Farmer Residency Needs Assessment

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* 1. How much farming experience (including internships/ farm labor) do you have?

No prior experience

Less than 1 year

2 years

3-5 years

More than 5 years

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* 2. Are you currently working as a farmer?

Yes, I own or lease my own farm.

Yes, I am a farm manager.

Yes, I am an intern.

Yes, I am in a farm training program.

No.

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* 3. What kind of farming experience do you have? (check all that apply)

No experience

Farm management experience

Hired farm worker

Work on family farm

Internship/ apprenticeship

Volunteer

Classes in high school

Classes or training through a 2 year certification program

Classes or training through a 4 year certification program

4-H

FFA

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* 4. Do you have a business plan for your future farming operation(s)?

Yes, it is written out

Yes, it is thought out in my head

I have not yet made a business plan, but I intend to

I do not intend to write a business plan

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* 5. Which best describes you? (Please be honest!)

I have a strong interest in farming and some knowledge, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to "buy the farm."

I KNOW I want to be a farmer, but I feel like I need some more experience.

I have a great farm business plan, but no land. I just need an opportunity to put it to practice.

I tried to buy a farm, but the bank wouldn't give me a loan until I got some experience.

I’m not completely sure I want to be a farmer, but I’d like to give it a try!

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* 6. Rate how much of a challenge each of the following is in starting your own farm.

	1 - Not a challenge at all	2	3	4	5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Access to land	Access to land 1 - Not a challenge at all	Access to land 2	Access to land 3	Access to land 4	Access to land 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Access to financing/capital	Access to financing/capital 1 - Not a challenge at all	Access to financing/capital 2	Access to financing/capital 3	Access to financing/capital 4	Access to financing/capital 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Applying for loans	Applying for loans 1 - Not a challenge at all	Applying for loans 2	Applying for loans 3	Applying for loans 4	Applying for loans 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Creating a successful business plan	Creating a successful business plan 1 - Not a challenge at all	Creating a successful business plan 2	Creating a successful business plan 3	Creating a successful business plan 4	Creating a successful business plan 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Finding a market to sell your products	Finding a market to sell your products 1 - Not a challenge at all	Finding a market to sell your products 2	Finding a market to sell your products 3	Finding a market to sell your products 4	Finding a market to sell your products 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Packaging/transporting product	Packaging/transporting product 1 - Not a challenge at all	Packaging/transporting product 2	Packaging/transporting product 3	Packaging/transporting product 4	Packaging/transporting product 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Lack of training in farming techniques	Lack of training in farming techniques 1 - Not a challenge at all	Lack of training in farming techniques 2	Lack of training in farming techniques 3	Lack of training in farming techniques 4	Lack of training in farming techniques 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Lack of training in business management	Lack of training in business management 1 - Not a challenge at all	Lack of training in business management 2	Lack of training in business management 3	Lack of training in business management 4	Lack of training in business management 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Lack of mentorship from experienced farmer	Lack of mentorship from experienced farmer 1 - Not a challenge at all	Lack of mentorship from experienced farmer 2	Lack of mentorship from experienced farmer 3	Lack of mentorship from experienced farmer 4	Lack of mentorship from experienced farmer 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Isolation from other support networks	Isolation from other support networks 1 - Not a challenge at all	Isolation from other support networks 2	Isolation from other support networks 3	Isolation from other support networks 4	Isolation from other support networks 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive
Personal conviction (uncertain if lifestyle is right for me)	Personal conviction (uncertain if lifestyle is right for me) 1 - Not a challenge at all	Personal conviction (uncertain if lifestyle is right for me) 2	Personal conviction (uncertain if lifestyle is right for me) 3	Personal conviction (uncertain if lifestyle is right for me) 4	Personal conviction (uncertain if lifestyle is right for me) 5 - Extremely challenging; prohibitive

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* 7. Please rate the appeal of the following training program scenarios. Which would best serve your needs in transitioning to becoming an independent farmer? A new farmer assistance program that:

	1 - Not appealing at all	2	3	4	5 - Extremely appealing
Offers a living stipend in exchange for farm management, but no earned income from sales of farm products (i.e., farm product sales would support the program).	Offers a living stipend in exchange for farm management, but no earned income from sales of farm products (i.e., farm product sales would support the program). 1 - Not appealing at all	Offers a living stipend in exchange for farm management, but no earned income from sales of farm products (i.e., farm product sales would support the program). 2	Offers a living stipend in exchange for farm management, but no earned income from sales of farm products (i.e., farm product sales would support the program). 3	Offers a living stipend in exchange for farm management, but no earned income from sales of farm products (i.e., farm product sales would support the program). 4	Offers a living stipend in exchange for farm management, but no earned income from sales of farm products (i.e., farm product sales would support the program). 5 - Extremely appealing
Allows you to earn all of the proceeds from the farm products that you sell, but requires you to pay some expenses such as land and equipment rental.	Allows you to earn all of the proceeds from the farm products that you sell, but requires you to pay some expenses such as land and equipment rental. 1 - Not appealing at all	Allows you to earn all of the proceeds from the farm products that you sell, but requires you to pay some expenses such as land and equipment rental. 2	Allows you to earn all of the proceeds from the farm products that you sell, but requires you to pay some expenses such as land and equipment rental. 3	Allows you to earn all of the proceeds from the farm products that you sell, but requires you to pay some expenses such as land and equipment rental. 4	Allows you to earn all of the proceeds from the farm products that you sell, but requires you to pay some expenses such as land and equipment rental. 5 - Extremely appealing
Dictates at least some of the crops and farm enterprises that you would be managing.	Dictates at least some of the crops and farm enterprises that you would be managing. 1 - Not appealing at all	Dictates at least some of the crops and farm enterprises that you would be managing. 2	Dictates at least some of the crops and farm enterprises that you would be managing. 3	Dictates at least some of the crops and farm enterprises that you would be managing. 4	Dictates at least some of the crops and farm enterprises that you would be managing. 5 - Extremely appealing
Gives you the opportunity to learn a totally new type of farming enterprise based on the land and facilities available at the program.	Gives you the opportunity to learn a totally new type of farming enterprise based on the land and facilities available at the program. 1 - Not appealing at all	Gives you the opportunity to learn a totally new type of farming enterprise based on the land and facilities available at the program. 2	Gives you the opportunity to learn a totally new type of farming enterprise based on the land and facilities available at the program. 3	Gives you the opportunity to learn a totally new type of farming enterprise based on the land and facilities available at the program. 4	Gives you the opportunity to learn a totally new type of farming enterprise based on the land and facilities available at the program. 5 - Extremely appealing
Allows you to execute you own business plan, within a set of guiding parameters, and grow the crop/farm product of your choice.	Allows you to execute you own business plan, within a set of guiding parameters, and grow the crop/farm product of your choice. 1 - Not appealing at all	Allows you to execute you own business plan, within a set of guiding parameters, and grow the crop/farm product of your choice. 2	Allows you to execute you own business plan, within a set of guiding parameters, and grow the crop/farm product of your choice. 3	Allows you to execute you own business plan, within a set of guiding parameters, and grow the crop/farm product of your choice. 4	Allows you to execute you own business plan, within a set of guiding parameters, and grow the crop/farm product of your choice. 5 - Extremely appealing
Offers the opportunity to manage an existing farm business, with guidance and support.	Offers the opportunity to manage an existing farm business, with guidance and support. 1 - Not appealing at all	Offers the opportunity to manage an existing farm business, with guidance and support. 2	Offers the opportunity to manage an existing farm business, with guidance and support. 3	Offers the opportunity to manage an existing farm business, with guidance and support. 4	Offers the opportunity to manage an existing farm business, with guidance and support. 5 - Extremely appealing
Offers the opportunity to start your own farm business from scratch, with guidance and support.	Offers the opportunity to start your own farm business from scratch, with guidance and support. 1 - Not appealing at all	Offers the opportunity to start your own farm business from scratch, with guidance and support. 2	Offers the opportunity to start your own farm business from scratch, with guidance and support. 3	Offers the opportunity to start your own farm business from scratch, with guidance and support. 4	Offers the opportunity to start your own farm business from scratch, with guidance and support. 5 - Extremely appealing

Comments

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* 8. After graduating from a farmer residency program, assuming that you were supplied with the land, machinery, and equipment appropriate for the type of farming you’d be doing, what types of support could you envision needing the most?

Getting acquainted with markets (making contacts with stores and restaurants, farmer’s markets, establishing a customer base)

Business education (bookkeeping, planning, licensing, marketing, etc.)

Workshop-style technical training (equipment use and maintenance, growing practices, animal husbandry etc.)

Informal technical training through mentors/advisors

Connection with farming mentors and a network of peers

Connection with funding streams (local investors and foundations, friendly credit unions, federal loans and grants)

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* 9. Rate the areas where you imagine needing more support in starting your farm after the residency program.

	1 - No support needed at all	2	3	4	5 - Need a very large degree of support
Finding land	Finding land 1 - No support needed at all	Finding land 2	Finding land 3	Finding land 4	Finding land 5 - Need a very large degree of support
Financing/capital	Financing/capital 1 - No support needed at all	Financing/capital 2	Financing/capital 3	Financing/capital 4	Financing/capital 5 - Need a very large degree of support
Applying for loans	Applying for loans 1 - No support needed at all	Applying for loans 2	Applying for loans 3	Applying for loans 4	Applying for loans 5 - Need a very large degree of support
Creating a successful business plan	Creating a successful business plan 1 - No support needed at all	Creating a successful business plan 2	Creating a successful business plan 3	Creating a successful business plan 4	Creating a successful business plan 5 - Need a very large degree of support
Finding a market to sell your products	Finding a market to sell your products 1 - No support needed at all	Finding a market to sell your products 2	Finding a market to sell your products 3	Finding a market to sell your products 4	Finding a market to sell your products 5 - Need a very large degree of support
Packaging/transporting product	Packaging/transporting product 1 - No support needed at all	Packaging/transporting product 2	Packaging/transporting product 3	Packaging/transporting product 4	Packaging/transporting product 5 - Need a very large degree of support
training in farming techniques	training in farming techniques 1 - No support needed at all	training in farming techniques 2	training in farming techniques 3	training in farming techniques 4	training in farming techniques 5 - Need a very large degree of support
Training in business management	Training in business management 1 - No support needed at all	Training in business management 2	Training in business management 3	Training in business management 4	Training in business management 5 - Need a very large degree of support
Mentorship from experienced farmer(s)	Mentorship from experienced farmer(s) 1 - No support needed at all	Mentorship from experienced farmer(s) 2	Mentorship from experienced farmer(s) 3	Mentorship from experienced farmer(s) 4	Mentorship from experienced farmer(s) 5 - Need a very large degree of support
Connection to farmer support networks	Connection to farmer support networks 1 - No support needed at all	Connection to farmer support networks 2	Connection to farmer support networks 3	Connection to farmer support networks 4	Connection to farmer support networks 5 - Need a very large degree of support

Comments

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* 10. How many years would you be willing to dedicate to a farmer residency or incubator program?

1-2 years

2-3 years

3-4 years

More than 4 years

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* 11. Would you consider relocating to northwest lower Michigan (in the vicinity of Traverse City, MI) for a farmer residency opportunity?

Yes

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* 12. Assuming a land opportunity were available, is northwest lower Michigan (in the vicinity of Traverse City, MI) an area you’d consider as a long-term home and location for your future farm?

Yes

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* 13. Given that you may be responsible for finding and paying for your own living space (averaging about $700/month for a 1-bedroom in town) what would be the lowest income you could imagine living on per year?

$8-12,000

$12,000-16,000

$16,000-20,000

>$20,000

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* 14. What are you interested in producing on your future farm?

Beef cattle

Poultry and eggs

Dairy

Hogs

Sheep, goats and their products

Grain, oil seeds and dry beans

Diverse garden vegetables

Focused, “cash crop” vegetables (e.g., potatoes, squash)

Flowers

Fruit, tree nuts and berries

Christmas trees and other woody crops

Nursery and green house products

Crops to produce biofuels

Hay

Don’t know

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* 15. What production and marketing practices appeal to you/ are you interested in practicing? (Score 1-5, with 1 being not very appealing and 5 being extremely appealing)

	1 - Not at all appealing	2	3	4	5 - Extremely appealing
Conventional	Conventional 1 - Not at all appealing	Conventional 2	Conventional 3	Conventional 4	Conventional 5 - Extremely appealing
Organic	Organic 1 - Not at all appealing	Organic 2	Organic 3	Organic 4	Organic 5 - Extremely appealing
biodynamic	biodynamic 1 - Not at all appealing	biodynamic 2	biodynamic 3	biodynamic 4	biodynamic 5 - Extremely appealing
Grass-fed	Grass-fed 1 - Not at all appealing	Grass-fed 2	Grass-fed 3	Grass-fed 4	Grass-fed 5 - Extremely appealing
Permaculture	Permaculture 1 - Not at all appealing	Permaculture 2	Permaculture 3	Permaculture 4	Permaculture 5 - Extremely appealing
Diversified farming	Diversified farming 1 - Not at all appealing	Diversified farming 2	Diversified farming 3	Diversified farming 4	Diversified farming 5 - Extremely appealing
Focused niche market crops	Focused niche market crops 1 - Not at all appealing	Focused niche market crops 2	Focused niche market crops 3	Focused niche market crops 4	Focused niche market crops 5 - Extremely appealing
CSA	CSA 1 - Not at all appealing	CSA 2	CSA 3	CSA 4	CSA 5 - Extremely appealing
Farmers’ market	Farmers’ market 1 - Not at all appealing	Farmers’ market 2	Farmers’ market 3	Farmers’ market 4	Farmers’ market 5 - Extremely appealing
Direct to restaurant/institutions	Direct to restaurant/institutions 1 - Not at all appealing	Direct to restaurant/institutions 2	Direct to restaurant/institutions 3	Direct to restaurant/institutions 4	Direct to restaurant/institutions 5 - Extremely appealing
Wholesaling through local distribution network	Wholesaling through local distribution network 1 - Not at all appealing	Wholesaling through local distribution network 2	Wholesaling through local distribution network 3	Wholesaling through local distribution network 4	Wholesaling through local distribution network 5 - Extremely appealing

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* 16. The below questions are optional demographic questions, which will be used for research purposes only. In what state and county do you reside?

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* 17. What is your age?

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* 18. What is your gender?

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* 19. What is your race or ethnicity?

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* 20. What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

Less than high school

High school graduate

Technical school or some college

College graduate

Graduate degree or beyond

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* 21. Thank you for completing this survey! If you would like to stay updated on ISLAND’s Farm Support programs and related news, please provide your email address below:

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* 1. How much farming experience (including internships/ farm labor) do you have?

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* 2. Are you currently working as a farmer?

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* 3. What kind of farming experience do you have? (check all that apply)

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* 4. Do you have a business plan for your future farming operation(s)?

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* 5. Which best describes you? (Please be honest!)

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* 6. Rate how much of a challenge each of the following is in starting your own farm.

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* 7. Please rate the appeal of the following training program scenarios. Which would best serve your needs in transitioning to becoming an independent farmer? A new farmer assistance program that:

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* 8. After graduating from a farmer residency program, assuming that you were supplied with the land, machinery, and equipment appropriate for the type of farming you’d be doing, what types of support could you envision needing the most?

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* 9. Rate the areas where you imagine needing more support in starting your farm after the residency program.

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* 10. How many years would you be willing to dedicate to a farmer residency or incubator program?

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* 11. Would you consider relocating to northwest lower Michigan (in the vicinity of Traverse City, MI) for a farmer residency opportunity?

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* 12. Assuming a land opportunity were available, is northwest lower Michigan (in the vicinity of Traverse City, MI) an area you’d consider as a long-term home and location for your future farm?

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* 13. Given that you may be responsible for finding and paying for your own living space (averaging about $700/month for a 1-bedroom in town) what would be the lowest income you could imagine living on per year?

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* 14. What are you interested in producing on your future farm?

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* 15. What production and marketing practices appeal to you/ are you interested in practicing? (Score 1-5, with 1 being not very appealing and 5 being extremely appealing)

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* 16. The below questions are optional demographic questions, which will be used for research purposes only. In what state and county do you reside?

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* 17. What is your age?

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* 18. What is your gender?

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* 19. What is your race or ethnicity?

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* 20. What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

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* 21. Thank you for completing this survey! If you would like to stay updated on ISLAND’s Farm Support programs and related news, please provide your email address below:

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* 22. Anything else you'd like us to know about you, your farming ambitions, or your ideal new farmer support program?