Item No. 1 of 1

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.

APPROACH: Our approach begins with the development/expansion of three sites across Michigan. It then uses the oldest of these (the MSU OFTP) as a node for a training portfolio yet places this in the context of the other two sites, WIA and FOTM, for need, relevancy, language and appropriateness. The approach develops this within the context of activity categories most necessary for beginning farmer success as a small business (and, hence, five-year success rate): land access, capital access, scale-up and business plan, and market access. Component - Site Development and General Curriculum DevelopmentOur approach starts with three physical sites: the WIA Network farm based in Genesee County on Genesys Hospital property, the Spanish-speaking farmer training site based in southwest Michigan developed by FOTM, and the MSU OFTP on the MSU campus in East Lansing. The first will be a collective, incubator farm for women, with weekend training programs open to WIA member farmers as well as a general audience of beginning farmers. The FOTM cooperative is currently a group of fourteen Hispanic farmers in southwest Michigan (only one of whom has been farming more than ten years) offering educational and marketing opportunities to Spanish-speaking farmers throughout the region. The third, OFTP, is a nine-month training program in focusing on four-season organic production that is currently training its eighth cohort of students.In its first year, the WIA Farm Center will provide land to five to eight beginning women farmers who want to start farm businesses. Prospective women farmers will apply to participate and be admitted after they complete the required application and agree to comply with program objectives. They must agree to stay in the program for a minimum of nine months, grow the vegetables identified by the Genesee Intermediate School system, and participate in the collective business model of selling at least 50% of what is grown to schools and to the hospital. The third site, the FOTM Cooperative, is a Spanish-speaking farmer cooperative that produces and markets specialty crops and that is also developing an incubator farm. The basic "executive MBA"-style, weekend training program we propose will include business plan development, market development and capital-access strategy development along with accompanying production technique development . These three elements will be specially targeted for ongoing interaction during the first year of engagement with any aspiring farmer. In the case of business plan development, the process will be modeled after that utilized in the OFTP training program.Component - Land AccessFor many underserved farmers, access to land is an obstacle due to historical and current dispossession of land and the selling of farmland for industrial development. Unless they inherit farms from family, most incoming farmers cannot afford to purchase land at fluctuating market rates based on farm income, off-farm income, or a combination of the two. Currently in Michigan, land access is up to the individual to develop/create. In this initiative, we will create an organized program for land access for those interested and needing it; this will take two forms. First, we will facilitate access to public land on longer-term leases. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) controls large amounts of farmland for the state. The DNR director has committed (see letter of support) to making selected parcels of land available to new and beginning farmers pending development of a business plan. This will be at little or no rent. Second, we are exploring the use of MSU land resources, through its Office of Land Management. All universities have graduates very loyal to their institution; at a land grant institution, many of these are farmers. Upon retirement, some of these donate land to their alma mater. The MSU Office of Land Management receives farmland donation offers each year, but most of these are turned down for a variety of reasons. The university is willing to considering accepting more of these offers and turning this land into new and beginning farmer land. This strategy is not fully developed and there are potential caveats, mostly related to MSU risk management, but there is a willingness by MSU administrators to explore this novel approach to farmland preservation and usage. Finally, over the three years, we will work with Land for Good to asses our assets and build a model for land access utilizing their field based approach and materials, with Land for Good staff providing consultation and training on this project.Component - Capital AccessAccess to financial capital is a common barrier for beginning farmers. Financing to buy land, equipment, and other inputs is a necessary step to building a financially sustainable farm business. Anecdotal evidence suggest that many underserved farmers face the following challenges: poorly structured loans, impersonal and often complex and time-intensive application processes, fear of lenders and lending based on historical discrimination and negative experiences with lenders, collateralizing of land and increased threat of land foreclosure, limited financing options based on the stage and scale of farm businesses, need for training in recordkeeping and business planning, limited community-based lender presence within farmers' communities or lack of outreach from community lenders, and need for more relationship-based and alternative models to credit score-based lending models. To catalyze this process, we will provide grants of $2,000 each to help capitalize the farming of farmers from WIA and FOTM who meet the following criteria over the course of the previous year: have completed a defined number of training programs, have saved $1,000 to contribute to their farm, and have developed/revised a business plan for their farm that is peer-reviewed and approved.Component - Mentor AccessMentor access will take place through CoP development with WIA and FOTM. Grant funds will support the continued development and formalization of the WIA and FOTM CoPs in a manner that roots the knowledge and mentorship components developed in the workshops co-developed and co-led by farmers. CoPs in each of these sites will meet regularly for knowledge, networking and skills sharing, facilitating peer-to-peer mentorship and collaboration,Component - Market AccessAs outlined in the introduction, there are several statewide networks that play significant roles in helping small-scale farmers develop a range of markets. These will all be connected to the program outlined here and include: the Michigan Farmers Market Association with its role in the Fair Food Network's Double Up Food Bucks program and the Hoophouses for Health program (this also provides another potential opportunity for famers in WIA and FOTM to build capital by getting a hoophouse construction grant). MIFMA is housed within MIFFS, a key partner on this grant. Also included is the Michigan Farm to Institution Network for K-12 schools, hospitals, and college/university markets. This is co-housed within MSU CRFS and the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, MI. Additionally, the Michigan Food Hub Network and the 6-10 emerging food hubs in Michigan will be connected to this project. The Food Hub Network is co-hosted by MSU CRFS and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Furthermore, the training program will include additional creative strategies for marketing and spreading market risk such as subscriptions, email marketing, stall credit at farmers markets, and cooperative marketing. In this context we will also include development of strategies for scaling up production through appropriate mechanization to both expand market capacity and reduce the cost of production.

PROGRESS: 2014/12 TO 2017/12
Target Audience:Target audiences were: beginning women farmers in Flint/Genessee County; Hispanic farmers across Michigan; new and early stage farmers generally via the MSU Student Organic Farm Farmer Field School program Changes/Problems:Challenges continued in identifying a willing and reliable partner to help develop crowdfunding material. Personnel and funding changes at Michigan Community Resources rendered them unable to fulfill their agreement. A Michigan farmer who had conducted a successful crowdfunding effort was recruited and enabled completion of the crowdfunding deliverable.Challenges continued in finding effective ways to engage Spanish-speaking farmers. Although several hundred Spanish-speaking farmers have been identified across the state of Michigan, their cultural mores and the current socio-political climate regarding immigrants have made it extremely difficult to engage them. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There were a broad array of training and educational sessions. These included13 workshops, four roundtable sessions, four webinars, an interstate farmer exchange, provision of farm stipends and completion of 11 farmer publications and tools.Six Michigan Spanish-speaking farmers participated travelled to Wisconsin to meet counterparts there and to learn about CSA. Stipends awarded to 18 beginning farmers contributed in varied ways to the growth and sustainability of their farm businesses. Publications completed, reviewed and posted for beginning farmer use were: Why is Land Access Critical? Bridging the Gap Between Food, Health and Land, Beginning Farmers: Finding the Money You Need, Beginning Farmers: 10 Steps to Loan Readiness and Crowdfunding for Small Farmers. Interactive tools completed, reviewed and posted were Vegetable Farm Scale of Production Matrix, Pathways To $100,000 In Farm Sales:A Starting Point For Reaching Farm Stability and Market Assessment Tool. These items have been posted at https://www.canr.msu.edu/michigans-emerging-farmers/? How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?they have been disseminated via reports and publications available on the website (see publications) as well as webinars and other training programs as outlined above. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

IMPACT: 2014/12 TO 2017/12
What was accomplished under these goals? The third and final year of the Michigan's Emerging Farmers project (12/1/16 - 11/30/17) continued and broadened work that was started earlier including 13 workshops, four roundtable sessions, four webinars, an interstate farmer exchange, provision of farm stipends and completion of 11 farmer publications and tools. Workshop topics offered through Farmer Field Schools were Better Records for Higher Profits; Irrigation; Transplants, Cut Flowers, Brassicas, Shoulder Season Production & Storage Crops. Farmer Field Schools also hosted a Farmer Brain Trust planning session and a roundtable on Work/Life Balance for Farmers. Workshops offered through the MIFFS Women in Agriculture network were Marketing, Transplants, Composting, Season Extension and Recordkeeping. Webinars, developed through a partnership with Land for Good, were Land Access for Seekers, Farm Succession Planning for Transitioning Farm Families and Succession Planning: Being an Effective Service Provider. A webinar on Crowdfunding for beginning farmers and workshop on Capital Access for Beginning Farmers were also held. Six Michigan Spanish-speaking farmers participated travelled to Wisconsin to meet counterparts there and to learn about CSA. Stipends awarded to 18 beginning farmers contributed in varied ways to the growth and sustainability of their farm businesses. Publications completed, reviewed and posted for beginning farmer use were: Why is Land Access Critical? Bridging the Gap Between Food, Health and Land, Beginning Farmers: Finding the Money You Need, Beginning Farmers: 10 Steps to Loan Readiness and Crowdfunding for Small Farmers. Interactive tools completed, reviewed and posted were Vegetable Farm Scale of Production Matrix, Pathways To $100,000 In Farm Sales:A Starting Point For Reaching Farm Stability and Market Assessment Tool. These items have been posted at https://www.canr.msu.edu/michigans-emerging-farmers/? Challenges continued in identifying a willing and reliable partner to help develop crowdfunding material. Personnel and funding changes at Michigan Community Resources rendered them unable to fulfill their agreement. A Michigan farmer who had conducted a successful crowdfunding effort was recruited and enabled completion of the crowdfunding deliverable. Land access documents and tools that were created and/or secured during the project have been posted online at http://www.miffs.org/services/beginning farmers/land access program Investment continued at the Genesee Women in Agriculture teaching/demonstration farm site. Challenges continued in finding effective ways to engage Spanish-speaking farmers. Although several hundred Spanish-speaking farmers have been identified across the state of Michigan, their cultural mores and the current socio-political climate regarding immigrants have made it extremely difficult to engage them.

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2014/12 TO 2017/12
1. Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Scale of Production Matrix (2018) https://www.canr.msu.edu/foodsystems/uploads/resources/crfs bfrdp scaleofproduc tionmatrix-pp-interaction.pdf
2. Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Sizing Up Diverse Vegetable Farms: A Narrative Companion to the Scale of Production Matrix (2018) https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/sizing-up-diverse-vegetable-farms
3. Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Beginning Farmers: Finding the Money You Need (2018) https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/beginningfarmers-finding-the-money-you-need
4. Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beginning Farmers: 10 Steps to Loan Readiness (2017) https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/beginning-farmers-10-steps-to-loan-readiness
5. Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Crowdfunding for Small Farmers (2017) http://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/crowdfunding-for-small-farmers
6. Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pathways to $100K in Farm Sales: A Starting Point for Reaching Farm Sustainability (2018) https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/pathways-to-100k-in-farm-sales
7. Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Market Channel Selection Tool (2018) http://www.canr.msu.edu/foodsystems/uploads/resources/crfs bfrdp marketchannels electiontool-pp interactive.pdf

PROGRESS: 2016/12/15 TO 2017/12/14
Target Audience:Target audience includes: beginning women farmers in Flint/Genessee County; Hispanic vegetable and fruit farmers in lower Michigan; early stage and new farmers via the MSU Student Organic Farm Farmer Field School Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Five Women in Agriculture workshop were co-conducted (Marketing and Promotion; Transplants; Composting; Season Extension; Recordkeeping), each co-planned and co-conducted by women farmers; most about three hours in length. There was no charge to participate in the sessions and advance registration was requested but not required. SixFarmer Field School workshops were conducted (Getting, Managing & Keeping Good Labor; Transplants; Irrigation; Cut Flowers; Brassicas; Shoulder Season/Storage Crops). Each was eight to ten hours long, co-designed and co-conducted by successful farmer practitioners. Advance registration was required and there was a significant registration fee. Onefarmer exchange was conducted, with six Hispanic and one Caucasian farmer from Michigan traveling to Wisconsin to meet other farmers and representatives of several organizations serving Spanish-speaking farmers. Three land access webinars were produced, aired and archived. They will also be used as one part of the program at a February 2, 2018 Land Access Educational Summit: Transitioning Farmland to the Next Generation of Farmers, sponsored by the Southwest Land Access Partners and held in Kalamazoo, MI. The webinars were Land Access for Seekers, Farm Succession Planning for Transitioning Farm Families and Succession Planning: Being an Effective Service Provider. One day-long Capital Access for Beginning Farmers workshop was conducted. One Farmer Work-Life Balance roundtable was conducted. One Farmer Brain Trust planning session engaged experienced, successful small to mid-scale farmers in conversations to frame future workshops for beginning farmers. These workshops will be conducted after the end of this project. End of session evaluation surveys were prepared, administered and compiled for x workshops. Three tools to assist beginning farmers with financing were developed, reviewed and provided on line: Beginning Farmers: Finding the Money You Need; Beginning Farmers: 10 Steps to Loan Readiness; Crowdfunding for Small Farmers. A webinar, Crowdfunding 101 was produced, aired and archived. One document to assist beginning farmers with land access was developed, reviewed and provided on line: Why is Land Access Critical? Bridging the Gap Between Food, Health and Land. Two concept papers outlining the potential for public agencies to make land available to beginning farmers were finalized and discussed with relevant agency leaders. Three tools to assist beginning farmers with scaling up and achieving stability and economic sustainability were developed, reviewed and provided on line: Market Assessment Tool, Pathways To $100,000 In Farm Sales:A Starting Point For Reaching Farm Stability and Vegetable Farm Scale of Production Matrix. 229 people who had participated in one or more Women in Agriculture or Farmer Field School workshop were contacted by email with a request for feedback about the longer term impacts of their participation. Email addresses were not available for about 50 of the workshop participants. Telephone interviews were conducted with 17 of 18 beginning farmer stipend recipients to evaluate project impacts and seek recommendations for future efforts. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?There were 154 results based on participantsurveys done at the end of each activity. A sampling, due to space limitations, ispresented here. The following are results communicated directly with producers across Michigan. There are alsoseveral reports online that have been listed in publications. Result 1. Participants will state that they learned how crop species, cultivars, production practices and landscape all impact pest and disease pressure. Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 Result 2. Participants will state that they learned how to determine the pest/disease threshold for their important crops. Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 Result 3. Participants will state that they learned how to prevent plant diseases, plant disorders, pest infestation. Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 11 Result 10. Participants will state that they plan to start or increase use of season extension techniques. Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 5 Result 11. Participants will state that they expect to improve soil fertility. Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 0 Result 14. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about season extension. Topic: Product and enterprise diversification Actual Number: 6 Result 18. Participants will state that they gained concrete ideas about how to change their CSA plans. Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 15 Result 19. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about how to change their CSA plans. Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 15 Result 25. Participants plan to use season extension to lengthen their marketing season. Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 5 Result 26. Participants will state that they expect to improve soil organic matter and/or soil fertility by applying what they learned. Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 14 Result 27. Participants will state that they plan to review their CSA plans for possible improvements. Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 19 Result 31. Participants will state that they learned when/where they need to consult with an attorney Topic: Business and strategic planning Actual Number: 13 Result 32. Participants will state that they learned available options for hiring labor on their farm Topic: Labor supply, recruitment, and retention Actual Number: 14 Result 33. Participants will state that they learned labor laws that apply to their farm Topic: Labor regulations Actual Number: 13 Result 39. Participants will learn how to complete a balance sheet Topic: Financial records and analysis Actual Number: 26 Result 42. Participants will learn how financial records can improve their management Topic: Asset management, including leasing and renting Actual Number: 9 Result 47. Participants will learn requirements for selling vermicompost Topic: Urban farming Actual Number: 5 Result 55. Participants will learn ways to make a farmers market stall more appealing to customers Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 5 Result 56. Participants will better understand the pros and cons of farmers markets, CSA, farm stands, direct to retail and wholesale marketing Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 5 Result 59. Participants will learn useful guidelines for deciding whether to buy new or used equipment Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 12 Result 60. Participants will learn pros and cons for various cold storage options Topic: Food safety liability Actual Number: 8 Result 61. Participants will gain awareness of options to facilitate washing produce Topic: Food safety liability Actual Number: 10 Result 63. Participants will learn ways to assess and improve stands of direct seeded crops Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 13 Result 67. Participants will learn how to better identify and manage pests, diseases and disorders in summer hoophouse crops Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 16 Result 70. Participants will be able to make better decisions about prioritizing infrastructure investments Topic: Asset management, including leasing and renting Actual Number: 12 Result 71. Participants will better identify the best scale for their farm business Topic: Business and strategic planning Actual Number: 10 Result 72. Participants will learn ways to improve their farm's ratio of overhead and costs to sales and income Topic: Cost of production and farm financial benchmarking Actual Number: 10 Result 80. Participants will learn how to apply key financial ratios to their farm business Topic: Financial records and analysis Actual Number: 10 Result 82. Participants will better understand different types of farm capital needs Topic: Acquiring and managing credit Actual Number: 32 Result 88. Participants will plan to institute farm walks to help farm organizing and planning Topic: Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships Actual Number: 12 Result 92. Participants will plan to make some changes in their direct seeding techniques Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 11 Result 96. Participants will plan to keep better records of crop yields, production and marketing costs, net revenues and margins Topic: Financial records and analysis Actual Number: 15 Result 101. Participants will state that they learned which compost items add more carbon and which add more nitrogen. Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 7 Result 102. Participants will state that they learned ways to aerate a compost pile Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 7 Result 107. Participants will state that they plan to grow more transplants Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 9 Result 110. Participants will state that they learned the basic financial aspects of a cut flower operation Topic: Cost of production and farm financial benchmarking Actual Number: 15 Result 116. Participants will state that they learned which crops are cold-hardy for winter harvest Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 10 Result 118. Participants will state that they learned a simple way to build a cold frame Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 9 Result 124. Participants will state that they learned how to harvest and handle storage crops for higher quality Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 10 Result 126. Participants will state that they expect to expand their marketing season with shoulder season and/or storage crops Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 7 Result 127. Participants will state that they plan to increase their production of shoulder season and/or storage crops Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 9 Result 130. Participants will state that they expect to improve their recordkeeping by using at least one new tool/technique Topic: Financial records and analysis Actual Number: 7 Result 135. Participants will state that they learned what equipment and supplies are needed for a reliable irrigation system Topic: Water management Actual Number: 9 Result 137. Participants will state that they learned how to add fertilizer to irrigation Topic: Water management Actual Number: 9 Result 142. Participants will state that they learned ways that Google Docs can help them keep farm records. Topic: Financial records and analysis Actual Number: 13 Result 144. Participants will state that they learned how to use their records to determine whether a crop they are growing is profitable Topic: Financial records and analysis Actual Number: 13 Result 150. Participants stated that they better understand the costs and benefits of selling at a farmers market Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 5 Result 152. Participants state that they better understand the pros and cons of various types of marketing Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 5 Result 154. Participants state that they expect to increase profitability (marketing) Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 5 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

IMPACT: 2016/12/15 TO 2017/12/14
What was accomplished under these goals? The third and final year of the Michigan's Emerging Farmers project (12/1/16 - 11/30/17) continued and broadened work that was started earlier including 13 workshops, four roundtable sessions, four webinars, an interstate farmer exchange, provision of farm stipends and completion of 11 farmer publications and tools. Workshop topics offered through Farmer Field Schools were Better Records for Higher Profits; Irrigation; Transplants, Cut Flowers, Brassicas, Shoulder Season Production & Storage Crops. Farmer Field Schools also hosted a Farmer Brain Trust planning session and a roundtable on Work/Life Balance for Farmers. Workshops offered through the MIFFS Women in Agriculture network were Marketing, Transplants, Composting, Season Extension and Recordkeeping. Webinars, developed through a partnership with Land for Good, were Land Access for Seekers, Farm Succession Planning for Transitioning Farm Families and Succession Planning: Being an Effective Service Provider. A webinar on Crowdfunding for beginning farmers and workshop on Capital Access for Beginning Farmers were also held. Six Michigan Spanish-speaking farmers participated travelled to Wisconsin to meet counterparts there and to learn about CSA. Stipends awarded to 18 beginning farmers contributed in varied ways to the growth and sustainability of their farm businesses. Publications completed, reviewed and posted for beginning farmer use were: Why is Land Access Critical? Bridging the Gap Between Food, Health and Land, Beginning Farmers: Finding the Money You Need, Beginning Farmers: 10 Steps to Loan Readiness and Crowdfunding for Small Farmers. Interactive tools completed, reviewed and posted were Vegetable Farm Scale of Production Matrix, Pathways To $100,000 In Farm Sales:A Starting Point For Reaching Farm Stability and Market Assessment Tool. These items have been posted at https://www.canr.msu.edu/michigans-emerging-farmers/? A Michigan farmer who had conducted a successful crowdfunding effort was recruited and enabled completion of the crowdfunding deliverable. Land access documents and tools that were created and/or secured during the project have been posted online at http://www.miffs.org/services/beginning farmers/land access program Investment continued at the Genesee Women in Agriculture teaching/demonstration farm site. Challenges continued in finding effective ways to engage Spanish-speaking farmers. Although several hundred Spanish-speaking farmers have been identified across the state of Michigan, their cultural mores and the current socio-political climate regarding immigrants have made it extremely difficult to engage them. 2/25/2017 Year two of the Michigan's Emerging Farmers project (12/1/15 - 11/30/16) saw steady activity encompassing seventeen workshops, two roundtable sessions, electronic presence initiation, selection of 18 farmers to receive stipends and progress on developing farmer tools. Workshop topics were Financial Fitness, Business Organization and Management, Visioning and Goal-Setting, Building Healthy Soil on the Farm, Introduction to Raising Sheep for Food & Fiber, Vermicomposting, Scaling Up Your Farm Operation, Marketing, DIY Infrastructure, Equipment & Maintenance, Crop Establishment & Scheduling, Summer Fruiting Crops in High Tunnels, Marketing & Communication, Finding & Reaching Your Farm's Right Scale, Strategic Business Management & Planning (two-part) and Access to Capital and Land for New and Beginning Farmers. A roundtable discussion on farm labor and a Farmer Brain Trust discussion were also conducted. Eight workshops were co-developed and promoted with and for members of the Genesee County Women in Agriculture Network (Genesee WIA) and eight were co-developed with farmers and promoted statewide by Michigan State University's Student Organic Farm. One workshop was offered as an option during Michigan State University's annual Agriculture and Natural Resources week, with statewide promotion. End-of-session written surveys were administered for each workshop. The project team continued its valuable consulting relationship with Kathy Ruhf, from Land for Good. Her involvement has allowed this project to build upon LFG's years of farmland access research and education. In the area of capital access, plans for contracting with Reconsider fell through but a contractual relationship with Michigan Community Resources, a nonprofit whose crowdfunding legal team has already developed some educational resources, promises to provide needed support to develop resources designed for beginning farmers. In order to assist beginning farmers in MI to access financial capital, we implemented a matching funds program that received 37 applicants. After attending three workshops (one of which had to be a business planning workshop), saving $1000 in a savings account and developing a three-year business plan, 18 awardees each received a $2000 stipend to support their farm businesses. Progress at the Genesee WIA teaching/demonstration farm site included land preparation; successful crop cultivation; high tunnel completion; deer fence, storage and vermicomposting facility construction; culvert, driveway and irrigation system installation. Post-harvest practices were established in accordance with best practices for on-farm food safety, especially important and significant for a Flint-area facility. Several additional sources of funds beyond this project are also supporting work there. The Genesee WIA community of practice continued to expand. During year two its communication list grew from 90 to 170, and its Facebook group from 72 to 164, representing increases of 47 and 127 percent. The focus of work with Hispanic farmers has shifted. The Farmers on the Move cooperative, with membership predominantly of Spanish-speaking farmers in southwest Michigan, underwent significant reorganization after its 13 original members declined to just two remaining members. Exiting members cited various reasons for leaving and identified numerous barriers, resulting in a clear need to re-strategize ways to work with this community. We learned that Hispanic farmers in southwest Michigan are not willing to travel very far to trainings but will respond for topics that they identify as being important. We try to combine less popular topics with a more popular one whenever possible to increase participation. A training needs assessment was conducted with the Spanish-speaking farmer network in April 2016. Training was requested on pesticide licensing and management, food safety and GAP, Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) certification, business plans/balance sheets/financial planning, marketing and crop diversification. Project team members have contacted other Hispanic farmers and gardeners located in southeast Michigan and are trying to find opportunities to increase their success. As a result, the Hispanic farmer community of practice grew despite numerous challenges. It grew from 22 to 40, an increase of 45 percent, as measured by those who requested to be on its communication list. Three web-based access points have been created for the project. A page within Michigan State University's Center for Regional Food Systems provides basic information about the project and its team, a calendar of project events and activities, and access to resources developed by the project. A page within Michigan State University's Student Organic Farm website provides a project overview, information about content and how to register for upcoming Farmer Field School workshops, and the opportunity to join a beginning farmer listserv. A page within Michigan Food and Farming System's website provides an access point for farmland access information and materials that have been reviewed to assure their appropriateness in Michigan.

PUBLICATIONS: 2016/12/15 TO 2017/12/14
1. Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Michigan Land Access https://rvs.umn.edu/Uploads/EvaluationsReports/e82121de-0b84-4c7c-b44d-2206dee9 1631.pdf
2. Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Beginning Farmer Stipends https://rvs.umn.edu/Uploads/EvaluationsReports/d4792444-c8f1-4602-98e5-193f76d1 73eb.pdf
3. Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Michigan State University Student Organic Farm: Needs, Assets and Looking to the Future https://rvs.umn.edu/Uploads/EvaluationsReports/61aa7a64-0462-42d7-b4a1-0a21cc46 4124.pdf
4. Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Working with Spanish Speaking Producers: What We have Learned https://rvs.umn.edu/Uploads/EvaluationsReports/a0cfb637-5027-44ee-a1f2-0b67b967 9a30.pdf

PROGRESS: 2015/12/15 TO 2016/12/14
Target Audience: Audience Emphasis Hispanic or Latino Small farms Specialty crop producers Women Participants Served Record the total number of unique participants who participated in your program: Total Number of Participants: 194 Enter the actual cumulative number of participants who as a result of your program: Started farming: Target - 15, Actual - 0 Helped prepare to start farming: Target - 30, Actual - 24 Improved farming success: Target - 40, Actual - 74 Changes/Problems:There are no major changes between years 2 and 3. Our goal in this third year is to develop/finalize strategies for sustaining the various networks and educational programs beyond year 3. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Delivery Total Meetings: 26 Total Meeting Participants: 382 Total Webinars: 1 Total Webinar Participants: 42 Total Website Visits: 250 Total Online Course Participants: 0 Meetings 8/9/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 16 9/9/2015: Lapeer, MI -- Number of Attendees 9 9/14/2015: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 9 10/18/2015: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 16 11/1/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 23 11/8/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 24 11/14/2015: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 22 2/26/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 16 3/26/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 16 9/22/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 11 3/3/2016: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 11 3/7/2016: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 43 3/10/2016: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 12 3/16/2016: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 11 4/9/2016: Ceresco, MI -- Number of Attendees 13 4/17/2016: Grand Blanc, MI -- Number of Attendees 9 6/26/2016: Alma, MI -- Number of Attendees 13 9/11/2016: Durand, MI -- Number of Attendees 17 6/27/2016: Grand Blanc, MI -- Number of Attendees 10 8/1/2016: Battle Creek & Bath Township, MI -- Number of Attendees 21 9/19/2016: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 5 11/6/2016: Ann Arbor, MI -- Number of Attendees 12 11/12/2016: Grand Blanc, MI -- Number of Attendees 6 12/3/2016: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 19 12/10/2016: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 11 12/14/2016: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 7 Webinars 5/2/2016: Number of Attendees 42 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Promotional Materials E-Flyer for Genesee County Women in Agriculture Network This invitation was sent to people who had previously attended Genesee WIA gatherings and posted on several Michigan agriculturally oriented listservs. Farmer Field School 2015 Promotional Email This was sent to about 20 Michigan organizations and listservs to publicize scheduled workshops. Farmer Field School Postcard Talking to new farmers at farmers markets and events 2016 Farmer Field School Farm Financial Fitness Workshop promotion though Constant Contact To provide information to some 20 list serves and a list of 550 small farmers and farm/food organizations about our current and upcoming workshops Farmer Field School Card Fall 2016 Promote Farmer Field School workshops at events and place at locations/bulletin boards FFS - ScalingUp - PR 11-6-16 Final Media Release sent out to 33 Michigan media outlets in print and radio. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Co-conduct workshops with WIA Conduct 6 Farmer Field School workshops Conduct Farmer Brain Trust session to plan post-project workshops Conduct Capital Access workshop Implement two land access strategies with beginning farmers Document beginning farmer credit access strategy with variations and options Create, validate and provide online a tool to help farmers prepare appropriate materials for lenders Create, validate and provide online one or more tools to help beginning farmers with market strategy Create, validate and provide online market strategies for sales of at least $100,000 annually, with sample business plans and market variability analysis Create, validate and provide online a tool/tools for different scales of production with cost structures and financing strategies developed Continue using end-of-session evaluation surveys for each workshop Conduct telephone and/or face-to-face interviews with at least 75 program participants to evaluate impact of workshops and stipends

IMPACT: 2015/12/15 TO 2016/12/14
What was accomplished under these goals? Result 1. Participants will state that they learned how crop species, cultivars, production practices and landscape all impact pest and disease pressure. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 40, Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 2. Participants will state that they learned how to determine the pest/disease threshold for their important crops. Producer action: Develop, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 15, Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 3. Participants will state that they learned how to prevent plant diseases, plant disorders, pest infestation. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 30, Actual Number: 11 How verified: Written evaluation Result 4. Participants will state that they learned how to identify pests. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 30, Actual Number: 10 How verified: Written evaluation Result 5. Participants will state that they learned how beneficials can help in managing pests. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 30, Actual Number: 11 How verified: Written evaluation Result 6. Participants will learn how to spray for pests safely and effectively. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 30, Actual Number: 10 How verified: Written evaluation Result 7. Participants will learn to scout for pests, diseases and beneficials. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 30, Actual Number: 11 How verified: Written evaluation Result 8. Participants expect to increase farm profitability. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 20, Actual Number: 0 How verified: Written evaluation Result 9. Participants expect to decrease insect/disease pressure. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 20, Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 10. Participants plan to start or increase use of season extension techniques. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Vegetables When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 30, Actual Number: 5 How verified: Written evaluation Result 11. Participants will state that they expect to improve soil fertility. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: 30, Actual Number: 0 How verified: Written evaluation Result 12. Participants will state that they gained concrete and relevant information about pest and disease management for changes on their farm Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 13. Participants will state that they gained understanding about ways that crop species, cultivars, production practices and landscape impact pest and disease pressure. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 14. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about season extension. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Product and enterprise diversification When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 6 How verified: Written evaluation Result 15. Participants will state that they gained concrete ideas about soil management aspects to change on their farm. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 16. Participants will state that they increased their awareness of the importance of soil management for soil health. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 14 How verified: Written evaluation Result 17. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about soil management. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 13 How verified: Written evaluation Result 18. Participants will state that they gained concrete ideas about how to change their CSA plans. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 15 How verified: Written evaluation Result 19. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about how to change their CSA plans. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 15 How verified: Written evaluation Result 20. Participants will state that they gained confidence in their CSA plans Producer action: Understand, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 14 How verified: Written evaluation Result 21. Participants will state that they gained relevant information and skills from participating in a hoophouse build. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Urban farming When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 9 How verified: Written evaluation Result 22. Participants plan to review their farming operations for possible pest and disease management changes. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 23. Participants plan to review their own operations for possible soil management improvements. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Soil management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 13 How verified: Written evaluation Result 24. Participants expect to decrease insect and disease pressure on their farms. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 25. Participants plan to use season extension to lengthen their marketing season. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 5 How verified: Written evaluation Result 26. Participants expect to improve soil organic matter and/or soil fertility by applying what they learned. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Soil management When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 14 How verified: Written evaluation Result 27. Participants plan to review their CSA plans for possible improvements. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 19 How verified: Written evaluation Result 28. Participants expect to improve the quality of their storage crops. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing When measured: End of session Estimated Number: , Actual Number: 18 How verified: Written evaluation (Note: only 28 of 97 results could be included due to space limitations)

PUBLICATIONS: 2015/12/15 TO 2016/12/14
No publications reported this period.

PROGRESS: 2014/12/15 TO 2015/12/14
Target Audience: Specialty crop producers Small farms Immigrant producers Women Hispanic or Latino Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Total Meetings: 10 Total Meeting Participants: 162 Total Webinars: 0 Total Webinar Participants: 0 Total Website Visits: 0 Total Online Course Participants: 0 Meetings 8/9/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 16 9/9/2015: Lapeer, MI -- Number of Attendees 9 9/14/2015: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 9 10/18/2015: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 16 11/1/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 23 11/8/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 24 11/14/2015: East Lansing, MI -- Number of Attendees 22 2/26/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 16 3/26/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 16 9/22/2015: Flint, MI -- Number of Attendees 11 Result 1. Participants will state that they learned how crop species, cultivars, production practices and landscape all impact pest and disease pressure. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 2. Participants will state that they learned how to determine the pest/disease threshold for their important crops. Producer action: Develop, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 3. Participants will state that they learned how to prevent plant diseases, plant disorders, pest infestation. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 11 How verified: Written evaluation Result 4. Participants will state that they learned how to identify pests. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 10 How verified: Written evaluation Result 5. Participants will state that they learned how beneficials can help in managing pests. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 11 How verified: Written evaluation Result 6. Participants will learn how to spray for pests safely and effectively. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 10 How verified: Written evaluation Result 7. Participants will learn to scout for pests, diseases and beneficials. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 11 How verified: Written evaluation Result 8. Participants expect to increase farm profitability. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 0 How verified: Written evaluation Result 9. Participants expect to decrease insect/disease pressure. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 10. Participants plan to start or increase use of season extension techniques. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Vegetables Actual Number: 5 How verified: Written evaluation Result 11. Participants will state that they expect to improve soil fertility. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 0 How verified: Written evaluation Result 12. Participants will state that they gained concrete ideas about pest and disease management for changes on their farm Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 13. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about pest and disease management. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 14. Participants will state that they gained understanding about ways that crop species, cultivars, production practices and landscape impact pest and disease pressure. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 15. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about season extension. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Product and enterprise diversification Actual Number: 6 How verified: Written evaluation Result 16. Participants will state that they gained concrete ideas about soil management aspects to change on their farm. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 17. Participants will state that they increased their awareness of the importance of soil management for soil health. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 14 How verified: Written evaluation Result 18. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about soil management. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 13 How verified: Written evaluation Result 19. Participants will state that they gained concrete ideas about ho to change their CSA plans. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 15 How verified: Written evaluation Result 20. Participants will state that they gained relevant and useful information about how to change their CSA plans. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 15 How verified: Written evaluation Result 21. Participants will state that they gained confidence in their CSA plans Producer action: Understand, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 14 How verified: Written evaluation Result 22. Participants will state that they gained relevant information and skills from participating in a hoophouse build. Producer action: Understand, Topic: Urban farming Actual Number: 9 How verified: Written evaluation Result 23. Participants plan to review their farming operations for possible pest and disease management changes. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 24. Participants plan to review their own operations for possible soil management improvements. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 13 How verified: Written evaluation Result 25. Participants expect to decrease insect and disease pressure on their farms. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Pest, weed, and disease management Actual Number: 12 How verified: Written evaluation Result 26. Participants expect to increase profitability on their farms by applying new CSA knowledge. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 16 How verified: Written evaluation Result 27. Participants plan to use season extension to lengthen their marketing season. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 5 How verified: Written evaluation Result 28. Participants expect to improve soil organic matter and/or soil fertility by applying what they learned. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Soil management Actual Number: 14 How verified: Written evaluation Result 29. Participants plan to review their CSA plans for possible improvements. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 19 How verified: Written evaluation Result 30. Participants expect to improve the quality of their storage crops. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing Actual Number: 18 How verified: Written evaluation Result 31. Participants plan to begin or expand a CSA operation. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Local, regional, and direct marketing How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Two evaluation and survey reports have been posted as identified above in publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Year 2 Steps Planned: * Co-conduct workshops with WIA: planning for pest & disease management, 2-part business planning/management, scaling up * Conduct Farmer Brain Trust session to enhance planning * Conduct workshops at Student Organic Farm: 2-part business planning and financial management, DIY farm infrastructure, equipment and repair, planning and management for transplant and direct seeding success, summer tunnel fruit crop intensive, communication and marketing, finding the right scale for your farm, recruiting, empowering and retaining good employees and workers * Conduct workshop on land and capital access * Continue using end-of-session evaluation surveys * Conduct telephone interviews with sample of farmers who participated in Year 1 workshops * Implement matching funds program to help beginning farmers access non-debt financial capital as they learn about business and investment readiness * Develop training about alternative financial capital sources for farm operations * Develop a narrative/schematic/set of spreadsheets on equipment needs for efficiency at various small scales of production to assist farmers in considering how much financing is required for their operation * Analyze cash flow needed to finance various farming scenarios to help in developing business

IMPACT: 2014/12/15 TO 2015/12/14
What was accomplished under these goals? During the initial project year, 12/1/2014 to 11/30/2015, Michigan's Emerging Farmers project planned, conducted and evaluated six workshops, a network gathering and a hoopouse build for beginning farmers. Workshop topics were Crop Planning, Pest & Disease Management (offered twice), Season Extension, Holistic Soil Management and Year-round and Seasonal CSA Success. Three workshops were co-developed and promoted with and for members of the Genesee County Women in Agriculture Network (Genesee WIA) and the other three were planned and promoted statewide by Michigan State University's Student Organic Farm. End of session written surveys were administered for each offering. Project team members procured needed expertise in capital access from Angela Barbash of Reconsider, a Michigan organization that focuses on local investing, and in land access from Kathy Ruhf from Land for Good, a New England not-for-profit. An online survey was conducted to learn more about beginning farmers knowledge and interest in various aspects of land and capital access and to help determine topics for future workshops. Team members held initial meetings with Michigan State University's Land Management Office, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land Management Division and the Ingham County (MI) Land Bank - all to initiate discussions about the potential to help beginning farmers obtain farmland. In conjunction with Genesys Regional Health System, project team members helped Genesee WIA establish and prepare a site for a teaching/demonstration hoophouse adjacent to the Genesee Regional Medical Center, near Flint, MI. A two-day hoopouse build was conducted there. The Genesee WIA and Hispanic communities of practice (CoP) continued to expand. The first step to support and encourage this expansion has been to maintain a list of individuals asking to be included in all communications surrounding each CoP. In year one, the Genesee WIA list expanded 18% and the Hispanic CoP extended beyond SW MI, growing approximately 25%.

PUBLICATIONS: 2014/12/15 TO 2015/12/14
1. Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Discovering Ourselves: A Pilot Network of Women-in-Agriculture http://rvs.umn.edu/Uploads/EvaluationsReports/f74b1584-f693-4a9f-9731-3ea75844e 6ed.pdf
2. Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Michigan Beginning Farmer 2015 Survey Results http://rvs.umn.edu/Uploads/EvaluationsReports/49b5c3b1-e2eb-4105-af81-ac40b1572 43f.pdf