Cooperative Extension
njaes.rutgers.edu
Martin Hall, Room 327
rabin@aesop.rutgers.edu
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
88 Lipman Drive
732-932-5000, Ext. 610
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525
Fax: 732-932-6633
Participant Outcome Assessment
Small/Beginning Farmer Equipment Demonstration
Training: Proper Equipment for Small Farms
Ed Dager, John Grande, Rodger Jany, Steve Komar,
Peter Nitzsche, and Jack Rabin
Kaitlin D’Agostino, Economics, SAS ’13, student assistant
The Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm conducted a hands-on equipment
demonstration in the field for 28 participants engaged as beginning, first-generation or
part-time small farmers, managers, or ag professionals on October 12, 2009. This intense,
one-day training covered seven equipment demonstration stations (Appendix 2). The
training offered participants an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills from farming staff
operating a wide variety of equipment used in successful smaller-scale farming operations.
Purpose
Sound Northeast regional programs exist for new, beginning, part-time smaller farmers to
explore farm family goals, to hone strategic or enterprise business management skills and
prepare business plans, or to seek value-added technical assistance. A gap–where the
impact of costly mistakes spans years–is effective skills selecting and using small-scale
farming equipment. This was the program target.
Small farmers can precision place expensive hi-tech pelleted seed, competitively, even on the smallest
farm operation, using a one-row Stanhay planter available from Stanhay Webb in Great Britain.
Strategic Supporting Input Needs
Three vital components were mobilized conducting and supporting this programming:
1st. Rutgers NJAES maintains unique institutional farm capacity, equipment
ownership, and ability to transport, aggregate, operate, and demonstrate more than
40 pieces of specialty smaller-scale farming equipment at one location, on one day.
2nd. Empowering 5 Rutgers NJAES professional farm staff as field instructors, with
decades of combined equipment operating experience and insight; not solely
depending on Cooperative Extension staff. Farmers educating farmers is the most
effective method of transferring farm equipment selection and operating skills.
3rd. Detailed information and discussion for participants on new and used equipment
costs, operational value, convenience value, and safety to help them make more
informed decisions about selecting and investing in equipment necessary to enter
profitable smaller-scale or part-time farming.
Evaluation
Participants (n=21) completed a five-question outcome and effectiveness survey; evaluating
their experiences in the training. They also offered recommendations and comments for
additional future training and improvement. Descriptive statistics and discussion of results
are presented. Anecdotal trainer observations are in Appendix 1.
Participants revealed their working knowledge of equipment selection and use prior to
training demonstrations versus and after, using a 1 through 5 rating scale; with a Rating of
1 = no knowledge and Rating of 5 = extensive knowledge. In Table 1, virtually all
responding participates, novice through experienced, advanced in their farm equipment
selection and use skills.
While recognizing growing & making quality hay has farm size “economy-of-scale” profitability
hurdles, there are good markets, lower-cost leasing opportunities on preserved land, compatibility
with part-time farmer labor, and good used equipment availability. These combine making hay
enterprises attractive in our region.
Table 1. Participants rate their knowledge and skills of farm equipment topics before and
after training. Rating 1 = no prior knowledge; Rating 5 = extensive knowledge. Upper value
is number of responses at each Rating level. Lower value is the percent of total responses.
Topics on
Selecting and
Using
Proper tractors for
farm tasks
Proper tillage
implements
Fertilizer and lime
spreaders
Sprayer application
equip.
Irrigation equip.
and mgt.
Pesticide app.
equip. calibration
1
4
19%
7
35%
7
33%
5
24%
7
35%
9
45%
Rating Before
Training
2
3
4
5
24%
6
30%
6
29%
7
33%
6
30%
3
15%
8
38%
4
20%
5
24%
7
33%
3
15%
6
30%
3
14%
2
10%
2
9%
2
10%
3
15%
2
10%
5
1
5%
1
5%
1
5%
0%
1
5%
0%
1
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1
5%
Rating After
Training
2
3
4
5
5
24%
2
10%
3
14%
2
9%
2
10%
6
30%
4
19%
5
25%
4
19%
8
38%
7
35%
3
15%
0%
1
5%
1
5%
1
5%
1
5%
4
20%
12
57%
12
60%
13
62%
10
48%
10
50%
6
30%
n
=
21
20
21
21
20
20
To focus on participant change, Table 2 summarizes the percent of respondents reporting
no to little knowledge (Rating = 1-2) prior to and after their training and the percentage of
respondents reporting good to extensive knowledge (Rating = 4-5) prior to and after
participation. Moderate skills (Rating = 3) self-assessments both pre and post training were
excluded. Respondents reported their least initial knowledge and skills (Rating = 1-2) with
tillage equipment, sprayer calibration, and sprayer application equipment. As a result of
demonstration training, participants reported their greatest skills advancement changes
(Rating = 4-5 before and after) with selecting and using sprayer equipment and primary
and secondary tillage implements. The least skills advancement change was reported in
pesticide equipment calibration.
Table 2. Measuring skills levels before and after training demonstration participation. Both
novice and moderately experienced participants advanced in farm equipment skills.
Topics on Selecting
and Using
Proper tractors for
farm tasks
Proper tillage
implements
Fertilizer and lime
spreaders
Sprayer application
equip.
Irrigation equip. and
mgt.
Pesticide app. equip.
calibration
Respondents self-assess farm equipment skills and knowledge, percent
(%) reporting:
Good to
Good to
No to little
No to little
Extensive
Extensive
Before vs.
before %
after %
before %
after %
After %
(Rating 1-2)
(Rating 1-2)
(Rating 4-5)
(Rating 4-5)
Change
43
0
19
76
43 & 57
65
5
15
85
60 & 70
52
5
14
81
47 & 67
57
5
10
86
52 & 76
65
5
20
85
60 & 65
60
25
10
45
40 & 35
All participating respondents indicated changing their management based on participation,
as shown in Table 3.
Table 3. Participant responses when asked, “Will you change how you manage your farm”
based on participation in the program.
Management change
indicated:
“Not at all”
“Somewhat”
“Very Much”
Percent (%) of
participants
0
57
43
Respondents were asked if training participation assisted them managing their farming in
various specific ways. Table 4 clearly shows participants reported being far better able to
select proper equipment (91%), being introduced to new equipment (81%), and being
provided with new farming ideas (81%). An intermediate number (43%) were assisted in
selecting equipment specifically for part-time farming use and in developing new farmer
relationships. Fewer will change farming plans (14%) or were new to Cooperative Extension
(19%). We note with satisfaction that participants had farming plans, which did not change,
while their equipment knowledge did. Thus, our program goal and that of our participants
was achieved exactly; raising new/part-time equipment competency, while letting other
programs address their farm family goals and planning needs.
Enthusiastic participants tolerated cold overcast conditions to see 40 pieces of specialized equipment
operating close up.
Table 4. Participants reporting by rank the specific assistance that demonstration training
provided to them.
Today’s program assisted me because…
Bettered ability to select proper equip.
Introduced to new equipment.
Provided with new farming ideas.
Provided with valuable educational materials.
Helped select equip. for part time faming use (low
hours, limited size, etc.)
Developed new relationships.
Saved money on an equip. purchase decision.
Introduced to Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
Changed farming plans.
Percent (%)
Participants
91
81
81
67
43
43
29
19
14
Goal focusing on equipment selection and use was clearly met, while farming plans,
networking, and other topics can be addressed by other programs.
Table 5. Ranking participants intentions of future farming actions.
Future Intention
Plan to attend Cooperative Extension programs to increase
profitability.
Plan to purchase an equipment type demonstrated.
Plan to fabricate or improve a piece of equipment
demonstrated.
Plan to calibrate equipment.
Decided not to purchase a piece of equipment after learning
about its associated costs or limited value to operation.
Plan to purchase a product rather than fabricating it.
Percent (%)
Participants
77
62
62
43
10
5
Table 6. Ranking participants selection (from a structured list) of training opportunities
they would be interested in attending.
Training Opportunities Interested in Attending:
Farm business planning and development.
Agri-tourism and value-added production.
Selecting a farm and farmland soils for purchase or rent.
Using new technologies to market your farm.
Retirement and farm transfer planning.
Farm regulations.
Percent (%)
Participants
81
57
48
43
33
24
Farmers still need allied educational opportunities in business planning and marketing.
Participants recommended training they would like presented (no ranking):
- Crop marketing and storage of small orchards and cane crops.
- Vegetable crop production and irrigation cover crop use.
- Farm products and services marketing, utilizing raised beds effectively, and equipment
maintenance and repair.
- IPM for small farms, energy efficiency for small farms, and constructing a farm business plan.
- Permaculture techniques.
- Marketing.
- Organic low impact farming and creating community supported agriculture.
- Grazing and pasture management.
- Vineyard diseases and prevention.
- Grassland management and use of warm season grasses.
Participants were invited to offer comments and suggestions:
- Would be interested in doing this course again!
- Break today’s program into 2 sections: Farms under cultivation of 3 acres or < and farms > 3 acres
- It was interesting to hear multiple viewpoints.
- Thanks for all the work put into this program. Every minute was useful. You packed a lot into this
day. Great job!
- Well done by all.
- This was great! Your staff is great. Good program.
- I learned a lot. It was very informative – the “instructor” really was hands on and knew the
subjects. Great demonstration today!!! I appreciate the wide range of topics covered.
- Would be nice to have a regional workshop in South Jersey.
Appendix 1. Trainer observations
- Work with instructors improving the pre-scripting of training for each piece of equipment. Pre-walk
through timing, etc. Decide who demonstrates and operates a particular piece of equipment versus
who describes it.
- Feed participants well. This is outdoors activity; thus food is networking opportunity time.
- Encourage participants to contract with neighboring farmers for their Primary Tillage services
early in their farming career experience, rather than purchasing equipment, especially for opening
ground to cultivation after a period of pasture use or abandonment from tillage.
- If participants are operating on currently cultivated land, encourage farming methods and
alternate equipment without reliance on heavy annual primary and secondary tillage. Horsepower
requirements, costs, and intermittent use favor this approach, unless farmer is converting pasture or
overgrown fields back to cultivation.
- Spend adequate time on mechanical cultivation equipment and methods.
- Prepare for equipment breakdowns with humor, and as learning experiences.
- Be able to clearly offer which equipment dependent cropping practices, technologies, or enterprises
are farm size neutral (drip irrigation) versus those requiring economy of scale (commercial hay
production).
- Have available rugged, dependable, yet garden, hand-scale, equipment for planting or fertilizing
offering calibration capability. This includes seeders, spreaders, and backpack sprayers for new
small farmers who cannot yet afford even used farm scale equipment.
- Assembling appropriate equipment takes time.
- Moving equipment is extremely costly.
Appendix 2. List of small farm equipment “Stations” covered in program
1) Primary and secondary tillage tractors and tillage implements
a) Demonstration, defining power requirements, and cost of ownership, renting primary tillage
services
b) Soil differences and appropriate tillage in relation to moisture and vegetation.
2) Fertilizer and lime application equipment
a) Demonstration and discussion of fertilizer and lime spreader designs, including a rotary and
drop spreaders. Cost of ownership. Basic plant nutrition and soil pH. Calibration of
spreaders.
3) Seed Planting and Transplanting equipment
a) Review of operating parameters, importance of straight row procedures, hand seeders,
seeding depth, and precision spacing of vegetable and other seeds, economies of scale, cost of
ownership
b) Proper handling of transplants pre-and post-planting.
4) Horticulture/vegetable crop irrigation
a) Trickle irrigation operation demonstration and discussion. Lower power + lower flow rates =
lower capital and operating costs. Overhead irrigation operation, design, capacity, power
requirement.
b) Demonstration and cost of ownership. How to select the right irrigation methods for you.
New Jersey DEP reporting regulation.
5) Controlling pests and pesticide application and safety
a) Using backpack sprayers. Utilization, operation, calibration, efficiency and costs compared to
tractor-mounted sprayers or ATV sprayers.
b) Review of basic herbicide insecticide and fungicide application methods, including products
approved for organic crop production.
c) Demonstrations and discussions of cost of ownership.
d) Pesticide application workplace safety equipment and demonstration. Review of NJ DEP
pesticide licensing requirements.
6) Crop cultivation equipment
a) Demonstration operating a diversity of specialized small equipment.
b) Discussion on why we cultivate, mechanical cultivation weed control strategies. Costs of
ownership.
c) Fertilizer side dressing combined with cultivation
7) Growing and making hay and/or livestock forage
a) Equipment: seeder or drill, mower or mower/conditioner haybine, windrow hay rake or
tether, baler, and wagons.
b) Economy of scale in hay/forage enterprise, used equipment, need for low cost quality organic
forages to support alternative livestock.
Rabin, 12/03/09