2012 Annual Report for ONE12-168
Empowering small farms to make big decisions: Examining profitability of local markets in West Virginia
Summary
A partnership has been created between WesMonTy RC&D, WVU Davis College of Agriculture, and six small-scale specialty crop growers. This record keeping project is being implemented closely to proposed methods. Educators from WVU met with all participating growers during the first workshop and provided the training necessary for the participants to independently keep records of expenses related to growing specialty crops. Currently, as the first growing season is ending, growers are reporting the first year of data and discussing how to improve their record keeping methods in the coming season. For example, one grower found it overwhelming to keep records for all specialty crops and chose to focus on keeping good records for three crops. However, all growers have expressed a desire to continue participating. A second workshop is being planned. This business training will teach producers how to access markets, and the benefits and drawbacks of different marketing options available to them. We will use the information generated by farmers in their record-keeping efforts as a basis for cost-benefit analysis and decision-making. Growers plan to attend and share their experiences with other growers by participating in regional agricultural workshops and conferences during the second growing season of this project.
Objectives/Performance Targets
- • Support to growers:
A Encourage/remind growers to continue keeping good records of production expenses and labor
B Provide individualized recordkeeping assistance to growers as needed
• Workshop 2: Marketing Options
• Disseminate project results:
A Farmer Presentations during regional agricultural workshops
B Posting results on communication network websites and newsletters
C Posting spreadsheet/decision making template on communication network websites
Accomplishments/Milestones
- •Organic Farmers Business Handbook by Richard Wiswall purchased for every grower
•Workshop 1: Recordkeeping
•Individual Farm Visits
•Creation of a spreadsheet/decision making template
•One year of grower collected labor and expense records
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
Because growers have been given this record keeping training, they have increased awareness of which expenses and/or activities are cost beneficial or not. Growers are now able to make informed economic decisions regarding production and marketing based on their own recordkeeping. Decisions to continue marketing using current methods are being evaluated. Most profitable marketing channels are being considered. This will lead to increased profits while helping growers meet the growing demand for their products. Furthermore, these growers are developing strategies to increase the time-efficiency and usefulness of their record keeping that they will be able to share with other growers. This strategy-sharing among growers will increase the accessibility of these financial and decision-making practices to more WV growers, thereby increasing their ability to make important marketing decisions that will enhance the profitability and sustainability of their farms.