Whole Farm Planning Training for Ag Educators Report

In 2014, HMI delivered five Whole Farm/Ranch Planning modules online to professionals in our three-year Whole Farm Planning Training for Ag Educators program. Funded by a grant from Western Sustainable Agriculture and Education, we taught 38 participants how to help producers build the farm or ranch of their dreams with Holistic Management. Participants were not required to take all modules, however our goal -- which we achieved -- was to have at least 35 participants participate in 3 or more classes.  The breakout of courses people took were as follows:   We used Instructure Canvas as our distance learning platform and made sure that all webinars were interactive and anyone who handed in completed assignments received feedback on their work. We recorded all webinars and archived so those who couldn’t make the sessions could watch and listen to the recordings and email instructors with questions and provide input via the discussion forum. Overall response to surveys shows that there was high satisfaction rate among participants for these courses ranging from 90-100% satisfaction. Actual behavior change in terms of created plans/drafts varied depending on subject.   However, increased knowledge or confidence in developing plans remained high throughout the program as noted below:   In 2015, HMI will focus on supporting each participant to work with 2 producers to help them with some aspect of the Holistic Management Whole Farm/Ranch Planning Process. We will also be doing an end of program survey in February to determine the effect of this program.

Featured Participants

Rhoby Cook District Coordinator Klamath Trinity RC&D Hoopa, California

“Through what I learned in the Grazing Planning course, I was able to manage through last summer’s drought without ruining the pasture. Even though I didn’t irrigate past the end of June for fear of our dual-use well (household & irrigation) running dry, the field stayed green all summer. It didn't grow very much, but it stayed green until thankfully, rain came at the end of September, and I was able to begin grazing again in the early fall with the rapid re-growth. I used the testing questions to help make the decision to purchase hay rather than reduce the flock, a little pricey, but it was a decision I was comfortable with. “As for Holistic Management, the first year my husband and I took the financial planning course, we were able to re-purpose about a third of our income and pay off all of our consumer debt. During the years after that we focused on paying off our mortgage five years early and building up a savings account. Holistic Financial Planning made that possible for us to accomplish.”

Linda MacElwee Mendocino RC&D Boonville, California

"The HMI training program funded by Western SARE has given me an opportunity to deepen my understanding and appreciation of the complexities found in the natural world and how to effectively work within that context. It has offered me access to a whole new set of tools to work with when assisting landowners in making decisions when it comes to land/ranch/farm planning and management. Planning is not simple, but it can be fun and easy. I love how HMI begins and ends with viewing every situation within a holistic context. It teaches us to ground ourselves in a deeper understanding of our environment, to clearly state what we are managing for, and pursuing a path to wholeness that includes its own checks and balances built in along the way."