Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems · diverse communities around the state, including...

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CenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystems

OregonStateUniversityCollegeofAgriculturalSciences

Highlights—Years1through5

TheCenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystemsisanExtensionandengagementcenter,connectedtocommunitiesalloverOregon.Ournamerecognizesthatsustainableagricultureandfoodproductionareintegrallylinkedwiththeeconomiesandhealthofcommunities.TheCenteruseseducation,research,andcollaborationtoachieveavisionofsuccessful,environmentallyregenerativefarms,sustainablecommunityfoodsystems,andstudentstrainedtoworkinadynamic,rapidlychangingfoodandfarmingenvironment.

LaunchedinSeptemberof2013,theCenterorganizedaroundthesestrategicgoals:

1. ExpandtheSmallFarmsProgramwithnewfacultyandprogramsaimedatthelong-termviabilityofsmallfarmsandlocalfoodsystems;

2. Tacklebroaderfoodsystemschallenges–especiallyattheinterconnectionsofagriculture,food,andhealth–throughinterdisciplinaryresearch,education,andoutreachpartnerships;

3. ProvideOSUstudentswithopportunitiestodevelophigh“FoodIQ”;and4. Buildanimble,entrepreneurial,andresilientCenterthatsupportsalloftheabove,forthelong

Here,wereportonourprogressandhighlightselectedaccomplishmentssince2013.TheintegratednatureoftheCenter’sworkmeansthatourextension,research,andcollaborativerelationshipsarewoventogether,influencingandbenefitingeachother.

CenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystems2

TheCenterisanationalleaderinExtensioneducationandengagementwithsmallfarmersandranchers,otherlocalandregionalvaluechainbusinesses,andappliedresearchwithfieldandpolicyapplications.ThemissionoftheSmallFarmsProgramis:ToprovideOregon’ssmallfarms,ranches,andlocalfoodsystemstakeholderswiththetraining,tools,andresearchtheyneedforlong-termfinancialandenvironmentalsustainability.

OurFaculty• Since2013,thecoreSmallFarmsProgramhasgrownfrom6

(4.15FTE)positionsserving8countiesto12positions(8.81FTE)serving18counties.

• On-campusCenterstaffing–2leadershippositions–staysleanbydesign,sowefocusourgrowthandconnectionsoutincountiesandcommunities.

• Ourfacultyhavesecuredover$2millioninextramuralfundingforcuttingedgeeducationalprogramsandappliedresearchsince2013.

• Ourteam-basedapproachtoprogrammingiseffectiveandanaspirationalmodelforpeerprogramsinotherstates.

• OurfacultyhavebeenrecognizedwithindividualandteamawardsfromOSUandfromstateandnationalorganizations.

OurInnovativeEducation&AppliedResearchProgramsFarmviabilityandenvironmentalsustainabilityaretopprioritiesnationally.Ourfarm-levelprogramsfocusonwholefarmmanagement,soundfinancialandaccountingsystems,andecologicallybasedsolutionstofarmproductionchallenges.Farmersareinvolvedeverystepofthewayinshapinghowwedothiswork.Wealsoaddressthebroaderfoodsystem,frommarketlinkagesandvaluechainstotheroleofthesefarmsandfoodsystemsinruraleconomiestothepublicpolicyenvironment.

Keyprogramsandprogresssince2013EDUCATION&ENGAGEMENT–inperson,online,hands-on,participatory,andeffective

Wearenationalleadersinnewandbeginningfarmerandranchereducation.Wehavealwaysworkedwithfarmersatallexperiencelevels,butin2014,wepivotedtofocusnotjustonlaunchingnewfarmersbutkeepingfarmersfarminginthefaceofchallengingmarketsandachangingclimate.Highlightsinclude:

FlagshipEducationalProgramsExpanded:

• GrowingFarms• GrowingAgripreneurs• Women’sfarmingnetworks• NicheMeatProcessorAssistanceNetwork• OSUSmallFarmsConference

NewEducationalPrograms:

• ManagerialAccountingcurriculumandcohorts• DryFarmingCollaborative• AffordablePackhouse:DesignandDemonstration• OrganicExtensionProgram• StrategiesforEfficientGrazingManagement• EcologicalStrategiesforManagingInsects

OurvisionandgoalstouchonandworktowardsallthreeofOregonStateUniversity’sStrategicMandates–Sustainableearthecosystems,Humanhealth&wellness,andEconomicgrowth&socialprogress–atalocalscaleandinpartnershipwithcommunities.

Goal1: ExpandtheSmallFarmsProgram—newfacultyandprograms

Results: Weexpandedourreachandimpactwithnewfaculty,newfunding,innovativeeducation,andappliedresearchonhighprioritytopics.

Keyprogramsandprogresssince2013(cont’d)APPLIEDRESEARCH–on-farm,on-station,participatory,timely,andhighimpact

Since2013,theCenterhasengagedinawidevarietyofappliedresearchregardingfarmproduction,newfarmers,local/regionalmarketsandeconomies,andpolicy.Researchhighlightsinclude:Production-focusedresearch:• DryFarmingGrowerResearchCollaborative• CroptimeDegreeDayModelingforVegetables• WinterVegetableProduction

Marketlinkagesresearch:• UseitorLoseIt:valuechainresearch(USDA)• FarmerPerspectivesonOrganicTransitionin

Oregonandnationally

Crucialissuesforfarmersbeyondproduction:• FutureofOregonFarmland:SuccessionandAccess• HowSmallFarmsDefineSuccess• DevelopmentalStagesofBeginningFarmers• EconomicImpactofLocalFoodProducers

Policyresearch:• FiveYearAssessmentofOregon’sFarmDirect

MarketingLaw

Ourresearchreportsandrelatedoutreachareusedbyfarmers,foodandfarmadvocates,researchers,andpolicymakers.Theyarealsosharedwithpeersandstakeholdersthroughconferencepresentations,journalarticles,researchmonographs,extensionpublications,andbooks.

Afewexamplesoffarmer-focusededucationprogramsandappliedresearch

GrowingFarms:SuccessfulWholeFarmManagement

GrowingFarms,originallydevelopedin2007asanin-personworkshopseriesforbeginningfarmers,wastransformedintoacomprehensiveonlinecoursein2014.• ThecoursewontheGoldAwardfromtheAssociationofCommunication

Excellencein2013,andtheOSUDivisionofExtendedCampusBestCourseInnovationAwardin2018.

• China’sCentralAgriculturalBroadcastingandTelevisionSystem(CABTS)hasproposedamemorandumofunderstandingwithOSUtobringthecoursethereto“combinethenationalconditionsofChinatodevelopanonlinecoursesuitabletoChinesefamilyfarmlearners.”

• ThecoursematerialhasbeentransformedintoabookthatwillbepublishedbyStoreyPublishingin2019.

DryFarmDemonstrationandGrowerCollaborative

Anincreasinglyunpredictableclimatemeansfarmersneednewtoolsforsustainability.Dryfarming,practicedwithgrainsinthePNWfordecades,alsoworksforvegetablesandfruitsinsomeregions.• DemonstrationplotsatthreewesternOregonresearchstationsare

providingdataandhands-oneducationforfarmers.• TheGrowerCollaborativeinOregonandthewesternU.S.isreplicatingon-

farmresearch,sharingmethods,communityplantbreeding,andmore.• Participatingfarmershaveincreasedknowledgeaboutdroughtmitigation,

aremoreabletoproducecropsinwatershortagesandwithreducedlabor,aremoreabletosolveproblems,andaremorepositiveabouttheirfuture.

Afewexamplesoffarmer-focusededucationprogramsandappliedresearch(cont’d)

ManagerialAccountingandCostStudyCohortsHighlydiversifiedfarmsneedbettersystemstogathercostofproductioninformation.Wedevelopedathree-part,onlinecourseformulti-cropvegetablefarmers.Thecurriculumisintegratedwithhands-on,season-longCostStudyCohortsatavarietyofsitesacrossOregon.Participatingfarmershaveincreasedtheirknowledgenotonlyabouttheircostsbutwheretoinvesttheirtimeandresourcestotheirbestadvantage.Thesewell-established,successfulfarmersseeadirectlinkbetweenthisprogramandtheirlong-termsustainability.

OrganicExtensionProgram

Oregonranks6thamongU.S.statesinthecertifiedorganicacreageand4thinfarmgatesales.In2017,welaunchedanewinitiative,theOrganicExtensionProgram,respondingtohighdemandfromOregon’sorganicfarmers,witha$100,000commitmentfromOregonTilth,Inc.Ourinitialgoalistobuildthecurrentpart-timestaffpositioninto1.0FTEwithcontributionsfromOSUandtheorganicsector.Ourlonger-termgoalistohavefourormorepositionsaroundOregon,focusedondifferentcropandlivestocksystems.

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AroundtheU.S.andinOregon,communitiesarerethinkingandreshapingtheirfoodsystemstoaddresspersistentchallengesrelatedtohealth,equity,theenvironment,andlocaleconomies.Thesesystemicchallengesneedinterdisciplinaryteamsthatworkintruepartnershipwithcommunities.Thisworktakestime.Inourfirstfiveyears,wehaveledandsharedleadershipfortwocollaborativenetworksthatareconnectingacrossexpertise,geography,andexperiencetotransformthefoodsystem.OregonCommunityFoodSystemsNetwork(OCFN)

OCFSNisapowerfulnetworkof53organizations–fromstatewidetolocal,representing28ofOregon’s36counties–unitedunderasharedvision:AllOregoniansthrivewithhealthyaffordablefoodsfromanenvironmentally,economicallyresilient,andequitableregionalfoodsystem.Networkmembersservediversecommunitiesaroundthestate,includingfarmersandlocalfoodbusinesses,lowincomepopulations,ruralcommunities,andcommunitiesofcolor.

OurCenterisoneofOCFSN’stwo“backbone”organizations,withOregonFoodBank.OCFSNvaluesourresearch,education,andtechnicalexpertise,ourcommitmenttobuildingmemberandNetworkcapacity,andourroleas“gateway”toexpertiseandresourcesatOSUandbeyond.

Goal2:Tacklebroaderfoodsystemschallengesattheinterconnectionsofagriculture,food,andhealththroughinterdisciplinaryresearch,education,andoutreachpartnerships.

Results:Wehavebuiltstrongpartnerships–insideandoutsideOSU–thathavealreadyresultedinvaluableeducationandresearchprojectsandareasolidfoundationfortheworkahead.

OregonCommunityFoodSystemsNetwork(OCFN)(cont’d)

OregonCommunityFoodSystemNetworkMemberOrganizations

1000FriendsofOregonACCESSAdelanteMujeresCentralOregonIntergovernmentalCouncilCultivateOregonCurrySoilandWaterConservationDistrictEcotrustFamiliasenAccionPortlandFarmersMarketFoodAllianceFoodRootsFriendsofFamilyFarmersGorgeGrownFoodNetworkGrowingGardensGrowPortlandHealthcareWithoutHarmHighDesertFoodandFarmAlliance

OregonFarmers'MarketAssociationJamesBeardPublicMarketMarion-PolkFoodShareOregonFarmtoSchool&SchoolGardenNetworkHuertodelaFamiliaNEDCOCommunityLendingWorksNehelemValleyFarmTrustNeighborWorksUmpquaNorthCoastFoodWebNEOregonEconomicDevelopmentDistrictOregonClimateandAgricultureNetworkOregonFoodBankOregonHealthSciencesUniversityOregonPublicHealthInstituteOregonRuralActionOregonStateUniversityCenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystemsOregonTilthOutgrowingHungerPCCRockCreekLearningGarden

PinerosyCampesinosUnidosdelNoroestePlanningOregon,PortlandStateUniv.RogueFarmCorpsRogueValleyFarmtoSchoolRogueValleyFoodSystemNetworkSauvieIslandCenterSchoolGardenProjectSchoolyardFarmsSlowFoodWallowasTenRiversFoodWebTerraNovaSchoolofScienceandSustainability,BeavertonSchoolDistrictRaices/TheNextDoor,Inc.UniversityofOregonFoodStudiesProgramVillageGardens,JanusYouthProgramsWEAVE-NW,NorthwestPortlandAreaIndianHealthBoardWillametteFarmandFoodCoalitionZengerFarm

OurinvolvementwithOCFSNhasalreadyresultedinhighimpactprojectsdoneinclosepartnershipwithotherOCFSNmembers:• TheFutureofOregonFarmlandresearchprojectandreportledtostatewidelisteningsessions,new

educationalworkshopsforfarmersandfarmserviceprofessionals,additionalpublications,andsupportforthenewOregonAgriculturalHeritageProgram,createdbythe2017OregonLegislature.

• TheEconomicImpactofLocalFoodProducersstudyhasnotonlybenefitedthestudyregion,CentralOregon,buthasinspiredatleastthreeotherregions(sofar)torequestsimilarstudieswithus.

• TheOregonCommunityFoodSystemsIndicators,originallydevelopedforMeyerMemorialTrust’sCFSInitiative,arenowacuratedcollectioninOSURuralCommunitiesExplorerandareacrucialdatasourceforOCFSNmembers.WebelievethisdatabaseisuniqueintheU.S.

WithOCFSN,theCenterisaccomplishingsomethingthatOSUandtheExtensionServicehaveneverdonebefore:engagedandcollaboratedwithover50independentstatewideandcommunitybasedorganizationsandparticipatedinmovingtheorganizationtowardcommongoalswithpotentiallytransformativeresults.

OSUExtensionCommunityFoodSystemsWorkingGroup

Systems-levelengagementwithoutsidepartnersbecomesmorepowerfulwhenweareconnectedinsideOSU.ExtensionDirectorScottReedestablishedaCFSSteeringCommitteein2015tocoordinateandcommunicateExtension’sCFSwork.Underourleadership,the8-membercommitteehasgrowntoanactive,22-memberworkinggrouprepresentingSmallFarms,Family&CommunityHealth,MasterGardener,4-H,CommunityEconomics,SeaGrant,andtheLinusPaulingInstitute.Whatbeganasinformationsharingandpeerlearninghasfosteredcreativecollaborationthatintegratesourvariedfoodsystemsexpertiseandexperienceincommunities.Afewexamples:

• SmallFarmsandFCHfacultycombinedFCH’straditionallyconsumer-focusedfoodpreservationcurriculumwithSmallFarms’enterprisedevelopmenttrainingtocreateanew,highdemandworkshopseriesforfarmerswantingtolaunchnew,value-addedfoodmicroenterprises.Thecoursehasbeentaughtin3regionssofar,andanonline/classroomversionisindevelopment.

• 4-H,SmallFarms,andMasterGardnerfacultyinvolvedwithfarmtoschoolandschoolgardenprogramsconductedastatewidecapacityassessmentthatledtoExtensionleadershipinvestinginastatewidestrategicplanforOSUinthisnationallyimportantinitiative.

• FCHandSmallFarmsfacultyinvolvedwith“VeggieRx”produceprescriptionprogramssharebestpractices,whileworkingtowardamulti-siteevaluationwithcommunityandstatewidepartners.

• ACPHHS-CASteaminourgroupwona2-collegemini-grantforintegratedfoodsystemsresearchtoinvestigateformalandinformalemergencyfoodsourcesformigrantfarmworkersinOregon.

Ourpresentationstopeersarewellattendedandreceived,catalyzingnewideas,projects,andconnections.WehavealsoinfluencedhowOSUExtensionLeadershipunderstands,values,andsupportscross-cuttingfoodsystemswork.Inshort,ourCFScollaborationshaveputOSUExtensiononthemapasaresponsiveandrespectedpartnerforOregon’scommunityfoodsystemsmovement,andalsoasaninnovatoramongpeerinstitutionsnationally.

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Since2013,wehaveprovideduniqueopportunitiesforstudentstoengagewithfoodsystemsissuesandpractitioners,throughtheiracademicworkandinternships.Wehaveworkedwith14graduatestudents,asleadprofessorsoroncommittees,whohavecomefromarangeofdisciplines(seebox).Theirresearchhasfocusedoncollaborativeplantbreeding,transitiontoorganicagriculture,definingsmallfarmsuccess,localfoodsystempolicy,smallfarmprofitability,andlandaccesschallengesforbeginningfarmersandranchers.Theseexperienceshaveledtocareerswithnon-profitorganizationsinvolvedinfarmingandpolicy,universityteachingandresearch,andprivatebusiness.

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Goal3: ProvideOSUstudentswithopportunitiestodevelophigh“FoodIQ”

Results: Ourgraduatestudentsareknowledgeableandskilledandontheirwaytomakingadifference.

GraduateStudentDegrees• CropandSoilScience• Horticulture• AppliedEconomics• FoodScienceandTechnology• PublicPolicy• AppliedAnthropology• BusinessManagement(PSU)

OuroperatingmodelfortheCenterembracesitsExtensionandengagementmission,andhighcontactwithcommunities.Therefore,ourstaffingoncampusisleanwithjusttwofacultypositionsthatprovidestatewidecoordinationtoourprogramswithsmallfarmsandcommunityfoodsystems,plusrobuststaffingincommunities(atresearchstationsandExtensionoffices)with12positionsserving18counties.Resourcesintheformofextramuralandotherfundingflowfromcampustocommunities.WealsohavefouruniquepositionssharedbyCASandCPHHS,designedtointegrateacrossthetwocolleges’foodsystemsexpertise.

Forlong-termsustainability,wehavepursuedsecurefundingforfacultypositions.Since2013,wehavemorethandoubledthenumberandFTEoffacultyonsecurefunding.Wenowhave12positions(8.85FTE)onsecurefunding,upfrom6positions(4.15FTE)in2013.Threeadditionalpositions(1.2FTE)arepartlygrant-funded.InadditiontoaddingacrucialtenurepositionfortheCenter,mostofthegrowthinsecurefundinghasbeenthroughlocalExtensiontaxservicedistricts.TheirinterestinsupportingourpositionsdemonstratesthevalueoftheSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystemsworktoExtensionRegionalAdministrators.

TenureTrackandProfessorofPracticePositions(fixedterm)TypeandSourceofFunds 9/2013 6/2018 Change Number FTE Number FTE Number FTEStatesupportedtenuretrack 1 1.0 2 2.0 +1 +1.0Statesupportedfixedterm 4 2.65 6 4.05 +2 +1.4Taxservicedistrict 1 0.5 4 2.8 +3 +2.3Totalsecurefunding 6 4.15 12 8.85 +8 +4.7

Wehaveinstitutionalizedateam-basedapproachtoprogrammingthatfostersinnovationandistheaspirationofourpeerprograms.Ourteamhasacultureofgoodideasthatattractextramuralfunding.Ourmodelusesoursecurelyfundedfacultypositionsasafoundationtopursueextramuralfundstoenhanceconsistentandlong-termprogramsandprojects.Ourcampusbasedfacultyleadlarge,statewideandnationaleducationandappliedresearchprojectsfundedthroughcompetitivegrants,industrypartnerships,andfoundationandpublicsupport.Fieldbasedfacultyleadregionallybasededucationandappliedresearchprojectsfundedthroughcompetitivegrants.

SummaryofExtramuralFunding(September2013throughJune2018)Oncampusfaculty(Stephenson&Gwin):

NationalCompetitiveGrants $1,371,682Foundation&PublicFunding(NMPAN) $249,017PartnershipwithOregonTilth,Inc. $109,000Centerendowmentfund $47,750Totalcampusextramuralfunding $1,777,449

Offcampusfaculty: Competitive(federal,state) $1,019,745

TotalofTotals $2,797,194

Thesefundshavesupportedourleadingedgeeducationprogramssuchasourbeginningfarmerprograms,andappliedresearchondevelopmentalstagesoffarmers,degreedaymodeling,andmostrecently,oliveandwintervegetableproduction.Ournascentendowmentincludes500smalldonationsfromfarmerswhoseendorsementwillhelptopositiontheCenterforlargerdonorsinthefuture.

Goal4: Buildanimble,entrepreneurial,resilientCenterthatsupportsalltheabove,forthelonghaul.

Results: Wearemakinggoodprogress.

Diversity,Equity,InclusionAcrucialpartofresilienceisrelevance.AstheCollegeofAgriculturalSciencesandOregonStateUniversityworkcollectivelytoimprovediversity,equity,andinclusion,wetooaredoingthiswork.TheCenterengagesthreeaudiencesoffarmersconsideredunder-servedbytheUSDA:WomenFarmers,LimitedResourceFarmers,andSociallyDisadvantagedFarmers.Our10womenfacultyandprogramassistantandthreemenfacultystrivetoreflectanddirectoutreachtothesegroups.Someexamplesofoureffortinclude:• WesupportandfacilitatefourWomen’sFarmerNetworksinfourregionsofOregonwithover400

womenfarmersparticipating.Thesenetworksincreaseconnectionstoinformation,haveenhancedasenseofcommunity,andledtoundertakinginnovativeapproachesthatsupportlong-termsuccess.

• Toassureaccessforlimitedresourcefarmers,ourprogramfeesareaffordable.Forinstance,ourannualSmallFarmsConferencechargesonly$55andisheavilyunderwrittenbysponsors,andourbasiconlinefarmmanagementcourseispricedsignificantlylessthansimilarnon-creditcourses.

• Wecollaboratewiththreenon-profitorganizationsservingLatinxfarmers:AdelanteMujeres,HuertodeFamilia,andRaices/TheNextDoor.Weprovideeducationalpresentationsonrequest,arearrangingforSpanishtranslationofhigh-priorityExtensionpublications,anddevotestaffandresourcestoorganizingaSpanishlanguagetrackatourannualSmallFarmsConferenceco-designedwiththesegroups.Weofferasignificantlyreducedregistrationfeeandmakespecialaccommodationfortheregistrationprocess.

• Weaiminthecomingyearstodevelopsimilarsupportivepartnershipswithotherorganizationsservingcommunitiesofcolor,forexample,withMudBoneGrown,aninternshipprogramforfarmersofcolorbasedattheOregonFoodBank.

TheNextFiveYearsTheCenterforSmallFarms&CommunityFoodSystemshasaccomplishedagreatdealinitsfirstyears.Wewerelaunchedwithasmallinvestmentandhaveproventhevaluemanytimesover.Wehavemadesignificantprogressonthegoalswesetnearlyfiveyearsago.TheSmallFarmsProgramhasgrowninnumberoffaculty,andthebreadthandrecognitionofitseducationalprogramsandappliedresearch;theCenterisleadingOSUincommunityfoodsystemengagement;studentsaresecuringsatisfyingcareersinfarmandfoodsystemwork;andtheCenter’snimbleandentrepreneurialapproachpositionsitforextramuralfundingandendowmentgrowth.ThereiscontinueddemandfortheCenter’sworkfromourconstituentsandpartners.Together,wehavelaidcrucialgroundworkforfutureaccomplishmentsandarelookingforwardtothenextphase.`

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