Focusing on Beginning Farmers

Outcomes

As evidenced by the content of the mini-grant proposals, the focus group process helped service providers identify ways they could modify service delivery or implement new programs or services that would respond to specific stakeholder needs and priorities documented by the focus groups. The mini-grant approach also successfully encouraged collaboration and partnerships. Twenty-four service providers collaborated with 27 farmers to develop, implement and evaluation 13 mini grant projects that reached over 575 Northeast farmers during the project period. Additionally, the mini-grant projects developed print and electronic resources and tools that continue to be available to farmers and agricultural service providers, and have been accessed by an estimated 1899 people. Follow-up evaluation surveys of participants in these initiatives show that 210 gained new knowledge or skills related to land access, production, marketing and/or business management that contributed do a change or improvement in their farm operation.

The information and knowledge gained through the focus groups and survey has informed and helped several subsequent projects that have successfully attracted over $1 million in competitive grant funding.

The information contributed directly to the design and approach of the University of Vermont Extension New Farmer Project (launched in 2009 through an internal competitive grant process) and the Vermont New Farmer Network project funded in 2011 by the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

Survey and focus group findings clearly indicated a need in Vermont for a more coordinated approach to service delivery that helps beginning farmers access the right service at the right stage of farm and business development. At all focus groups, participants linked success as a beginning farmer to their ability to access education and support in multiple arenas, ranging from business planning and management to land access, legal and regulatory issues, production and marketing. However, many complained that because service delivery is split among so many agencies and organizations, it can be time consuming and frustrating to navigate the labyrinth of programs. “A centralized point of access to what’s out there . . . [That] would be really useful,” one participant suggested, “because it’s sort of scattered everywhere…Trying to track down all those folks and find out what they’re doing—it’s an alphabet soup. You don’t even know whose door to knock on and which phone to call.”

The UVM Extension’s New Farmer Project developed a web-based central access point to organizations, services, and educational opportunities for Vermont’s farm entrepreneurs (http://www.uvm.edu/newfarmer). The site serves as a “virtual toolshed” that beginning and aspiring farmers can use to build their information base, knowledge and skills to succeed. It connects users with an array of online and on-the-ground resources, from fact sheets and guidebooks to courses, workshops and webinars all geared to assist in farm development. Since the website’s launch in early 2010, it has had more than 5,000 visits from 1938 visitors, with Google Analytics data showing that many visitors return frequently to the portal. Of the total visitors, 173 have signed up for more regular communication and or specific assistance/support. Approximately 45 percent were start-ups (1-3 years in business, 30% are explorers and aspiring farmers and 21% are re-strategizers and establishing farmers (4-7 & 8-10 years in business). Additionally, about 30 agricultural service providers from around the nation have subscribed to project newsletters and bulletins.

Information gained through this project also informed the collaborative approach the member organizations of the Vermont New Farmer Network are pursuing through a 2011 USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grant. The network is currently piloting an integrated, holistic coaching, education, and technical assistance approach that meets the individualized needs of new farmers while maximizing the efficiency of service providers. A goal is to balance centralized coordination between and across member organizations with the need for flexibility at the local and organizational level.

Finally, knowledge and experience service providers obtained via their mini-grants has provided a foundation for several larger initiatives. The Cheshire County (NH) Conservation District used information it gained through its mini grant as a foundation for a successful SARE grant to support labor and workforce needs for beginning farmers. The Land Access Database (LAD) mini-grant project provided knowledge and experience that enabled the project coordinator to serve as an advisor to a group of 25 New England-based service providers making up the four task forces of the USDA BFRDP-funded “Land Access Project” coordinated by Land for Good. That project developed a similar linking and listing service to be launched in June 2012. NOFA-VT has shared the knowledge it gained through its apprentice linking mini grant with other NOFA chapters.

"The $1,000 mini-grant award enabled NOFA-VT take steps for improvement of our website and on-line matching service," said NOFA Technical Assistance Coordinator Lynda Prim. "These improvements have led to NOFA-VT serving as a model for other NOFA’s who are in the development stage of creating their own apprentice on-line matching services. With the improved functionality of our apprentice on-line matching service we were able to take a lead in supporting other Northeast NOFA’s by being able to provide an example of a complete and supportive formal apprenticeship program that matches prospective farmers with established farmers including: programs that provide apprentice social-networking opportunities, learning tools to support apprentices and host farm mentors, increased understanding of the legal requirements of host farm apprenticing, mentor workshops on effective on-farm education, and advanced apprentice education."

Highlights of impacts of the mini-grants are discussed below by topic area.

Labor and Workforce issues emerged as important issues at several of the focus groups. Two mini-grants addressed these issues. Farmers at the focus groups identified access points for information exchange, quality labor, and educational and membership opportunities as one way that service providers could help support beginning farmer success. NOFA-VT used mini-grant funds to pilot a new clearing house website to link apprentices and willing workers at multiple levels of the beginning farmer scale, with more established and experienced farmers including other beginning farmers needing help on their farms. In the first season of operation, 34 farm operators and 144 apprentices used the web-based linking service. In response to a follow-up evaluation survey sent to this population, 14 farm operators and 13 apprentices responded. Of those, 9 farmers and 9 apprentices indicated that the website helped them identify a good fit. All the apprentices and all but one farmer said that they would use the site again.

Among the ways farmers said that the apprentices contributed to the farm operation included: “being responsible or valuable labor, having an enthusiasm or curiosity about farming, having an interested in continuing education and researching topics or writing articles for their farm newsletter, and insightful, enjoyable companionship as well as being an inspiration.”

Apprentices and farm workers said the positions gave them greater knowledge, exposure to various methods and ways of thinking, and that they learned new details every day. One apprentice said, “I learned more about working on a small-scale organic farm than I could have ever gotten out of a book or workshop, and forged real relationships with the farmers, their friends, and other interns. Even if I don't become a farmer, I know more about what farms need and how to connect them to the public consumers because I spent so long working hand-in-hand with both.”

Two organizations used mini-grant funds to conduct additional stakeholder needs assessments to learn more about beginning farmers needs in specific locales or to address specific issues. The Hannah Grimes Center and Cheshire County NH Conservation Districts used mini-grant funds to conduct stakeholder assessments using methology similar to that employed in focus groups. Both organizations used the focus group information to adapt their programming and to inform other agricultural service providers in their region.

“Participating in the Focusing on Beginning Farmers project laid a critical foundation of knowledge that the Hannah Grimes Center and Monadnock Region service providers continue to build upon. We were able to assess where farmers in our region were struggling and where they were finding assistance. From this project, we went on to create the Farm Business brochure – highlighting the organizations that provide direct support to farm businesses. We continue to publish our Farm Focus e-newsletter that goes out to 300 contacts, focusing on some of the needs identified at the Farm Focus Groups. . . . We continue to work on developing effective programs for farmers that fit into their busy schedule. We partnered with the Cheshire County Conservation District & UNH Cooperative Extension to develop a series of five workshops on season extension and energy efficiency, that also covers the financing and feasibility of new farm projects.”

In southern Vermont, farmer participants identified the need for specific, individual, on-farm technical assistance, in particular, service that would help them manage costs, increase productivity and improve resource conservation. In response, two mini-grants provided free soil sampling/interpretation services to 20 beginning farmers. The goal was to increase farmers’ understanding of the soil characteristics on their farms, and appropriate management practices and amendments to build fertility and minimize nutrient run-off. Of the 21 farmers who participated, 10 reported making changes in nutrient management on their farms. Changes included: purchasing different amendments, changing application rates, changing application times, implementing a multi-year soil-building plan, using soil testing on a more routine basis.

Participating in the project “has affected our choice of soil amendments,” wrote one participant. Said another: “Until the soil testing, I was unaware as to how much phosphorous was in one of our vegetable beds due to the fact that we took over another farmer’s work.” Another farmer remarked, “Without the testing, we may have added more manure in the spring, adding to nutrient run-off.”

In the Rutland area focus group, participating farmers identified the need to increase access to markets and marketing approaches as an arena where support from service providers could significantly enhance beginning farmer success. Farmers expressed an interest in learning about innovative collaborative efforts underway elsewhere in Vermont that are showing promise in effectively and efficiently marketing products. There was interest in food hubs, multi-farm CSAs, co-marketing, co-branding, and other emerging efforts to build profitable direct and wholesale markets for growing businesses. Two mini-grants addressed this topic by offering a series of workshops whereby Rutland area beginning farmers could learn from farmers and nonprofits in Chittenden County who have developed some of these marketing options. As a result, 15 farmers participated in the creation of a Rutland Growers Collaborative, exploring market approaches such as a multi-farm CSA and collaborative marketing to restaurants.

Beginning farmers at three of the four focus group sites indicated an interest in technical assistance delivered in electronic or online formats, particularly due to the difficulty in balancing an off-farm job with in-person workshops or farming events. The Raw Milk Webinar Series mini-grant worked to help beginning farmers who are not currently served by bulk dairy resources to learn about raw milk handling best practices. The project developed and posted on the web materials that address the legalities of selling raw milk in Vermont, including proper sanitation procedures, liability reduction check lists and management of high somatic cell counts for milk-producing. The project also conducted two webinars on raw milk, explaining Vermont regulations regarding sales and sanitation and cleaning procedures for dairy equipment and proper milk cooling to minimize bacteria growth. Both webinars were made available for later download at the UVM Extension Beginning Farmer Project website. Handout materials were also posted on the site. Outreach about these new materials was conducted with 1100 people via the Vermont Pasture mailing list; 297 unique visitors accessed the raw milk handling and marketing information on the web; 33 people participated in the webinars; and farmers who responded to follow-up surveys from the webinars indicated that they are using information they in their farmer operation.

Access to viable, productive and affordable land, particularly in reasonable proximity to direct markets, was cited at all four focus groups and in the survey as a formidable challenge that has been difficult to overcome for beginning farmers at all stages of development. Three mini-grants addressed this topic.

1. Land Access Database
Beginning farmers at several of the focus groups expressed a desire for a more an efficient way to find out about land access opportunities, as well as to gain greater understanding of alternative land tenure arrangements. A project-supported mini grant created a searchable database of farmland opportunities available to new farmers in Vermont, known as the Land Access Database, or LAD. Housed at the UVM Extension New Farmer Website (http://www.uvm.edu/newfarmer/?Page=vermont-lad/index.html&SM=vermont-lad/sub-menu.html) alongside educational materials and links regarding land tenure arrangements, the LAD connects land seekers with opportunities as well as information about securing affordable farmland.

As of February 28, 2012, 42 farm seekers had completed the LAD Farm Seeker Form, which enables farm seekers to efficiently communicate their needs to service providers and connect with more people and support services outside of the LAD. At any given time, the LAD currently has about 30 farming/land opportunities listed. Google Analytics tracking of visits to the site indicates that the LAD had 763 unique visitors in its first full year of operation, with nearly two thirds of those people visiting the site multiple times. A survey of first-time users of the LAD found that 100 percent of respondents said that the LAD enabled them to discover potential opportunities that they had not known about prior to visiting the LAD.

The LAD has improved efficiency from for the Vermont Farmland Access Network, a collaborative effort of five nonprofit organizations that assist with land access and tenure issues. Additionally, the experience gained via LAD mini-grant has directly informed and helped shape a similar, Northeast regional linking and listing service being developed as part of USDA BFRDP funded “Land Access Project,” coordinated by Land for Good.

2. Vermont Farm Assessment Checklist
Another challenge focus group participants identified is evaluating various parcels, particularly for rental opportunities for start-up operations. A second mini-grant created the “Checklist for Rental Land Seekers,” which is available for download at http://www.uvm.edu/newfarmer/?Page=land/checklist.html&SM=land/sub-menu.html. The checklist is a tool to help aspiring and beginning farmers evaluate prospective farm properties for lease, although beginning farmers have also found it helpful in evaluating properties that are for sale. Over 100 paper copies have been distributed to farmers, and it has been downloaded at approximately 130 times from the website.

Feedback from farmers and service providers indicates that the checklist is a helpful tool. “Service providers report overwhelmingly positive responses to the Checklist from clients,” the mini-grant coordinator reported. “One mentioned that a client had not thought about cell phone coverage at the property and who should pay for site improvements until reviewing the Checklist. Another said he will continue to use the Checklist as a planning tool for future land acquisition with clients.”

Farmers report that the checklist has helped them identify strengths and challenges with particular parcels, including things like discussing irrigation systems, who should pay for different site improvements, potential traffic issues, and other weaknesses in an existing lease, with landowners. “There were things that we wouldn’t have thought of including that we asked about and added to our agreement,” said one farmer. Another noted, “We didn’t think to ask about water access and water payment and it helped us write our lease.” A third wrote, “Now we’re on a property we assessed using the checklist and everything is going really well!”

3. Getting Started: Acquiring Land to Farm
This mini-grant project provided acquisition preparedness education technical, primarily to aspiring and start-up farmers in MA, NH, and NY. Post-workshop evaluations showed that it improved understanding of land acquisition options among 76 people and increased awareness of resources in the region that can help farm seekers prepare for acquisition.

Our follow-up confirming survey received nearly three times as many responses as we had anticipated, allowing for statistical analysis of the data, which was not originally planned in the proposal.

Preliminary analysis of the data generally confirms the findings of the focus groups. In total, 440 people responded to the survey. Of the total, 382 were farmers. Nine Northeast states were represented in the responses. Access to capital, land and market outlets were consistently the most relevant challenges to respondents. On-farm workshops and one-on-one technical assistance consistently rated highest in terms of farmer preferences for obtaining education and technical assistance, but a significant group of respondents indicated that they use websites, webinars, and other online sources of information as well.

In terms of specific service provision, 80% of respondents said that consolidation of online resources would be useful to them; 73% said collaborative marketing opportunities would be useful; 62% said education and technical assistance related to land access would be useful; 83% said mentoring from a more experienced farmer would be useful; 71%said access to processing facilities would be useful; and 76% said on-farm technical assistance would be useful.

On average, respondents said that they spent about 50 hours obtaining education and training in the last 12 months, and 80 percent of respondents indicated that they anticipated allocating at least that much time in the next 12 months. On average, in the last 12 months, respondents went to 4.68 workshops, attended 2.06 webinars, and received technical assistance (via phone, email and in person) 4.88 times.

A detailed analysis of the survey will be appended to this report later in 2012.