Training for Farmers

Irrigation 2: Irrigation System Design

Media:

  • Digital Download

This guide will assist trainers who want to teach non-literate and/or non-English speaking farmers about how to select the best irrigation system (flood, drip, or overhead sprinkler) for their situation. The advantage and disadvantages of each system are discussed using illustrations and examples from the farmers’ field experience. It covers how to distinguish between sources of sanitary drinking water which can be used for washing vegetables and sources of water which are only appropriate for irrigation, laws and regulations governing water use and access rights, and how to assess the potential for irrigation on a new parcel of land.This teaching resource was developed by Katie Painter of Global Gardens Refugee Agriculture Program at the Idaho Office for Refugees, in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions).

Irrigation 1: How Much Water and How Often

Media:

  • Digital Download

This guide will assist trainers who want to teach non-literate and/or non-English speaking farmers about how to use irrigation to deliver the optimal amount of water for different weather conditions, soil types, specific crops, and stages of growth. It is especially appropriate for farmers from tropical and subtropical regions who must adapt traditional practices to temperate conditions. This teaching resource was developed by Katie Painter of Global Gardens Refugee Agriculture Program at the Idaho Office for Refugees, in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions).

Crop Insurance 1: Introduction to Crop Insurance

Media:

  • Digital Download

Guided discussion draws on farmers’ traditional strategies for dealing with catastrophic crop failures to introduce the concept of crop insurance. Participants are introduced to basic concepts and vocabulary related to insurance. USDA’s Whole Farm Revenue Protection is introduced through a discussion of its purpose and benefits.

Crop Insurance 2: Introduction to Whole Farm Revenue Protection

Media:

  • Digital Download

Participants will review costs and benefits of WFRP crop insurance and learn about eligibility, the application process, required farming practices and record keeping. They will be advised on where to find assistance with accessing information about WFRP, decision making, program application, compliance, and, when appropriate, collecting payments. Trainers may need to begin by reviewing what was learned about Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP), from Module 1: Introduction to Crop Insurance. This teaching resource was developed by Linda Seyler of Global Garden Refugee Training Farm in Chicago, in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions).

Cover Crops 2: How to Select Cover Crops & How to Track the Benefits of Cover Cropping

Media:

  • Digital Download

This guide can be used by trainers who want to assist pre-literate and/or English-as a second language-speaking farmers with including cover crops in vegetable production and other crop rotation schedules. It leads farmers through the process of sorting through the characteristics of specific cover crops to select the best one or mix of cover crops to meet their goals. It introduces farmers to a series of questions that they can answer throughout the growing season to evaluate the performance of the cover crops they have planted. Worksheets are provided so that trainers can assist farmers with this evaluation and with recording the results. Some data is specific to the Southeast region of the United States, but links to resources where data appropriate to other regions can be accessed are provided.This teaching resource was developed by Lauren Bailey of The Nashville Food Project in Nashville, TN in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions).

Cover Crops 1: Which Cover Crops Will You Use?

Media:

  • Digital Download

This guide can be used by trainers who want to assist pre-literate and/or English- as a second language-speaking farmers with including cover crops in vegetable production and other crop rotation schedules. It covers three major types of cover crops (mustards, legumes, and ‘other’), and the potential benefits and costs of cover crops. It leads farmers through the process of identifying what they want to accomplish via cover cropping, assists them with identifying opportunities within their production schedule for insertion of cover crops, and assists farmers with selecting the cover crop or mixture of cover crops which best match their needs and goals. Some data is specific to the Southeast region of the United States, but links to resources where data appropriate to other regions can be accessed are provided. This teaching resource was developed by Lauren Bailey of The Nashville Food Project in Nashville, TN in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions). 

Webinar: Building Online Engagement to Market Your Farm

Media:

  • Video

Marketing can help you decide what to grow or produce, choose where and how you want to sell it, differentiate yourself from other farmers, and make effective use of social media and other marketing tools. Learn the basics to doing your own marketing or supervising someone else. This series of 4 webinars is designed as a complete marketing class, but you can view each one as a stand alone course.

Webinar 4: Building Online Engagement to Market Your Farm
Websites, social media, email, and other types of digital marketing are great tools, but they can also be a huge waste of time. This session will cover basic dos and don’ts of websites, tips for getting found on the web through search engine optimization and online directories, and making the most of email and social media marketing.

About the Instructor:
Myrna Greenfield, founder and “Top Egg” at Good Egg Marketing, provides expert marketing for good food and good causes. Good Egg helps businesses increase sales and build customer loyalty through brand development, sales and marketing strategies, websites, and social media. Greenfield is a frequent speaker, trainer and workshop presenter. She holds an MBA from the Simmons School of Management and lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Webinar recorded on June 20, 2018. 

Webinar: Creating a Strong Brand for Your Farm

Media:

  • Video

Marketing can help you decide what to grow or produce, choose where and how you want to sell it, differentiate yourself from other farmers, and make effective use of social media and other marketing tools. Learn the basics to doing your own marketing or supervising someone else. This series of 4 webinars is designed as a complete marketing class, but you can view each one as a stand alone course. 

Webinar 3: Creating a Strong Brand for Your Farm
Your farm brand consists of everything that you offer, say, or do, from the quality of your produce or meat to the color of your logo to the way you greet your customers. This session will explain how to creating a clear, consistent, and compelling brand that can help people remember your farm, build customer loyalty, and increase sales.

About the Instructor:
Myrna Greenfield, founder and “Top Egg” at Good Egg Marketing, provides expert marketing for good food and good causes. Good Egg helps businesses increase sales and build customer loyalty through brand development, sales and marketing strategies, websites, and social media. Greenfield is a frequent speaker, trainer and workshop presenter. She holds an MBA from the Simmons School of Management and lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Webinar recorded on June 13, 2018.

Webinar: Creating a Farm Marketing Plan to Achieve Your Sales Goals

Media:

  • Video

Marketing can help you decide what to grow or produce, choose where and how you want to sell it, differentiate yourself from other farmers, and make effective use of social media and other marketing tools. Learn the basics to doing your own marketing or supervising someone else. This series of 4 webinars is designed as a complete marketing class, but you can view each one as a stand alone course. 

Webinar 2: Create a Farm Marketing Plan to Achieve Your Sales Goals
Learn how to create a simple marketing plan that will help you reach your sales goals. We’ll review product, pricing, and distribution options and discuss the design, promotion, and people you’ll need to implement your plan.

About the Instructor:
Myrna Greenfield, founder and “Top Egg” at Good Egg Marketing, provides expert marketing for good food and good causes. Good Egg helps businesses increase sales and build customer loyalty through brand development, sales and marketing strategies, websites, and social media. Greenfield is a frequent speaker, trainer and workshop presenter. She holds an MBA from the Simmons School of Management and lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Webinar recorded on June 6, 2018.

Webinar: Use Market Research to Guide Farm Business Decisions

Media:

  • Video

Marketing can help you decide what to grow or produce, choose where and how you want to sell it, differentiate yourself from other farmers, and make effective use of social media and other marketing tools. Learn the basics of doing your own marketing or supervising someone else. This series of 4 webinars is designed as a complete marketing class, but you can view each one as a stand alone course. 

Webinar 1: Use Market Research to Guide Farm Business Decisions

If you want to grow your business, you need to sell more to your existing customers, sell to new customers, and/or expand the number of products or services you offer. Market research can help you generate new ideas and choose the best options. This session will show you how to use basic market research to assess market trends, understand your current or potential customers, and decide what products, prices and channels make sense for your farm. 

About the Instructor:

Myrna Greenfield, founder and “Top Egg” at Good Egg Marketing, provides expert marketing for good food and good causes. Good Egg helps businesses increase sales and build customer loyalty through brand development, sales and marketing strategies, websites, and social media. Greenfield is a frequent speaker, trainer and workshop presenter. She holds and MBA from the Simmons School of Management and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Webinar recorded on May 30, 2018. 

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