FINAL REPORT

# people	percent	State
1	0.48%	AL
5	2.40%	CA
1	0.48%	CO
6	2.88%	CT
3	1.44%	DE
2	0.96%	GA
1	0.48%	HI
1	0.48%	IA
1	0.48%	IN
5	2.40%	KY
21	10.10%	MA
1	0.48%	Manitoba, Canada
13	6.25%	MD
15	7.21%	ME
2	0.96%	MN
1	0.48%	MO
1	0.48%	MT
3	1.44%	NC
1	0.48%	ND
2	0.96%	NE
11	5.29%	NH
3	1.44%	NJ
2	0.96%	NT
30	14.42%	NY
2	0.96%	OH
3	1.44%	OK
2	0.96%	Ontario
1	0.48%	OR
20	9.62%	PA
1	0.48%	RI
2	0.96%	SC
1	0.48%	SD
1	0.48%	St. Thomas V.I.
1	0.48%	TN
1	0.48%	UT
1	0.48%	VA
26	12.50%	VT
1	0.48%	WA
11	5.29%	WV

#	Percent	Primary profession
11	5.29%	administration
1	0.48%	Community organizer
1	0.48%	Consultant
1	0.48%	crop consultant
3	1.44%	EPA
50	24.04%	Extension
59	28.37%	Farmer
1	0.48%	Food CO-OP
1	0.48%	Librarian
1	0.48%	looking for work
1	0.48%	marketing consultant
9	4.33%	Media
3	1.44%	NCRS
23	11.06%	NGO
1	0.48%	non-profit technical/assistance provider
1	0.48%	Other
19	9.13%	Research
5	2.40%	state agency
9	4.33%	student/intern
1	0.48%	University
1	0.48%	USDA

overall, the conference was: excellent v.good good fair poor

151 1 45 4

72.6% .5% 22.2% 2.0% 0%

workshops I attended were: excellent v.good good good/fair fair poor

118 3 66 1 7

56.7% 1.5% 31.7% 0.5% 3.5% 0%

poster presentations were: excellent v.good good fair poor

113 1 75 6

54.3% .5% 40.0% 3.0% 0%

the farm tour I went on was: excellent good fair poor

66 29 5

31.7% 14.3% 2.5% 0%

Attending the conference:

enhanced my understanding of sustainable agriculture: yes no don’t know

167 24 5

80.3% 11.8% 2.5%

provided me with information or contacts I will use in my job: yes no don’t know

199 2 4

95.7% 1.0% 2.0%

will help me promote sustainable agriculture to others: yes no don’t know

183 7 14

88.0% 3.5% 6.9%

gave me new ideas about sustainable agriculture practices: yes no don’t know

182 19 3

87.5% 9.4% 1.5%

made me aware of a new source of useful information: yes no don’t know

194 7 3

93.3% 3.5% 1.5%

increased my knowledge of SARE programs and projects: yes no don’t know

175 20 9

84.1% 9.9% 4.4%

Will this conference lead you to do something new or different in the coming year?

yes no don’t know

137 12 25

65.9% 5.9% 12.0%

If yes, please describe.

What participants described they will do new or different
Pursue follow up to SARE project with farmers in another state
Explore increased use of electronic communication, agriculture tourism training for farmers
Improve my advocacy for change; because I have increased details as examples
Use vinegar as herbicide
not stress about moving all our fields, may rent out unused cooler space
Become more Market-oriented
Helped me think about ways to present information on sustainable agriculture topics.
Organic growth statistics, will share with administration and colleagues
We have a certified bio dynamic farm, it will inspire me to refine practices and record changes, especially refine vegetable growing practices, grazing practices and compost management
Several speakers will be invited, farm tour structure to be used/modified, poster sessions at some of our meetings.
more grant/ farm production ideas inspired
smoking bees with black walnut, no till covers
Lunch a little uninspiring
Help growers assess more and different marketing options, Develop articles that communicate with non-farm public.
May work with national campaign for Sus. Ag. To educate congress.
Pursue alternative approaches on our farm.
Enriched contacts for: good system organizing and for the growth of NYSAWG
Website design for local farmers markets and local farms, Promote organic and sustainable farming more to the community.
Make Decisions about the future use of our farm. Share information/ encourage sustainable practices and participation in SARE programs among extension audience.
Design projects for pastured swine and marketing of products.
1. Plug into a mentoring initiative that I learned about in follow up conversation with a workshop presenter. That connection should benefit my core audience. 2. Share information I gathered here than newsletters/ website 3. Make different/ better referrals.
farmland trust, contacts
continue trying to figure out how to reduce tillage and improve our soils
Ability to refer non-formal … based educators to new resources.
Connect with folks from other regions who are also working on the marketing/ strategy/ business viability level
Policy: local food, healthy food.
more no till, different grazing patterns, CSA ideas
(hopefully) write and speak more clearly about food issues to non-farm audiences.
Promote SARE more
Experience more with no till zone, until veggie production
will work harder to ID local farmers to include in school nutritional efforts
New research ideas/extension information to convey to farmers.
Possibly
Cover cropping, food to school, maple sugaring, Marketing
Try to work with some of the people I met or talk with at the conference
soil monitoring
Increase restaurant marketing at my CSA
1. Begin grass based beef on small scale 2. explore value added cranberry products
Change some of my practice to no till, soil health management
Possibly lead to new research with consumers. Ideas still percolating
CSA round table, farm and farmer roundtables and chef and farmer connections
Have more pride in my work and expand my small fruit/value added operation
I have met new people that I can call on for help in the near future
Developing a presentation to food service and dining directors about the importance of buying from local farmers
do a better job of cover crops
I will definitely benefit from some contacts with other organizations as well as the sense of community here that serves to energize my independent work
Move from NGO to the farm
Garlic tastings (from talking with a poster presenter). Introducing myself to the new "local news" written at our town newspaper and pitching stories; pitching a follow-up story to the former written who has moved on to the bigger regional paper (in other words, not losing contact with him)
collecting infor from other farmers for CSA start-up
Encouraging additional participation in SARE programs in my home state
better able to communicate the science of sustainability
electric traction
increased effort to communicate farming stories
Share info. Gained on organic parasite control for livestock/ Increase our ranch gate price for carcass grass-fed beef
Probably- it has been very good to gain access to new ideas and people who have tried diverse projects
Work to increase awareness of farmers market food stamp program, an under-utilized program. Also, I will try to spread message about importance of using media, esp. press releases, to tell farm stories.
Bring new workshops to my clients, invite SARE Farmers Educator to our area, create new business tools for farmers
Our marketing focus to become more fine-tuned…. To dare to dream up new and creative products. We plan to become more well-tuned in our use in cover crops. New marketing techniques.
Write farmers stories with more attention to human story and less emphasis on sustainable practices to make issues more digestible and less threatening
Simply provided me with a community and a network such that I could do what I dreamed of and planned on
A sustainable ag. Conference in Canada
Generated new ideas and contacts. Marketing and promotion of local foodsheds.
Less till-more mulching
Thinking about the larger picture
work with enthusiasm
Closer contacts with colleagues- more ongoing learning and collaboration with them. / Implement more participatory techniques./ Explore farmer led research possibilities(from tues. evening panel)
Buy more locally produced products
Helped plan some future workshops and possible grant collaboration
My next year heavily programmed- I will do some of these differently and I think better due to the conference- it was very relevant to my current work
Will try to put together a program on internet marketing for producers
More contacts to make between NOFA and SARE researchers and farmers
Pursue freelance Ag. Related writing
improving and conserving my soil
Perhaps develop a research plan to study cultivation effects on soil quality
More education regarding food issues and sustainability for CSA members and explore added value products for CSA
more rotational grazing
but we will write several articles about it
I will concentrate on getting some sustainable ag. Stories in consumer/mainstream publications
will pass a lot of gathered information along
Good info. On tillage practices/philosophy to share with growers
New understanding of IPM- better planning of research
It will help me develop different programs in the upcoming year- i.e. cover crop rotations
Hopefully a marketing cooperative (?) for small farms in the area
New corn varieties
More ideas, resources, and info. To pass along to other farmers in my work
More farm tourism work
Integrating organic production techniques into conventional production systems
Use contacts/ made
I will use/encourage wood chip mulch for weed control over the weed mat
get more people involved
the group I came with has decided to meet and discuss our statewide effort for sustainable agriculture. We need to focus on this as part of our education program.
better program planning for youth
try looking for project to link forestry and agro
I need to spend some time absorbing the info before I can describe.
new crop rotation
I'm working towards achieving my goal/dream of having my own farm
networking with other states - sharing info
discover more about Canada's sustainable ag effort,
I had planned on going on to get my PHD, but I feel like there are a lot more options - a lot more ways to support sustainable local agriculture
tillage topics
ideas and strategies for promotions. Media outlets - marking connections, engaging consumers
info to disseminate on farm to school. New idea for farmers markets
my intention is to start an organic cut flower and vegetable farm. The information I received at this conference has given me the resources I need to help make this happen
may start rotationally grazing my goats. May start getting active in farm to school food programs
I love new info to use in my extension marketing program in KY. I have new perspectives to help me promote SA among extension workers in the southern region
organization of similar conference in Canada in 2005
gave me more substance to my ability to advocate for SA
buy most everything local - try new ways of marketing
be more aware of local food
I am sure I will use the contacts and other info I obtained here quite a bit, likely in a back of the mind way - writing, discussions, etc
the communications track gave me good ideas to bring back to my organization
gave me a reservation
in reviewing proposals, I feel better educated on SA topics, which will benefit the review process
expand collaboration
cropping systems – marketing
work with folks who want to produce value added on farm cheese making
I am now more likely to pursue SARE education grant funds, and I am more likely to change more of my consumer habits
made excellent connections with others. Will help my writing skills and improve my ability to serve others as an information specialist
reduced tillage, increased cover cropping, biodiesel
promote more local purchasing of produce and the reasons this supports SA
initiate specific new activities on our farmer-centered website.
I was inspired by the marketing component of the farm business and am excited to help farmers achieve that
farmer research meeting made me realize the importance of organizing farmers into groups rather than working solely with individuals
contact some people in my home town who are interested in farm to school. Inspired me to learn some soil management concepts more thoroughly
low till farming,
different approach to my clients about sustainability, viability of. Look for new job!
Evaluate more extension programs for the use of sustainable practices. Assist extension specialists and educator who are working in sustainable agriculture to measure the impact of their programs and to measure future needs of their clients.
Work hard as member local, informal ag. Discussion group and of formal community development corp. to promote sustainable ag. And discussions of current status of local ag. Etc.
Farmer education programs/content resources
Wait until soil is adequately moist before I no-till my organic corn/soy
Potential new field management technique via communications with farmers and their grant research + poster displays
promote sustainability more
Be more aware of organic farming which goes beyond IPM

The most useful session I attended was:

Most Useful Workshop
Illegible	8	3.85%
All	13	6.25%
Posters	5	2.40%
S1T1 Marketing and Added Value	3	1.44%
S1T2 Low Tillage and Cover Crops	13	6.25%
S1T3 Techniques for Farmland Conservation	5	2.40%
S1T4 Conveying the Economic Importance of Agriculture	10	4.81%
S1T5 New Directions in Beef Production and Marketing	3	1.44%
S2T1 Consumers and their Trends	11	5.29%
S2T2 Nutrient Cycles and Farm Management	1	0.48%
S2T3 Connecting Farms and Schools	5	2.40%
S2T4 Agricultural Journalism	5	2.40%
S2T5 Growing and Selling Apples and Strawberries	2	0.96%
S3T1 Marketing Close to Home	8	3.85%
S3T2 New Directions an Managed Grazing	2	0.96%
S3T3 Policy and Politics	4	1.92%
S3T4 Crafting a Story for Non-farm Audiences	4	1.92%
S3T5 Vegetables and Cover Crops	2	0.96%
S4T1 Laboring for Quality	4	1.92%
S4T2 A Systems Approach to IPM	4	1.92%
S4T3 Strategies for Institutional Purchasing	2