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 New Hampshire program which was coordinated by Kate Kerman through Small and Beginner Farmers of New Hampshire. Instructors for this program included Phil Metzger, Seth Wilner, Calley Hastings, and Jessie Schmidt. Mentors for the program were Sandy Brocaar and Christine Pressman. There was a 88% average satisfaction rating for sessions, with 91% of respondents noting that they had expanded their network as a result of this program. 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 15 New Hampshire participants, of which 13 graduated from the program:
Participant Demographic Information
Of the 11 participants responding
- 10 are currently farming
- The average years of farming was 5 years (range: 2 to 10 years)
- The average acres under production was 16 acres under production with a total of 146 acres influenced
- The total customers of all participants: Retail – 27 Average (total 108); Wholesale – Average 6 (total 18)
When asked about the effect of this program or what was helpful about the program, participants responded:
A framework for establishing a viable farm based operation
Getting to know other women who are potential sources of information has been very good
Coming in contact with people that have a wealth of information
I would like to keep in touch with classmates as a resource/inspiration and sisterhood
I hope to draw on this group of women for advice in the future
Networking among farmers
Knowledge transfer, established relationships, gained perspective
Network of wonderful women from NH and VT to share farming passion with. A whole new set of resources
I feel as though I have been given a lot of great tools and resources to make me and my future farm successful
Training in testing, business plan and marketing plan will help in all aspects of the farm
This course has given me the tools to critically analyze our enterprises and make the necessary changes or improvements so that we are closer to reaching our holistic goal
I really was feeling overwhelmed and knew I needed a farming education to be successful. This program has provided that and more
Very helpful, came at an opportune time gave great tools @ hand to hopefully improve farm as business and lifestyle
Loved it. Well run, organized
PARTICIPANT BEHAVIOR CHANGE/ COMPLETED PLANS | % of participants |
Holistic Goal/Whole Farm Plan | 91% |
Financial Plan | 64% |
Business Plan | 64% |
Marketing Plan | 64% |
Land Plan | 45% |
Biological Monitoring | 18% |
Grazing Plan (grazers in group) | 50% |
Forge Relationships That Positively Impacted You | 91% |
Key Post-Program Outcomes | % Participants ExperiencingChange |
Satisfaction with Quality of Life | 30% |
Satisfaction with Communication | 78% |
Satisfaction with Time Management | 70% |
Post Session Impacts | Percent of Participants |
Human Resources | |
Clearer sense of what your farm is managing towards | 82% |
Better Ability to Determine Resources Available to You | 64% |
More Efficient Use of Resources | 55% |
Improved Communications on the Farm | 55% |
Improved Decision Making | 100% |
Financial Resources | |
Ability to Identify Business Challenges from Previous Years | 64% |
Strategies for More Effective Reinvestment in the Business | 45% |
New or Improved Record Keeping Systems | 73% |
Enhanced Understanding of Your Farm Finances | 82% |
Changes in Farm Enterprises | 45% |
Changes in How Your Prioritize Expenses | 55% |
Improved Ability to Prioritize Land Planning Investments | 27% |
Clearer Sense of How Your Business Is Projected to Grow in Future Years | 55% |
Improved Ability to Articulate Goals and Objectives of Business to Others | 55% |
Improved Understanding of your Market and How Your Business Fits In | 64% |
New Business Systems (Improved Understanding of your Market and How Your Business Fits into These) | 36% |
Prioritized investments | 45% |
Improved ability to determine most effective enterprises | 73% |
Natural Resources | |
Improved Ability to Incorporate Social, Environmental, and Financial into Your Land Plan | 27% |
Increased Forage Production | 25% |
Reduction in Feed Costs | 25% |
Improved Environmental Conditions | 50% |
Improved Herd Health | 25% |
Improved Ability to Manage Animals | 50% |
Less Stress for Farmers | 25% |
Less Stress for Animals | 25% |
Longer Grazing Seasons | 50% |
Reduction of Overgrazed Plants | 25% |
Enrollment in Government Programs for Grazing (NRCS, FSA, etc.) | 50% |
Improved Ability to Determine Appropriate Management to Address an Environmental Issue | 45% |
Desired Change in Species Composition | 36% |
Improved ability to discern most appropriate market channels | 27% |
New markets you have entered | 18% |
Improved ability to effectively market products | 36% |
New marketing methods you have employed | 18% |
Improved ability to receive desired price for your products/services | 45% |
Changes in the prices you are getting for your products or services. | 27% |
Session Satisfaction | Class Percent rated good or excellent |
Goalsetting | 89% |
On Farm Decision Making | 100% |
Financial Planning Overview | 91% |
Enterprise Analysis | 100% |
Marketing Planning | 89% |
Business Planning | 64% |
Leadership & Communication | 78% |
Land Planning | 100% |
Grazing Planning | 86% |
Biological Monitoring/Soil Fertility | 82% |
Key Knowledge Change Experienced | % Participants Experiencing Knowledge Change |
Session One – Goal Setting | |
Develop a Whole Farm Goal | 89% |
Identify Needed Farm Systems and Protocols | 89% |
Integrate Social, Economic, and Environmental Factors into Decision-Making | 78% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Two – Time Management | |
Ability to Make Complex On-Farm Decisions | 78% |
Session Summary | 89% |
Session Three – Financial Planning I | |
Attitude Toward Financial Planning | 92% |
How to Increase Farm Net Worth | 83% |
Determining Viable Profitable Enterprises for Your Farm | 83% |
Determining Your Farm’s Projected Revenue | 83% |
Identifying Logjams and Adverse Factors on Farm | 83% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Four – Financial Planning II | |
Skills in Developing Whole Farm Financial Plan | 100% |
Getting Profit You Need from Your Farm | 92% |
Delineating Farm Expense Categories | 100% |
Prioritizing and Cutting Farm Expenses to Guide Reinvestment | 100% |
Assessing Farm Cash Flow | 92% |
Monitoring Your Financial Plan | 92% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Five – Marketing | |
Using Whole Farm Goal and Financial Plan to Develop Marketing Plan | 89% |
Effectively Promote Products and Services | 100% |
Understanding Your Competition | 78% |
Marketing Outreach Towards Your Whole Farm Goal | 100% |
How to Develop a Marketing Plan | 78% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Six – Business Planning | |
Ability to Develop a Business Plan for Farm | 91% |
Ability to Use Holistic Goal to Guide Business Strategic Plan | 73% |
Ability to Use Financial Plan to Determine Viable Markets for Farm | 70% |
Ability to Implement Systems and Projects to Move Towards Whole Farm Goal | 50% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Seven – Leadership and Communication | |
Awareness of Communication Patterns on Farm | 70% |
Effective Communication Tools for Farm | 80% |
Conflict Resolution Skills for Farm | 80% |
Incorporating Diverse Learning Styles toward More Effective Leadership and Communication | 90% |
Using Whole Farm Goal to Guide Communication on Farm | 80% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Eight – Land Planning | |
Prioritize Land and Infrastructure Development/Investments | 80% |
Design Strategies to Build Resilient, Diversified Farms | 100% |
How to Incorporate Natural Resource Issues into Land Planning | 80% |
How Permaculture Fits into Holistic Land Planning | 80% |
Session Summary | 100% |
Session Nine – Grazing | |
Value of Grazing Planning | 86% |
How to Assess Recovery Periods | 86% |
How to Assess Quantity of Forage in Pasture | 71% |
How to Improve Land Health with Livestock | 86% |
How to Determine the Number of Paddocks | 86% |
How to Determine Grazing Periods | 86% |
Session Summary | 86% |
Session Ten – Soil Fertility | |
Indicators of a Healthy Farm Eco-System | 73% |
Ability to Monitor Farm Eco-System Health | 82% |
Session Summary | 82% |
Increased Confidence From Training: | % of participants |
Developing Written Whole Farm Goal | 67% |
Identifying Systems and Protocols for your Farm | 78% |
Manage Your Time on Your Farm | 88% |
Make Complex Decisions on Your Farm | 89% |
Using Testing Questions | 83% |
Determine Your Farm’s Net Worth | 75% |
Increase Your Farm’s Net Worth | 83% |
Determine Viable Profitable Enterprises | 83% |
Determine Your Farm’s Projected Revenue | 92% |
Getting Profit You Need From Your Farm | 92% |
Prioritizing Cutting Farm Expenses to Guide Re-investment | 100% |
Determining Weak Link in Farm Enterprises | 92% |
Identifying Cash Flow Issues on Farm | 100% |
Monitoring Your Farm Financial Plan | 92% |
Promoting Your Farm Products | 100% |
Developing a Marketing Plan that Meets Your Farm’s Needs and Goals | 78% |
Assessing Your Competition to Understand Your Farm’s Strengths | 100% |
Developing a Business/Strategic Plan | 82% |
Identifying Resources to Assist You in Developing a Business/Strategic Plan | 82% |
Implementing Important Strategic Systems and Projects | 73% |
Providing Leadership on Your Farm | 70% |
Ability to Prioritize Land/Infrastructure Improvements on Farm | 100% |
Ability to Incorporate Natural Resource Issues into Land Planning | 100% |
Ability to Incorporate Social/Legal Considerations into Land Planning | 100% |
Monitoring Your Farm’s Eco-System Health | 82% |
Improving Eco-System Health on Your Farm | 64% |
Building Organic Matter in Your Soils | 64% |
Intended Behavior | % of participants |
Develop a Whole Farm Goal | 100% |
Change Management Practices | 80% |
Implement Time Management Tools or Processes | 89% |
Using Testing Questions | 100% |
Change Record-Keeping | 75% |
Change Enterprise Assessment | 83% |
Complete or Modify a Financial Plan | 100% |
Prioritize and Cut Expenses | 75% |
Complete or Modify a Marketing Plan | 100% |
Change Marketing Practices | 80% |
Complete or Modify a Business Plan | 90% |
Change Leadership Practices | 90% |
Complete or Modify Written Land Plan | 100% |
Change Grazing Practices | 80% |
Conduct Biological Monitoring on Farm | 90% |
Change Eco-System Health Practices | 82% |
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