Crop Production Plan Pair up and discuss last

Crop Production Plan Pair up and discuss last weeks homework: • Share what type of farm you are thinking of(vegetable/fruit trees/livestock? ) (homestead/business? ) • What are some resources that you used to find information related to crop production plan? • What information are still looking for? In response: • Do you have suggestions of resources your partner can use? • Are there any other details your partner should plan for?

Sell What You Grow Ways to Market your Product Locally and Regionally Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching

The Basics of Direct Marketing • Capture more of the profit • Disperses market risk • Develop unique product identity • Increase consumer-farmer connection and provide product feedback www. sare. org

Direct Marketing Options • Community supported agriculture (CSA) • Grocery stores, Restaurant, Food Banks • Farm to School • Cooperatives or Food Hubs • Farmers’ markets • U-Pick • Farm stands • Ag Tourism • Internet

Community Supported Agriculture • How it works • Benefits • Payment occurs at the beginning of season • Quantity harvested is guaranteed sale • Challenges • Requires advanced planning • Experience in production • Distribution

Check out Helsing Junction Farm at http: //www. helsingfarmcsa. com

Farm to School • How it Works • Benefits • Contract sales • Efficiency of scale (production) • Healthy produce to kids • Challenges • Requires Food Safety (GAP) certification • Lower Price per unit • Hard market to get into for new business http: //www. wafarmtoschool. org/

Direct Sales to Restaurants • How it works • Benefits • Price maker instead of taker • Interest in unique product • Direct communication with single buyer • Challenges Farmer Fisher Chef Connection March-Seattle • Schedule • Particularity of buyer Farm to Table Trade Meeting February-Bellingham

Farm Stands • How it works • Benefits • Low transportation cost • Extra sales location • Challenges • Product loss • Everyday display=everyday harvest • Payment- staff or honor system • Location and regulations

Puget Sound Food Hub (Farmer Cooperative) • • • How it works www. pugetsoundfoodhub. com Benefits • Low transportation cost • Increases sales marketing area • Price setter not taker • Maintain farm brand to buyers Challenges • Requires Liability Insurance www. campbellriskmanagement. com • • Requires internet and marketing knowhow Application required and farm competition

Farmers Markets • • • How it works Benefits • Develop customer base • Receive full retail value • Customers come to you • Communicate growing practices direct to consumer Challenges • Labor and time • Product loss • Competition • Requires customer service skills • Every market is different

To learn more about farmers markets, visit: www. wafarmersmarkets. com seattlefarmersmarkets. org www. bellinghamfarmers. org www. mountvernonfarmersmarket. org/

U-Pick Operations • • How it works Benefits • Customers come to you • Reduced harvest labor • Price setter • Challenges • Staffing • Regulations • Liability • Marketing and Communication

Ag Tourism • • How it works Benefits • Customers come to you • Selling an experience • Future customers • Challenges • Staffing • Regulations • Liability • Marketing and Communication

Agritourism • http: //www. outstandinginthefield. com/ • http: //bowedisonfoodtrail. tumblr. com/ • http: //www. festivaloffamilyfarms. com/ • http: //www. bellewoodfarms. com/

Let the Internet work for you • Promote your products and availability • Sell your products • Have your own web site or get listed in a online guide or directory www. localharvest. org www. eatwellguide. org www. pugetsoundfresh. org/

Resources § WSDA Greenbook http: //agr. wa. gov/marketing/smallfarm/greenbook/ §USDA Farmer Direct Marketing www. ams. usda. gov/directmarketing § North American Farm Direct Marketing Assn. www. nafdma. com

Sustainable Crop Production Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching

Reading and Discussion Questions • What is the purpose of hardening off plants? • What are the benefits of raised beds and how would you go about making them in a field production setting? • What are the benefits of transplanting? At what point does it make sense to invest in a mechanical transplanter? • What are the benefits of mulching? What are some options for mulches? • What are the pros and cons of using row cover and what are some ways to secure it?

Crop Rotations • Numerous ecological and other benefits to the farm • Consider plant characteristics to help you develop a plan • Plant families • Moisture requirements • Rooting depths • Nitrogen fixing plants • Warm season - cool season crops • Cover crops/green manures Integrated Organic Practices - USDA

Cover Crops and Green manures • Keep it covered: • Prevent erosion • Shade out weeds • Prevent freezing and thawing of soils • Hosts for beneficial insects • Incorporate it: • Add nitrogen • Increase organic matter UCSC Farm Video: Cover Crops

Use of Cover Crops/Green Manures • Identify your problem • N source, fight weeds, soil builder, erosion • Identify when you could fit them into your rotations • late summer, winter, spring ? • Identify the right type of cover crop • Depending on use, what does well

Use of Cover Crops N Soil Source Builder Erosion fighter Loosen subsoil Weed Pest fighter Winter peas Rye Sorghum cross Rye Clover Barley Hairy Vetch Rye Wheat Sorghum Clover Barley Buckwheat Barley Mustard Daikon Radish Sunflower

Harvesting considerations • When and how to harvest Wholesale Success • Labor requirements • Proper equipment and process • Sorting/packing • Storage

Crop production summary • Management of sustainable cropping systems relies on planning ahead. Things to consider in your plan include: • Planting methods • Crop rotation plan • Use of cover crops/green manure • Tillage strategies • Timing of harvest and post-harvest handling procedures

Upcoming Events October 28 th: Evento de Cooperativos. November 1 st: Risk Management and Specialty Crop Insurance November 1 st: Focus on Farming Conference November 10 -12: Tilth Conference November 18 th: Women in Agriculture Reading for next week: • The New Organic Grower, Elliot Coleman – Chapter 16 • Integrated Pest Management: Effective Options for Farmers. • An Organic Weed Control Toolbox Assignment Due: Whole Farm Plan Section III- Marketing Outlets

Whole Farm Plan Peer Review • Highlight the areas in your own plan that you think need further development or detail • Exchange plans with a partner • Take 10 minutes to read through the plan • Come up with 3 strengths of the plan and 3 suggestions for improvement • Take 5 minutes to discuss each plan as a pair