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Sustainable Economy Initiative |
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Home > Our
Programs > Sustainable
Economy Initiative > Research > Best Practices
Summary |
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Best
Practices Summary:
Agriculture Support Programs
Use the links below to jump to a summary of the example Best
Practice that you want to read. Additional information
about each example is available in the Best Practices Summary
Table
Back to SEI
Research Index...
| Organization/Best Practice/Resource
Information |
Name |
| Glynwood's Agricultural Initiative |
Keep Farming |
| Maine, NE & Northern NY non profit |
Coastal Enterprises, Inc |
| Program of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. |
Project Name: Farms for Maine's Future: Comprehensive, Sustainable Strategies Utilizing Teams funded in year 2001Project Title LN#01-146 |
| NY Finger Lakes RC&D Program |
Finger Lakes Grazing Advocacy Program Project Title: LNE02-170 |
| Cornell University, Nutrient Management Spear Program |
Reducing Phosphorus Fertilizer Imputs for Field Corn Production |
| Broad based coalition |
Grow Montana (GM) |
| VT Housing & Conservation Board, VT's version of Viability opportunities. See NY |
Vermont Farm Viability Enhancement Program |
| New England farm resource |
New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI) |
| NY Farm Viability |
NY Farm Viability Institute (NY examples ties in many needs, best of all the states. It appears) |
| National Outreach huge organization, Northeast office/Funding . |
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) |
| National land trust |
American Farmland Trust |
| International, aide for Farmers |
Farm Crises Network |
| Maine Farmland Trust |
Maine Farmland Trust- Farm Link Program |
| VT Branch of National Women's Ag. Network |
Women's Agricultural Networks |
| National & regional model |
New York Sustainable Agricultural Working Groups (NYSAWG) |
| ME Citizen Based Non Profit cluster development |
Grow Smart Maine |
| NY, VT & Quebec Resource/Program |
Lake Champlain Basin Program |
| Nation wide, large finances out of Iowa State U. |
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (LC) |
| Maine RC& program for economic Development |
Threshold to Maine |
| NH farmer to consumers connection |
NH Virtual Farmers' Market |
| NY Equine Pilot Program |
Cornell Cooperative Extension Equine Project |
| ME's women in Ag. (better than the national, which is simply a website about conferences) |
WAgN, Women's Agricultural Network |
| NY Cooperative Extension of Saratoga and Washington Counties, Agriculture and Economic Development Program |
Northeast Livestock Processing Service Company LLC (NLPSC) |
| NH Natural Resources Conservation Service (RC&D) branch of the National Natural Resources Conservation Service |
NH Agricultural Innovation Program |
| NY Agri-tourism |
Thousand Islands Seaway Wine Trail |
| England Agri-tourism |
Stay on a Farm: Family Vacations & Working Farms |
| Cornell Waste Management Institute, Three state project |
Project Title: ENE03-75 Composting as an Alternative for Mortalities and Meat Residuals from Farms and Butcher Operations |
| Vermont Cheese Council's Program |
Vermont Cheese Trail |
| Vermont for New Farmers |
Vermont New Farmers Networks (VNFN) |
| International Organic Center |
Organic Agricultural Centre of Canada |
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Keep Farming www.glynwood.org
The Glynwood Center partnered with the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture for the Agricultural Initiative. Glynwood's Keep Farming Program is result of this initiative. It is a three phase project. The Center's staff, volunteers and professionals are involved from the beginning community Organization Phase through the Economic Phase and finally to the Taking Action Phase. The Program is unique in that although the staff provides guidance, resources and technical assistance, it is a community centered action. Using Keep Farming's knowledge base the community assesses its economics, local foods, aesthetics and natural resources then designs and implements strategies that preserve agricultural land and create economic opportunities.
Investment: Glynwood is a large financial source of support for agriculture.
Knowledge: Glynwood supports many educational programs and leadership training resources for agriculture.
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Coastal Enterprises, Inc www.ceimaine.org
CEI is a large financial resource for agriculture in Maine and has expanded to N. E. and northern NY. It provides important, innovative programs such as Farmland for the Future as well as education, awards, exchanges, counseling & workshops. It's value is underscored by a recent allocation of 120 million dollars by New Markets Tax Credit and an award from NH's School of Community Economic Development. It is also an important activist in policy for agriculture, news and education.
Leadership: CEI leadership has been recognized both in state in out of state. One indication of the companies significance was the interview on Maine Public Radio, another is the 2007 "Prize for Excellence in Community Economic Development" awarded by the NH School of Community Economic Development at Southern NH University.
Investment: CEI finances small, medium, micro businesses and natural resource industries
Knowledge: As well as supporting farming financially CEI informs the public and those in the field. The company reports news, such as the assessment of the impact of Farms for the Future in 2007. It has informative publications and conducts reports such as "Predatory Mortgages in Maine."
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Project Name: Farms for Maine's Future: Comprehensive, Sustainable Strategies Utilizing Teams funded in year 2001Project Title LN#01-146 http://www.sare.org/reporting/report_viewer.asp?pn=LNE01-146
Farms for Maine's Future is one of CEI's innovative programs for the protection of farm land. The two fazed program assists farmers with business plans and prepares them for an implementation grant for the future of their agricultural enterprises. It was modeled after the MA Farm Viability Enhancement Program. CEI, SARE and the State of Maine contributed finances. 144 farms have received help with business plans through the program and 75 have completed their plans and received grants for implementation. 18,000 acres of farm land have been saved.
Leadership: As a pilot program this leads models for farming needs throughout the nation.
Innovation: The program is innovative in that it is a first, a pilot. It addresses the difficulties of farm profitability with education and practical implementation opportunities.
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Finger Lakes Grazing Advocacy Program Project Title: LNE02-170 www.nrcs.usda.gov
This project of the NY RC D involves Cornell University and SARE. It is remarkable as there are few if any similar projects. The NRCS awarded a grant for the study of this program to continue. The purpose is to contract grazing advocates to promote and prescribe grazing systems. This would benefit livestock operators and serve to protect land and water quality.
Leadership: The NY RC&D Council has taken a lead in addressing both grazing needs and environmental concerns.
Innovation: There are not many projects addressing the need for grazing land.
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Reducing Phosphorus Fertilizer Imputs for Field Corn Production http:// nmsp.css.cornell.edu, www.nnyagdev.org
The Reducing Phosphorous program is one of the Spear programs helping farmers save costs through studies of the nutrients in their soils. The research is done on participating farms and experimental stations and in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension, the agricultural industry and the New York farmers.
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Grow Montana (GM) www.growmontana.ncat.org
Grow Montana is a member supported organization that serves food producers and marketers in the state of Montana. Through programs and policies the organization strives to help food producers to meet the state's food needs. In doing so it protects the natural resources, assists the economy and the health of the citizens.
Leadership: Foodcorps is one of the many projects. Its purpose is to make the University of Montana's successful model farm to college program a model for Montana's other public institutions.
Investment: Grow Montana is supported by members and grants from WK Kellogg Foundation and Stranie Ventures LLC.
Knowledge: Grow Montana is a resource for research in areas such as producers' capacity to serve markets.
Innovation: Grow Montana helps to fund 6 Montana Agricultural Innovative Centers.
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Vermont Farm Viability Enhancement Program www.vhcb.org/pdfs/viability
See New York Farm Viability Institute.
Investment: provides grants
Knowledge: Grow Montana collaborates with VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets provides farmers with tailored technical assistance, business planning, on-farm consultations.
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New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI) www.smallfarm.org
New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI) is a land-based, non-profit organization founded by Women in Agriculture, Food Policy and Land Use Reform. It is important as a Best Practice on many levels, education, promotion of sustainable farming, training and land link services for farmers.
Knowledge: NESFI's library is the leading regional resource for sustainable agriculture. NESFI offers courses, workshops, matching services, farm link services, business and farm skill training, entrepreneur training and more.
Innovation: New England Land Link is one of their services.
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NY Farm Viability Institute (NY examples ties in many needs, best of all the states. It appears) www.nyfarmviability.org
"New York Farm Viability Institute is an independent, farmer-led nonprofit organization that directs and funds farm-level research to increase profits, reduce costs and other barriers, create jobs and encourage practical innovation on the farm. The institute is funded by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets." NYFVI is a Best Practice on a grand scale: research resources, funding and much more. Some of the grant programs have been Agricultural Innovation Center Grants, Extension Innovation Grants, and Applied Research Partnership Grants.
Investment: To demonstrate New York Farm Viability Institute's ability to fund farm viability programs it should be noted that the Institution was awarded more than $4 million in farm-based research grants in 2007. The grant awards will support such projects as bioenergy feedstock and gasification developments, to organic grain and dairy initiatives.
Knowledge: The Institute supports a variety of educational projects including business planning, product development, and marketing assistance. These projects are available to qualified agricultural producers or groups of producers.
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Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) www.sare.org
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program helps advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program. The National Outreach office oversees program management, national publications, outreach and other nationally managed initiatives. There nation is then divided into four regions with their own offices. The regional offices set policies and goals, make funding decisions, and administer grant projects. This is an important resource for research, policy and financing of agriculture in the US. SARE is supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Investment: SARE has many competitive grants program providing grants to researchers, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers, and students in the United States.
Knowledge: SARE had a national database of approximately 3,000 projects, which include on farm experiments and community innovation projects.
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American Farmland Trust www.Americanfarmlandtrust.org
American Farmland Trust (AFT) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting our nation's strategic agricultural resources. The Trust pursues policy, encourages stewardship, conducts educational programs and serves as a source of agricultural news.
Leadership: American Farmland Trust urges people to join in calls to action for Farm advocacy bills. Most recently they are calling for support of the 2008 Farm Bill.
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Farm Crises Network www.farmcrises.network.org.uk
The Farm Crises Network provides pastoral and practical support to farming people during periods of anxiety, stress and problems relating to both the farm household and farm business. It is interesting to note that there is the need for all levels of support for farm families in the UK where farms are often centuries old, as there is this need in the U. S.
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Maine Farmland Trust- Farm Link Program www.mainefarmlandtrust.org
The FarmLink is a program of the Maine Farmland Trust. The Maine Program works with farmers and ranchers, political leaders and community activists. It is Maine's only land trust for farmland. The FarmLink is an important and active part of the Farmland Trust. The FarmLink is a" farm transfer program that connects farmers seeking farmland with retiring Maine farmers and other farmland owners who wish to see their agricultural lands remain active."
Leadership: To
date, Maine FarmLink has completed 18 links, representing 1,608 acres in 7 of
Maine's counties. We also have 6 more links in progress, which will help another
1002 acres of farmland remain active.
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Women's Agricultural Networks www.uvm.edu/~wagn
The numbers of women as sole proprietors of farms in the Northeast have been growing. Women's Agricultural Networks was the first organization in New England for women and other disadvantaged citizenry with interest in farming. The Network provides resources, programs and has increased the numbers of women in farming.
Innovation: The VT branch was the first women's group in NE.
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New York Sustainable Agricultural Working Groups (NYSAWG) www.nysawg.org
NYSAWG is interesting as a wide coalition of farmers, environmental advocates, consumer groups and faith based organizations. Because of the wide base NYSAWG is able to address a range of issues from policy to marketing, to small scale processing, farmland protection and even food security.
Leadership: NYSAWG builds trading linkages and networks for production and exchange of local foods.
Knowledge: We offer education and training for farmers to serve local markets.
Innovation: The organization has a nationally recognized, innovative marketing campaign for local food. We offer education and training for farmers to serve local markets.
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Grow Smart Maine www.growsmartmaine.org
Grow Smart Maine (GSM) is unique as non profit citizen's organization that partnerships with world-class researchers. It is particularly to be noted as an active organization that lobbies for policy, mobilizes citizens, educates identifies issues and is a source of education. The Planning for Agriculture project provides informational tools for citizen planners, particularly in regard to protecting farmland.
Leadership: Grow Smart worked with the Brookings Institute to create a report entitled Charting Maine's Future: An Action Plan.
Investment: One of GSM's initiatives is to invest in research and development to promote their goals.
Knowledge: Public education to mobilize citizens is an important and stated focus of GSM.
Innovation: Plans for cluster organics development is an example of GSM's innovation.
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Lake Champlain Basin Program www.lcbp.org
The Lake Champlain Basin Program is unique in leadership because of its is a partnership between VT, NY, Quebec, private organizations, local communities and individuals as well as the national government. The USPA provides core funding. The Program is an important source of education for those in agriculture as well as others in the area on how best to protect the basin through diverse programs, workshops, studies and updates. It is actively involved in policy to protect the Basin. It awards grants to further efforts for protecting the resources and identifies priorities for the needs of the basin. As examples of good practices the Program awards farms such as Fermes Grasser, Maytag Farm and others.
Leadership: The Program demonstrates leadership in collaboration of interstate, international, local community and individuals working together. It presents awards to farms as examples of good practices.
Knowledge: The Program educates through diverse efforts, workshops, programs and more.
Innovation: The trial methane system, manure spreading management program, soil erosion and tillage are examples of innovative programs.
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The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (LC) www.leopold.iastate.edu
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture partners with many other nation wide organizations. It provides grants, financial assistance, marketing information, supports policy that encourages agriculture, conducts research and is a resource for agricultural study. There are five ground breaking issue teams. It is a large resource for a research, policy and grants.
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Threshold to Maine www.thresholdtomaine.org
Threshold to Maine demonstrates leadership and innovation in assisting farmers who are responding to the need for value added expansion of their products. Among its many unique projects such as connecting goat farmers to ethnic communities, Threshold Maine first addressed this need for facilities for value added products with the Business Incubator Concept and then implemented it with Shared Kitchens. Shared Kitchens saves small farmers the expense of licensed facilities for farmers and others. The response has been excellent and the numbers of Shared Kitchens are growing. One example is the Fairbanks School Neighborhood Association's Kitchen Project.
Leadership: A shared use commercial kitchen fills a gap for local food growers, producers, and entrepreneurs, who would like to develop food products into value-added products. The shared use would save costs and assist producers in expanding use of their products.
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NH Virtual Farmers' Market www.nhfarms.com
Under the leadership of the NH Department of Agriculture, partnering with the UNH Office of Sustainable Programs, Farm Credit Service and NH Made an important issue of means for getting produce from farm to consumer is addressed by the Virtual Farmers' Market. While promoting fresh, healthy products, saving fuel costs and supporting the farmers, the VIM employs the creative technology of the times. As it is a Virtual program there is much room for growth through this efficient and innovative venture.
Innovation: The Virtual Market is an example of modern technology creating a farmer's market online.
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Cornell Cooperative Extension Equine Project
The Cornell Extension shows leadership with this is an innovative pilot program providing business planning assistance and analysis for horse related enterprise owners in Saratoga County. There is an apparent need for such a program because when it started there was a flood of requests from other companies. Growth is in the plans to expand state-wide and nationally.
Leadership: Leadership is shown by the very nature of a pilot program and by the coming together of partners: Saratoga County farm Bureau, Chamber of Commerce and the Agricultural Economic Development Program for Washington & Saratoga Counties.
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WAgN, Women's Agricultural Network
The number of women as sole proprietors of farms is growing. WAgN provides technical support, educational, networking opportunities. The web site is easy to follow and has many links. This is better than the national women's organization, which simply lists conferences.
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Northeast Livestock Processing Service Company LLC (NLPSC)
NLPSC is an answer to a big issue for meat producers throughout the NFC region. The RC&D Council developed the means to provide small and medium meat producers processing for their product. Highlighting the need for such a service is the many organizations that stepped in to assist, including the Senate Majority's office, the International Heifer Project and others. The Northeast Livestock Processing Service Company, LLC is a producer-based company serving livestock producers as a Processing Coordinator. The Coordinator processes discounts, schedules at processing plants cutting instructions. The Coordinator also provides personal service and technical assistance regarding such matters "percent return of usable meat, attention to quality control, attention to humane animal handling, guidance on retail cuts and packaging, live animal readiness for processing, product storage for held inventory, production recommendations for 'sliding livestock' into off-season processing periods."(http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/news/index.cfm) The company also provides information for the sharing of livestock transportation the processing plants.
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NH Agricultural Innovation Program www.nhrcd.net
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is the lead conservation agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It "provides trained soil conservationists, technicians, soil scientists, agronomists, engineers, economists, biologists, foresters and other experts to help landowners and land users with conservation." (www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov) The NH RC&D has many interesting programs ranging from financial, to technical to policy to support farmers and agriculture. A particularly innovative program is a grant program that provides business planning assistance to small, start up and transition farms around the kitchen table.
Investment: RC &D has many financial programs including the Farm and Ranch Protection Program.
Knowledge: There are technical programs available such as the Nutrient Management Assistance.
Innovation: NH's RC & D has an Agricultural Innovation Program to provide business planning assistance to farmers. One of the innovative aspects is customized services of the program.
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Thousand Islands Seaway Wine Trail www.thousandislandsseawaywinetrail.com
New York is one the Nation's top wine makers. This is a tour encompassing Jefferson County. It provides visitors and those interested in wine and wine making with a first hand look at three wineries, one grape nursery and nineteen vineyards as well as the opportunity to explore the unique region.
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Stay on a Farm: Family Vacations & Working Farms www.stayonafarm.co.uk
Stay on a Farm is a service of Farm Stay UK. It is a directory to "hundreds of properties of character and quality in superb rural settings perfectly placed for country breaks, business trips or longer stays." The Service provides an interactive website and guidebook of farms inspected and quality assessed under the National Tourist Boards. There are hundreds of farms available.
Leadership: Farm Stay UK provides a thorough resource for tourists national and abroad to find respite at farms. It is a service for both the farm owners and visitors, providing financial support for the farm and awareness of the public for the value of agriculture. This a collaborative project in that the farms in the service are inspected by the National Tourist Board.
Innovation: Stay on a Farm supports farms in a new way, by using the farm character and culture as short term sanctuary for tourists.
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Project Title: ENE03-75 Composting as an Alternative for Mortalities and Meat Residuals from Farms and Butcher Operations http://www.sare.org/reporting/report_viewer.asp?pn=ENE03-075
This project addresses the difficulty of Dairy/livestock farmers and custom butchers throughout the northeast to find off-farm disposal for dead animals and meat residuals. Trained Cooperative Extension Educators assist. There are five composting demonstration sites in three participating states. Using equipment already part of daily operations on farms the process employed is "passively aerated static pile composting with strategic turning."
Investment: NESARE funds help the program in the state assist with related policies and documents to promote information.
Knowledge: This project does much to educate about the process, five composting demonstration sites were set up in each of the states. Cooperative Extension educators, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and other agriculture educators were trained to assist in this management practice including site selection, dissemination of information and implementation. Farms and butcher shops Importantly, health and environmental regulators were part of the demonstrations and training.
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Vermont Cheese Trail http://www.vtcheese.com/cheesetrail.htm
The Cheese Council and VT cheese makers have joined together to form a Vermont Cheese Trail of 35 members. Taking advantage of Vermont's highest number of cheese makers per capita, members join together to promote their product and state tourism. Together they represent producers over 150 varieties of award winning cheeses all resourced under a web site that includes news, farm links, special events and a map.
Leadership: Farmers are reporting that as a result of the cheese trial they have increased production. (http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/food-drink/2007/08/24/Vermont-Cheese-Tourism)
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Vermont New Farmers Networks (VNFN) http://www.vermontagriculture.com/agdev/new%20farmers/vnfn.htm
The Vermont New Farmer Network, out of the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, is a working group of agricultural organizations. The Network pulls together agencies, coordinates programs, compiles information and promotes innovative techniques for new farmers. There is an in depth resource guide and phone number for assistance.
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Organic Agricultural Centre of Canada
OACC's primary function is as a facilitator of research and education for organic producers and consumers in order to build sustainable communities. The organization is a resource for market information, awards exemplary practices, classified advertisements, agricultural news and more.
Knowledge: OACC is a resource for courses in organic agriculture and a center for research serving farmers and consumers.
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