Goals and Strategies RI Agricultural Partnership: Five Year Strategic Plan

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1 Goals and RI Agricultural Partnership: Five Year Strategic Plan Business and Technical Support to Farmers Summary of Comments from Farmer Listening Sessions NOTE: + represents the dittos and support for topic among participants during session discussions; numbers in parentheses tally the number of times the comment was stated. What s Working - Division of Agriculture/Ken Ayars (31+) - URI / Kristen (15+) - NRCS (14+) - state sales tax exemption (12) - RI Farm Bureau (8+) - Farm Credit East (8+) - out of state extension/universities UVM, UMass, UConn (7) - web/online resources (5) - networks of other farmers (4+) - loans from other banks (3) - Family Farm Insurance (2) - Farm Service Agency (2) - Small Business Development Center business planning (2) What More is Needed / Challenges - business planning/small business support/courses and outreach (23+) - additional funding for/expansion of URI Extension/Research (21+) - compilation/streamlining of available resources, grants, service providers, etc especially online (22+) - access to or lower rates for loans/credit (16+) - additional funding for/expansion of Division of Agriculture (13) - need more farm labor (11+) - learning opportunities/seminars/courses for farmers specific practices, etc (11) - large animal vet for RI (10+) - expand sales tax exemption/reduce taxes (10) - local suppliers equipment, seed, feed (7) - health insurance pool for farmers (6) - recognition and support for agriculture from Economic Development Corporation (5+) - network/website for sharing/renting equipment and bulk buying (5+) - grant writing assistance (5+) - support for small/new farmers (7)

2 WHERE DO THESE FIT? Consider a means by which the farm motor vehicle plate could be utilized (as in MA) on a temporary basis for tractors and other equipment. ASK KEN OR AL! Build upon the compost collection initiative by EcoRI; attempt to extend this beyond the Hope Artiste farmers market. Attempt to further municipal composting programs. KEN OR AL: IS COMMERCIAL COMPOSTING CONSIDERED FARMING? Goal #1: All state agencies will formally recognize and encourage agriculture as a valuable and important business sector A. Agriculture should be identified as a specific business sector by the RI Economic Development Corporation and agriculture should be fully incorporated into state economic development planning o The EDC should identify a staff person to liaison with the agricultural sector B. The EDC and other state agencies should increase business support services to the agricultural sector and coordinate these services with agricultural service providers o Business planning directed at agricultural businesses (including holistic planning addressing the unique relational challenges of agribusinesses) o Labor training: acquisition, retention, training, management, and system for informing farmers about new labor regulations o Bookkeeping for agribusiness (including software training) C. Periodically quantify and qualify the economic and non-economic contributions of the agricultural sector to the RI economy o Establish mechanisms to measure income and job growth in the agricultural sector. RI Dept of Labor and RI Economic Development Corporation should have better methods to measure growth in agricultural sector beyond nursery and landscape, and use a broad definition of agriculture that encompasses forestry and aquaculture. o Continue efforts between RIAP, URI, RINLA and others to assess the economic impact of agriculture in Rhode Island. D. Review and consider the role of the Agricultural Council o Conduct a planning meeting of the Agricultural Council s Executive Committee to reevaluate the mission of the Agricultural Council o Assist Agricultural Council in creating and implementing definable goals

3 Goal #2: The RI Division of Agriculture will have sufficient financial resources to fulfill its federal and state-mandated responsibilities and to coordinate with other state agencies and agricultural service providers to deliver needed business and technical support to the agricultural industry. A. Licensing and registration fees collected by the RI Division of Agriculture should be retained by the Division to support its programs and to leverage federal funding o The Division takes in approximately $3m annually in pesticide and fertilizer registration fees. These fees should be retained by the Division and dedicated to Division programs rather than deposited in the state s General Fund. [INCLUDE IN NARRATIVE: Lots of support for the Division of Agriculture important to understand budget cuts. In terms of staff: approx 30 in 1980 s; 21 staff 2 years ago and currently 15. B. Develop a coordinated campaign among agricultural entities and stakeholders to promote an increase in the Division s annual budget o Group could develop materials that: Showcase importance of the Division to state s food safety and security Educate state lawmakers and public about services Division provides and how those services are helping a sector that has a significant impact on the state s economy Encourage private entities to contribute to a fund designated for use by Div. of Ag to accomplish specific goals for the agricultural sector Goal #3: The University of Rhode Island will provide a greater level of extension services and agricultural research and information to the agricultural community A. URI should allocate base funding to create a permanent extension agent dedicated to commercial agriculture B. URI Cooperative Extension should continue to expand collaborations with other land grants and agricultural service providers o Where there is no in-state expert at URI CE for a specific agricultural commodity, URI should: Identify and collaborate with other universities in the region who have such expertise

4 Explore funding sources to offer travel stipends to growers who may need to travel to those universities for additional technical assistance Identify and collaborate with other universities on distance learning opportunities o URI should continue to seek and fund collaborative arrangements between URI extension agents and other entities (including non-profits, for-profits, public and private technical schools, colleges and universities) that are providing support services to farmers C. URI should give appropriate academic recognition to the extension responsibilities and applied research conducted by its faculty/staff. o Extension activities should count measurably in promotion and tenure reviews o Applied research should carry the same weight as empirical research in promotion and tenure reviews. o Publications in peer-reviewed extension publications should carry the same weight as publications in other professional journals in promotion and tenure reviews. Goal #4: Students at all levels of Rhode Island s education system will have ageappropriate opportunities to learn about agriculture and agricultural careers and to receive academic and vocational preparation for agricultural careers. A. Incorporate agriculture into education at the elementary and middle school level o Increase school garden education programs coupled with agriculture, horticulture and nutrition education. o Offer continuing education courses (with credit) to teachers and administrators around meeting standards by teaching content in an agricultural context o Expand/provide support for 4-H B. Expand/revitalize agricultural programming in high schools o Align vocational agricultural courses to the State Educational Standards in required subject areas so that college-bound students can take these courses while fulfilling college pre-requisites, not just as electives o Include farmers and other ag-related professionals in Career Days o Invite schools to attend Ag Day at the State House and request that presenters be prepared to inform students about job opportunities in their field o Provide speakers from agricultural community to make in-school presentations o Garner funding for students to attend agricultural farm tours o Expand/provide support for FFA

5 o Direct some federal funds for vocational programs to agriculture programs in non-vocational public high schools o Establish a formal vocational agricultural program at one or more of the RI vo-tech schools C. Provide access to post-secondary academic preparation for agricultural careers o The College of the Environment and Life Sciences at URI should offer majors in all areas of agricultural production, including but not limited to food production (including livestock), aquaculture, turf, and ornamental production. When not feasible to offer certain majors, URI should partner with other nearby state university systems to ensure students have access to a full range of majors through distance learning o Encourage farm groups to meet regularly with URI officials to voice their support for agricultural programs at URI o Each agricultural major at URI should include a relevant semester-long on-farm practicum. o Encourage private colleges and universities in RI to provide educational opportunities and support services for agriculture Goal #5: Rhode Island farmers will have on-going access to education and training A. Provide formal training for beginning farmers o Create a formal farmer apprentice program to increase farmer-to-farmer training (RIAP, URI, and RI Farm Bureau could partner) o Establish a farm incubator program that includes assistance in moving farmers onto new sites o Expand new farmer courses such as the RI Small Farm Dream course B. Ensure that all Rhode Island farmers will have access to multiple training opportunities each year. o Increase support, coordination, and advertising of existing state and regional trainings o Coordinate training topics among RI agricultural groups o Facilitate networking/trainings among and between farmers o Existing agricultural groups should be encouraged and supported in providing training to their membership o Local agricultural service providers should advertise notice of regional trainings to RI farmers. o Statewide farmer mailing/ list should be compiled and updated to ensure timely, comprehensive communication and limit redundancy; list could also be used for policy updates and action alerts o Expand URI Lending Library

6 o Increase business planning directed at agricultural businesses (including holistic planning addressing the unique relational challenges of agribusinesses), including estate and succession planning o Provide training on bookkeeping for agribusiness (including software training) C. Provide regular training to farmers on biosecurity, food safety and other healthrelated agricultural topics o Facilitate awareness of current and pending biosecurity concerns o Continue and encourage increased participation in RI GAP program D. Provide technical assistance to farmers around on-farm energy conservation and renewable energy opportunities [PUT NOTE IN LAND SECTION TO ENCOURAGE TOWNS TO ALLOW ON-FARM RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION] Goal #6: Business and technical support services will be easily accessible and available to farms of all types and scales A. Ensure that farmers have access to loans and credit o Make the case to non-traditional agriculture lenders that farms are economically viable o Encourage financing of agri-tourism activities in addition to traditional farm activities o Establish relationships with local banks and help create options for agricultural loans (for example, a revolving loan fund that meets the requirements of the federal Community Reinvestment Act) o Explore creation of a new agricultural business start-up funding/grant program with EDC funding o Ensure programs are in place to offer credit to new farmers o Identify barriers to accessing USDA lending and grant programs and develop strategies to minimize those barriers B. Address shortages of skilled and seasonal labor o Provide technical training to farm workers o Provide labor management training courses o Facilitate partnerships between farmers and other seasonal businesses so that employees can have better access to year-round employment (ex. Nursery in spring, fruit/vegetable farm in summer/fall, ski grooming in winter) o Provide internship opportunities for high school and college students that include community service hours, lab hours, or practicum credit

7 o Develop a statewide farm apprentice and training program, such as a Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) program as is in place in NY, VT and MA C. Explore feasibility of creating statewide Equipment Bank and Custom Operator Network with specialty items and infrequently used equipment that can be rented by farmers. o Conduct a feasibility study and needs assessment to determine the financial feasibility as well as the items most likely needed. o Develop a business plan that includes a scheduler/operator as well as funds for equipment maintenance. o Approach URI and DEM for facility space to house the equipment. o Coordinate custom farm work opportunities o Promote sharing of unaffordable specialized equipment D. Develop solutions for current difficulties in obtaining affordable supplies and services due to a limited market o Assist agricultural groups and associations to form buying groups and negotiate with in-state and out-of-state providers o Hire a statewide coordinator for group buying, classified posting, etc. o Bring a large animal veterinarian to RI Train farmers on the importance of providing safe handling facilities so more vets feel comfortable treating those animals Educate large animal producers on the necessity of performing routine herd health practices Support the Large Animal Veterinarian Working Group headed by State Vet Scott Marshall Facilitate communication between livestock farmers in specific regions to make it financially feasible for vets to do routine vaccinations, etc. Provide training for farmers and veterinarians on holistic herd health (ex. Mineralization, nutrition, parasite control) E. Provide technical assistance to farmers on energy efficiency and renewable energy F. Ensure options to provide farmers and farm families with access to affordable health insurance a. Explore opportunities for farmers to access group rates for health insurance (possibly around commodity or associations) G. Coordinate and organize available resources o Compile resources, grants, guides, online training modules and service providers to one central online location--rhodyag.org for use by Rhode Island farmers

8 o Establish a perpetual funding stream for maintenance of the RhodyAg.org website o Develop or improve advanced capabilities on RhodyAg.org and/or other existing and frequently-used sites: o On-line Land Linking (perhaps in coordination with NESFI & Farms Forever) o On-line Guided Decision-Making Tool to help farmers work through farm-planning issues and direct them to the correct resource the first time o On-line Agricultural Classifieds (Help Wanted, Equipment Wanted, etc.) o On-line Farmer Networking (Blogs, Social Networking Sites, etc.) o Resources designed specifically for beginning farmers o Calendar of Events with regional and statewide training opportunities across the agricultural sectors o Identify one person to serve as point of contact and coordinator of all above services Goal #6: Small farms will have training and technical support on collaborative opportunities for reaching wholesale markets : A. Provide formal training on different collaborative structures and their associated costs/benefits B. Assist in developing collaborative entities Goal #7: Create a sustainable funding stream for RI agricultural activities A. Develop strategies to raise and leverage private and public funding : B. Coordinate with state-funded agricultural entities to identify needs and priorities

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