Farmer Marketing Information Coops

View the project final report

• 1996 annual report

Commodities

• Agronomic: corn, soybeans, wheat, grass (misc. perennial), hay
• Animals: bovine, poultry, sheep

Practices

• Animal Production: free-range, grazing - rotational, feed/forage
• Crop Production: cover crops, nutrient cycling, organic fertilizers
• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, mentoring, networking, study circle
• Farm Business Management: cooperatives, marketing management, market study, value added
• Soil Management: organic matter
• Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities

The Farmer Marketing Information Co-ops project organized long-distance study circles to investigate farm-to-town markets. In order to better balance ecological farming practices with farm profitability, farmers need alternative markets that help them take back the economic middle in agriculture. Four information co-ops were organized around marketing of pastured poultry, grass-fed beef, organic grains and lamb.

This project advanced farmer marketing of locally-grown, farm-fresh products. These farmer information co-ops shared learning on customer identification, customer relations, regulations, accounting, advertising, special events, packaging, labels, production claims, partnering with a processor, pricing, ethnic markets, distribution, quality control, and sales. Thirty-four participating farmers from ten states shared in a series of nineteen conference calls among their peers in distance learning.

These co-ops also improved marketing skills through mentoring relationships. The conference calls involved fifteen mentor marketers who coached farmers to improve marketing skills. These information co-ops organized six field trips to discuss and see how they can improve their marketing options.

“The conference calls were helpful in getting to know who the other producers were in my area. This helped establish relationships,” reflected one project participant. “There were a lot of good ideas thrown out and some of them I tried. Nothing is more valuable than sharing with others who are doing the same things … The field trip was a great cap off. And just as helpful was being in a car and hashing things out with other guys for 12 hours going and another 12 hours coming back.”

Four direct marketing guides were written to transfer the learning to other interested producers. These marketing guides on pastured poultry, grass-fed beef, organic grains and lamb are available through the Kansas Rural Center.

Introduction:

The Farmer Marketing Information Co-ops project organized long-distance study circles to learn how to best develop farm-to-town markets. In order to better balance ecological farming practices with farm profitability, farmers need alternative markets that help them take back the economic middle in agriculture. Four information co-ops were organized around marketing of pastured poultry, grass-fed beef, organic grains and lamb.

This project advanced farmer knowledge in the marketing of locally-grown, farm-fresh products. These farmer information co-ops shared learning on customer identification, customer relations, regulations, accounting, advertising, special events, packaging, labels, production claims, partnering with a processor, pricing, ethnic markets, distribution, quality control, and sales. Thirty-four participating farmers from ten states shared in a series of nineteen conference calls among their peers in distance learning.

These co-ops improved marketing skills through mentoring relationships. The conference calls involved fifteen mentor marketers who coached farmers to improve marketing skills. These information co-ops organized six field trips to visit a farm or market site and discuss how they can improve their marketing options.

1) Four farmer information co-ops were organized for the development of farm-to-town markets.
2) Marketing effectiveness was improved through mentor/apprentice relationships.
3) Four direct marketing guides were developed to transfer the learning from these information co-ops to the broader public.