The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number Grant #2012-49400-19673 funded HMI’s 2015 Beginning Farmers & Ranchers: Women in the NE & Texas program. We recently completed evaluation of the Massachusetts program which was coordinated by Devon Whitney-Deal through Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). Instructor for this program included Crystal Stewart, Calley Hastings, Missy Bahret, Jessie Schmidt, and Lisa McCrory. Mentors for the program were Lucy McKain, Laura Meister, and Marie-Laure Couet. There was 94% average satisfaction rating for all sessions and 85% of the participants noted they had increased their network as a result of the training. Thanks to the USDA/NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development program for their support of this program.
Here’s what we’ve learned from our 23 Massachusetts participants, of which 18 graduated from the program:
Participant Demographic Information
Of the 14 participants responding
- 10 are currently farming
- The average years of farming was 4 years
- The average acres under production was 34 acres under production with a total of 272 influenced
- The total customers of all participants: Retail – total 380; Wholesale – total 23
When asked about the effect of this program or what was helpful about the program, participants responded
- The training has provided a reality check for me to evaluate whether or not a “woman of a certain age” can develop a successful agricultural operation. It is possible given a balanced, holistic management approach to production.
- It was great to take this course prior to acquiring land and starting a business. It has helped me feel more prepared and confident.
- It’s given me the confidence that I can succeed as a farmer & do it in a way that will be sustainable for my life. It has given me any resources I could ever need & a basic overview of how to run a successful farm business.
- This training has been a great starting and building block for me in my own development in future farming goals. It has showed me theoretical ways and real life examples of farmers who have high quality of life and are financially stable – something that has been very hard to see before this course. This class gives us the tools to set a higher standard for farmers to allow us to thrive rather than be broken down.
- It has been great to connect with other beginning women farmers of all different backgrounds. Also, I’ve enjoyed looking at all of the different aspects of farming & how they fit together – holistically.
- I came into it with very mixed feelings about whether to pursue owning my own farm. I still have those feelings, but have much more information (via holistic goal, conversations & lectures) to work with, which makes me more confidence moving forward.
- It has given me a greater appreciation of the details of farming & how important they are, as well as the importance of the community of farmers that we surround ourselves with.
- It has opened my eyes up to resources available.
- It gave me confidence. I got solid feedback and support. I truly appreciate the positive words and validation. That meant so much.
- I thought it was really well organized. There was clearly so much work put into the organization. The teachers were well chosen and they all made classes interesting & engaging.
- I was extremely impressed with the knowledge & dedication of the presenters & the extremely thorough classes they held.
- It’s been great! Holistic Management is the way to go if you’re actually trying to be sustainable.
- Gives a good insight to all the components of farming.
PARTICIPANT BEHAVIOR CHANGE/PLANS COMPLETED |
% of Participants |
Holistic Goal/Whole Farm Plan | 100% |
Financial Plan | 71% |
Business Plan | 57% |
Marketing Plan | 64% |
Land Plan | 36% |
Biological Monitoring | 25% |
Grazing Plan (grazers in group) | 0% |
Forge Relationships That Positively Impacted You | 85% |
Key Post-Program Outcomes | % Participants ExperiencingChange |
Satisfaction with Quality of Life | 58% |
Satisfaction with Communication | 64% |
Satisfaction with Time Management | 67% |
Session Satisfaction | Class Percent rated good or excellent |
Goalsetting | 100% |
On-Farm Decision Making | 96% |
Financial Planning Overview | 90% |
Enterprise Analysis | 90% |
Market Planning | 95% |
Business Planning | 94% |
Leadership & Communication | 93% |
Land Planning | 92% |
Grazing Planning | 92% |
Biological Monitoring/Soil Fertility | 100% |
Key Post-Program Results | Percent of Participants |
Human Resources | |
Clearer sense of what your farm is managing towards | 79% |
Better Ability to Determine Resources Available to You | 71% |
More Efficient Use of Resources | 79% |
Improved Communications on the Farm | 57% |
Improved Decision Making | 79% |
Better Relationships | 50% |
Financial Resources | |
Strategies for More Effective Reinvestment in the Business | 57% |
New or Improved Record Keeping Systems | 71% |
Enhanced Understanding of Your Farm Finances | 64% |
Changes in How Your Prioritize Expenses | 50% |
Clearer Sense of How Your Business Is Projected to Grow in Future Years | 64% |
Improved Ability to Articulate Goals and Objectives of Business to Others | 64% |
Improved Understanding of your Market and How Your Business Fits In | 57% |
Prioritized investments | 36% |
Improved ability to determine most effective enterprises | 71% |
Improved ability to discern most appropriate market channels | 57% |
Improved ability to effectively market products | 50% |
Natural Resources | |
Improved Ability to Incorporate Social, Environmental, and Financial into Your Land Plan | 71% |
Improved Understanding of Your Farm’s Eco-System | 71% |
Improved Ability to Determine Appropriate Management to Address an Environmental Issue | 36% |
Improved Environmental Conditions on Your Farm | 36% |
Desired Change in Species Composition | 29% |
Knowledge Change Experienced | % Participants |
Session One – Goal Setting | |
Develop a Whole Farm Goal | 96% |
Define What You Are Managing Towards | 77% |
Identify Needed Farm Systems and Protocols | 72% |
Integrate Social, Economic, and Environmental Factors into Decision-Making | 81% |
Session Summary | 96% |
Session Two – Time Management | |
Ability to Make Complex On-Farm Decisions | 83% |
Assess How Time is Spent on Farm | 88% |
Understanding Seasonal Time Demands/Flows | 75% |
Effectively Manage Time on Your Farm | 83% |
Session Summary | 96% |
Session Three – Financial Planning I | |
Attitude Toward Financial Planning | 81% |
Ability to Develop Balance Sheet | 81% |
How to Increase Farm Net Worth | 86% |
Determining Viable Profitable Enterprises for Your Farm | 81% |
Determining Your Farm’s Projected Revenue | 67% |
Session Summary | 95% |
Session Four – Financial Planning II | |
Skills in Developing Whole Farm Financial Plan | 70% |
Getting Profit You Need from Your Farm | 80% |
Delineating Farm Expense Categories | 80% |
Prioritizing and Cutting Farm Expenses to Guide Reinvestment | 70% |
Assessing Farm Cash Flow | 70% |
Monitoring Your Financial Plan | 80% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Five – Marketing | |
Using Whole Farm Goal and Financial Plan to Develop Marketing Plan | 82% |
Profitably Price Products and Services | 68% |
Effectively Promote Products and Services | 82% |
Understanding Your Competition | 64% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Six – Business Planning | |
Knowledge of Resources for Developing Strategic Plan for Farm | 76% |
Attitudes Towards Value of Having a Business Plan to Guide Farm | 76% |
Ability to Develop a Business Plan for Farm | 88% |
Ability to Use Financial Plan to Determine Viable Markets for Farm | 88% |
Ability to Implement Systems and Projects to Move Towards Whole Farm Goal | 76% |
Session Summary | 94% |
Session Seven – Leadership and Communication | |
Effective Communication Tools for Farm | 73% |
Incorporating Diverse Learning Styles toward More Effective Leadership and Communication | 93% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Eight – Land Planning | |
Prioritize Land and Infrastructure Development/Investments | 100% |
Design Strategies to Build Resilient, Diversified Farms | 92% |
Assess Management Considerations to Guide Land Planning | 100% |
How to Incorporate Natural Resource Issues into Land Planning | 92% |
How to Incorporate Social/Legal/Contractual into Land Planning | 92% |
How Permaculture Fits into Holistic Land Planning | 92% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Nine – Grazing | |
Value of Grazing Planning | 71% |
How to Assess Recovery Periods | 93% |
How to Assess Quantity of Forage in Pasture | 86% |
How to Improve Land Health with Livestock | 79% |
How to Determine Number of Animals Your Pasture Can Support | 79% |
How to Determine the Number of Paddocks | 93% |
How to Determine Grazing Periods | 93% |
Session Summary | 93% |
Session Ten – Soil Fertility | |
Importance of Improving Soil Fertility Sustainably | 62% |
Benefits of a Covered Soil | 54% |
Understanding Eco-system Processes on Your Farm | 69% |
Indicators of a Healthy Farm Eco-System | 85% |
Ability to Monitor Farm Eco-System Health | 69% |
Session Summary | 92% |
Increased Confidence In: | % of Participants |
Developing Written Whole Farm Goal | 96% |
Manage Your Time on Your Farm | 100% |
Make Complex Decisions on Your Farm | 92% |
Using Testing Questions | 86% |
Determine Your Farm’s Net Worth | 81% |
Determine Viable Profitable Enterprises | 86% |
Determine Your Farm’s Projected Revenue | 67% |
Getting Profit You Need From Your Farm | 80% |
Prioritizing Cutting Farm Expenses to Guide Re-investment | 60% |
Determining Weak Link in Farm Enterprises | 70% |
Identifying Cash Flow Issues on Farm | 90% |
Monitoring Your Farm Financial Plan | 100% |
Promoting Your Farm Products | 91% |
Developing a Marketing Plan that Meets Your Farm’s Needs and Goals | 73% |
Developing a Business/Strategic Plan | 100% |
Identifying Resources to Assist You in Developing a Business/Strategic Plan | 88% |
Implementing Important Strategic Systems and Projects | 76% |
Communicating with Decision Makers | 73% |
Communicating with Farm Workers | 73% |
Providing Recognition for Farm Workers | 93% |
Providing Leadership on Your Farm | 73% |
Ability to Prioritize Land/Infrastructure Improvements on Farm | 92% |
Ability to Incorporate Natural Resource Issues into Land Planning | 92% |
Ability to Incorporate Social/Legal Considerations into Land Planning | 100% |
Ability as a Grazer | 64% |
Assessing Recovery Periods | 86% |
Assessing Quantity of Forage and Pasture | 86% |
Determining the Number of Animals Your Land Can Support for Grazing | 86% |
Calculating the Number of Paddocks for your System | 64% |
Determining How Long Animals Will Stay in Each Paddock | 71% |
Monitoring Your Farm’s Eco-System Health | 77% |
Improving Eco-System Health on Your Farm | 69% |
Building Organic Matter in Your Soils | 92% |
Intended Behavior | % of Participants |
Develop a Whole Farm Goal | 100% |
Change Management Practices | 73% |
Implement Time Management Tools or Processes | 100% |
Using Testing Questions | 96% |
Change Record-Keeping | 67% |
Change Enterprise Assessment | 67% |
Determine Profit Up Front and Cap Expenses | 62% |
Complete or Modify a Financial Plan | 100% |
Enter Financial Data Regularly | 80% |
Monitor Financial Plan | 70% |
Complete or Modify a Marketing Plan | 95% |
Change Marketing Practices | 84% |
Complete or Modify a Business Plan | 94% |
Change Business Planning Practices | 73% |
Change Leadership Practices | 86% |
Complete or Modify Written Land Plan | 100% |
Change Land Management Practices | 89% |
Change Grazing Practices | 73% |
Conduct Biological Monitoring on Farm | 100% |
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