Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

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

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Short-term Outcomes: Increased knowledge of key attributes, practices behaviors and governance of value-based food supply chains. 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), 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: " Diverse types of supply chains can thrive but that need to adopt different strategies and find different partners. " Networks of supply chain participants can benefit from interacting and sharing insights. " We also learned that mainstream distribution channels have much strength and will continue to dominate. Increased understanding of best practices for collaborative organizations who support marketing efforts for medium scale farms Descriptions of institutional buyers, distributors and farmers business practices and increased understanding of opportunities, obstacles, communication strategies and information needs to forge closer links. Links between farmers and buyers farmers to outline, test and develop specific attributes in crops to bring higher value and increase demand. Outputs: Group members have done numerous presentations at professional meetings 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). 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/

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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. 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. Conner, D., Smalley, S., Colasanti, K. and Ross, R. (In Press). Increasing Farmers Markets Patronage: A Michigan Survey. Journal of Food Distribution Research. 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. 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. Conner, D. Colasanti, K., Smalley, S. and Ross, R. (2009). 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Grey House Publishing, July 2008. 1-59237-115-9. Thilmany, D. and P. Watson. Revitalizing Rural Communities: Agricultural Producers Emerging Role in Public and Private Innovation. Perspectives on 21st Century Agriculture: A Tribute to Walter J. Armbruster, Farm Foundation, Oak Brook, IL, 2007. 978-0-615-17422-8 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. 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). 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. Worosz, M. R. 2006. Pits, Pests, and the Industrial Tart. Doctoral Thesis, Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. 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) 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. 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.) See also: " Agriculture of the Middle website, http://agofthemiddle.org/: case studies and research briefs " Organic Farming Research Foundation website, http://ofrf.org/index.html