Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - [Market-farming] [Fwd: Diversified Farm and Ranch Study]

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Lucy Goodman <goodows AT infinet.com>
  • To: market-farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>, "digests, Recipients of SANET-MG" <SANET-MG AT LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU>, OrganicMarketGarden <OrganicMarketGarden AT yahoogroups.com>
  • Subject: [Market-farming] [Fwd: Diversified Farm and Ranch Study]
  • Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 17:11:34 -0500


prtrmail AT msu.edu wrote:
>
> To: Boulder Belt Organics
> From: Dr. Ed Mahoney
> Project Coordinator
> Diversified Farm and Ranch Study
>
> I am writing you to specially invite your participation in an exciting new
> study that Michigan State University is undertaking to better understand
> the characteristics and performance of diversified farms and ranches
> throughout the U.S. and Canada. The study, which is being funded by the
> U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, is
> designed to collect a variety of information on the characteristics of
> farmers and ranchers who have diversified their revenues by adding new
> enterprises including: value added processing (e.g. jams, wine); packaging
> and shipping, recreation, lodging (e.g. B&B's, ranch vacations),
> educational programming, and even leasing their farms or ranches for
> hunting.
>
> This study is important because while we know that many farmers and
> ranchers across the U.S. and Canada are attempting to diversify their
> revenues by adding new enterprises, there has not yet been a widespread
> study of this important trend. Nor has a comprehensive list of diversified
> farms and ranches been compiled. For example, there is not scientific
> information to indicate whether or not diversified farms and ranches are
> successfully meeting their diversification goals, e.g., employment for
> family members. The lack of information is hindering the development of
> policies and programs, e.g., incentives, to promote and support
> diversification of farmers and ranchers.
>
> The information that is collected on this Web-based survey parallels in
> important ways information that is collected through the U.S. Census of
> Agriculture. Similar information is also collected by agriculture agencies
> in Canada. Identifying diversified farms and ranches and collecting
> similar information to that collected in the Census of Agriculture will
> enable us to make various comparisons with farms and ranches that are not
> diversified. Although you will be completing this survey in 2003, it is
> important to remember that we are asking for information about 2002. Please
> provide information pertaining to 2002, not what you expect or plan to do
> in 2003.
>
> This recruitment email is being sent to approximately 900 diversified farms
> and ranches. We obtained the emails from various sources, primarily by
> searching the Web to identify farms and ranches that have diversified their
> revenues. As part of the study, we are also developing a database
> including the webpage addresses of farms and ranches that have diversified
> by adding new enterprises.
>
> We know that YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE and LIMITED! At the same time, we are
> attempting to gather sufficient information that will be useful to
> diversified farms and ranches, and also for setting policies to encourage
> and support diversification. Recognizing this, we have made a great effort
> to design the survey so it is easy to navigate and convenient to complete.
> The questions are easy to complete by clicking on a response or entering a
> short answer response. When you click on the submit button you
> automatically transmit your answers to us.
>
> We are unable to offer you any monetary incentives to complete the survey.
> However, all participants who complete the survey will be emailed a report
> of the findings from the study within a couple of months. Because the
> answers that you provide are automatically recorded in our database when
> you press the submit button, we will be able to complete the analysis and
> get the results out to you within a couple of months. We also plan to
> provide persons who complete the survey access to the reports on our web
> site. It is very important that you provide your correct email address so
> that we can send you the report as soon as it is completed.
>
> Your privacy will be protected to the maximum extent allowable by law. When
> you send back your completed survey, our system will separate any
> information that identifies your farm and ranch from the answers that you
> supply. There will be no way to associate your farm or ranch with the
> answers that you supply. We hope that you will complete all the questions,
> but you are under no obligation to do so. If you want to learn more about
> our privacy policies and your rights as participants, please go to
> MSU-UCRIHS.
>
> Please, if you know of any other diversified farms and ranches, forward
> this email to them, or if you prefer email us their email and/or Web
> address. My email address is prtrmail AT msu.edu. This will also help us
> identify more diversified farms and ranches and help us to increase our
> response rate. In addition, we will also develop a web site with pertinent
> information regarding diversification of farms and ranches.
>
> I hope that you will join us in successfully completing this important
> study. If you have any questions or suggestions please email me and we will
> be back in touch with you as soon as possible, often that same day. We need
> your help!
>
> Please, click the link provided below to complete the Farm and Ranch
> Diversification Survey.
>
> http://www.prr.msu.edu/agriculture/DiversifiedSurvey.htm
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Dr. Ed Mahoney
> Diversified Farm and Ranch Project Coordinator
> College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
> Michigan State University
> East Lansing, Michigan

--
<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
&nbsp;
<br>Lucy Goodman
<br>New Paris, OH
<br>Boulder Belt Organics
<br>http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/boulderbeltcsa
<br>Looking for local food? Check out
<br>http://www.localharvest.org
<p>We have, I fear, confused power with greatness
<br>Stewart I. Udall</html>



  • [Market-farming] [Fwd: Diversified Farm and Ranch Study], Lucy Goodman, 01/20/2003

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page