Progress 01/15/21 to 01/14/25
Outputs
Target Audience: 2022/25: The total audience reach during 25 local, regional, and statewide in-person events was 745 women in agriculture. The 11 online webinars reached 1,212 people. The10 Ag Decision Maker news articles reached 10,000 women and men. PROGRAMS 2021/25: Collaborators Farm Credit Services of America: The organization provided cross-promotion and financial support for additional services/supplies not covered by this grant. Iowa Women in Agriculture: The non-profit group included our project sessions and tours in three summer conferences. Iowa Women Land and Legacy: This Iowa NRCS group included our programs in their newsletters and social media. County Extension Professionals: Our colleagues across the state helped plan and support in-person events. 2024/25: Regional Women Managing Farmland Forums (1-day/6-hours). Participants = 168. Sept. 3, 2024, SW IA. Atlantic, Cass Co. Local Hosts: Kate Olson, Tim Christensen. Speakers: Madeline Schultz, Leah Burke, Kristine Tidgren, Catherine DeLong, Tim Christensen, Paul Martin. Participants = 42 Sept. 4, 2024, SE IA. Iowa City, Johnson Co. Local Hosts: Shannon Bielicke, Ryan Drollette, Patrick Hatting. Speakers: Madeline Schultz, Barbara Dunn Swanson, Ryan Drollette, Patrick Hatting, Rabail Chandio, Rebecca Vittetoe, Jennifer Harrington, Barbara Dunn Swanson. Participants = 30 Sept. 5, 2024, NE IA. West Union, Fayette Co. Local Hosts: Deb Kahler, Jospeh Lensing. Speakers: Susanne Kuennen Farm Tour, Madeline Schultz, Joseph Lensing, Catherine DeLong, Natalie Eick Paino, Jennifer Harrington, Jill Weber, Jeannette Mukayisire. Participants = 59 Sept. 6, 2024, NW IA. Storm Lake, Buena Vista Co. Local Hosts: Stacie Hewett, Carol Ehlers, Gary Wright, Alexis Stevens. Speakers: Madeline Schultz, Carol Ehlers, Gary Wright, Alexis Stevens, Catherine DeLong, Jennifer Harrington. Participants = 41 Women Managing Farmland Winter Webinar Series (Four at 1-hour). Participants = 318 Nov. 14, 2024: Adding Diversity to the Iowa Landscape, Catherine DeLong. Participants = 26 Live + 26 replays Dec. 19, 2024: Iowa State University Land Value Survey Results and Impact on Landowners, Participants = 43 live + 36 replays Jan. 9, 2025: Turbines, Solar, and Pipelines, Oh My! Legal Considerations for Landowners. Kristine Tidgren. Participants = 54 live + 58 replays Feb. 13, 2025: Grain Marketing, the Trials and Tribulations in 2025, Alexis Stevens. Participants = 53 live + 22 replays. This webinar was outside the grant project period. However, we note here this was our final webinar in our winter series, Nov. to Feb. The topics for the winter series were suggested by women who attended the September forums. Recordings may be viewed here: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html Ag Decision Maker News Articles. Viewers = 4,000 An accompanying news article was prepared for each of the winter series webinars. Ann Johanns, Ag Decision Maker Leader, estimated 4,000 total views of the news articles. Statewide Women in Ag Conference Tours and Breakout Sessions. Participants = 159 Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference, Breakout Session, Aug. 1, 2024, Ankeny, IA. Total Participants = 80 Session Title: Women Managing Farmland: Rental Rates and Values, Transition, Leasing, and Succession, Speakers: Catherine DeLong, Kristine Tidgren and Rebecca Frantz from Hertz Farm Management.ISU Women in Ag Leadership Conference, Dec. 4, 2024. Ames, IA. Participants = 79 Leadership Conference, Intensive workshop (2-hours). Participants = 50 Session Title: Women Managing Farmland - Creating and Attaining Your Farm Vision. Speakers: Sharon Chism, Catherine DeLong, and Jennifer Harrington. Leadership Conference, Tour (2 hours). Participants = 29 Tour Title: Bioeconomy Institute: Regenerative Agriculture in Iowa. Speakers: Lisa Schulte Moore, Brooke Rogers, Tim Youngquist, Elmin Rahic, Sarah Tyree, and Vivian Cook. 2023/24: As a review, the team conducted three 9-hour local "Women Managing Farmland" courses, reaching 35 women. We hosted three statewide conference breakout sessions or tours, reaching 156 women. Through online activities, we engaged 844 women in six 1-hour webinars. The accompanying Ag Decision Maker articles were viewed by 6,000 people. 2021/23: The team conducted nine 3-hour local "Women Managing Farmland" workshops, reaching 97 women. We hosted three statewide conference breakout sessions or tours, reaching 130 women. Zhang and Tong presented a webinar with the Iowa Learning Farms, reaching 50 people. Changes/Problems: 2024/25:Personnel - Cori Hyde, research scientist and evaluation specialist, separated from the Iowa State University, moving to Michigan State University, in October 2024. Justin Szabo and Andrew Guhin replaced Hyde to assist in project evaluation. Patrick Hatting, Joseph Lensing, and Gary Wright, farm management specialists, joined the project team (and received salary allocations) to support the in-person regional forums and statewide conference sessions/tours. They partially replaced Melissa O'Rourke, farm management specialist, who separated in 2023. Ann Johanns, Extension Specialist and farm management team member, led webinar delivery and Ag Decision Maker resource sharing throughout the project. Many members of the ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Team substantially contributed to this project including Charles Brown, Tim Christensen, Ryan Drollette, Jennifer Harrington, Kelvin Leibold, Paul Martin, Alexis Stevens, Kitt Tovar Jensen, and Eric Weuve. 2021/24:Personnel - Throughout this project, there were several personnel changes. Some of the key changes were that Jamie Benning was replaced by Catherine DeLong. Jamie continued to serve as an advisor. Professor Zhang seperated from ISU, moving to Cornell University and he continued to serve as an advisor. Melissa O'Rourke separated from ISU, and also continued as an advisor. 2023/24:No-Cost Extension - The other major change is that we applied for and received a one-year no-cost extension due in part to the personnel changes. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?2024/25: We brought new farm management team members into the project to provide them with experiences in project planning, delivery, and evaluation. They also offered new ideas to seasoned team members. 2021/24: We involved graduate and undergraduate students in this project to provide project experiences and mentor them professionally. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?2024/25: Jingyi Tong, PhD student, presented a poster on the research survey and Ann Johanns and Lisa Scarbrough presented a poster on the extension programs at the April 3-4, 2024 Extension Risk Management Education Conference held in Salt Lake City, UT. Coming up, Schultz will be giving apresentation on the project outcomes and impact at the April 1-3, 2025 Extension Risk Management Education Conference in Nashville, TN. She has also submitted a presentation proposal for the 2025 National Association of County Agricultural Agents, conference held June 30 to July 3, 2025. The presentrationswill be placed in the shared folder. 2021/2024: The team published two journal articles and a white paper from the baseline survey research. Jingyi competed and presented at the AAEA conference with project data in 2023. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?While the project officially ended January 14, 2025, we planto continue working on this topic due to the expressed interests of the audience. Activities include follow-up survey reporting and planning additional Women Managing Farmland programs
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
RESEARCH 2024/25: The team, led by Jingyi Tong, PhD candidate, prepared and submitted a journal article which was published as shown below. Tong, J., et al. "What Women Landowners Want to Know About Conservation." Journal: Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. Volume 39, 2024, e35. Cambridge Core - Cambridge Univeristy Press & Assessment. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170524000243 Link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/renewable-agriculture-and-food-systems/article/what-women-landowners-want-to-know-about-conservation/51ECA468E420ED6AB7B078CFB18A1156 2023/24: We note the manuscript submitted to the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation was rejected in March 2023. This was due mainly to sample bias. The 2024 submission did not include the portion of the sample that was deemed biased. 2022/23: The team, led by Schultz, published an article in the Journal of NACAA. Schultz, M., et al. "Survey Increases Understanding of Iowa Women Farmland Owners." Journal of National Association of County Agriculture Agents. ISSN 2158-9429,Vol. 15, Issue 2 - December 2022. Link: https://www.nacaa.com/journal/af13e379-2e2a-4804-8239-0b491a88fa93 2022/23: A working paper was published by Jingyi Tong and Wendong Zhang. Zhang, W., Tong, J. "Educational Preferences on Farmland Leasing, Conservation Practices, and Transition Plans: Voices of Iowa Women Farmland Owners." Iowa State University Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Working Paper 22-WP 633. June 2022. Link: https://www.card.iastate.edu/products/publications/pdf/22wp633.pdf. 2021/22: The team worked with the ISU Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology to develop and conduct a baseline research survey of women landowners. RESOURCES 2024/25: A folder to share project materials with other researchers, educators and interested persons is at: https://iastate.box.com/s/c8bh1ksqg7zaojs1ritf0pss0jor90b2. The project material includes the following. Workshops Courses Forums Conference Sessions and Tours Webinars Evaluation Baseline Survey and Data Tables Journal Publications Professional Presentations Project Management: AWD No. 2021-68008-34180 Program attendees took home Extension handbooks, learned about the Ag Decision Maker website, found opportunities to participate in related Extension programs, met USDA staff and other ag professionals and connected to Extension resources and the community of women in agriculture for continued engagement and learning. 2022/24: Three key resources were developed outside of this project by team members and their partners. The team distributed more than 1,000 hard copies through this project. The resources are available through the ISU Extension Store. Farmland Leasing and Management (100 pages). Updated annually in August. Available at https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/16536 Estate and Succession Planning for the Farm (101 pages). Published December 2023. https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/4319 Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual (80 pages). Published September 2022. https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/15823 Questions about project information can be addressed to the following: Madeline Schultz, schultz@iastate.edu Kristine Tidgren, ktidgren@iastate.edu Catherine DeLong, crdelong@iastate.edu Jamie Benning, benning@iastate.edu PROMOTION 2024/25: The team designed a 5 inch by 8 ½ inch spiral writing notebook with information on the Women Managing Farmland programs, as well as other farm management programs for women. These were distributed through conferences, courses, and other events to promote project resources. 2021/25: To increase awareness about project activities and resources, the team mailed postcards through the postal service to previous extension audience members, and distributed press releases and paid advertising through print and online media including newsletters and social media. Brochures and flyers were shared through conference/event exhibits as well as county extension offices. EVALUATION 2024/25: A two-page paper survey was collected from 112 of the 168 participants, at the end of each of the four Regional Women Managing Farmland Forums. The ISU Research Institute for Studies in Education (RISE) entered the data into Qualtrics. Schutlz and RISE prepared a report. At the conclusion of the project in early 2025, participants were invited to virtual follow-up focus groups. A total of eight women were able to participate. The virtual focus groups were conducted and transcribed by RISE. Schutlz and RISE prepared a report. Next, the team developed an online follow-up survey with the goal of measuring the effectiveness of educational programs on the stated logic model behavior changes and societal/ long-term conditions. The survey was mailed to over 600 participants in Women Managing Farmland programs from 2022 to 2025 in March of 2025. Reminder postcards were mailed to the approximately 350 people we had mailing addresses for. The team is still receiving responses. Schultz and RISE will prepare a report and place the results in the shared folder (noted under resources.) The team developed a two-page impact report to share with all stakeholders. 2022/24: The team evaluated the webinar series with brief online surveys following the webinars. Conference sessions were evaluated each year as part of overall conference evaluations, mostly measuring knowledge. Feedback was gathered from workshop and class participants through focus groups and interviews. TEAM MEETINGS 2024/25: Continuing asin other years, the team held in-person planning meetings January 30, May 13-14, June 12, and September 24-26, 2024 with the project leaders as well as the entire farm management team. The team leaders also met monthly over Zoom.
Publications
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Tong, J., et al. What Women Landowners Want to Know About Conservation. Journal: Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. Volume 39, 2024, e35. Cambridge Core Cambridge Univeristy Press & Assessment. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170524000243
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Progress 01/15/23 to 01/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Iowa State Univeristy Extension and Outreach provides women-centered programs designed with the interests and preferences of women in agriculture in mind. All are welcome to attend. Participation: 191 in-person attendees plus 844 virtual attendees =1,035 Newsletter: 6,000 people accessed the Ag Decision Maker articles created through this project. Changes/Problems:Personnel We note that Dr. Wendong Zhang, Economics professor, separated from Iowa State University, moving to Cornell Univeristy in 2022. In 2023, he became an unpaid advisor on this project and continued to support the publication goal. Tidgren and Schultz assumed greater responsibilities. We also note Jamie Benning, Assistant Director of ISU Extension and Outreach Agriculture and Natural Resources, was moved off the project in 2021 and replaced by Catherine DeLong. Benning continues to serve as an unpaid advisor on the project. Kitt-Tovar Jensen, attorney working with Tidgren at the ISU Center for Ag Law and Taxation contributed to the project. Melissa O'Rourke, Farm Management Specialist, separated from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach on June 1, 2023. This position on the project was not replaced in 2023. No-Cost Extension A no-cost extension was approved for the project on December 18, 2023. The approval extended the end-date of the project by one year, from January 14, 2024, to January 14, 2025. The main reason for the extension was due to changes in personnel. Shift in Program Types The proposal focused on in-person delivery of multi-session courses. We found women were more interested in other types of outreach. This is a big reason for our plan to shift to regional one-day forums next year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Jingyi Tong, PhD student, submitted an American Agriculture Economics Association student competition application. She attended the conference, gave a presentation on this project, and earned recognition for her work. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project team shared the results of the women landowner survey with the public through the Women in Ag, Ag Decision Maker, and Dept. of economics websites. In addition, we posted articles in our newsletters and the ISU Extension news site. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goals Journal Publication Conference sessions Webinar Series /news articles New Regional Forums Women have asked for one-day local programs. We are developing plans to hold four regional one-day forums across Iowa as follows. We have never hosted regional landowner forums in our state before. TENTATIVE PLAN FOR: WOMEN MANAGING FARMLAND FORUMS HOSTS ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Program SPONSORS USDA-CARE project AND Farm Credit Services of America This program was financially supported by a USDA NIFA Critical Agriculture Research and Education grant (2021-68008-34180) and a Farm Credit Services of America gift through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag program. AGENDA 9:00 am Optional Farm/Local Tour 10:30 am Welcome Icebreaker Introduction to Women Managing Farmland 11:00 am Conservation Key Topics 12:00 pm Lunch 12:30 pm Celebration of 20 Years of Women in Ag Programs in Iowa Brief announcement, flyer, slide show (silent or music), cake 1:00 pm Farmland Leasing Key Topics 2:00 pm Break 2:15 pm Estate and Transition Planning Key Topics 3:30 pm Program Concludes REGISTRATION FEE $20.00 or No cost to register? RESOURCE TABLES Two to four per site, especially USDA and ISU Extension - Human Sciences ATTENDANCE GOAL 50 people per site x 4 = 200 POTENTIAL LOCATIONS, LOCAL CONTACTS Fayette County Deb Kahler, Ext Office Manager, 563-425-3331, dkahler@iastate.edu Position Open, Ext Farm Mgmt Brynn Friendrich, Ext Region 10 WLL/Delaware Co., Alycia Willenbring, NRCS, alycia.willenbring@usda.gov, (563) 777-0458 Mahaska County Suzette Striegel, Ext Ag Programs, 641-673-5841, striegel@iastate.edu Charles Brown, Ext Farm Mgmt Ext. Region WLL/Mahaska/Marion Co., Nichole Baxter, NRCS, nichole.baxter@usda.gov, (641) 792-5019 Cherokee County Jen Gaydo, Ext Ag Programs, 712-225-6196, gaydo@iastate.edu Gary Wright, Ext Farm Mgmt Terry Janssen, Ext Region 7 WLL/Buena Vista Co., Larrette Kolbe, NRCS, larrette.kolbe@usda.gov, (712) 732-3096 x3 Cass County Kate Olson, Ext County Director, 712-243-1132, keolson@iastate.edu Tim Christensen, Ext Farm Mgmt Kerry Aistrope, Ext Region 21 WLL/Madison Co., Anna Golightly, SWCD, anna.golightly@ia.nacdnet.net, (515) 462-2961 x3
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Research The team continued to work with PhD Student, Jingyi Tong, as well as Dr. Wendong Zhang, on a manuscript and data revisions. On March 3, 2023 our manuscript submitted December 12, 2022, was released by the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. The main reason cited was a concern over potential bias in the sample. The team then worked to prepare a new manuscript for the Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems Journal which was submitted on October 10, 2023. 2. Resources Three key resources have been developed outside of this project that the team is distributing and/or referring audience members to through education and outreach activities. The resources are available through the ISU Extension Store. Farmland Leasing and Management (100 pages). Updated annually in August. Available at https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/16536 Estate and Succession Planning for the Farm (101 pages). Published December 2023. https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/4319 Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual (80 pages). Published September 2022. https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/15823 The team also prepared slide presentations and handouts to use for specific in-person and online educational events. 3. Promotion Course Promotion: The team prepared a brochure, flyer, press release, print ad, and social media announcement for each course. Webinar Promotion: The team promoted these events through other extension events and in the Women in Ag and Ag Decision Maker newsletters. Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference Tours and Breakout Session: The team partnered to host a pre-conference tour and prepared the promotional materials for this. We worked with the small non-profit to promote the summer conference statewide through our newsletters, extension calendars and more. ISU Women in Ag Leadership Conference: The team handles all the promotion for this including a conference website, postcards to past attendees, paid advertising, and portion through other events. This is the second year to include this project in the conference. We partnered with Women Land and Legacy throughout the year to cross-promote each other's programs for women landowners and farmers. 4. Programs Extension and Outreach ProgramParticipation: 191 in-person plus 844 virtual attendees =1,035 AgDM Newsletter article views = 6,000 Multi-Session Women Managing Farmland Courses (12-hour). Total participants = 35 Feb. 20 to Mar. 6, 2023: Oskaloosa, IA, Mahaska Co., Charles Brown Instructor. Participants = 10 Mar. 2 to Mar. 16, 2032: Charles City, IA, Melissa O'Rourke Instructor. Participants = 19 Nov. 29 to Dec. 13, 2023: Mason City, IA, Kelvin Leibold Instructor. Participants = 6 Course Materials, https://iastate.box.com/s/rq8onp1jtgb0az9qu3k48yjobtlswuur Women Managing Farmland Webinar and News Article Series (1-hour). Total participants = 844 Feb. 8, 2023: Importance of Using a Written Lease, Melissa O'Rourke. Participants = 54 live + 188 replays Apr. 12, 2023, Building Your Professional Team, Kitt Tovar Jensen. Participants = 53 live + 77 replays June 14, 2023: Keeping the Ground Covered, Catherine DeLong. Participants = 39 live + 70 replays Aug. 9, 2023: Landowner-Tenant Communications, Ann Johanns. Participants = 63 live + 74 replays Oct. 11, 2023: End-of-Life Taxes and Expenses, Kitt Tovar Jensen. Participants = 83 live = 81 replays Dec. 13, 2023: Slowing Water Down, Catherine DeLong. Participants = 32 live + 30 replays Newsletter Articles = 6,000 For each webinar, an accompanying news article was prepared for the Ag Decision Maker Newsletter. The webinar recordings and news articles are archived on AgDM. Ann Johanns, Ag Decision Maker Leader, reported 6,000 views of the news articles. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/ Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference, Aug. 2-3, 2023, Ankeny, IA. Total Participants = 115 Breakout Session, Aug. 3. (2 at 1-hour each). Participants = 80 Title: Top Five Tax Considerations for Farm Succession Planning in 2023, Kristine Tidgren. Slides: https://iowawomeninag.org/annual-conference/2023-conference-highlights/ Pre-conference Tour, Aug. 2. (this part of the tour was 1-hour). Participants = 35 Title: Bear Creek Wetland, Catherine DeLong and Shane Wulf, Wetlands Project Manager for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Description: Join us at the wetlands to learn more about Iowa's landscape and the role of wetlands in improving water quality. Our guest speakers are Shane Wulf and Catherine DeLong. Shane Wulf is the wetlands project manager for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. He works in concert with farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders in Iowa to identify opportunities for the development and installation of water quality wetlands. Catherine DeLong is the Water Quality Program Manager for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. She works statewide to bring people together to share resources, ideas, and perspectives about water quality, and to help Iowans understand the role they can play in Iowa's water future. ISU Women in Ag Leadership Conference, Nov. 29, 2023. Ames, IA. Intensive Workshops (1 -hr and 45-min). Participants = 41 Title: Legacy Stories of Leasing, Conservation and Succession, Host: Melissa O'Rourke, Guest Speakers: Jamie Benning-ISU Assistant Director, Ag and Natural Resources Extension, Kitt Tovar Jensen-ISU Center for Ag Law and Taxation. Panelists: Emily Boettcher-Boettcher Farms, Northwest Seed, Monica Lursen-Lursen Farms, Lursen Trucking, Amy Tlach-City View Farms, Mid-Iowa Seeds, LLC. Description: Leasing, conservation and succession or transition planning are three important farmland management tasks that can help women leave a legacy and achieve their goals. In this conversational workshop, three women will share their experiences as farmland owners or aspiring farmland owners, and three women will share their knowledge as extension professionals supporting women with management decisions. The audience will get the chance to ask questions in small groups and engage in meaningful conversations about farmland ownership. Management guides will be provided. 5. Evaluation The team evaluated the courses with a follow-up online survey. Webinar attendees received a survey link to a short survey following the webinars. The conference tour was evaluated with a one-page paper survey, and another paper survey was used for the breakout session. The leadership conference intensive session was evaluated along with other sessions in a post-conference online survey. 6. Team Meetings The full project team met virtually on a monthly basis in 2023 to continue moving the project forward. We also met with the Extension and Outreach Farm Management Team during in-person two-day team meetings on May 15-16, 2023, and September 27-28, 2023.
Publications
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Progress 01/15/22 to 01/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The project team, along with the farm management team, held nine one-session Women Managing Farmland pilot programs. Each 3-hour program included delivery of information on leasing, conservation, and land transition; as well as a focus group exercise to gather feedback and guidance from participants. A tenth program planned was cancelled. The total attendance for the nine programs was 92 women. Changes/Problems:Dr. Zhang has taken a new position at another institution. He continues to work with us on this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Jingyi Tong, a PhD graduate student in Economics has been mentored and supported by Dr. Wendong Zhang and Madeline Schultz. We helped Tong improve her data analysis and writing skills and to publish career building journal articles. Schultz also invited Tong to be part of the leadership advisory committee to gain experience in planning a major conference. She was a guest speaker herself and introduced other speakers, building her confidence and speaking abilities. Tong began officially working on the project in June, 2022 Alexandra Osborn isa Senior undergraduate student in Agronomy and Public Service Administration. Schultz and Scarbrough are mentoring Osborn in program planning and development, communications and marketing, and grant management.She began working on the project in August, 2022. Both young women are interested in Extension careers or partial extension appointments in the future. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The survey results, as well as educational opportunities are shared in the Women in Ag Newsletter, and on our website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag/. We also included this in our leadership conference to expand awareness. We are posting information on the farm management website, Ag Decision Maker. See https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/articles/orourke/OroJan23.html Press releases as news articles help increase awareness. For example: https://www.dyersvillecommercial.com/news/event-spotlights-women-who-manage-farmland/article_43fcc97f-9f10-5c26-bfb4-590ab86232f3.html A working white paper is published by ISU Dept. of Economics: https://www.card.iastate.edu/products/publications/pdf/22wp633.pdf The survey results were shared with other extension educators here: https://www.nacaa.com/journal What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have many plans for outreach, as well as continuing to share survey results. A brief summary of the work to be done in 2023 follows. Implement our plans to deliver courses, webinars, newsletter articles, and learning circles in 2023. Identify landowner types and best practices for reaching targeted demographics. Develop case studies for use in teaching key concepts. Create a more robust section on the new Women in Ag website to highlight Women Managing Farmland resources and available opportunities. Continue to curate and share valuable resources. Continue to share the survey results and insights, to wider audiences of women landowners. Conduct program evaluation and impact reporting through retrospective surveys, focus groups, success stories and video stories of women managing their farmland. Journals: Continue writing focused articles and publish in two more journals. Professional Meetings: Present about this project at two or more professional meetings. Professional Development: Continue mentoring students and providing them with opportunities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Winter- 2022: Women Managing Farmland Pilot Programs Summary Women own 47 percent of Iowa farmland. The decisions they make on farmland leasing, conservation, generational transition have an impact on Iowa's agricultural sustainability. The project team, along with the farm management team held nine one-session Women Managing Farmland pilot programs. Each 3-hour program included delivery of information on leasing, conservation, and land transition; as well as a focus group exercise to gather feedback and guidance from participants. A tenth program planned was cancelled. The total attendance for the nine programs was 92. Eastern Iowa Melisa O'Rourke - Farm Management Specialist December 7, 2021, 5pm to 7 pm, Fayette, (Fayette County) - 10 participants January 11, 2022, 1pm to 4pm, Dyersville (Delaware County) - 5 participants January 12, 2022, 12 pm to 3 pm, Charles City, (Floyd County) - 16 participants January 13, 2022, 9am to 12pm, Elkader (Clayton County) - 10 participants February 12,2022, 12pm to 3 pm, New Hampton, (Chickasaw County) - Cancelled Patrick Hatting, Farm Management Specialist May 23, 2022, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Toledo (Tama County) - 7 participants Western Iowa Alexis Stevens, Farm Management Specialist December 14, 2021, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm (Calhoun/Sac Counties) Gary Wright and Alexis Stevens, Farm Management Specialists January 19, 2022, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Holstein (Cherokee and Ida) - 6 participants January 27, 2022, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Milford, (Clay and Dickinson) - 18 participants February 3, 2022, 9am to 12pm, Storm Lake (Buena Vista County) - 20 participants The agenda for the Eastern Iowa programs was: Introduction--Purposes Farmland Leasing--Legal Basics Land Stewardship--Conservation Strategies with Catherine Delong, ISU Water Quality Farm Transitions--The Future & Family Conversation about Landowner Communication Networking with Women Landowners & Land Managers Feedback, Planning & Next Steps The agenda for the Western Iowa programs was: Introduction to Women Managing Farmland Federal Farm Programs with guest speakers from USDA such as Angie Christian Succession Planning with Kitt Tovar Jensen, ISU Center for Ag Law and Taxation Feedback and Planning Discussion Overall, women participating in the feedback/focus group portion of the programs, told us they want to hear more about everything.They want to know about innovation in farming. They want a seat at the table, to join in conversations with men, and be just as knowledgeable. They would like to attend more women managing farmland programs. Women are key stakeholders in the agricultural industry. When women are empowered to make research-based decisions, they can contribute to more equitable farmland leasing, greater adoption of conservation practices, and well-planned generational transition of farmland ownership. Spring - 2022: Project Team and Farm Management Team Planning Meeting April 26, 2022: The project team members and the ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Team met in-person from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm to discuss the survey results and how we can best reach the audience of women landowners.There were 18 team members who participated. The meeting agenda included the following activities. CARE grant overview - Madeline Schultz Women Farmland Owners Survey Results - Wendong Zhang and Jingyi Tong Women Managing Farmland Pilot Results - Melissa O'Rourke and Alexis Stevens Resources and Materials Review Economics and Leasing - Melissa O'Rourke Conservation and Land Practices - Catherine DeLong & Jamie Benning Curricula Brainstorming Economics and Leasing - Led by Melissa O'Rourke Conservation/Land Practices-Led by Catherine DeLong/Jamie Benning Transition and Succession - Led by Kristine Tidgren Summer - 2022: Journal Publications May 16-17, 2022: The project team met again with the farm management team during the team in-service to discuss program development and delivery. The project team continued to meet monthly throughout the year. Two primary activities for the summer were program development and planning, along with publishing the survey results. A white paper was published in June 2022, as previously noted. A paper was submitted in September and published in the Journal of the NACAA in December 2022. Another publication was submitted in December and is under review with the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Fall - 2022: Program Development and Planning September 28--29, 2022: The project team met with the farm management team during the team in-service to decide on program development and delivery. We developed a plan for delivery of information based on the survey results. Newsletter (Preferred by 48% of survey respondents) Deliver 6 to 12 in 2023 Develop short 300-word publications for the AgDM and Women in Ag e-newsletters for one year, Jan. 2023 to Dec. 2023. Identify timely topics and decision points Highlight publications and resources Feature women managing farmland stories Webinars (Preferred by 34% of survey respondents) Deliver 6 in 2023 Prepare a series of 6 focused webinars, about 30min of presentation plus Q&A. Choose 'hot' topics (what audience wants to know about) Highlight publications Archive the recordings of the presentations, do not archive Q&A, on Women in Ag and/or AgDM Publications/factsheets/Infographics (Preferred by 31% of survey resp.) Deliver 6 new factsheets in 2023 Curate or bring together (best of the best) resources that appeal to women But not too many, be selective, target interests Create 6 new resources that address concerns and interests Host on AgDM and Women in Ag Half-day In-person Meetings (Preferred by 28% of survey respondents), Deliver 12 or more in 2023 Partner with Women Land and Legacy in our state to offer short programs. Prepare a group of 4 key lessons with learning objectives Mix - all topics Economics Conservation Transition Multi-part series of educational meetings (Preferred by 12% of survey resp.) Deliver 2 to 4 four-week programs in 2023 Try it, even though the survey did not indicate this. Especially in the areas where women came to the pilot programs. Three or Four Session Program One week will have a strong focus on conservation One week will have a strong focus on transition Possibly weave Economics throughout all weeks Learning Circles (Pref. by 21% survey resp.) Deliver 2 six-part virtual learning circles in 2023) We will host Virtual Learning Circles Begin after delivering some other programming Gather/gauge interest from participants in other programs Will we set an end date or number of times to meet, then re-evaluate? November 29-20, 2022: We included Women Managing Farmland Topics in our Women in Ag Leadership Conference. Concurrent Session B: Intensive Workshops Session B1: Leave a Legacy through Leasing, Conservation and Succession: Presented by Catherine DeLong, Melissa O'Rourke, Jingyi Tong, and Kitt Tovar Jensen: As a farmland owner or manager, the decisions you make greatly influence the future of agriculture in Iowa. We'll share insights gained from the 358 responses to our farmland ownership and management survey. The team will offer information and resources to help women meet the challenges expressed in the survey. You'll learn how to improve lease arrangements, implement new conservation practices, and prepare the next generation to succeed in agriculture. Bring your questions, discuss your concerns and accomplishments with other women, and leave this workshop with a renewed commitment to a lasting legacy of equitable land access, healthy landscapes, and generational transition. To see a recording of the presentation, go to https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag/. Enter passcode PRESENTATIONS2022. Click on the B1 session.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Schultz, M., et al, Survey Increases Understanding of Iowa Women Farmland Owners, Journal of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, ISSN 2158-9429, Vol. 15, Issue 2- December 2022.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Tentative publication in 2023
Zhang, W., Benning, J., Tong, J., et al
What Women Landowners Want to Know about Conservation
Submitted to Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
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