Mar 26, 2021

Michigan Farm Technical Assistance Survey underway

Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) are surveying farmers in Michigan to better understand which business technical assistance resources farmers are using and their effectiveness.

According to a news release, there are lots of resources out there for all aspects of farm business management and production, and it is time consuming to find the best ones. This pilot project, funded by Breyers, has hired Technical Assistance Navigators in Michigan and Vermont, interviewing farmers to understand their needs and referring them to tech assistance resources and service providers in each state. The Navigator, in collaboration with partners in Michigan, serves as a point person to get farmers the resources they need quickly and free of charge.

This survey will inform future programming in MI, like webinar topics and a future statewide resource map in collaboration with Ottawa County and MIFFS. The survey will be augmented by hosting listening sessions with farmers to better understand their stories.

All respondents who complete the whole survey will be entered into a raffle, and five lucky winners can choose the prize of their choice from the Young Farmers Shop (up to $40) or free membership for one year. If you are interested in taking part in a listening session, sharing your story in an informal interview, or looking for resource guidance, contact Payge, the MI Technical Assistance Navigator, at [email protected].

There are two chapters of the National Young Farmers Coalition forming in MI to do policy organizing work around local and state farm policy. If you are interested in joining the Northwest Michigan chapter or West Michigan chapter, email Payge at [email protected]. If you are interested in starting a chapter in your region, contact [email protected] for more resources.

The survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete, and all questions are optional:

English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZL9YZ5K

Spanish: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/8VJ8VGW

– Jennifer Silveri, Director of Field Operations, Michigan Food & Farming Systems