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Grow Your Farm

Grow Your Farm. A Farm Planning Course for Beginning Farmers 2011 Extension RME National Conference April 12, 2011 Dean Wilson, Agriculture & Rural Development Specialist. What are the goals of Grow Your Farm?. Create a mission Set goals and determine values Plan for profit

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Grow Your Farm

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  1. Grow Your Farm A Farm Planning Course for Beginning Farmers 2011 Extension RME National Conference April 12, 2011 Dean Wilson, Agriculture & Rural Development Specialist

  2. What are the goals of Grow Your Farm? • Create a mission • Set goals and determine values • Plan for profit • Explore new AG alternatives • Gain technical advice • Learn sustainable practices • Build networks

  3. Grow Your Farm – The Nuts and Bolts • Participants write a farm, (business), plan for their current or prospective farm • Course meets one evening a week for 8 consecutive weeks • Includes 2 Saturday field trips to area farms • The course costs $225 per farm with includes a manual and reference materials • Each farm can have at least two representatives attend, children are free. • Each session has one or more successful farmers sharing their experiences.

  4. What topics does GYF cover?? • Identifying Values and Goals • Assessing Farm Resources • Assessing Opportunities • Keeping Track of Finances • Marketing Farm Products • Understanding Legal Issues • Writing a Farm Plan

  5. GYF Statistics • Held 7 times in the greater St. Louis area • 85 farms and over 170 people have attended • Held in rural areas - Farmington and Warrenton (2) • Held in suburban areas - Hillsboro (2) • Held in urban areas - Maplewood (2)

  6. Who should attend? • Beginning Farmers who want to start an ag enterprise • Hobby farmers who want to develop their ag enterprises into a small business • Part-time farmers who are considering entering full time farming • Individuals that are approaching retirement and would like to supplement their income • Families that want to establish a rural lifestyle, but not necessarily an ag business. • Traditional farmers who would like to add an enterprise or change farming practices or consider ag alternatives • Farmers or perspective farmers who would like to explore ag alternatives, whatever that means, as a part time business.

  7. General Characteristics of GYF Participants • Optimistic about agriculture • Willing to think creatively • Very family oriented • Consider values to be nearly as important as profit • Often very interested in sustainable, organic, and/or natural production that protects the environment

  8. GROW YOUR FARM AGENDA Session 1:Identifying Values & Creating Goals, Tuesday, January 18, 6:30 pmDebi Kelly, Project Manager, Missouri Alternatives CenterEric & Kathy Lober, Grass-fed beef, poultry, CSA Session 2:Planning Your Farm, Tuesday, January 25, 6:30 pmDean Wilson, MU Ag & Rural Development SpecialistKaren Davis, Horticulture Regional Educator, former producer of specialty cut flowers to over 30 local florists Session 3:Assessing Opportunities, Tuesday, February 1, 6:30 amMiranda Duschack, LU Small Farms SpecialistBrett Palmier, commercial vegetable grower Session 4: Keeping Track of Finances, Tuesday, February 8th, 6:30 pmRon Mueller, MU Small Business and Development SpecialistStan Cook, Loan Officer, MO Department of Agriculture, learn about Mo Dept. of Ag loans for small farms, specialty crops

  9. Session 5: Walking the Farm & Farm Tour, Saturday, February 12th, 9:30-3:30 pmModer Valley Nursery, Aquatic plants, hanging baskets & perennials Ivan Stoilov, Figs, geo-thermal greenhouse, heirloom tomatoes Session 6: Marketing Your Farm Products, Tuesday, February 15th, 6:30 pmSarah Hale, FairShares CCSAPaul Krautmann, Organic vegetables, dry beansAndy Ayers, Restaurant owner, buys and markets produce Session 7: Work Session, Tuesday, February 22th, 6:30 pmKaren Davis, Horticulture Regional EducatorMiranda Duschack, LU Small Farms SpecialistNathan Brandt, MU Horticulture SpecialistSession 8:Understanding Legal Issues,Tuesday, March 1st, 6:30Chris Clark, Urban Farmer Nathan Brandt, Horticulture SpecialistDoug Halbert, Bed and Breakfast, vineyard, winery Session 9:Urban Farm Tour, Saturday, March 5th, 9:30-3:30New Roots, City Seeds and TBA Session 10: Presenting Your Farm Plan, Tuesday, March 8th, 6:30 pm

  10. GYF Outcomes Jason • Laid off from the auto industry • Wanted to start a commercial vegetable operation After GYF • Realized that his one-half acre lot could support production • Teamed up with another GYF family to lease land • Starting a CSA in 2009 • Organic producer of vegetables

  11. GYF Outcomes Brian and Melissa • Raise rabbits, chickens, eggs, dairy • No prior ag experienceAfter GYF • Met the local FSC Financial representative and are expanding their operation by purchasing 160 acres. • Working with other GYF participants to share equipment.

  12. GYF Outcomes • Maude • Recently laid off from her job in public relations • Ag experience with her grandfather’s family farm • Very much undecided about what she would like to pursue in agriculture • After GYF • Started Maude’s Market • St. Louis market for locally grown products

  13. GYF Outcomes • Chris • - Wanted to establish an urban farm • - Worked unsuccessfully to obtain land After GYF • Found property to lease • Beginning to grow in 2011

  14. GYF OutComes • Jamie • Moved with her husband and family to 26 acres last year • Extremely interested in doing something “sustainable” and organic on the acreage • After GYF • Developed a plan to involve the entire family in producing products for their own consumption • Will use the experiences to educate her kids in being self sufficient and caring for the environment

  15. Questions????

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