Effective Outreach for a New Wisconsin Agriculture:
A Social Marketing Approach to the Environmental Management Needs of Hispanic and Women Farmers.
Environmental Resources Center
University of Wisconsin - Madison
www.uwex.edu/erc
Program Area
Human Dimensions of Sustainable AgricultureProjects
Bioenergy and Community ParticipationEnergy Independence, Bioenergy Generation and Environmental Sustainability
An Analysis of Environmental Management Approaches with Six Midwestern Dairy Farms
Reducing Pesticide Use and Risk in Urban Landscapes
University of Wisconsin Extension
Environmental Resources Center
445 Henry Mall
Madison, WI 53706
608-262-0024
Project Personnel
- Sharon Lezberg, Coordinator slezberg@wisc.edu
- Astrid Newenhouse, (Women's project) astridn@wisc.edu
- Julia Reyes-Hamann, (Hispanic project) julia.reyeshamann@wisconsin.gov
- Several UW student hourly workers have helped us including Jennifer Blazek, Eric Grazia, and Lindsay Hurth.
Collaborating Partner
Beginning and Minority Farmer Outreach and Assistance Program
Wisconsin Farm Center
WI Dept of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection
2811 Agriculture Dr.
P.O. Box 8911
Madison, WI 53708
1-800-942-2472
http://datcp.state.wi.us
Project Description
Our goal is to improve the effectiveness of UW-Extension's education and outreach programs, specifically concerning environmental resources and farm sustainability. We use surveys, interviews, focus groups, and reviews of previous research to develop a better understanding of specific farm groups in Wisconsin. Then we share information among outreach staff to help build better outreach tools for these groups. We also created a list of resources useful for these farmers. (Click here to access the list.) Contact the WI Farm Center for further assistance with your farm. http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/mktg/agriculture/farm-center/index.jsp
Currently we have two areas of research: Hispanic farmers and women farmers. For both groups we are trying to answer the questions: What information do you need and how would you like to get it?
Please contact us if you are a woman farmer or a Hispanic farmer in Wisconsin. We would like to hear from you.
Reports and Products
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We have sent a survey to all of the women farmers and Hispanic farmers listed as "primary operators" in the Wisconsin Ag Census. The list of women farmers was divided into those who are dairy farmers and those who are direct market farmers. Click below to read the surveys.
- Survey of Women Dairy Farmers in Wisconsin
- Survey of Wisconsin Women Farmers (Direct Market Farmers)
- Survey of Hispanic Farmers in Wisconsin (English version)
- Survey of Hispanic Farmers in Wisconsin (Spanish version)
Where do women direct market farmers go for information and what information do they need?
What do surveys and interviews tell us about Hispanic farmers in Wisconsin?
We developed a prototype of a toolkit for use by farm families as a planning and implementation aid in working toward environmentally managed farms.
We participated in the first Women Farmer's conference held in Wisconsin. It was organized by the WI Farm Center and was held in Dec., 2008 in Wisconsin Dells.
We held a "Conversation Circle for Women Farmers" at the 2009 MOSES Organic Farming Conference in LaCrosse, WI.
We are interviewing farmers to hear their stories. Contact us if you would like to be included. astridn@wisc.edu
We are networking with other researchers and outreach staff involved in these issues. Contact us if you'd like to share your programs ideas and results. slezberg@wisc.edu
Funded by the USDA North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education (SARE) program, St. Paul, Minnesota, www.sare.org/NCRSARE. Project time period September 2007-August 2010.
Photo credits: Troy Community Farm
© 2009 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved.