanced technical assistance with farming practices, irrigation and soil management. Additionally, we focused on setting them up for long-term success with next-level business planning and advising on team communications and technical HR issues. Second Wind Farm: Leslie Lewis, Anthony Post, Sam Devine (Gardiner, NY) - diversified no-till vegetable CSA. This farm launched operations in 2019, and our early work with them has focused on team communications support. Expanded and improved the core project team for long term success and innovation:Program Staff, Consultant, Trainer and Faculty Relationships that directly service the project: Our core team is comprised of highly skilled and experienced direct service providers. The majority of this core team are either working farmers or experienced faculty with direct farming experience. Program Director and Primary Investigator Lynda Prim Case Manager and Technical Service Provider Dave Llewellyn Consulting Coordinator Kevin "Kirby" Irby Finance & Business Training Consultant Julia Shanks Communications & Mediation Trainer Claudia Kenney Advisory relationships that directly enhance the project: Pace Food and Beverage Law Clinic (in partnership with NRDC) is available to take on participants from our incubator as ongoing pro-bono clients. Kagan Law Group and founder Linda Kagan is poised to become a key program trainer and counsel providing discrete legal needs to our incubator participants Dig Inn is a corporate partner of the program, providing philanthropic support for participants in our program who market to Dig-Inns restaurants / supply chain. Carrot Project / Blueprint HR / Comms - Carmela Frattellone Develop a diverse curriculum of "winter intensive" trainings:These trainings covered a variety of topics and were marketed to our formal Incubator participants, as well as apprentice-level farmers in our region and other area farmers with whom we are networked. These intensives were offered in half-day, full-day and multi-day formats and were offered at a highly subsidized rate, thanks to our grant funding. A list of these intensives can be found under the "workshops delivered" section.
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:? Organic producers Small farms Women Record the total number of unique participants who participated in your program: Total Number of Participants: 179 Enter the actual cumulative number of participants who as a result of your program: Started farming: Target - 8, Actual - 4 Helped prepare to start farming: Target - 5, Actual - 1 Improved farming success: Target - 300, Actual - 179 Changes/Problems: Throughout the first year of this project, we have noted that the one constant seems to be change: change with respect to program design; personal change for our participants; and changes on the ground due to a changing climate. Though this observation does not constitute a "result," we are cognizant that consistent change necessitates developing strong adaptive management skills on our staff and among our participants. We have expanded the emphasis on "social sustainability" as a learning outcome for participants within our program design, and we would like to explore professional development opportunities for our staff to expand their adaptive management skills. Describe any unexpected results of the project: Though our project is far from complete, we developed the adaptations described in this report in response to input from our program participants about what they felt would make the project more successful from their perspective. For example: as a rule, participants did not have a good sense of what they needed to focus on in launching their business until they had "gotten a little runway behind them." That is, participants felt they were primed for assistance after they gotten a little experience under their belt, or had worked a fair bit with one of our program consultants who was skilled at assessing their particular business's needs. Therefore, rather than requiring that all participants begin their participant journey with the same visioning and business planning module, we are allowing participants to "jump start" their engagement with the program through accelerated onboarding, goal-setting for the season ahead, and tailored consulting. Another key to success for our program has and will continue to be scheduling of in-person trainings during the winter months, and thoughtful use of conference calls and online courses when in-person convening isn't practical. We have learned that it is very important to limit the expectations we place on participants to engage with the program during the height of the growing season (May - November). During these times, our key personnel and consultants spend a greater percentage of time traveling to the participants' farm operations. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Results: What Producers Learned, Achieved, Applied Result 1. New and growth stage farmers create new / improved business, financial and/or strategic plans Producer action: Develop, Topic: Business and strategic planning When measured: Project Completion Estimated Number: 20, Actual Number: 5 How verified: submission and review of their business plans, workshop evaluations Result 2. New and growth stage farmers improve their financial records and record keeping processes. Producer action: Implement, Topic: Financial records and analysis When measured: Project Completion Estimated Number: 20, Actual Number: 5 How verified: consultant records, participant interviews, workshop evaluations Result 3. New and growth stage farmers improve their operations / on farm systems Producer action: Implement, Topic: Organic production When measured: Project Completion Estimated Number: 11, Actual Number: 5 How verified: participant interviews and consultant records Result 4. New and growth stage farmers receive ongoing technical assistance to strengthen their farm businesses Producer action: Implement, Topic: Business and strategic planning When measured: Project Completion Estimated Number: 10, Actual Number: 3 How verified: Participant interviews and assessments Result 5. New and growth stage farmers learn tools for accessing and selecting long term land, and strategies for successful land tenure relationships Producer action: Understand, Topic: Access to land When measured: Project Completion Estimated Number: 25, Actual Number: 20 How verified: workshop evaluations and post surveys Result 6. New and growth stage farmers learn how to improve team communication and acquire management skills Producer action: Understand, Topic: Employee management and communication When measured: Annually Estimated Number: 75, Actual Number: 20 How verified: workshop records and surveys Result 7. New and growth stage farmers learn and increase awareness about regenerative land management practices Producer action: Understand, Topic: Conservation When measured: Annually Estimated Number: 100, Actual Number: 90 How verified: workshop evaluations and participant surveys Result 8. New and growth stage farmers expand their business and support networks (markets, mentors, peers) Producer action: Implement, Topic: Interpersonal, family, and business relationships When measured: Annually & Project Completion Estimated Number: 100, Actual Number: 31 How verified: workshop evaluations and participant interviews Result 9. Apprentices and new farmers acquire knowledge and skills in farm production and business management Producer action: Understand, Topic: Organic production When measured: Annually Estimated Number: 125, Actual Number: 179 How verified: workshop evaluations and participant interviews Steps Steps taken to help participants PLANNED: Provide customized technical assistance in the form of direct support from consultants Provide workshop-style trainings Provide farm mentorship through site visits from Glynwood staff Provide networking to support the development of participating businesses marketing channels Provide (directly or through consultants) coaching on brand / visual identity design Assess participating businesses' progress through annual reviews Conduct interim and final third-party evaluation IN PROGRESS: Provide customized technical assistance in the form of direct support from consultants Provide workshop-style trainings Provide farm mentorship through site visits from Glynwood staff COMPLETED: How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Delivery Total Meetings: 17 Total Meeting Participants: 158 Total Webinars: 0 Total Webinar Participants: 0 Total Website Visits: 0 Total Online Course Participants: 0 Meetings 9/6/2017: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 6 9/21/2017: New Paltz, NY -- Number of Attendees 20 10/5/2017: New Paltz, NY -- Number of Attendees 4 10/21/2017: New Paltz, NY -- Number of Attendees 5 3/23/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 26 4/5/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 8 4/12/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 5 4/17/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 6 4/18/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 4 5/10/2018: Pocantico HIlls, NY -- Number of Attendees 3 5/24/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 25 6/6/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 5 6/6/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 5 6/7/2018: Pocantico Hills, NY -- Number of Attendees 3 6/13/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 5 7/6/2018: Cold Spring, NY -- Number of Attendees 26 8/16/2018: Pocantico Hills, NY -- Number of Attendees 2 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Schedule for 2019 * Sessions in bold are required / strongly recommended. Jan 14, 3-5pm Farmers Edge class starts, online Mondays 3-5pm (to Mar 11) Jan 30-31 Cooperatively Owned Business Models, limited space Feb 12 Understanding Meat Cuts (for Farmers) Feb 19-20 Compassionate Communication 1 Feb 28 - Mar 1 Climate Resilience for Regional Farms, limited space Mar 5-6 Compassionate Communication 2 Mar 7 Webinar pre-session (1-3pm) for "Building a Marketing Plan" Landowner-Lessee Relations Mar 19 Farmers Edge final daylong class + dinner gathering + overnight Mar 20 Building a Marketing Plan April TBD On-farm Crew Workshops in Compassionate Communication Additional individual meetings (as well as monthly check-ins) Winter: Farm Mentorship planning session Introduce staff and schedule 2019 site visits Business & Financial status evaluation Upon completion of Farmers Edge, an evaluation to define further coaching / consulting needed Legal & Regulatory checklist review Determine if PACE or other pro bono services are needed Spring / Summer: Marketing network exploration Upon completion of a Marketing Plan, meet with Glynwood staff to explore potential relationship support / networking Monthly Coaching in Compassionate Communication, by phone Schedule TBD Late Fall / Early Winter: Annual Gathering & Presentation PROGRAM OFFERINGS The Incubator program offers customized technical assistance in the form of direct support from consultants and coaches, as well as workshop-style trainings and other mentorship and networking opportunities. While a few aspects of the program are fixed courses or coaching sessions, the majority of support services are intended to be customized to each business' unique needs. Requests for support in other areas of business development and personal growth will also be considered. Business Planning & Financial Management Through coursework and individual consulting/coaching, this component of Glynwood's Incubator program emphasizes financial management skills, and supports planning and decision-making that will drive a profitable business. The "Farmers Edge" Course, taught by business consultant Julia Shanks. Coaching for Successful Financial Management and Business Planning Farm Mentorship & Onsite Farm Visits This component of the Incubator program seeks to support participants' practical farming skills and ensure their farms are functioning optimally. Incubator participants will have the opportunity to receive mentorship from Glynwood's experienced farm staff (Dave Llewellyn, Lynda Prim, farm managers). Visits to participating farms by Farm Mentors will be the basis for advice and recommendations to ensure that Incubator farms are operating efficiently, and as much as possible to the highest standards of regenerative agriculture. Topics addressed include but are not limited to: whole farm planning, nutrient management, weed management, crop planning, rotational grazing, manure management, equipment selection, use and troubleshooting, infrastructure, farm efficiencies, risk management. ?Social Sustainability This area of the Incubator program emphasizes communication, management, and leadership skills that will support farmers' personal wellness and that of their teams. A farmer's role is complex and involves webs of relationships and roles. Running a crew is one of the most challenging parts of farming, and the learning curve is steep. Even seasoned farmers will say that running a crew is one of the toughest parts of their job. Having a good team that works together effectively is essential on any farm. However, having a farm crew that does not work together well can break a farm. This component of the program is offered in partnership with mediator and farmer Claudia Kenney, trained in Marshall Rosenberg's Compassionate Communication (NVC) as well as other conflict management theories and practices. Workshop: Compassionate Communication for Farmers Group Coaching: Personal Development and Team Effectiveness Individual Coaching Farm Crew Training in Effective Communications Skills Marketing Training and Support This component of the Incubator program intends to support well-informed marketing strategies, and strong networks for relationships in varying sales channels. Workshop: Market Research & Marketing Planning Networking: Marketing Relationships Coaching: Visual / Identity / Packaging Design Legal & Regulatory Issues Incubator participants can take advantage of two pro-bono services for legal counsel: PACE Food & Law Clinic Pro bono services are available to Incubator participants to address a range of legal needs (provided participants meet the Clinic's criteria for new clients). Schulte Roth & Zabel This law firm is available to provide pro bono services on specific needs and questions. Land Access Advising and Support This program component intends to support participants who are seeking land access for their start-up farm business. Consultation and Networking Glynwood actively participates in the Hudson Valley Farmlink Network, in addition to maintaining numerous other contacts with land trusts and land owners in the region. If an Incubator participant needs to identify land for a start-up enterprise, Glynwood staff will consult with them to create a profile and to aid in networking / follow-up in their land search. Additional Glynwood Workshops Glynwood offers many farmer workshops during the year, including a robust calendar of technical skills workshops as part of our Apprenticeship program curriculum. Incubator participants may join workshops on topics like soil science, tractor safety and mechanization, small engines, pest and disease management, irrigation, cover cropping, chainsaw safety and operations, and more. Additionally, to support the skills of Incubator participants and other peer farmers we offer immersive trainings and convenings, including those that are core to the Incubator experience, as described in this overview (Farmers Edge, Compassionate Communication, and Marketing Planning). In 2019, further topics will include: Cooperatively Owned Business Models, Jan 30-31 Climate Resilience for Regional Farms, Feb 28 - Mar 1 Understanding Meat Cuts and Butchery, Feb 12 Conference Stipend Stipends up to $400 per farm will be offered each year to assist with registration, lodging, or travel expenses for attending relevant trainings and conferences. Those who make use of this offering are requested to summarize and report their learnings to the rest of the Incubator cohort. Participants attending conferences with stipend assistance are asked to be ambassadors for Glynwood's Incubator by proactively sharing information with other conference attendees - and whenever possible, seeking opportunities to speak (panels, breakouts, etc.) about their experiences. Farmers may choose which conference to attend with their stipend, with approval from program manager. General Support and Networking In addition to the services and trainings described above, participation in a Glynwood program means becoming part of Glynwood's network and community. Incubator participants are encouraged to actively connect with the Glynwood community through personal relationships, events, and other opportunities. Monthly check-ins with program manager(s) will allow participants to request for additional support and guidance across a range of potential needs, in addition to what's described above. Program participants will also have opportunities to connect with other Glynwood programs such as Kitchen Cultivars, Hudson Valley CSA Coalition, Public Programs, and more.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Progress Notes Glynwood's Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator helps new and growth-stage agricultural entrepreneurs with business and financial planning, farm mentorship, market connections, training in technical skills and leadership, and support in accessing farmland. We made measured but meaningful progress in the first year of our three-year grant to help new entry farmers (year 0-1) and growth stage farmers (years 2-5) in NY's Hudson Valley build sustainable, profitable businesses, allowing them to bring or keep farmland in production. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Program Adaptations: From August 2017 to August of 2018 we made important adaptations to the project design to maximize our ability to reach our target audience over the life of the grant. These adaptations were made in consultation with Denis Ebodaghe at USDA-NIFA, and our approved RVS Project Initialization reflects these adaptations. At their core, the adaptations consisted of: reducing the extent to which we require participants to complete compulsory standardized modules. Instead, our program now focuses on providing one or more core learning experiences in each of the primary areas of support (i.e., business planning and financial management; farm mentorship, social sustainability, marketing, legal and regulatory issues, land access advising), and then tailoring individual technical assistance programs for each farm business according to their needs; moving from an application-based recruitment and selection process to a nomination based-model. This shift has allowed us to engage with potential participants who are at different stages of their journey more effectively, and we believe will result in better outcomes and more effective use of grant funding. Incubation Services Delivered: Even while the program evolved, our key personnel and project consultants continued to provide tailored and comprehensive technical assistance to the five farm businesses we incubated during the period of August 2017 through August 2018: Back Paddock Farm - supported this grass-fed beef and log-grown mushroom operation with land access support and site evaluation while they completed a transition from land managed by Glynwood, to land that Back Paddock now leases near Ghent, NY. Grass + Grit Farm - supported this diversified meat and egg CSA with land access, site management and shared equipment at a property managed by Glynwood near New Paltz, NY, as well as approximately 21 hours of consulting on business planning, scenario planning, and training at practical skills workshops. Community Compost Company - supported this farm-based compost and soil company as they transitioned from Glynwood's New Paltz property to long-term land they now lease in Kerhonksen, NY. The focus of our work with Community Compost Company was on assessing multiple farm properties for suitability for their farm-business operations. Glynwood staff helped with technical assistance and operational mentoring. Rise & Root - helped this diversified vegetable operation improve its growth stage business through site visits and farm mentorship from Glynwood staff, as well as approx. 16 hours of consulting focused on annual budgeting and financial management. Outcomes from that scope of work included: improved financial systems for annual and monthly budgeting, revised annual farm budget, and more accurate monthly financial snapshots. Rise & Root were also trained at several practical skills workshops. Rock Steady Farm & Flowers - helped this vegetable CSA and cut flower operation strengthen their financial management systems through approx. 20 hours of consulting. Outcomes included: improved financial management to ensure proper tracking of enterprises and the creation of a tracking tool for further financial analysis and planning. Glynwood staff helped strengthen Rock Steady's operations through site visits and farm mentorship. Rock Steady was also trained at several practical skills workshops. Workshops Delivered: From August 2017 through August 2018, we delivered the following workshops, funded through this grant. For more detail, see the delivery section: Cover Cropping (Instructor: Ethan Grunberg) Next Steps for New Farmers (Instructor: Dave Llewellyn) Chainsaw Safety and Operations (Instructor: Shane LaBrake) Small Engine Maintenance (Instructor: Shane LaBrake) Soil Science Intensive (Instructor: Jean Paul Courtens) Tractor Safety and Mechanization (Instructor: Shane LaBrake) Small Engines (Instructor: Shane LaBrake) First Aid Training for Farmers (Instructor: Bob Cuomo) Mycorrhizal Fungi (Instructor: David Douds) Soil Testing 201 (Instructor: Will Brinton) Small Ruminant School (Instructor: Tatiana Stanton) Pest & Disease Management (Instructor: Ethan Grunberg) Worker Protection Standards (Instructor: Ethan Grunberg) Waste Management Systems (Instructor: Karl Hammer and Shane Hardy) Irrigation (Instructor: Leon Vehaba and Dave Llewellyn) Farmscape Ecology (Instructor: Claudia and Conrad Vispo) Grazing Planning (Instructor: Sarah Flack)
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