Salads by Design

By Ron Doetch, Executive Director

On October 15, 2005 we opened "Fields Best" in the new Milwaukee Public Market to serve as a "portal" for local farmers to have access to sell their goods to the public year-round. Fields Best is a local, organic produce store. In the past 18 months, we have learned a lot about consumers, farmers and ourselves.

Consumers want local, organic, nutritionally dense and good tasting food at a competitive price. Oh, and many want it ready to eat. Farmers want more profit at the farm gate. They are traditionally the "low-cost" supplier and typically get paid less for the product than the cost of the package the product is sold in. When we put local farms products on our shelves, the farmer expects, and deserves, the majority of the selling price.

To satisfy both sides of this nagging expectation equation, we now make salads-to-order. This allows the consumer to pick the local organic ingredients for their salad, while our chef mixes our signature dressing with "spring salad greens" from Growing Power of Milwaukee, micro-greens and spinach from our own Stella Gardens and topped with chicken or salmon. We include a warm salad roll with each salad made from local organic wheat, rosemary and onion.

This service creates value in saving the consumer the time of preparation and trying to source local, organic goods. Salads are prepared in about 1 minute, which aligns well with consumers expectations with cell phones, email and fast food franchises everywhere. We call this new business model "Salads by Design" and it is a great way to have conversations with consumers about our growers, where food comes from and how it is produced.

The concept is becoming very popular and we have no idea how big it is going to become. We could expand the made-to-order item list extensively. Fruit salads, other local meats, cheeses, smoked-processed farm products- who knows?

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Conservation Security Program Catalyst for New Farm Conservation

By Laura Lipps, Policy Program Intern

On April 19th, the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, along with project partners, released a report on the Conservation Security Program (CSP). The report finds that the federal Conservation Security Program is spurring new conservation practices among Midwest farms.

This innovative U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm program, first envisioned in the 2002 Farm Bill, provides financial incentives to farmers who practice conservation on their working lands. It is the first federal conservation program to provide incentives to farmers to help ensure whole-farm sustainability.

The study examines how the Conservation Security Program is working in practice, from the perspective of farmers and state and local USDA staff. Farmers and agency staff in five Midwestern states - Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin - were interviewed, 67 in all.

The report finds that, once enrolled in this working lands program, the majority of farmers are adding new conservation practices to their operations. Farmers can add new practices as part of their initial Conservation Security Program contract. They can also modify their contracts annually and receive higher payments by adding new conservation practices, following their first year of enrollment in the program.

"The Conservation Security Program is bringing positive changes to our farms and our environment," said Jeanne Merrill, Associate Policy Director, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. "Midwest farmers enrolled in the Conservation Security Program are taking action to help protect our water, soil, air and wildlife."

The program also enjoys popular support among Midwest farmers, the study finds. All of the farmers - even those who were turned down ? when asked, said they want the Conservation Security Program to be continued and strengthened in the next farm bill, which is currently being debated by Congress.

The interviews also demonstrated the challenges farmers face. Funding limitations have driven USDA to restrict and limit the program. The agency holds yearly sign-ups only in selected watersheds, instead of the originally envisioned open enrollment. This means that there are many farmers who want to join the program but are not in eligible areas.

The report authors recommend changes to improve the program in coming years. The Conservation Security Program tends to enroll farmers who are already actively involved with other federal farm programs. Thus, extensive outreach to farmers not enrolled in other program is needed.

Farmers also need an open and predictable signup period. Currently, USDA announces signups with little lead-time, often hitting farmers right at planting time. Farmers need more advance notice to prepare for the program. The report authors emphasize that these changes can only work if Congress solves the program's funding shortfall. Over the last several years, Congress has taken over $4 billion away from the program's originally anticipated funds, despite its widespread popular support.

"This year's Farm Bill is a great opportunity for Congress to restore funding to the Conservation Security Program and support future farm conservation," noted Merrill.

The report is a project of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Land Stewardship Project, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Minnesota Project, Missouri Rural Crisis Center and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

For the full report, see: The Conservation Security Program Drives Resource Management: An Assessment of CSP Implementation in 5 Midwestern States

Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

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Research Improves Organic Corn Yields

By Walter Goldstein, Research Program Director

The success of organic and biodynamic agriculture relies, in part, on research that answers important production questions for farmers. MFAI is committed to agricultural research that serves the needs of sustainable agriculture. This past growing season, we conducted field trials of organic corn seed varieties that we developed to be less susceptible to weed infestations. With fewer weeds, farmers can reduce their mechanical tillage and improve soil quality. Here's what we found:

• In 2006, the ability of the corn populations that we bred under organic/biodynamic conditions to compete with weeds appeared to be superior to commercial organic corn hybrids. Weed foliage density scores were 2-3 times higher for commercial organic hybrids than for hybrids selected under organic conditions and sunflowers grew twice as heavy in mixture with the commercial hybrids than with the MFAI hybrids. The ability of the MFAI varieties and varietal hybrids to compete with weeds has improved over time as the populations were selected multiple years under organic conditions.
• Crosses between Michael Fields corn populations and commercial inbreds (topcrosses) yielded very similar to commercial organic hybrids from Blue River Hybrids/NC+. Crosses between corn populations (varietal hybrids) generally averaged somewhat lower yields than the topcrosses or the commercial corn hybrids. However, some varietal hybrids produced similar yields to the highest yielding commercial hybrids. Furthermore, many of the varietal hybrids were nutrient dense.
• The ranking of yield performance for different hybrids appeared to differ strongly according to whether the corn was grown under conventional conditions, organic conditions without weeds, or organic with weeds. Therefore, it is probably best to test varieties for organic production in organic fields where there are moderate populations of weeds, because those are conditions that are most realistic.

For more information about our corn research projects, please contact Walter Goldstein at wgoldstein@michaelfieldsaginst.org.

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Senate Committee Votes Unanimously in favor of Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Bill

By Jeanne Merrill, Associate Policy Director

On March 28th, the State Senate Economic Development Committee held a hearing on the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin bill (SB 89). Senator Julie Lassa, committee chair, and Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Rod Nilsestuen, farmers and numerous industry professionals testified in support of the bill.

The committee response to the bill was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. At the hearing, Senator Carol Roessler requested that her name be added to the list of over 30 co-sponsors of the bill. Senator Alberta Darling suggested that an amendment to the state budget be introduced to fund the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program. After testimony from farmers and others from around the state, the committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill.

Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Program

The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program will address hurdles farmers face in selling their products directly to food buyers, such as grocery stores, schools, and hospitals. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will implement the program, which will provide grants and technical assistance to farmers and others to develop regional food markets for Wisconsin products.

The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin bill was crafted over the course of a year with input and collaboration from Senator Lassa, Representative Al Ott, DATCP, farmers, farm groups, and a host of organizations, including the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association, the Wisconsin Berry Growers Association, the Wisconsin Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association, Wisconsin Rural Partners and the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute.

Next Steps

To fund the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program an amendment to the state budget must be introduced and supported in the Wisconsin legislature. The coalition of organizations and individuals who support the program are reaching out to members of the Joint Finance Committee, who oversee the development of the state budget, to ask for their support of the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program.

You too can help support the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program. If your state Senator or Assembly Representative is a member of the Joint Finance Committee, please consider sending them a letter of support for Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program. Ask them to support an amendment to the state budget to fund the program. For a list of Joint Finance Committee members, please go to the Joint Committe on Finance web site.

For more information about the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program, please contact Jeanne Merrill at: 608-256-1859 or jeannemerrill@earthlink.net.

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Fair Markets for Farm Country: The Competition Title

By Natasha Chart, Policy Program Intern

The typical American wage worker hasn't gotten a raise in somewhere around thirty years.

As Tom Kochan and Beth Shulman note, millions of America's working families fail to have the necessary means for basic self-sufficiency -- and it looks no better for the next generation. In their report, A New Social Contract: Restoring Dignity and Balance to the Economy, they write:

"In 2000, the average high-school educated workers age 25-29 started out earning about $5,000 less real income and could expect slower growth in earnings than those who entered the labor force in 1970. Workers with some college started about $3,500 behind their 1970 counterparts."

Thing is, the typical American farmer or rancher isn't doing much better [pdf]. As the profits of food processors, meat packers and agribusiness firms have soared, farmers and the rural economies [pdf] that center around them have been methodically and systematically crushed.

One aspect of this economic vise has been the tendency towards consolidation in the meat packing and food processing industries. They carve out what are often non-overlapping territories and no longer have to compete among themselves as frequently to offer growers a fair price.

"Rural America is becoming the company town," said Christopher Campany, who was the 2002 Farm Bill coordinator for the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture.

A set of bills being proposed for inclusion in the 2007 Farm Bill, collectively known as the competition title, could reform the current structure of the market to level the playing field for farmers without asking for additional taxpayer dollars to be diverted for subsidies.

To read Natasha's full article on the farm competition and the farm bill, please see her blog.

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Workshop Series

For a full listing of workshops and to register online, please click here.

May 4, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm: Biodynamic Gardening Workshop

This hands-on workshop introduces you to the preparations, implementations and philosophies of biodynamic gardening. Get your hands dirty and experience the processes involved in biodynamic preparations, composting, bed shaping, seed starting and much more.

May 5, 8:00 am to evening: Biodynamic Preparation Day

Lend a hand on the oldest biodynamic farm in the country. Get involved as the Zinniker Family Farm makes spring biodynamic preparations. Arrive early to collect the morning dandelions just as they open. Help out by preparing them to be returned to the soil as part of the life process that keeps all organisms working together on the biodynamic farm. Then celebrate at the potluck and bonfire on the farm.

May 25, 9:00 am to Noon: Baking Bread: Wholegrain Sourdough

Learn how to turn natural ingredients into delicious, crusty bread loaves. This hands-on course will engage the senses as you see, touch, smell and taste healthy and wholesome breads.

June 8, 2:00 to 5:00 pm: Grant Writing

Need money to help buy land, lease farming equipment, conduct research or start a community garden? It's out there for you if you know where to look, and how to ask. This workshop is designed to help you find grant money and write grant proposals in an effective way.

June 15, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm: Organic Matter

Sustainable farming strives for long-term profitability by maintaining quality soils that can provide long-term stable yields. The key to soil health can be found in the quantity of organic matter. Components of organic matter and the importance of its biodiversity will be discussed.

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Announcements

Statewide Conference: "Our Future, Our Heritage"

May 14-15, 2007
Monona Terrace, Madison, Wisconsin
To register, please go to the conference web site.

The Future of Farming and Rural Life Conference, May 14-15, 2007, is a time for concerned citizens to plant seeds for our collective rural future and time to...

• Explore compelling issues facing Wisconsin agriculture and rural life
• Discover what is being done to plan for our rural future and how citizens can become involved.
• Celebrate our rural heritage and Wisconsin arts and culture
• Hear informed voices -- and add your own on matters affecting our economy, our health, our children, our communities
• Help us to develop a better understanding of our regional strengths
• Learn about promising innovations in different sectors and regions of the state
• React to draft Future of Farming project recommendations
• See the promise of our youths as new farmers, community leaders, innovators and citizens

We need your views, your voice, and your vision to explore Wisconsin's rural future. JOIN US! Scholarships available for producers and students.

Harvest Festival - October 6 and 7

Are You A Farmer That Direct Markets? Do You Have Old Tractors Or Farm Machinery?

Looking For Antique Tractors and Farmers Market Vendors

MFAI's annual harvest celebration will three main activities - the Farmers' Market, the Antique Tractor Show, and Tours. If you are interested in being a vendor at the market or have tractors to display, please contact the Festival Coordinator at therese@michaelfieldsaginst.org or call (262) 642-3303, extension 117. The Harvest Festival is held at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's site in East Troy, Wisconsin.

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