Small-Scale Intensive Farming Andy Pressman Urban Farmer Workshop Baltimore, MD June 14, 2012 THE NCAT MISSION Helping People by championing small-scale, local, and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources. http://www.ncat.org ATTRA provides technical support on sustainable agriculture and farm energy. • http://www.attra.org • Toll Free 800-346-9140 • > 350 Publications • Workshops/Conferences United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency The role of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is to help producers manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk management solutions. www.rma.usda.gov This presentation is sponsored in part by the USDA Risk Management Agency Nomadic Farms NH What is a Small Farm? • USDA defines as farms with $250,000 or less in sales. • Accounted for 91% of all farms in 2007 (only 56% of US food production). Source: The Winter Harvest • 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 farmers ranked “lack of capital” 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 Community 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 Postharvest Scale Seed Starting and Tillage Seeding Equipment Cultivation Harvesting Handling Delivery small hoop Back-pack Wheel hoe, rototiller or Earthway Field knives, 1-3 house, grow sprayer, hand hoes, Bulk tank, canopy, Pickup with walking tractor, seeder, hand boxes, acres lights, irrigation, digging packing containers topper or van custom work Cyclone seeder buckets, carts planting trays tools forks, spades 1000 sq. ft. 35-40 hp tractor, 1-row Cultivating Potato digger, Roller track greenhouse, with creeper 4-6 Planet Jr. plate transplanter, tractor (IH bed lifter, conveyor, hand cold frames, gear, power Cargo van acres seeder irrigation, Super A or wagon, more carts, walk-in field tunnels, 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 truck with cold frames, chisel plow, transplanter, beet knives, acres seeder with crates spinner, pallet jack refrigeration 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, compost seeder mulch layer weeder, wagon dock spreader potatoe hiller, 2nd cultivating tractor Adapted from table distributed at Michael Fields Institute Advanced Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, 2/2001, Jefferson City, MO. Risk Management • Production Risk – “2012 expectations are managing, diversification, that risk exposures will sustainability increase in the form of • Marketing Risk high crop values, increased price volatility, higher • Financial Risk input costs, tighter credit • Human Risk – requirements, the need to personal/family, recover from 2011 losses, employees, pesticides higher family living costs, • Legal Risk – business and aging farm operators.” organization, 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 maintenance requirements. • High cash flow relative to expenses. • High demand, low supply in marketplace. • High product distinctiveness. Advantages of Urban Farming • Water • Climate • Wildlife • Proximity to Markets • Multi-locational Farm Site Selection Criteria • Size • Topography/physical conditions • Soil condition • Sunshine • Site access/vehicle access • Utility access/water rights • Relationship to community & neighbors • Buffer zones • Perceived Security • Site control & terms of availability Land Base Location Land agreements • Terms • Rent/Barter/Upkeep • Appearance • Insurance • Crops Grown • Growing Practices • Work Schedule • Water Usage • Equipment • Not U-pick • Closedown Dangers of Exposure to Contaminated Urban Soils • Heavy Metals, PAH’s, PCB’s, Volatile Organic Compounds… Bind, Don’t Degrade. • Soils, Groundwater, 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 – paint, gasoline additives, pesticides, batteries, solder… • Arsenic – wood preservatives (pressure treated), fertilizers, pesticides, bronze manufacturing… • Cadmium – batteries, solder, uncontrolled burning coal and garbage, fertilizers, livestock dewormers… • Chromium, Nickel, Selenium, Zinc, Copper… Limits • No Specific Threshold Levels for Garden Soils or from Consuming Contaminated Fruits & Vegetables. • Plant Species, 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 ore. • 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 = hazardous waste. 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, books, 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