A Distance Learning Approach to Whole Farm Planning

A Distance Learning Approach to Whole Farm Planning

Summary

Our original project goal was to have 30 agricultural educators training 2-3 agricultural producers each on a course or module for a total of 90 agricultural producers reached. However, we pursued additional funding for 5 more educators who were trained in Whole Farm/Ranch Planning so we trained 40 agricultural educators in the whole farm planning process in year 1 of that program. From that 40 we had 34 who continued to learn from each other and teach producers in years 2 and 3. Of that 34 we had 14 agricultural educators who trained/co-trained 188 agricultural producers in various aspects of Whole Farm/Ranch Planning during which those producers actually developed plans or tested whole farm/ranch decisions, and they were given feedback by the agricultural producers on those plans/decisions. This was an increase of 36 plans from 2015.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Our original project goal was to have 30 agricultural educators training 2-3 agricultural producers each on a course or module for a total of 90 agricultural producers reached. However, we pursued additional funding for 5 more educators who were trained in Whole Farm/Ranch Planning so we trained 40 agricultural educators in the whole farm planning process in year 1 of the program.They were trained in Introduction to Whole Farm/Ranch Planning, Financial Planning, Land Planning, Grazing Planning, and Biological Monitoring. The 105 scholarship tuitions paid for by WSARE for these courses were matched by private monies so that a total of 148 scholarship tuitions were offered.

From that 40 agricultural educators we had 34 who continued to learn from each other and teach producers in years 2 and 3. Of that 34 we had 14 agricultural educators who trained/co-trained 188 agricultural producers in various aspects of Whole Farm/Ranch Planning during which those producers actually developed plans or tested whole farm/ranch decisions, and they were given feedback by the agricultural producers on those plans/decisions. This was an increase of 36 plans from 2015.

Accomplishments/Milestones

The breakdown of courses and/or modules the agricultural educators taught/assisted/coached is as follows:

Throughout the year we allowed participants access to archived materials on Instructure Canvas and had webinars participants could attend on Adobe Connect to discuss facilitation techniques. We made sure that all webinars and mentor meetings were interactive, and anyone who handed in completed work from their agricultural producers received feedback. Recorded webinars and mentor meetings from 2015 could be utilized throughout 2016.

Overall response to surveys from programming by agricultural professionals in 2015 shows that there was high satisfaction rate among agricultural producers for the courses and modules they were instructed in, with ratings ranging from 90-100% satisfaction. Actual behavior change in terms of created plans/drafts varied depending on subject.

Agricultural producers showed increased knowledge or confidence in developing plans, which remained high throughout 2015-2016 as noted below:

In 2015 and 2016, our agricultural educators had the opportunity to train several agricultural producers and in the process they were able to further their own learning. Once tasked with creating plans with agricultural producers, our agricultural educators began to see the different challenges in creating whole farm/ranch plans. We facilitated peer and mentor support through our webinars, on our LMS Instructure Canvas though the discussion forum and through email correspondence. This allowed the agricultural educators to ask questions, share knowledge and learn how they were going to complete their tasks with agricultural producers.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

We surveyed all the agricultural educators in our program in early 2015 and early 2016. All 40 said they had learned knowledge that would help them better help producers with managing their businesses. Key outcomes from our surveys were that 100% felt they had improved their decision-making. 100% also thought they could better help producers develop a land plan as a result of the training. 95% thought they were better able to help producers develop a whole farm/ranch goal as a result of the training. 90% thought they were better able to help producers develop a grazing plan. 85% thought they were better able to help producers develop a financial plan. 90% thought they were better able to serve producers in general and 80% thought they had expanded their network of other professionals.

Here are the combined results of the survey:

Here’s what the agricultural educators had to say about the program:

“The program has me seeing all applications of agriculture and in some cases life in general in a different way. I am constantly analyzing pastures as I drive by for their brittleness, how much rest have they seen, what would I do as a treatment for a problem, etc. The financial aspect of what do you really need, and being able to apply the testing questions and be comfortable with the result is great. Biological monitoring far surpasses any other monitoring that can be done over time on a given landscape in my opinion. As far as land planning I hope to bring that more into play on my own as I transition into the family ranch and have the opportunity to help neighbors with [their] future land goals as well.”

“I understand the holistic process more fully now. It has opened doors to tools and strategies I didn’t have before”

“It has made me look at farm management in a whole new way. Really looking at entire farm and all the components the make it work. Extremely powerful and helpful.”

“It has given me tools I can use to improve my business and help others to think and work more holistically in their businesses.”

“I enjoyed the different teaching methods used (videos, fact sheets, conversations, webinar) and I have used many of the resources with farmers and ranchers.”

“The information covered in the program is so useful to use personally as well as to be as an agriculture and natural resource educator and consultant. I believe this information will be very valuable to share with other producers to help them reach their goals and be more profitable while better managing the resources they have.”

“I find I am observing, thinking, and communicating differently-.this course has changed the way I listen to my producers and I find I was liberated somehow and ask more questions. I feel more confident in planning.”

“I see [things] in a whole new way. It has changed the way decisions are made, there is a process involved now.”

“I see HMI as a resource that can help put me in touch with professionals that can help me as well as producers that could demonstrate the concepts to producers with whom I am working. I also met many professionals through the course and will continue to get to know them better while we complete our farm plans.”

“I have been able to work with more producers by understanding better how to communicate with them about their business.”

“I have a whole list of natural resource professionals I didn’t know before AND I learned more about those people that I did know but not as well.”

“I did enjoy the class immensely and got a lot out of it.  Thank you for all of the support.”

“I feel like I’m just getting my feet under me coaching people through the process and would like to keep working, especially with some of the other practices such as ecological monitoring, or management inventory for a whole farm.”

“I absolute love the material you’ve provided us, it’s great. Thank you.”

Collaborators: