Annual/Termination Reports:

[11/22/2006] [01/06/2010] [07/30/2010]

Report Information

Participants

Feise, Chris (feise@wsu.edu),Washington State University; Painter,Kate (kpainter@wsu.edu),Washington State University; Francis,Charles (cfrancis@unlnotes.unl.edu),University of Nebraska; Kirschenman, Fred (leopold1@iastate.edu),Iowa State University; Lev, Larry (larry.lev@oregonstate.edu),Oregon State University; Porter,Paul (pporter@umn.edu),University of Minnesota; Hardesty, Sermain (shermain@primal.ucdavis.edu)University of California-Davis; Clancy, Kate (klclancy@comcast.com),Union of Concerned Scientists;Conner, David (connerd@msu.edu), Michigan State University; Hinrichs, Clare (chinrichs@psu.edu),Penn State University; Stevenson, Steve (gwsteven@wisc.edu),University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Brief Summary of Minutes

The inaugural meeting of the technical committee for NC1036 was held in Minneapolis, MN from October 20-22, 2006. Eleven committee members were in attendance, including scientists from land-grant universities, Cooperative Extension, and non-profit organizations. The following meeting goals were addressed:
--Acquaint all committee members with the national initiative to renew an agriculture-of the-middle & the role of NC1036 to provide research-based information and education to support the business development and policy change components of the larger initiative;
--Identify priority research/education areas and frameworks for the committee,in dialogue with representatives of the business development and policy working groups:
1. Time frames (short term, medium term, and long term research),
2. Bio-physical and socio-economic issues, and
3. Synchronized research across food supply chains or across public policy
campaigns;
--Identify research/education capacities/interests represented on the committee;
--Share recently funded research proposals involving committee members;
--Dialogue with USDA regarding research & education funding opportunities;
--Discuss communication/project creation among committee members (and other scientists) for short, medium, and long term research projects;
--Identify research/education capacities not represented on the committee & generate a plan to recruit scientists with these capacities/interests; and
--Establish organizational structure and revolving leadership for NC1036.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments include:<br /> 1. Three research/outreach/education proposals from NC1036 committee members successfully funded from the USDA/CSREES/NRI Program, Vitality for Small and Medium-Sized Farms. (See attachment to the Minues section of this report.) Cummulative funding from these three projects exceeds $1,000,000.<br /> 2. Consultation relationships with program officers in USDA's CSREES and ARS divisions have been established. It is anticipated that these relationships will result in increased attention and collaboration involving research and education pertaining to agriculture-of-the-middle issues.

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

The following Committee members & interested allies attended:
--Buckley, Jennifer (jbuckley@msu.edu), Michigan State University
--Burmeister, Larry (larry.burmeister@uky.edu), Ohio University
--Clancy, Kate (klclancy@comcast.net), Food System Consultant
--Colletti, Joe (colletti@iastate.edu), Iowa State University
--Connor, David (connered@msu.edu), Michigan State University
--Gray, Thomas (Thomas.Gray@wdc.usda.gov), USDA
--Hardesty, Shermain (shermain@primal.ucdavis.edu), University of California-Davis
--Hinrichs, Clare (chinrichs@psu.edu), Penn State University
--Hipple, Patricia (phipple@csrees.usda.gov), USDA/CSREES
--King, Rob (rking@umn.edu), University of Minnesota
--Kirschenmann, Fred (leopold1@iastate.edu), Iowa State University
--Lev, Larry (larry.lev@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University
--Mooney, Patrick (soc168@email.uky.edu), University of Kentucky
--Muldoon, Michelle (mfmuldoon@winrock.org), Wallace Center
--Ostrom, Marcy (mrostrom@wsu.edu), Washington State University
--Painter, Kate (kpainter@wsu.edu), Washington State University
--Smith, Stewart (stewart.smith@umit.maine.edu), University of Maine
--Stevenson, Steve (gwsteven@wisc.edu), University of Wisconsin-Madison
--Thilmany, Dawn (dawn.thilmany@colostate.edu), Colorado State University
--Worosz, Michelle (michelle_worosz@auburn.edu), Auburn University

Brief Summary of Minutes

The fourth annual meeting of the Technical Committee for NC1036 was held in Broomfield, CO from November 3-5, 2009, in conjunction with the Food Distribution Research Societys annual conference. Eighteen persons were in attendance, including scientists & graduate students from land-grant universities, Cooperative Extension, and non-profit organizations.

The following meeting goals were addressed:
--Introduce new committee members;
--Acquaint all committee members with the national ag-of-the middle initiative (www.agofthemiddle.org) & the role of NC1036 to provide research-based information & education to support the renewal of mid-size farms, ranches, and fisheries.
--Identify research/education capacities/interests/approaches represented on the committee;
--Identify priority research/education areas and frameworks for the committee;
--Share recently funded research/education projects involving committee members;
--Dialogue with USDA program officers regarding research/education funding opportunities;
--Explore/facilitate research team creation among committee members (and other scientists); ; and
--Make decisions about renewing NC1036 for another five years&and revolving the committees leadership.

The following discussions were engaged during the committee meeting:
--With Fred Kirschenmann (Iowa State) regarding activities and research issues associated with the business development component of the national AOTM initiative;
--With Kate Clancy regarding activities and research issues associated with the public policy component of the national AOTM initiative;
--With David Conner and Jenny Buckley related to the findings of their survey of NC 1036 members regarding research topics and methodologies, as well as ways to share information, e.g., survey questions; [Suggest attaching the Conner/Buckly report to these minutes on the NIMSS website];
--With Kate Clancy related to the findings of her survey of over 50 researchers as to the key research issues for moving the ag-of-the-middle effort ahead. [Suggest attaching the Clancy report to these minutes on the NIMSS website];
--With Silva Sureshwaran and Pat Hipple regarding the current reorganization of the USDA&Much is up-in-the-air & the best avenue for NC1036 is to Kathleen Merrigan through the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (Ferd Hoefner);
--With Michelle Muldoon (Wallace Center/Winrock Institute) regarding the Wallace Centers work and potential areas of collaboration with the NC1036 committee;
--With Joe Colletti (NC1036 Administrative Advisor) regarding the procedures and timelines associated with renewing NC1036 for another five years; and
--With those present regarding evolving the leadership of NC1036.

The following task commitments were volunteered:
--David Conner agreed to chair NC1036 for the balance of the projects current term;
--The following persons agreed to work with David to evaluate the best strategy and organizational form for renewing NC1036 for another five-year term: Kate Painter, Clare Hinrichs, Marcy Ostrom, Shermain Hardesty, and Larry Lev;
--Kate Painter agreed to create a website that will facilitate communication among NC1036 members; and
--Kate Clancy agreed to work with David Conner and Rob King on the development of a communication product for the findings of her survey that will be concise yet attractive to attracting additional researchers and USDA policy makers to the ag-of-the-middle effort&Kate will need to hire someone to do the typing and/or Powerpoint development.

2010 Meeting

It was agreed to locate the 2010 meeting of NC 1036 in the Twin Cities on one of the following dates: 10/04/1010/06/10 or 10/11/1010/13/10. David Connor will work with Rob King & Helene Murray to evaluate these dates and propose one to the group.

Submitted 12/06/09
Steve Stevenson

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Feise, Chris (feise@wsu.edu),Washington State University;Painter,Kate (kpainter@wsu.edu),Washington State University; Francis,Charles (cfrancis@unlnotes.unl.edu),University of Nebraska; Kirschenman, Fred (leopold1@iastate.edu),Iowa State University; Lev, Larry (larry.lev@oregonstate.edu),Oregon State University; Porter,Paul (pporter@umn.edu),University of Minnesota; Hardesty, Shermain (shermain@primal.ucdavis.edu)University of California-Davis;Clancy, Kate (klclancy@comcast.com),Union of Concerned Scientists; Conner, David (connerd@msu.edu), Michigan State University; Hinrichs, Clare (chinrichs@psu.edu),Penn State University; Stevenson, Steve(gwsteven@wisc.edu),University of Wisconsin-Madison; Buckley, Jennifer (jbuckley@msu.edu), Michigan State University; Burmeister, Larry (larry.burmeister@uky.edu), Ohio University; Colletti, Joe (colletti@iastate.edu), Iowa State University; Hipple, Patricia (phipple@csrees.usda.gov), USDA/CSREES; King, Rob (rking@umn.edu), University of Minnesota; Thilmany, Dawn (dawn.thilmany@colostate.edu), Colorado State University; Worosz, Michelle (michelle_worosz@auburn.edu), Auburn University

Brief Summary of Minutes

http://nimss.umd.edu/homepages/saes.cfm?trackID=7898

Accomplishments

Accomplishments: The group has created a network of scientists who are dedicated to the Agriculture of the Middle. This group has collaborated on many funded projects, including sharing of interview guides, surveys and other research instruments in order to compare and results in different regions. Finally, this group led the formation of a comprehensive research priority agenda, A Priority Research Agenda for Agriculture of the Middle is being distributed by the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Work on this report was initiated when Steve Stevenson of CIAS was Director of the Agriculture of the Middle (AOTM) research group (NC 1036), in order to answer questions raised by the group about future priorities. Priorities were based on interviews with 35 researchers involved in sustainable agriculture and AOTM around the country, and were conducted, analyzed, and compiled by Kate Clancy. Support for the research and report was provided by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln Center for Applied Rural Innovation, instigated by the then NC 1036 liaison Alan Baquet.<br /> <br /> In the spring and summer of 2009 Clancy interviewed 35 researchers from around the country asking them to describe what they considered the three most important research projects that would best further the goals of agriculture of the middle. These responses were combined with similar information from an earlier study of 15 respondents, resulting in a list of 125 different research ideas. These were categorized into nine clusters and returned to all the interviewees with a request to choose their top nine ideas from this list. The final list of the 18 highest priority ideas was included in the May report, which was disseminated to multiple lists of researchers and interested parties in USDA, universities, and nonprofits and is available on the AOTM website.<br /> <br /> As a follow up the research group succeeding NC 1036 will be requested to share ideas on how to increase the utilization of the research agenda, and an effort will be made to find out if the research agenda has been helpful.<br /> The concept of Values-based food supply chains, a key model, continues to be explored and tested nationwide. For example, one group of scientists, led by Steve Stevenson and Larry Lev, has explored how successful and mature chains deliver high quality differentiated products from medium scale farms to regional retail markets. Another research activity led by David Conner has focused these chains performance in farm to school and other institutional purchase settings. <br /> Dawn Thilmany-McFadden has led a threefold effort to improve market access for mid-sized farms: continued analysis of market opportunities for mid-sized value added farm operations to direct market and collaborate in marketing through food retail venues; business development programs for producers involved in their own and regional marketing; and analysis of organizations are collaborating for regional food marketing activities. Each of the above projects is also developing educational curricula to be used in formal and non-formal educational settings.<br /> <br /> Short-term Outcomes: Increased knowledge of key attributes, practices behaviors and governance of value-based food supply chains.<br /> A key example of this impact is the evaluation of the economic performance and farmer adoption practices of hoop structures (aka hoop houses) on12 Michigan farms, including gross and net revenues, effective wages, market potential and keys to success (see Conner journal articles in Publication section), <br /> <br /> Based on interviews with participants, increased understanding of the governance of and opportunities for four effective, mature Values-based food supply chains. Key findings include: <br /> " Diverse types of supply chains can thrive but that need to adopt different strategies and find different partners. <br /> " Networks of supply chain participants can benefit from interacting and sharing insights. <br /> " We also learned that mainstream distribution channels have much strength and will continue to dominate. <br /> <br /> Increased understanding of best practices for collaborative organizations who support marketing efforts for medium scale farms<br /> Descriptions of institutional buyers, distributors and farmers business practices and increased understanding of opportunities, obstacles, communication strategies and information needs to forge closer links.<br /> Links between farmers and buyers farmers to outline, test and develop specific attributes in crops to bring higher value and increase demand.<br /> Outputs: Group members have done numerous presentations at professional meetings<br /> Activities: The group continues to test and investigate the function and performance of values based food supply chains in numerous settings (especially retail markets and institutions). <br /> Milestones: The publication of numerous papers, books and manuscripts which are informing outreach efforts. A website de voted to key findings of Values-based supply cases has been created: www.agofthemiddle.org. Videos detailing hoop house farmers experiences are detailed at http://sustainablefarmer.com/hoophouses/<br />

Publications

<br /> Ahnström, J., J. Höckert, H.L. Bergeå, C.A. Francis, P. Skelton, and L. Hallgren. 2008. Farmers and nature conservation: what is known about attitudes, context factors and actions affecting conservation? Renewable Agric Food Systems 24(1):38-47. <br /> Auld, G. and D. Thilmany. 2009. Factors Affecting Small (Colorado) Producers Local Food Sales. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition 4(1): 129-46.<br /> Bond, C.A., D. Thilmany and J. Keeling-Bond. 2008. Understanding Consumer Interest in Product and Process-Based Attributes for Fresh Produce. Agribusiness: An International Journal 24(2):231-252.<br /> Bond, C.A., D. Thilmany, and J. Keeling Bond. 2008. What to Choose? The Value of Label Claims to Produce Consumers. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 33(3):402-427.<br /> Burmeister, L.L. 2008. Resilience and Vulnerability in US Farm Policy: Parsing the Payment Limitation Debate. Agriculture and Human Values 25(2):183-186.<br /> Carey, E.E., L. Jett, W.J. Lamont, Jr., T.T. Nennich, M.D. Orzolek, and K.A. Williams. 2009. Horticultural crop production in high tunnels in the United States: A snapshot. HortTechnology 19:37-43.<br /> Colasanti, K., Conner, D. and Smalley, S. (In Press). Understanding Barriers to Farmers Market Patronage in Michigan: Perspectives from Marginalized Populations. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition.<br /> Conner, D., Smalley, S., Colasanti, K. and Ross, R. (In Press). Increasing Farmers Markets Patronage: A Michigan Survey. Journal of Food Distribution Research.<br /> <br /> Conner, D., Montri, A., Waldman, K., Biernbaum, J. and Hamm, M. (In Press). Hoophouse Contributions to Farm Profitability and Food System Sustainability: Lessons from Michigan. Journal of Extension.<br /> <br /> <br /> Montri, A., Conner, D., Waldman, K., Biernbaum, J. and Hamm, M. (2010). Hoophouse Contributions to Farm Viability: Economic Results from Farmers' First Year of Harvests. HortTechnology. Accepted for Publication.<br /> <br /> <br /> Conner, D. Colasanti, K., Smalley, S. and Ross, R. (2009). Locally Grown Foods and Farmers Markets: Consumer Attitudes and Behaviors. Sustainability, 2, 742-756<br /> <br /> Conner, D., Montri, A., Montri, D. and Hamm, M. (2009). Consumer demand for local produce at extended season farmers' markets: guiding farmer marketing strategies. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 24(4); 251259.<br /> <br /> <br /> Dillard, J. and M. Pullman. 2009. A Structuration Frame for Social Enterprise and an Agricultural Example. Economia Aziendale Online 1:7-26.<br /> Francis, C., G. Lieblein, H. Steinsholt, T.A. Breland, J. Helenius, N. Sriskandarajah, and L. Salomonsson. 2005. Food systems and environment: building positive rural-urban linkages. Human Ecology Review 12(1):60-71. <br /> Francis, C., J. King, G. Lieblein, T.A. Breland, L. Salomonsson, N. Sriskandarajah, P. Porter, and M. Wiedenhoeft. 2009. Open-ended cases in agroecology: farming and food systems in the Nordic Region and the U.S. Midwest. European J. Education and Extension [in press].<br /> Francis, C., R. Elmore, J. Ikerd, and M. Duffy. 2007. Greening of agriculture: is it all a greenwash of the globalized economy? J. Crop Improvement 19(1&2):193-220. <br /> Francis, C., R. Poincelot, and G. Bird, eds. 2006. Developing and Extending a Sustainable Agriculture: A New Social Contract. Binghampton, NY: Haworth Press.<br /> Francis, C.A., ed. 2009. Ecology in Organic Farming Systems. Agronomy Monograph No.54, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin.<br /> Francis, C.A., G. Lieblein, T.A. Breland, L. Salomonsson, U. Geber, N. Sriskandarajah, and V. Langer. 2008. Transdisciplinary research for a sustainable agriculture and food sector. Agron. J. 100(3):771-776.<br /> Gasciogne, W., M. Sullins and D. Thilmany McFadden. 2008. Agritourism in the West: Exploring the Behavior of Colorado Farm and Ranch Visitors. Western Economics Forum. Fall. Vol. 7.<br /> Gillebo, T. and C. Francis. 2006. Stakeholder cooperation in sustainable development: three case studies in Noway. J. Rural & Community Devel. 2(1):28-43.<br /> Gray, Thomas W. 2009. Selecting a Cooperative Membership Structure for the Agriculture of the Middle Initiative. Washington DC: USDA, Rural Development-Cooperative Programs Research Report 216. <br /> <br /> Gray, Thomas W. 2009. "The Agriculture of the Middle Initiative," Presented to the Eastern Sociological Society annual meetings. Baltimore, Maryland. Mar. 18-21, 2009. <br /> <br /> Gray, Thomas. 2009. "Cooperative Tensions and the US Agriculture of the Middle Initiative: Prospective Considerations," Presented to the International Workshop on Rural Cooperation in the 21st Century: Lessons from the Past, Pathways to the Future." held at the University of Rehovot, Israel. June 14-16, 2009. <br /> Gray, T. and G. Stevenson. 2008. Cooperative Structure for the Middle: Mobilizing for Power and Identity. In Lyson, T., G. Stevenson, and R. Welsh, eds. Food and the Mid-Level Farm. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.<br /> Gwin, L. 2009. Scaling-up Sustainable Livestock Production: Innovation and Challenges for Grass-fed Beef in the U.S. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 33(2):189-209.<br /> Gwin, L. and S. Hardesty. 2008. Northern California Niche Meat Market Demand Study. Davis, CA: University of California, Cooperative Extension.<br /> Gwin, L., S. Larson, E. Rilla, and L. Bush. 2005. Alternative Livestock Production and Marketing: A Survey of Marin and Sonoma Livestock Producers. Novato, CA: University of California Cooperative Extension.<br /> Keeling-Bond, J, D. Thilmany, and C. Bond . 2009. What Influences Consumer Choice of Fresh Produce Purchase Location? Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics. April 2009.<br /> Keeling-Bond, J, D. Thilmany, and C. Bond. Direct Marketing of Fresh Produce: Understanding Consumer Purchasing Decisions. Choices 21(4):1-6. Last accessed October 23, 2009, at http://www.choicesmagazine.org/2006-4/.<br /> <br /> <br /> Kirschenmann, F., G. Stevenson, F. Buttel, T. Lyson, and M. Duffy. 2008. Why Worry about the Agriculture of the Middle? In Lyson, T., G. Stevenson, and R. Welsh, eds. Food and the Mid-Level Farm. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press.<br /> Knight, A.J., M.R. Worosz, E.C.D. Todd, L.D. Bourquin, and C.K. Harris. 2008. Listeria in raw milk soft cheese: A case study of risk governance in the United States using the IRGC framework. Pp. 179-220 in Renn, O. and K. Walker, eds. Global Risk Governance: Concept and Practice Using the IRGC Framework. Springer Press. (ISBN: 978-1-4020-6798-3)<br /> <br /> LeValley, R., D. Thilmany, and D. Dexter. Success Story: How do we sell <br /> branded beef direct to the consumer? Range Beef Cow Symposium XX. <br /> December 2007. http://beef.unl.edu/beefreports/symp-2007-06-XX.shtml<br /> Lev, Larry and Lauren Gwin . Filling in the Gaps: Eight Things to Recognize about Farm-Direct Marketing. Choices Vol. 25/1. 2010. http://www.choicesmagazine.org/magazine/article.php?article=110<br /> <br /> Lev, Larry and George Stevenson. Mid-scale food value chains case study: Shepherds Grain. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems Research Brief #81. May 2010.<br /> <br /> Lev, Larry and George Stevenson. Mid-scale food value chains case study: Red Tomato. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems Research Brief #82. May 2010.<br /> <br /> Lev, Larry and George Stevenson. Mid-scale food value chains case study: Country Natural Beef . Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems Research Brief #79. November 2009.<br /> <br /> Lev, Larry and George Stevenson. Mid-scale food value chains case study: Organic Valley. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems Research Brief #80. November 2009.<br /> <br /> Lieblein, G. and C. Francis. 2007. Towards responsible action through agroecological education. Italian J. Agronomy/Riv. Agron. 2:79-86.<br /> Lyson, T., G. Stevenson, and R. Welsh, eds. 2008. Food and the Mid-Level Farm. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.<br /> Marshall, R. S., M. Pullman, Z. Anderson, M. Flax, D. Gambetta., and J. Greene. 2009. Sustainability amidst uncertainty: Columbia Forest Products pursuit of sustainability in a changing market. 3rd Place, 2009 OIKOS Global Case Writing Competition.<br /> Pritchett, J., D. Thilmany, and K. Johnson. 2007. Consumer Responses to Recent BSE Events. Journal of Food Distribution Research 38:57-68.<br /> Pullman, M., M. Maloni, and C. Carter. 2009. Food for Thought: Motivations to Adopt Sustainability Practices and Perceived Outcomes. Journal of Supply Chain Management 45(4):38-54.<br /> Rickerl, D., and C. Francis, eds. 2004. Agroecosystems Analysis. Monograph Series No. 43, Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, Wisconsin. <br /> Roth, A., A. Tsay, M. Pullman, and J. Grey. 2008. Reaping what you sow. International Commerce Review 8(1):36-45.<br /> Roth, A., A. Tsay, M. Pullman, and J. Grey. 2008. Unraveling the Global Food Supply Chain: Strategic Lessons from China and the Pet Food Recalls. Journal of Supply Chain Management 44(1):22-39.<br /> Schneider, M. and C. Francis. 2005. Marketing locally produced foods: consumer and farmer opinions in Washington County, Nebraska. Renewable Agric. and Food Systems 20(4):252-260. <br /> Schneider, M., A. Colglazier, C. Pollard, R. Beutler, and C. Francis. 2005. Discovering the whole: multiple paths to systems learning. NACTA J. 49(2):15-22.<br /> Stevenson, G.W. and H. Born. 2007. The Red Label Poultry System in France: Lessons for Renewing an Agriculture-of-the-Middle in the United States. In Hinrichs, C. Clare and T. Lyson, eds. Remaking the North American Food System. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.<br /> Stevenson, G.W. and R. Pirog. 2008. Values-Based Supply Chains: Strategies for Agri-Food Enterprises of the Middle. In Lyson, Thomas, G. Stevenson, and R. Welsh, eds. Food and the Mid-Level Farm. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.<br /> Thilmany McFadden, D, W. Umberger, and J. Wilson. 2009. Growing a Niche Beef Market: A Targeted Marketing Plan for Colorado Homestead Ranches. Review of Agricultural Economics. Forthcoming, 31(3).<br /> Thilmany McFadden, D. 2008. Implementing Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling. Introduction to Choices theme issue on Country of Origin Labeling. 23(4). (also served as guest editor). Last accessed October 23, 2009, at http://www.choicesmagazine.org/magazine/article.php?article=43<br /> Thilmany, D., C. Bond, and J. Bond. 2008. Going Local: Exploring Consumer Behavior and Motivations for Direct Food Purchases. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 90(5):1303-1309.<br /> Thilmany, D., W. Umberger, and A. Ziehl. 2006. Strategic market planning for value-added natural beef products: a cluster analysis of Colorado consumers. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 21:192-203.<br /> <br /> Thilmany McFadden, D. 2008. Local marketing systems: The Role of Family <br /> Farms in Reinventing Food Supply Chains. Article in USDA-CSREES Family <br /> Farm Forum. October.<br /> <br /> Thilmany, D. and J. Sooby. The Organic Foods Industry in Rural America. <br /> Chapter for Encyclopedia of Rural America, 2nd edition. Grey House <br /> Publishing, July 2008. 1-59237-115-9.<br /> <br /> Thilmany, D. and P. Watson. Revitalizing Rural Communities: Agricultural <br /> Producers Emerging Role in Public and Private Innovation. Perspectives <br /> on 21st Century Agriculture: A Tribute to Walter J. Armbruster, Farm <br /> Foundation, Oak Brook, IL, 2007. 978-0-615-17422-8<br /> Umberger, W., D. Thilmany McFadden, and A. Smith. 2009. Does Altruism Play a Role in Determining U.S. Consumer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Natural and Regionally Produced Beef?"Agribusiness: An International Journal 25(2):266-285.<br /> Wezel, A., S. Bellon, T. Dore, C. Francis, D. Vallod, and C. David.. 2009. Agroecology as a science, a movement or a practice. Agronomy for Sustainable Development (in press).<br /> Wilson, J., D. Thilmany, and P. Watson. 2006. The Role of Agritourism in Western States: Place-Specific and Policy Factors Influencing Recreational Income for Producers. Review of Regional Studies. 36:381-399.<br /> Worosz, M. R. 2006. Pits, Pests, and the Industrial Tart. Doctoral Thesis, Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.<br /> Worosz, M.R., A.J. Knight, and C.K. Harris. 2008. Resilience in the red meat sector: The role of food safety policy. Agriculture and Human Values 25(2):187-191. (DOI : 10.1007/s10460-008-9127-z)<br /> Worosz, M.R., A.J. Knight, C.K. Harris, and D.S Conner. 2008. Barriers to sustainability in the specialty red meat sector. Invited paper, Southern Rural Sociology 23(1): 170-207.<br /> Worosz, M.R., D.M. Holt, and C.K. Harris. Challenging assumptions of the faithful: Critique, understanding, and clarity within the agrifoodie collective. (Under review.)<br /> See also:<br /> " Agriculture of the Middle website, http://agofthemiddle.org/: case studies and research briefs<br /> " Organic Farming Research Foundation website, http://ofrf.org/index.html<br />

Impact Statements

1. Expansion of specific production and marketing options (tested and informed by vigorous research) for medium sized farms. For example, the use of hoophouses (high tunnels) as a season extension production strategy has been shown to generate profit and income when otherwise unavailable. Sales to institutions has been shown to provide otherwise unavailable income and markets for #2 grade vegetables which complements high value sales to retail outlets.
2. Identification of marketing strategies uniquely suited to small to medium sized farms provides a means to ensure profitability. Stevensons research on values-based food supply chains has demonstrated the importance of strategic partnerships among supply chains actors which can provide markets for differentiated, high value food items, allowing these products to reach regional markets in relatively high volumes. A key to success is the product differentiation: these supply chains communicate the underlying values (family farms and sustainable agriculture), creating additional utility for consumers and providing better alternatives to low cost undifferentiated commodity markets.
3. Helped to enhance the quantity and quality of locally and regionally grown foods (produce, meats, grains and dairy) supplied to individuals, retailers and institutions, especially schools. A key example of this impact is the network of 37 urban K-12 school districts, each with more than 40,000 students, that has collaborated to increase procurement of local, healthful and sustainably grown foods. Curricula for educating students, farmers, buyers and other stakeholders in marketing procurement practices for products from mid-scale farms are available or being developed by Stevenson, Conner and Thilmany-McFadden.
4. Research interest in local and regional foods has increased dramatically as well. This project helped its members to obtain competitive grants worth the millions of dollars, including (approximately) $29,000 from Extension, $3.6 million in foundation grants, $260,000 in state and local government grants and $825,000 in USDA competitive funds. With this suite of funding has come numerous research activities designed to facilitate the attainment of the four project objectives.

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