Insight into Action: A Needs-Based Assessment of Four Sustainable Farms in Iowa

Commodities

Practices

• Animal Production: grazing management, grazing - rotational, livestock breeding, pasture fertility, watering systems
• Crop Production: cover crops, crop rotation, high tunnels or hoop houses, intercropping, low tunnels, pollinator habitat, row covers (for season extension), season extension, varieties and cultivars
• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, networking, participatory research
• Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns, farm-to-restaurant, farmers' markets/farm stands, labor/employment
• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
• Pest Management: botanical pesticides, mulches - general, mulching - plastic, row covers (for pests), sanitation
• Production Systems: organic agriculture
• Sustainable Communities: analysis of personal/family life, employment opportunities, food hubs, local and regional food systems, quality of life, social psychological indicators, urban agriculture, values-based supply chains

SILT will use grant funds to perform a needs-based assessment on Iowa’s under-studied table food farms. The need is dire: most of Iowa’s small, sustainable farmers aren’t able to sell at a profit. We can help remedy this by acquiring thorough information from farmers, then using data to research, implement, and widely disseminate solutions. This project is innovative because it leverages SILT’s diverse network of trusted farmers.

In year one, four SILT farmers in Iowa will thoroughly document a full growing season, including inputs, outputs, profits, losses, opportunities, and challenges regarding growing, harvesting, marketing, farmers’ markets, processing, wholesale, safety, equipment, certifications, storage, and preservation. Farmers will fill out surveys at the beginning of the project and at months one, six, and twelve to reflect on what they learn.

In year two, using farmer-provided data, SILT will determine what skills, practices, knowledge, awareness, and attitudes our farmers are lacking and create materials that fill those gaps. Results will include new educational booklets and webpages, training sessions with partner organizations specializing in business operations, and a published white paper. Data will also inform how SILT approaches future partnerships. Farmers will remain involved by participating meaningfully in an outreach activity during year two.

• Perform 4 needs-based operation and market evaluations of SILT farms 
• Determine at least 5 specific, actionable gaps in farmers’ skills, practices, knowledge, awareness, and attitudes
• Develop at least 3 new online/print educational packets for farmers that respond to these gaps
• Share new material with at least 2,500 Iowans, including 100 farmers
• Organize 3 training sessions with partner organizations specializing in business operations
• Host at least 25 farmers/agricultural professionals at each training session
• Write and publish 1 white paper on the study
• Develop at least 1 meaningful partnership in each Iowa quadrant that contributes to a sustainable food network