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Home , Cargo, Eliot Coleman, Farm, Farmer, Harvest, Intensive farming

Small-Scale

Andy Pressman Urban Workshop Baltimore, MD June 14, 2012

THE NCAT MISSION

Helping People by championing small-scale, local, and sustainable solutions to reduce , promote healthy , and protect natural resources.

http://www.ncat.org ATTRA provides technical support on sustainable and .

• http://www.attra.org • Toll Free 800-346-9140 • > 350 Publications • Workshops/Conferences

United States Department of Agriculture Risk Agency

The role of USDA’s Agency (RMA) is to help producers manage their risks through effective, -based risk management solutions.

www.rma.usda.gov

This presentation is sponsored in part by the USDA Risk Management Agency Nomadic NH What is a Small Farm?

• USDA defines as farms with $250,000 or less in . • Accounted for 91% of all farms in 2007 (only 56% of US production). Source: The Winter • 60% had less than $10,000 Handbook by Eliot Coleman in sales (noncommercial). • Over half were direct sales to customers • Avg. age 57.1 years old

*Information from USDA 2007 Census of Agriculture Beginning Farmer’s (10 years or less)

• 78% of ranked “lack of ” as a top challenge for beginners. • 68% of farmers ranked land access as the biggest challenge faced by beginners. • 70% of farmers under 30 rented land, as compared to 37% of farmers over 30. • 74% of farmers ranked apprenticeships as among the most valuable programs for beginners. • 49% ranked Supported Agriculture (CSA) as a top program.

Source: National Young Farmer’s Coalition Removing Barriers • High cost of land. • High cost of farm infrastructure.

Needs for Various Sizes of Vegetable Farms.

Power Source Direct Production Scale Seed Starting and Tillage Seeding Equipment Cultivation Harvesting Handling small hoop Back-pack Wheel hoe, rototiller or Earthway knives, 1-3 house, grow sprayer, hand hoes, Bulk tank, canopy, Pickup with walking , seeder, hand boxes, acres lights, , digging packing containers topper or custom Cyclone seeder buckets, carts planting trays tools forks, spades 1000 sq. ft. 35-40 hp tractor, 1-row Cultivating Potato digger, Roller , with creeper 4-6 Planet Jr. plate transplanter, tractor (IH bed lifter, conveyor, hand cold frames, gear, power van acres seeder irrigation, Super A or wagon, more carts, walk-in field , steering, high more tools IH 140) boxes, buckets cooler planting trays clearance Tool bar Stanhay Additional 40-60 hp tractor, 2-row implements: 7-10 preceision belt More field Barrel washer, 1 ton with cold frames, chisel plow, transplanter, beet knives, acres seeder with crates spinner, jack planting trays spader sprayer, basket belts weeder Sweeps (Besserides), Buddingh 80 hp tractor finger Wash line, larger with loader Nibex or Irrigation, weeders, Asa lift, 20 + 2,000 sq. ft. cooler, packing Refrigerated bucket and Monosem bed shaper, flame harvest acres greenhouse shed and loading truck forks, seeder layer weeder, wagon spreader potatoe hiller, 2nd cultivating tractor

Adapted from table distributed at Michael Fields Institute Advanced Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, 2/2001, Jefferson , MO. Risk Management

• Production Risk – “2012 expectations are managing, diversification, that risk exposures will increase in the form of • Risk high values, increased price volatility, higher • Financial Risk input costs, tighter • Human Risk – requirements, the need to personal/family, recover from 2011 losses, employees, higher family living costs, • Legal Risk – business and aging farm operators.” , rent vs. leasing, taxes, succession planning – Pam Smith, UVM Extension

http://farm-risk-plans.rma.usda.gov Farm for Profit, Not Production (Profit = Income –Expenses) • In 2010, 64% of farms had negative operating profits. • It pays to plan! • Guide in decision making, decreasing risks, and monitors progress • Write it down

ATTRA Resources: • Planning for Profit in Sustainable Farming • Evaluating a Farming Enterprise Photo: Dennis Chamberlin • Financing Your Farm The Centerpiece Strategy

• Low initial start-up costs. • High gross-profit margin. • Relatively low requirements. • High cash flow relative to expenses. • High demand, low supply in . • High distinctiveness.

Advantages of Urban Farming

• • • • Proximity to Markets • Multi-locational Farm Site Selection Criteria

• Size • Topography/physical conditions • condition • Sunshine • Site access/ access • Utility access/water rights • Relationship to community & neighbors • Buffer zones • Perceived • Site control & terms of availability

Land Base Location Land agreements • Terms • Rent/Barter/Upkeep Appearance • • • Grown • Growing Practices • Work Schedule • Water Usage • Equipment • Not U-pick • Closedown

Dangers of Exposure to Contaminated Urban

• Heavy Metals, PAH’s, PCB’s, Volatile Organic Compounds… Bind, Don’t Degrade. • Soils, , Plants, Animals, Humans (direct soil exposure & dust inhalation). • Health Risks at Exceeded Levels can cause subtle neurological impairment to severe brain, liver, kidney damage.

Heavy Metals in Soils

• Lead – , additives, pesticides, batteries, solder… • Arsenic – wood preservatives (pressure treated), , pesticides, bronze … • Cadmium – batteries, solder, uncontrolled burning and garbage, fertilizers, dewormers… • Chromium, Nickel, Selenium, Zinc, …

Limits

• No Specific Threshold Levels for Soils or from Consuming Contaminated Fruits & Vegetables. • Plant , Part of Plant Being Consumed, pH, Season of Harvest, Organic Matter Content. • US EPA Thresholds are for Brownfield Remediation. Heavy Metal US EPA Values (ppm) PB 400 As 0.4 Cd 70 Cr 120,000 Ni 1,600 Lead in Hoses

• Hoses made from PVC contain lead as stabilizer. • Water sitting in hose that has been left in sun can contain 10-100X EPA safe level (15 ppb). • Use Drink-Safe, Lead-Free, RV/Marine hoses. • Use Nickel fittings instead of brass.

Fertilizer & Soil Amendments

• Some amount present whether man made or natural (including organic). • Unlike biosolids for ag.,NO Federal Standards for heavy metals in fertilizers – OMRI APPROVED. • N and K generally free of toxics; P fertilizers may have cadmium - source of rock phosphate . • Mid-Atlantic soils may have optimum P. • Micronutrients (mostly from recycled industrial byproducts) may have Cd, Pb, As, and others. • Ironite (1-0-0) contains 3600 ppm As & 2900 ppm Pb = .

SPIN is S-mall P-lot IN-tensive Farming

• Sub-Acre • Low Capital Intensive • Close to Markets • Environmentally- Friendly • Entrepreneurially- Driven

Standard Size Beds

2’ Wide x 25’ Long

1/2 Acre = 200 Standard Size Beds

Segment An area of 1,000 sq. feet which accommodates about 10-13 standard size beds Walkway options

Type Standard Beds Crops per Segment

Narrow (6 16 Micro/baby greens, inches) herbs, radish Standard (12 13 Beets, carrots, inches) chard, garlic, leeks, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes Wide (24 inches) 10 Beans (bush & pole), celery, eggplant, peppers Extra-wide (36 8 Melons, inches) cucumbers, summer squash Super-wide (48 6 Winter squash inches) 1-2-3 Concept

• 1 = area where only a single crop per season is grown. • 2 = area where 2 crops per season are grown. • 3 = area where 3 or more crops per season are grown.

Relay Cropping

• The sequential growing of crops in a single bed the growing season. • Intensive relay: 3 or more high value crops grown per bed per season. • Bi-relay: 2 or more high-value crops are grown per bed per season.

High Value Crop

• One that generates at least $100 per harvest per bed. • Very high value crop generates $200 or $300 per harvest per bed. Planning Relays

High-Value Crops: Low-Value Crops • All leafy greens • Potatoes • Cucumbers • Salad/mesclun mix • Summer squash • Scallion • Onions • Bunching onion • Garlic • Radish • Shallots • Carrots • Tomatoes • Peppers • Fresh herbs • Cabbage • Green garlic • Green beans • Peas • Melons

Relay Crops Model

• Intensive relay area: arugula, basil, beets, bunching onion, chard, cilantro, dill, green garlic, kale, leafy greens, lettuce, mesclun, radish, scallion, spinach. • Bi-relay area: beans, carrots, peas, others. • Single crop area: garlic, shallots, mature onions, potatoes, squash, tomatoes. 3-and 4-Member Relays

• Spinach – Radish – Carrots – • Scallion – Lettuce – Spinach – • Lettuce – Scallion – Baby Dill – • Radish – Radish – Scallion – Spinach – • Lettuce – Baby Dill – Lettuce – Radish - Crop Planning

• What to grow? • How much to grow? • Where to put it? • When to put it where? Rotation Planning vs. Crop Plan

• Rotational planning looks at progressions over the years to improve yields and reduce the workload. • Annual crop planning looks at the details for a single year and creates organized to do lists that are easily shared. Basics Steps for an Annual Crop Plan

1. Collect resources – records, catalogs, , conferences. 2. Make a harvest projection matrix. 3. Turn matrix into a planting plan with supporting information. 4. Map out the planting plan (dry run of season on paper. 5. Revise. Scheduling Relay Plantings Nomadic Farms Vegetable Relay’s

• Green beans: Plant every 10 days • Beets: Plant every 14 days • Cucumbers: Plant every 3 weeks • Kale/Collards: Plant every 3 weeks • Lettuce: Plant full size every 10-14 days; plant salad mix every 7-10 days and harvest re-growth • Radish: Plant every 7 days • Spinach: Plant every 7 days and harvest re-growth • Summer Squash: Plant every 6 weeks (or more frequently if vine borers are prevalent) • Carrots: Plant every 3 weeks for non-storage varieties • Turnips: Plant every 7 days.

Field Relay Plantings

Fall Frost Date: Oct. 1, 2012 Variety Days to Interval 1st 2nd 5th 8th Final Maturity Between Planting Planting Planting Planting Planting Relays Date Beans 55 10 5/1/12 5/11/12 6/10/12 7/10/12 7/24/12

Kale/Collard 60 21 5/1/12 5/22/12 7/24/12 9/25/12 9/1/12

Salad Mix 28 7 5/1/12 5/8/12 5/29/12 6/19/12 9/3/12

Melons 70 21 5/1/12 5/22/12 7/24/12 9/25/12 7/9/12 Target Harvest Date

Date of Event: July 1, 2012 Crop Days to Days Before Days in Seeding Notes Maturity Event Crop Greenhouse Date Will Be Harvested Bush Beans 50 2 0 5/11 Provider Beets 46 3 0 5/14 ‘Moneta’ Broccoli ‘Bay 60 1 20 5/2 Meadows’ Sunflower 55 4 0 5/3 ‘Pro Cut’ Zinnia 84 1 0 4/7 ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ 75/25 Rule

• Farms smaller than ¼ acre should have at least 75% or more of their land base in intensive relay production. Close Spacing

• Increase yields by crowding vegetables not used in mechanical cultivation. • Plant yield may diminish, but row/bed yield will increase. • Spacing and thinning may help balance competition for space.

Intercropping

• Combining fast and slow maturing crops in same row to increase productivity. • Three Sisters • Beneficial for control. • Lettuce/brassica, radish/carrots, scallion/tomatoes Work Flow: 5-Day Work Week

• Developing a schedule in which all farming tasks are done regularly throughout the week • Watering, weeding, planting, harvesting are all done throughout each day, every day. • Commercial Refrigeration Investments

• Vehicle • Rototiller • Fencing • Shed • Tools (hoes, seeder, etc…) • Irrigation • Soil Amendments • Post-harvesting station • Commercial Cooler • Marketing Supplies

Greenhouse Supplies Irrigation Harvest and Post Harvest Food Safety

• For small producers, one severe incident of sick customers is the end of your business • Public sees foodborne illness on the rise… • Each year 31 major pathogens cause… •9.4 million episodes of foodborne illness •55,961 hospitalizations •1,351 deaths

Scallan E, Hoekstra RM, Angulo FJ, Tauxe RV, Widdowson MA, Roy SL, et al. 2011. Foodborne illness acquired in the -major pathogens. Emerg. Infect. Dis. [Epub ahead of print] Food Safety Modernization Act

• FDA Food Modernization Act LAW – S.510 signed January 2011 –Exclusions, will it be funded? • Issue guidance for risk reduction; • Establish fruit and vegetable harvesting standards; • Collect fees related to re-inspections and recalls; and • Develop food allergy guidelines for schools.

Tester-Hagan Amendment: Farms/ selling processed product are exempt if— • More than half of all food sales are to ‘Qualified End Users’ in same state or within 275 miles of business location • Value of all food was less than $500,000 • Point-of-sale notification required – Farm name, address, contact info must be on a label, poster, sign, placard, or other sales documentation, or, in the case of sales, in an electronic notice

Protect Consumers and Your Business

• Manage to reduce risks • food safety programs to your unique operation • Implement GAP/GHP

• www.onfarmfoodsafety.org

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPS)

• The proper use (and disposal) of water, • Proper compost and application of , • Good hygiene habits from the workers on the farm, • Regular equipment checkup and maintenance, • Proper sanitation of processing surfaces and transportation , • Accurate record keeping. Basic Harvesting • Timing - Maturity Timing - Time of Day Timing • Technique (quality and efficiency) • Getting it out of the field Timing - Maturity

• Can it be eaten at this stage? • Will I get more out of it if it continues to mature? - weight, price, flavor, storage, , … • Will it get bigger, bolt, succumb to pests & diseases? • What do I need for this market? Does it conflict with my needs for the next harvest? Timing – Time of Day

• Earlier in the day for heat sensitive crops. • Later in the day for crops that are sensitive to leaf disease or need to be dry for storage or will be easier to clean if dry. • Prioritize by relative sensitivity and . • Prioritize shade! • Consider humidity and hydration post harvest. Harvesting Techniques

• Efficiency • Quality • Ergonomics Getting It Out

• Hand carts, motorized carts, trailers, , , …. • Appropriate containers. • Labeling. • Loading and Unloading. • Materials handling solutions (hand trucks, pallet jacks, loading docks,…. Post Harvest

• Temperature and Humidity. • Removing soil & excess material (what’s your market?). • Bunching and weighing • Special curing, drying, etc… • Appropriate containers & packing materials. • Efficient materials handling. Work Flow: High Harvesting

Commercial refrigeration: 1). Helps even out workflow to 5 day work week routine. 2). Locks in the value of the produce. The CoolBot turns any brand of off-the-shelf, window-type air conditioning unit into a turbo-charged cooling . With it, you can transform a highly-insulated room into a walk-in cooler, keeping your vegetables fresh and thermostatically controlled cool down to 32°. (www.storeitcold.com). Tools for Small-Scale Farming 2 Key Components

• Ergonomics – ease of use with body. • Durability (light, strong, etc…)

Tillage

Source: Johnny’s Selected Seeds Bed Preparation & Seeding Hoeing the Long Row

Source: GFM May 2010 Quality Tool Suppliers

• Earth Tools: www.earthtoolsbcs.com • Johnny’s Selected Seeds: www.johnnysseeds.com • Peaceful Valley Farm Supply: www.groworganic.com • Rogue Hoe: www.roguehoe.com • Green Heron Tools LLC: www.greenherontools.com • Red Pig Garden Tools: www.redpigtools.com

Soils and Farmscaping A whole-farm, ecological approach to pest management that uses hedgerows, insectary plants, cover crops, and water to attract and support populations of beneficial organisms such as insects, bats, and or prey. Marketing Strategies

Did You Know:

• There are currently 7,175 farmers markets throughout the United States, a 17% increase from 2010. • As of 2010, there were 898 winter farmers markets across the country. • Farmers markets account for $1.2 billion in annual sales. • There are more than 4,000 community supported agriculture (CSA) farms across the country. • Hottest menu trends in 2012 include local (National Restaurant Association).

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Marketing Risk Management

•Marketing opportunities available to small- scale producers •Market saturation • •Pricing •Bumper Crops or Crop Failure •Quality Control •Customer •Customer Dissatisfaction (age of social media)

Marketing Options

• Farmers market • CSA program • Restaurant sales • Home deliveries • Buying clubs • Farm stand • Institutions • Agri- • Pick Your Own • Grocery Stores • • Food Hubs • Wholesale

Winter Markets

Photo’s Courtesy of Seacoast Eat Local Market Analysis Before Farming

• Where am I going to sell/who is customer? • Size of customer base? • Location of customer base and influence? • Sell directly to consumers? • Sell wholesale to market? • Who is my competition? • Season price fluctuations to expect? • Quality standards to meet? • Time and fuel to reach markets? • Legal or food safety considerations?

Golden Rules of Marketing

• Know what you are selling Slaynt Vie’ Farm • Know who you are selling to “My parents hail from a small island in • Know your own story the middle of the Irish Sea, the Isle of • Don’t make assumptions Man. `Slaynt Vie´ means `good health´ in the Manx Gaelic language and the • Be customer oriented, not `Three Legs of Man´ is their official product oriented symbol, which stands for stability and • Sell features and benefits self sufficiency. It is my vision to • Be a price maker, not a price provide local produce to nourish my taker neighbors, my community and my land • Diversify to manage risks into self-sustaining good health.” • Sell before you grow Fionna Harrison Charles Town, WV

Pricing

• Nature of Market (wholesale vs. ) • Cost comparison with competitors • How your product is different from competitors • Location • Bulk vs. Bagged/Bunched

Marketing: Mix and Match Pricing

Limit the different individual prices and combine items on a multiple unit basis (1 for $3 or 2 for $5) • No more price per pound • Allows you to sell more ©SPIN-Farming at higher prices • Convenience Marketing Fundamentals

• Sell Quality – freshness, flavor, variety, customer • Find Your Niche • Start small • Diversify

Revenue Potential

Determine # marketing weeks + yearly targeted revenue = average weekly revenue. Example Targeting $40,000/year, over 20 marketing weeks = average weekly revenue = $2,000 per week.

Is that Realistic? Revenue Potential Factors • Days to harvest for consistent cash flow. • Short days to harvest crops play important role in early production and relays. • Planning relay potentials (cool season before & after long season crops). • Short days to harvest crops result in higher segment revenue than just one high-value crop. • Low-value crops are good for larger land bases, • Payoff of high-value crops can be offset if they are labor intensive. • Lower-value crops (melons and squash) often are not labor or cost intensive. • Lower-value crops also add diversity! Leafy Greens

High-value status planted in 2- 4 rows per bed with seeder. • Spring: spinach, cut lettuce, mesclun mix • Summer: beets w/ greens, chard, salad mix, mesclun mix, head lettuce • Fall: spinach, collards, chard, salad mix, cut lettuce Leafy Greens

Week-after-Week Strategy targets 100-500 unit sales per marketing week. Yield/Price Example 50 units (bags) of greens per standard bed: a) @$1.00/unit=$50/bed b) @$2.00/unit=$100/bed c) @$3.00/unit=$150/bed • Sold in ¼ - ½ lb quantities

Carrots

• Plant as early in season as possible. • Plant many subsequent staggered plantings on relay basis. • Plant 3 rows/bed; 1/4’” deep with seeder. • Go over furrow 2x for high density planting of mini carrots. Carrots

• Customers tend to prefer bunches early in season and topped and bagged later in season. Mid-Sized or Mini Carrots • Higher pricing can be charged for mini carrots. • Price levels remain steady throughout season for mini’s. • Key to premium pricing is to offer a washed and bagged product. Carrots

Yield/Price Example Targeted yields of 1 bunch/row foot; 75 bunches /bed a) 75 cents/bunch = $56.00/bed b) $1.00/bunch = $75.00/bed c) $2.00/bunch = $150.00/bed d) $3.00/bunch = $225.00/bed

Tomatoes

• Plantings include early and late varieties. • Determinate and indeterminate varieties. • Transplant 16 plants per row (bed). • Targeted Revenue: $200 per bed.

• 10% of operation sales. • 2-3 Segments (hundreds of plants). • Easy germinators (7-14 days). • Sweet pea (trellis), tulips, sunflower, jerusalem artichoke, nasturtium, lily, calendula, gladiola (stagger plantings). • $10 - $20/ bouquet • $3/stem Shoots

• Used as garnish, in salad mixes, and eaten blanched or green. • Sunflower, sugar pea, corn, diakon radish. • 1 unit for $3 or 2 for $5 or 6 units per tray @$15. Extending the Growing Season

• Important component of diversified farms • = better markets • Can manipulate heat, water, humidity, temperature to optimize plant growth • Low cost • Increased yields

Winter Hoop House Harvest Beets, carrots. Chard, collards, greens, lettuces, kale, onions, parsley, poc choi, radishes, spinach, turnips, dill, cilantro, basil.

Crop Planting Date Arugula 9/22, 9/24, 9/26, 9/28, 9/30, 10/2 Beet Leaves 9/2, 9/6 Carrot 8/3, 8/7 Lettuce 9/13, 9/15, 9/17, 9/19, 9/22, 9/25 Spinach 9/5 – 9/24 Turnip 9/20, 9/24 Somerton Tanks Farm

• 2003-2006: ½ acre SPIN Demonstration Farm in Philadelphia. • Can a farm be a sustainable Philadelphia business? (farmers, economic demand, land) • $68,000 gross in 4th year • Estimate of $120,00 gross on less than 1 acre with 5 years experience.

The Neighborhood Farm • Unexpectedly started in 2008 with 5 plots (1/4 acre); 1 market. • 2009 - added land, and 1 market & 15-member CSA; focused on heirloom tomatoes and garlic. • 2012 – 9 sites; 3 markets and 52 –member CSA; 3 FTP’s, 2 PTP’s • Successes – Doubled gross sales every year; net avg. 50%. • Lessons learned – chooses wisely (clump (nothing over 30 minutes away, say no to partial shade, …) Slaynt Vie’ Farm • 2009 – 2 plots = ½ acre; $16,000 • 2010 – 3 plots = ¾ acre; $17,300 • 2011 – 1 plot = ¼ acre; $13,000 • 2012 – 1 plot = 1.4 acre (2 markets)

Goals – pay self and labor Success – Debt free Lessons Learned – Tried to expand too quickly

Key Aspects 1. At least some part of farm will be structured around many small timely plantings. 2. The small grower advantage. 3. Not all your farm is put into intensive relay production (usually only one portion). “A good looking farm is a good earning farm”

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