Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
500 S LIMESTONE 109 KINKEAD HALL
LEXINGTON,KY 40526-0001
Performing Department
Community & Leadership Development
Non Technical Summary
The NC1198 group and its predecessors evolved to address a troubling structural change in US agriculture: the decline of mid-scale farms capable of generating household income. We have referred to this phenomenon as the disappearing "Agriculture of the Middle (AOTM)" The decreasing numbers of mid-sized family farms as evidenced by the NASS Census of Agriculture data from 1997-2012 reflects a tren12)d that has been going on for decades (Stevenson et al. 2011). Across the US, only the very smallest farms (farms with < $10,000 in sales) and the very largest farms (farms with > $million in sales) have been increasing in number. Interestingly the 2012 Census suggests a slight improvement in these numbers. USDA classifies farms with sales from $350,000-$999,999 as "Mid-sized Family Farms". The 2012 Census data show that farms in the ranges of $250,000 - $499,999 and $500,000-$999,999 both slightly increased in number from 2007-2012 (Ahearn and Harris, 2014). While these signs are encouraging, it is important to note that there are still only about 118,000 mid-sized family farms nationally and the greatest number of farms in the US farms are considered Small Family Farms, with the greatest numbers of these classified as retirement and off-farm occupation farms.Income-generating small and mid-sized farms are vital to the overall well-being of US rural communities, the economy and the environment, as confirmed by numerous studies over the years (e.g., Kirschenmann, Stevenson, Buttel, Lyson, & Duffy, 2008). Research suggests that small and mid-scale farms spend a relatively higher amount of input dollars locally and have a higher multiplier effect than do larger farms (Jablonski & Schmit, 2015). The land in mid-sized family farms comprises about one-fifth of all agricultural land and compared to other potential uses (i.e., development, particularly paving) provides numerous ecosystems services.Beyond a measure of farm size, the NC1198 team has expanded the concept of the Agriculture of the Middle (AOTM) as a "marketing middle" that designates a third tier of marketing that lies somewhere between direct marketing and commodity marketing. The concept and the role of values-based food supply chains (VFSCs) and other forms of strategic partnerships that differentiate foods and their distribution systems based on particular sets of product and business attributes have been of particular interest for their ability to improve market access for small and mid-sized family farms (Stevenson et al 2011; Lev et al 2015). Many of these farms are too large or otherwise unsuited to direct market all of their products, yet too small to successfully compete in commodity markets. Partnerships are a logical choice for these farms. Borrowing from the theory of the firm and transaction costs (Coase 1937), many of these farms have too large a volume to "make" their own marketing (selling through direct markets like some smaller farms do) yet too small a volume to survive in by "buying" marketing though anonymous commodity channels. Partnerships and the opportunity to aggregate products with other similar producers offer the potential to bring modest price premiums of differentiated products while selling larger volumes and access to mass markets. A recent AFRI project led by NC1198 members has identified and created a database of over 250 VFSCs in the US that distinguish themselves in the marketplace based on particular attributes related to food quality, environmental practices, distribution of economic benefits, or social relationships (Peterson et al 2016).Over the course of the NC1198 project, the team members have produced numerous case studies, peer reviewed publications, lesson plans, and presentations to professional meetings and received many extramural grants to support the work. However, there is no case study from the South. Tanaka's contributions in this round of the NC1198 will focus on the completion of case studies in the Southeast region. Potential case study VBSCs incude: (a) FreshStop Markets, organized by New Roots, Inc., in Kentucky and Southern Indiana; (b) Appalachian Harvest, located in Duffield, VA; and (c) GrowFood Carolina, located in Charleston, SC. Such case studies will improve our understanding of regional variations in factors affecting mid-size farmer viability and performance of VBSCs.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
70%
Applied
30%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
Investigate key factors that influence economic performance and viability of mid-scale farms/ranches and their supply-chain partners.
Identify and assess the possibilities of mid-scale supply chains to contribute to community goals and needs.
Examine and assess governance structures and mechanisms of mid-scale supply chains and their role in mediating, communicating, and implementing values around food quality, economic performance, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
Project Methods
Methods for Objective #1used by Tanaka will include an array of quantitative (e.g., secondary data analysis) and qualitative (e.g., case studies, interviews) methods to identify common factors for success among mid-size farmers and ranchers and value-based supply chain (VBSC) actors in the Southeast region.The unit of analysis will be the individual farm enterprise/supply chain actor. Anticipated categories of factors and covariates include but are not limited to: firmographics; geography; product mix; marketing, production, branding and distribution strategies; partnerships; information management; governance. Qualitative methods will be used to understand major themes while quantitative methods will measure frequency of and correlations among important factors in larger populations. Case studies will present deep descriptions of ongoing efforts and highlight key strategies and challenges. Roundtable discussions and presentations will vet results implications with stakeholders. Results will be disseminated though professional meetings, scholarly journals, webinars, lesson plans,and outreach publications.Methods for Objective #2 will include case studies in the Southeast region to identify current needs and goals and design assessment tools for measuring progress on impacts of mid-scale supply chains. Potential case study contributions from Kentucky and the Southeast region may include: Fresh Stop Markets, organized by New Roots, Inc. in Kentucky and Indiana; Appalachian Harvest in Virginia; and GrowFood Carolina in South Carolina. Types of data will include: specific measurable quantitative data (economic, environmental, social) that assesses conditions of mid-scale supply chains and community impacts; and qualitative data about successes, challenges, lessons learned, best practices and future plans. Data will be gathered in a variety of ways including: telephone and in-person interviews, focus groups, surveys, and case studies. Data will be analyzed and/or evaluated in ways that draw connections between mid-scale supply chains and community impacts, such as economic/community development, labor practices, and community health. Results will be shared first and foremost with community partners and advisors, regional or state organizations and across teams from this multistate project, other NIMSS projects and through professional academic or practice groups.Methods for Objective #4 will include such research activities as organizational case studies, focus groups, surveys and modified social network analyses. These activities will be designed, sequenced and integrated based on collaboration between the researchers and specific values-based food supply chains, with attention both to the aims of this objective and data and information needs articulated by participants in the VBSC s leaders. Tanaka's potential case VBSCs willinclude: Fresh Stop Markets operated by New Roots, Inc. in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, Appalachia Harvest in Virginia, and GrowFood Carolina in South Carolina. Types of data gathered include: discrete quantitative measures of information and resource exchanges between participants in selected VFSCs at different points in time, and qualitative data regarding motivations, roles, functions and network relations of the participants within specific VFSCs. Social analysis software will be utilized to construct visual maps that represent the unique structures of these social networks. Data analysis will further focus on understanding organizational, decision-making and communication processes within VFSCs and with relevant external actors and how these processes influence the values that characterize particular VFSCs.