Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

• Welcome by new administrative advisor and chair, introductions & agenda review
• Project updates by NC1198 members (see Outputs/Activities on pp. 2-3)
• Overview of several recent papers at the intersection of the climate crisis and food systems with a focus on methodological limits and opportunities followed by a discussion of climate change and food systems research needs/opportunities for NC1198.
• Break out group discussions on needs/proposal ideas based on the 2022-2027 NC1198 objectives, paraphrased as follows: 1) Governance structures and the efficacy of values-based food supply chains, 2) Effects of systemic disruptions (e.g., Covid-19, climate change) on mid-scale food supply chain resilience, including on social equity and environmental justice; and 3) Capacity to jointly investigate, address, and communicate policy issues related to mid-scale producers/supply chains. Two main priorities emerged from these discussions:
  • Increase NC1198 members’ engagement with BIPOC scholars and farm/food chain partners & improve connectivity between NC1198 and HBCUs, HSIs and 1994 institutions. Hikaru and Michelle are engaging with INFAS Justice Working Group.
  • Revisit our shared definition of Agriculture of the Middle (AOTM). Clare, Michaela & Jill are working on this and will report at the 2023 meeting. It was also suggested that we revisit our AOTM definition(s) with a racial/social justice lens. This topic merits further discussion as a working group priority and at the next annual meeting.
• Overview of the new USDA Regional Food Business Centers RFA and discussion of food business center proposals in our respective regions with an eye toward identifying opportunities for cross-center learning/collaboration/evaluation once finalists are selected.
• Agriculture of the Middle Policy Work: (1) National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition colleagues provided federal policy updates (2) Dr. Clancy facilitated AOTM policy exercise.
• Selection of future NC1198 chairs: 2023-24 Gwin, 2024-25 Howard, 2025-26 Bass
• Identification of additional action items and future agenda items
  • Annual reporting requirements and compilation process
  • Chairs will work with group members on virtual trainings on data visualization, policy, framing and strategy to increase members and partners impact when communicating with policy makers and/or in translating research to action.

The interdisciplinary NC1198 group was created to address a disconcerting structural change in US agriculture: the decline of midscale family farms and associated impacts on the well-being of US rural communities, the economy, and the environment. Since its inception, the group has expanded to examine other issues affecting the resilience, diversity, and competitiveness of the US food system, including the impacts of food system structure and policy on the viability of small and medium-sized farms and food businesses.
            Following are synopses of multistate research, outreach, and policy projects that were born out of priorities and partnerships forged by NC1198. They represent active collaborations among current members on various issues concerning the viability and resilience of Agriculture of the Middle including topics such as the impact of concentration on competition and national food flow patterns; the effects of systemic disruptions (e.g., Covid-19, climate change) on mid-scale food supply chain resilience; investigations into the structure and function of distinct local and regional supply chains and sectors; and investigation and communication of policy issues surrounding mid-scale producers and supply chains.

Milestones: On Yr 1 of this 5-yr project, research, outreach and policy activities are underway.

Outputs/Activities: The primary outputs to date are the acquisition and ongoing implementation of numerous collaborative grant-funded projects, publications, and resources that address the research, outreach, and policy priorities of NC1198. Data visualization has also been an output across multiple NC1198-related projects and has proven to be an important tool for distilling complex and dynamic data for research, farmer, and practitioner audiences.

• Farm Succession and Transfer Dynamics: Sustaining an Agriculture of the Middle in the U.S. (USDA-NIFA-AFRI) Penn State U, PI; Collaborators: Washington State U, U of MA, Land for Good, and Renewing the Countryside. This project investigates unique challenges and opportunities in intergenerational succession/transfer experienced by midscale farms and ranches by integrating analysis of secondary farm data at the national level and primary qualitative data collected with regional and national stakeholders/subject experts and retiring or near-retiring mid-scale farmers in PA, MN and WA. Preliminary analysis of stakeholder interviews indicates that economic viability of the farm, extended family interpersonal dynamics, and access to professional legal/business assistance are seen as key factors driving decisions about succession planning and the likelihood of eventual successful transfer.
• The Relationship Between Childcare and Economic Development of Small and Medium Farms. (CDC-NIOSH). National Farm Medicine Center Marshfield Health System, PI; Collaborator: Ohio State U. For over 20 years, farm safety experts have argued that one of the best ways to prevent farm accidents is through the supervision of children by a dedicated childcare provider off the worksite. Besides connections to the safety of farm children, childcare arrangements also impact farm parents’ productivity and a range of farm business decisions. While farm parents experience challenges accessing and paying for childcare that parallel those of working parents across the United States, there has been little in-depth research examining farm families’ actual experiences with childcare and the types of childcare arrangements and supports that would increase their ability and willingness to use childcare. This research project examines: 1) What strategies and support systems farm parents use to keep their children safe while they work? 2) To what extent do farm parents consider childcare as risk mitigation and farm business strategies? 3) What are the factors that shape farm parents’ use of childcare? 4) What types of social, economic, and policy support could increase childcare use?
• Apple to Glass: Improving Orchard Profitability through Developing Regional Craft Ciders (USDA-NIFA-AFRI). Washington State U, PI. Collaborators: Michigan State U, U of Vermont, UW - Madison. This project investigates supply chain issues from the perspective of farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and consumers. There are several policy issues related to market barriers from the three-tier distribution system.
• S. Food Flows: A Cold-Chain Network Analysis of Freight Movements to Inform Local and Regional Food Issues (USDA-AMS-TSD) UW-Madison, PI. Collaborators: U of MN, U of FL, Oregon State U. This project modeled food flow using US Census data on perishable food movements in 2017. Regional differences in food distribution are readily apparent, with large regions left out of food flow (such as Appalachia, the Plains states and rural southwest) and flow overly reliant on activity in other regions (especially Los Angeles metro).
• AI institute for Intelligent Cyberinfrastructure with Computational Learning in the Environment (ICICLE) (National Science Foundation) Ohio State U, PI. Smart Foodsheds use case led by UC-Davis. Collaborators: Ohio State U, UW-Madison. The Smart Foodsheds team is developing food systems ontologies and knowledge graphs to make database integration possible and to improve visualization of data and information. Early application shows increased concentration in the food system from 2012 to the 2017 Census data.
• Lessons from COVID-19: Positioning Regional Food Supply Chains for Future Pandemics, Natural Disasters and Human-made Crises (USDA-NIFA Special Project). U of MN., PI. This project collected data during the pandemic on the economic impact of COVID 19 on businesses in the food supply chain in three regions: Los Angeles metro, Miami metro, Minneapolis metro. Regions were differently impacted by the pandemic, with the most concentrated region–Los Angeles, most severely affected.
• Local and Regional Food Systems Recovery and Resilience 2.0 (USDA-AMS Cooperative Agreement). PI Colorado State U. Collaborators: U of Kentucky, Penn State U. This project focused on supporting local and regional food system stakeholders impacted by COVID. Jablonski led the data and metrics work to improve access to comprehensive LRFS data and tools for academics, practitioners, and policymakers to promote rapid adoption of key planning and evaluation metrics to improve responses to future disruptions. After identifying five key data and metrics areas–community wealth, nutrition security and food access, business development and infrastructure, local food markets, and labor–researchers and community partners compiled available data using an equity lens into a single database to be visualized. The project led to three deliverables:
  (1) Data warehouse (GitHub): GitHub is a public data repository website used by various federal agencies. This site includes publicly available survey instruments, county-level data, and point-level data. The site enables users to find multiple LRFS data sets in one place, including over 300 variables, and a detailed code and instructions.
  (2) Data visualizations and website: https://localfoodeconomics.com/data/ The Food and Agriculture Data Explorer (FADE) offers Tableau data visualizations for grant applicants and researchers with (1) county-level maps and visualizations, and (2) USDA point-level data on farmers markets, CSAs, meat processors, etc. FADE will be useful for applicants to USDA’s LAMP and Regional Food Business Center RFAs since these funding opportunities require precise data points and metrics. The website includes “Stories from the field” where stakeholders describe how they have/will use FADE.
  (3) Equity statement and framework: We created a framework to guide the equitable use of data and worked with the USDA to develop an appropriate equity statement for the website.
• Ongoing AOTM policy work. Over NC1198’s 15+ years of policy work, there has been continual growth in policy application and communication by members of the group. Upcoming programming includes quarterly webinar series with NSAC and INFAS.

Please see list of NC1198 2022 publications attached.