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INVESTIGATOR: Hamm, M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN 48824

MICHIGAN'S EMERGING FARMERS STRATEGIES AND TOOLS TO ENHANCE SUCCESS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This project will work to improve the environment and opportunity for new and beginning farmers (primarily around fruits and vegetables) to develop and be successful. This will be done through a partnership between MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, MSU Organic Farmer Training Program, the NGO Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), the Women in Agriculture program facilitated by MIFFS, and Farmers on the Move (an Hispanic farmer co-op in western Michigan. It will work to impact potential for success through training as well as development of land, capital and market access.

OBJECTIVES: To create a vibrant network of beginning farmer training across Michigan that can cater to different perspectives and needs while moving everyone desiring to farm along the path of business viability.1. Objectivesa. Create training and development programs that span the necessary strategies meeting various lifestyle restrictions and demographic needs for people to enter and sustain farming.b. Create a vibrant network of beginning, new-entry farmers and trainees to provide peer support and guidance as a statewide community of practice that also engages the knowledge of farmers operating more than 10 years.c. Create a suite of services required to optimize the chance that new-entry farmers will still be in business and be expanding over five yearsd. Create strategies for a pathway to scaling up production and marketing so that new and beginning farmers can reach the apparent $100,000 viability plateau in sales annually.