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How would diversification change the face of Agriculture in your region?
We are interested in learning more about how farmers decide to be involved in a variety of activities besides conventional farming, and how
that might impact your local area. This project is funded through the University of Vermont. You are invited to take part in this survey, and
your participation is completely voluntary. You may choose to withdraw at any time or choose not to answer every question. The results
will be beneficial to new and existing farmers, service providers, and policy makers at the local and national level, all of whom are interested
in learning about the impacts of farming decisions on long term profitability and sustainability. This survey will take about 30 minutes
for you to complete. Your answers will remain confidential. Survey results will be summarized in a general form to prepare for policy
recommendations, research articles, and outreach reports for producers. Thank you very much!
Project Director:
Dr. Kathleen Liang
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, (802) 656 0754 [email protected]
If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in a research project you should contact Nancy Stalnaker, the Director of the Research Protections Office, at the
University of Vermont at 802-656-5040.
Section 1: General Information about Your Farm
1. How many acres were in your farm operation in 2011? (include crops, pasture, forests, farmstead, etc.)
+______________ Owned acres How many owned acres were inherited or purchased from relatives?_____ acres
+______________ Leased acres Cash and share rental expense for these acres? $__________________
=______________ Total Acres (Owned acres + Leased acres = Total acres)
2. What is your legal business structure of this farm in 2011 (for example, sole proprietor, partnership, etc.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. In 2011, was more than half (50%) of the net worth in your farm’s assets owned by you and your extended family?
(Exclude landlords and lenders but include related individuals who might not be residing with you)
YES___ NO___
4. What were the main commodities your farm/enterprise produced and sold in 2011? (choose all that apply):
___
Grains
___ Hay, silage, and field seeds
___ Vegetables, sweet corn, and melons
___
Fruits, nuts, and berries
___ Maple and maple products
___
Poultry and poultry products
___ Dairy products
___ Cattle and calves
___
Hogs and pigs
___ Sheep, goat, and lamb
___ Llama, alpaca, or buffalo
___
Aquaculture
___
Horticulture, Nursery and greenhouse crops, include Christmas trees
___ Forest products (lumber, firewood, etc.)
Others (please specify) ____________________________________________________________
Of the above commodities, which accounts for the most value of production? (write-in the category)______________
Page 2
5. Which of the following category describes any acres on your farm?
___
I am not certified organic and I do not intend to pursue certification.
___
Certified organic acres (since what year_______)
___
Some or all acres in the process of becoming certified organic farm (since what year_______)
___
Use organic practices but not seeking certification (since what year_______)
___
Once certified organic but not any more
___
I am not certified and I am interested in learning about organic production
6. During 2011, did your farm focus on local markets by providing agri-tourism activities, selling directly to consumers, local schools,
local hospitals, local restaurants, or local to retailers who branded the products as locally produced?
YES___ NO___
If YES, check all that apply, indicating the year you first began this enterprise. If NO, skip to 7.
___
Agri-tourism (began in what year_______)
___
Direct sales of farm products for human consumption to consumers (e.g., farmstand, CSA), (began in what year_______)
___
Direct sales of other farm products not for human consumption to consumers (e.g., Christmas trees,
firewood, hay, greenhouse and nursery flowers and plants.) (began in what year_______)
___
Direct sales of value-added products to consumers (e.g., jam, jelly, wine ), (began in what year_______)
___
Direct sales to local hospitals, schools, or correctional facilities (began in what year_______)
___
Direct sales to local restaurants or retailers who sold the products as locally produced (e.g., Hannaford, Price Chopper,
Wal-Mart, etc.) (began in what year_______)
7. Did you participate in any government or university farm programs in 2011? Check all that apply
___
Federal and/or state farm payment programs
___
Federal and/or state farm loan programs
___
Conservation cost-share programs
___
Use USDA or state agency statistical market information
___
Local, State, or Federal Government training programs or technical advice
___
University or Technical College Extension Services program or technical advice
___
Other, specify ________________________________________________________________
8. Please indicate which individuals or organizations you often connect with for advice, training, education, and technical support in
2011. Check all that apply
___
Other Farmers
___
Friends, Family Members and Relatives
___
Chamber of Commerce
___
Producer or Consumer Cooperatives
___
Private Consultants
___
Input Suppliers
___
Financial Institutions (banks, investors, credit union, etc.)
___
Professional Associations (such as Vermont Farms Association or other State farm organization, Northeast Organic Farm
Association, Northeast Fruit and Vegetable Producer Association, etc.)
___
Others, specify_____________________________________________________________
Page 3
Section 2: Estimated Sales and Expenses of Your Farming Activities
1. Estimated dollars received from farming, such as sales of farm commodities (exclude value added and processed products) and
participation in government programs in 2011 (report income only once)
Estimated Dollars Received
Dairy Cooperative
$
Other Contracted Sales or Fees Received for Contract Production
$
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Buying Club
$
Pick your own, farm stand, farmers’ market for human consumption only (fruits and
vegetables, meat, etc.)
$
Farm products not for human consumption (Christmas trees, firewood, hay, greenhouse
and nursery flowers and plants.)
Local institutions, such as hospitals, schools, or correctional facilities
$
Restaurants and local retail outlets such as local grocery stores
$
National retail franchise that markets the products as locally-produced
(such as Wal-Mart or Sodexo)
$
Open market sales of farm products not reported above
$
Program payments from participating in government farm programs
$
Other farm income, such as income from providing machine hire and custom work
services, insurance indemnity payments, etc. (specify)
$
2. Estimated dollars received from agri-tourism activities in 2011 for each category
Estimated Dollars Received
Outdoor Recreation (Hay Rides, Sleigh Rides, Llama Trekking, Cross Country Skiing/
Snowshoeing, Hiking/Cave Exploring, Camping/Picnicking, etc.)
$
Educational Tourism (Bus Tour, School Group Tour, Garden Tour or Demonstration,
Winery Tours, Industry Tour, Wool Spinning Demonstration, Maple Sugaring Tour, Guided
Crop Tour, Dairy Milking Demonstration, etc.)
$
Accommodations and Food Services (Bed & Breakfast or Other Lodging Services,
Company or Organization Retreat, Meeting Facilities, etc.)
$
Entertainment, Festival, and Events (Concerts, Weddings, Flower Shows, Arts and Crafts
Shows, Harvest Festivals or Other Seasonal Events, etc.)
$
Others (Specify)
$
3. Estimated dollars received from value-added product sales in 2011 for each category
Estimated Dollars Received
Jam/Jelly/Other fruit preserved products
$
Dairy Products, including Ice Cream/Yogurt/Butter/Cheese/Cream
$
Pickled Fruit and Vegetable
$
Wine
$
Wool and Mohair products, including Yarn/Felt/Clothing items
$
Maple sugar, candy, cream, or other related products
$
Spice, Flour, Sugar, and other Baking/Cooking Condiments
$
Aquaculture
$
Forest products and By-products (timber, woodchips, etc.)
$
Others (specify)
$
Page 4
4. In 2011, how much did your farm spend for the following expenses?
•
Seeds, plants, seed treatments
$_______________
•
Fertilizer, lime, and other nutrients
$_______________
•
Pest control, include chemical and biocontrols
$_______________
•
Livestock purchases $_______________
•
Livestock feed, vet services, and leasing
$_______________
•
Fuel and utilities
$_______________
•
Trucking and storage
$_______________
•
Equipment purchases, including farm trucks
$_______________
•
Farm business expenses, such as
Insurance, property taxes, and interest on debt
$_______________
•
Farm depreciation of owned farm assets
$_______________
•
Labor expenses
$_______________
•
All other expenses, such as supplies, storage,
repairs and maintenance and leasing for farm machinery and vehicles $_______________
5. How many individuals did you have working on the farm in 2011 other than farm operators?
a. Total number of paid full time employees on your farm (including family members):
+ _______(workers)
b. Total number of paid part time employees on your farm (including family members):
c. Total number of family members involved in farm operation but not receiving regular farm salary: + _______(workers)
d.
Total workers (5a + 5b + 5c = 5d) + _______(workers)
= _______(workers)
6. Estimated Total Farm Income, Expenses (Cash or Accrual Methods), and Balance Sheet in 2011
Estimated Dollars Amount
Gross Farm income before expenses
$
Farm expenses
$
Farm Profit or Loss
$
Farm Assets
$
Farm Debt
$
Page 5
Section 3: Household Information
1. Age of principal operator: under 35___ 35-54___ 2. Gender of principal operator ___Female
___Male
55-64___ 65 and over___
3. Race of principal operator (check all that apply):
___White ___Black or African American
___Asian/Pacific Islander
___American Indian or Alaska Native (All tribes)
4. Is the principal operator of Hispanic origin, such as Mexican, Spanish, Puerto Rican, etc.? YES___ NO___
5. Education of principal operator:
___Less than High School ___High School ___Some College ___4-year College Degree or more
6. In what year did you become an operator of this farm? _______
7. In what year did you start operating or working on any farm? _______
8. Did the principal operator have a spouse for all or part of 2011? YES___ NO___
If YES, please continue. If NO, skip to 9.
If married, does your spouse work on the farm? YES___ NO___
If married, is your spouse also an operator of this farm? YES___ NO___
In what year did your spouse begin jointly operating this farm? _______
In what year did your spouse start operating or working on any farm? _______
9. How many persons lived in your household in 2011 (including students away at school)? _______
10. How many of these household members were under 16 in 2011? _______
11. How many of these household members were 65 years old or older in 2011? _______
Page 6
12. In 2011, if you or your spouse worked off-farm, which industry best describes the place you worked?
(If more than one, chose the one that contributes the most to your sources of off-farm income. Check box.)
Industry Type
Principal operator
Spouse of operator
(if applicable)
Not Applicable
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, or hunting
Construction
Manufacturing
Education Services
Health Services
Government Services
Wholesale trade, warehousing, utilities or transportation
Finance, insurance, real estate, or other professional services
Recreation or tourism, including eating and lodging
Retail trade or personal services
Other non-governmental services
For your off-farm work, what is your job title? (write in)________________________________________
For your spouse’s off-farm work, what is his/her job title? (write in)_______________________________
13. In 2011, what is an estimate of the number of hours per week you and your household members (if applicable) worked on this farming operation and at another job or business. Since work is often seasonal, provide an estimate of an average over 2011.
Farm hours
(average per week)
Work at a job other than your farm
(average per week)
Principal operator
Spouse/Partner
Other household member 1
Other household member 2
14. Estimated income household received from off-farm sources in 2011 for each category.
Principal operator
Spouse of principal operator
(leave blank if no spouse)
All other household
members, if any income
Full Time Jobs
$
$
$
Part Time Jobs
$
$
$
Another business you or
household member operate
$
$
$
Other off-farm income, e.g.,
$
interest, dividends, pensions, etc.
$
$
Page 7
Section 4: Opinions about Farming
1. Reasons for you to be involved in agri-tourism, direct sales, value-added production, and off-farm jobs (check all that apply):
Direct sales
Agri-tourism
Value
added
Sales to
consumers
(e.g., farmers
markets,
CSA’s, etc.)
Sales to
local restaurants
and retailers
that market as
locally-produced
Sales to
local schools,
hospitals, and
correctional
facilities
Off-farm jobs
and businesses
Increase farm revenue
Improve family financial
situation
Promote farm’s connection
with customers
Promote locally made products
Diversify farm operation
Provide employment opportunities for family members
Gain access to employer-provided health insurance
Promote local farm scenery
Enhance sustainability of local
working farmland
Connect with other community partners more often
Provide an education channel
for others
Create a different lifestyle for
my family
It is my hobby
2. Please indicate which barriers if applicable prohibit your involvement or expansion in agri-tourism, direct sales, value-added
production, or off-farm jobs (check all that apply):
Direct sales
Agri-tourism
Access to financing
and capital
Access to land
Access to market
and customers
Access to labor
Access to training
Access to service
providers and vendors
Access to networks and
support systems
Value
added
Sales to
consumers
(e.g., farmers
markets,
CSA’s, etc.)
Sales to
local restaurants
and retailers
that market as
locally-produced
Sales to
local schools,
hospitals, and
correctional
facilities
Off-farm jobs
and businesses
Page 8
3. Personal Reflection on Characteristics
Strongly Agree
Strongly Disagree
A.
I am always optimistic about my future.
1
2
3
4
5
B.
I am not afraid of failure.
1
2
3
4
5
C.
I am creative and innovative.
1
2
3
4
5
D.
I am always confident about my decisions.
1
2
3
4
5
E.
I enjoy working with people in general.
1
2
3
4
5
F.
I usually look before I leap.
1
2
3
4
5
G.
I am willing to take reasonable risks.
1
2
3
4
5
H.
When planning, I usually consider both
negative and positive outcomes.
1
2
3
4
5
I.
I always seek new opportunities.
1
2
3
4
5
J.
I usually try to find as much information as I can
before I decide what to do.
1
2
3
4
5
K.
I try to be reasonably certain about the situation I face
when starting an important activity. 1
2
3
4
5
4. Expectation and Outcome Assessment
As the result of participating in agri-tourism, direct sales, value added, and off-farm work, I believe:
Strongly Agree
Strongly Disagree
L.
My family’s financial situation has been improved.
1
2
3
4
5
M.
My family’s quality of life has been improved.
1
2
3
4
5
N.
My family and I are happy and satisfied
with our current farming operations.
1
2
3
4
5
O.
I have a more positive outlook for my future as a farmer.
1
2
3
4
5
P.
My family has a more positive outlook for our farming operation.
1
2
3
4
5
Q.
It has been more time consuming than I have expected.
1
2
3
4
5
R.
I would continue participating in agri-tourism, direct sales,
value added and/or off-farm work in the future.
1
2
3
4
5