Evaluating the Effectiveness of Meeting Seasonal Labor Demands by Integrating a Farm Internship Program

View the project final report

• 2007 annual report

Commodities

• Agronomic: general silage crops
• Fruits: melons, berries (brambles)
• Vegetables: sweet potatoes, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, cucurbits, eggplant, garlic, greens (leafy), leeks, onions, parsnips, peas (culinary), peppers, radishes (culinary), rutabagas, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips
• Additional Plants: herbs
• Animals: poultry, goats
• Miscellaneous: mushrooms

Practices

• Animal Production: free-range, pasture fertility
• Crop Production: crop rotation, cover crops, fallow, nutrient cycling, organic fertilizers
• Education and Training: demonstration, farmer to farmer, mentoring, networking
• Farm Business Management: community-supported agriculture, marketing management, value added, agritourism
• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, soil stabilization
• Pest Management: chemical control, cultural control, economic threshold, field monitoring/scouting, flame, integrated pest management, physical control, mulching - plastic, prevention, mulching - vegetative
• Soil Management: green manures, composting, nutrient mineralization, organic matter, soil quality/health
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, analysis of personal/family life, community services, social networks, sustainability measures, quality of life

Lack of seasonal labor contributes to lessened quality of life for the farm family and reduces potential productivity from small-scale vegetable production. This project evaluates time efficiency for farmers to train and manage farm interns and the potential for increased farm profitability and quality of life through a farm internship program.the consumer; the farmer, by increasing her profit margin on the meat raised; and the community of consumers, by giving them access to the high quality, locally produced meat.