Completed Project Report


Growing Farms Profits: Furthering Education on Farm Financial Management

  • Award Amount: $44,991
  • Regional Center: Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2013 Competitive Grant Program
  • Project Director: Jean Mills
  • Email: jean@ssawg.org
  • Organization: Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group

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Project Overview

This project educated 118 small and mid-scale producers of horticultural crops (from the Lexington, Kentucky and the Chattanooga, Tennessee areas) on how to price their products for appropriate markets, how to track expenses, and how to calculate profitability for their farm enterprises. Through an intensive training workshop, participants were given a framework for
understanding farm finances, and farmer-friendly business tools to set up their own record-keeping and cost analysis systems. After the trainings, 8 new video tutorials demonstrating the use of the complex Veggie Compass Whole Farm Profit Management tool discussed in the classroom trainings were created and posted online.  All other training materials were also posted online and advertised through the Southern SAWG network.  A total of 99 of the 118 participants (84%) responded to our 5 month post-training follow-up survey.  99% of those responding (98 individuals) said the training and take home materials have impacted the way they think about their farming operation.  82% of those responding (81 individuals) said they have already begun setting up their own record-keeping and/or cost analysis system. To date, the respondents report they have shared the information with at least 400 others, indicating a terrific multiplier effect.   

 

Number of Participants: 118

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES