Marbleseed Inc

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SINCE 1996, MARBLESEED, FORMERLY THE MIDWEST ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION SERVICE (MOSES) HAS SERVED AS ONE OF THE CRITICAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROMOTING AND EDUCATING FARMERS ON VIABLE SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIC PRODUCTION. TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EDUCATED A COMMUNITY OF THOUSANDS OF DIVERSE NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS ON SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIC PRODUCTION PRACTICES AND FARM FINANCES. BUILDING OFF THE FOUNDATION OF THE PREVIOUS BFRDP PROJECTS (FEARLESS FARM FINANCES, NEW FARMER U EVENTS, NEW ORGANIC STEWARDS PROGRAM, MENTORSHIP AND DIRECT FARMER SUPPORT), MARBLESEED SEEKS TO SUPPORT UPPER MIDWEST BEGINNING FARMERS THROUGH CONTENT AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ADDRESS BUSINESS PLANNING, PRODUCTION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EXPANDED MENTORSHIP, AND SYSTEMS FOR FINANCING AND LAND ACCESS. THIS CURRENT APPLICATION BUILDS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PREVIOUS WHILE EXPANDING REACH TO SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS VIA INCUBATOR FARMS, NEW STATE PARTNERS, AND OTHER MARBLESEED PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY ENGAGE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED BEGINNING FARMERS.WITH AN ESTIMATED 700 MILLION ACRES OF FARMLAND EXPECTED TO SWITCH HANDS IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE NEED TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION OF FARMERS AND TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO LAND AND CAPITAL GROWS MORE IMMINENT. EVERY TIME WE LOSE SEVERAL OLD PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE NO YOUNG PEOPLE COMING TO REPLACE THEM. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO [...] FIGURE OUT NEW WAYS TO REBUILD THE COMMUNITY AND TO REANIMATE THE PERSON-TO-PERSON INTERACTION...BASICALLY WE NEED TO MENTOR AND TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER (SNYDER ET AL., 2022, PP. 140). THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT, ACCORDING TO THE 2017 AGRICULTURE CENSUS, ATTRITION RATES AMONG BEGINNING FARMERS HAVE GONE DOWN AND THE NUMBER OF WOMEN FARMERS HAS INCREASED. THIS SUGGESTS THE WORK DONE TO SUPPORT BEGINNING FARMERS AND UNDERSERVED AUDIENCES BY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MARBLESEED AND OUR PARTNERS IS MAKING AN IMPACT. THE FARMER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMWILL SUPPORT A CONTINUED INCREASE OF SUCCESSFUL BEGINNING FARMERS, INCLUDING UNDERSERVED FARMERS, BY SUPPORTING THEIR LEARNING NEEDS IN FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, PRODUCT MARKETING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS TO LAND AND CAPITAL, AND MENTOR RELATIONSHIPS WITH MORE ADVANCED PEERS. THE PROJECT WILL HAVE A GENERAL FOCUS ON SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERSERVED ORGANIC FARMERS AND RANCHERS, INCLUDING FARMERS ON LEASED AND OR IN INCUBATORS, WHERE HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF BIPOC AND OTHER SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS EXIST IN HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS DUE TO THEIR ISSUES AROUND LAND ACCESS AND OWNERSHIP. WE INVOLVE BIPOC AND OTHER SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN.

THE OVERALL PROJECT GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN THE VIABILITY OF THE ORGANIC FARMING SECTOR IN THE MIDWEST THROUGH PROVIDING TAILORED LEVELS OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND BUILDING COMMUNITY AMONG BEGINNING AND INTERMEDIATE FARMERS, INCLUDING THE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING FARMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN MULTI-GENERATIONAL EDUCATION WHERE BEGINNING FARMERS CAN LEARN FROM A MIXTURE OF INTERACTIONS WITH THEIR PEERS, EXPERIENCED MENTORS, AND EXPERTS IN VARIOUS FIELDS. OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS, THE PROJECT WILLPROVIDEEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP FROM EXPERIENCED FARMERS AND EXPERTS.THE FARMER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM OFFERS A CAREER PIPELINE TO SUPPORT BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS THROUGHOUT THEIR DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT. THISPROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEER-COHORTS OF NEW, INTERMEDIATE, AND MORE EXPERIENCED BEGINNING FARMER UNITS BASED ON EXPERIENCE LEVEL. IT ALSO PAIRS BEGINNING FARMERS ACROSS THESE EXPERIENCE COHORTS TO HELP THEM SUPPORT AND MENTOR EACH OTHER IN THE CHALLENGING LIFESTYLE AND FINANCIAL RISKS THEY WILL ALL FACE DAILY. WE WILL OFFER ENVIRONMENTS AND STRUCTURES NECESSARY TO FACILITATE NETWORKING WITH THEIR PEERS AND EXPERTS, ACCESS RESOURCES APPROPRIATE TO THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND LEARN TO SUSTAIN A FARM BUSINESS FOR THE LONG-TERM.

NEW ORGANIC STEWARDS: EXPANDING COMMUNITY, RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE

ORGANIC TECHNICAL STAFFING ASSISTANCE

ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR BEGINNING FARMERS

THE PASTURE, PROCESS, PLENTY STUDYING A LOCAL MEAT SUPPLY CHAIN INTENDS TO ADDRESS THE MEAT PROCESSING CHALLENGES, BOTH CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED, IMPACTING FARMERS, RANCHERS, PROCESSORS, AND CONSUMERS IN NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN. THE PROJECT WILL CONVENE ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE, HOLISTIC FRAMEWORK FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF INSUFFICIENT MEAT PROCESSING OPTIONS ON A REGIONAL SCALE. THE STUDY WILL FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS THAT EMPHASIZE COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP, EQUITABLE ACCESS, AND WIDELY SHARED BENEFIT FOR FARMERS, PROCESSORS, AND WORKERS. IT WILL CONNECT SMALL MEAT PROCESSORS AND FARMERS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO PROCESSING FACILITIES AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE MEAT SUPPLY CHAIN IN THE REGION. IT WILL EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES FOR PROCESSORS THAT ARE LOOKING TO RETIRE INCLUDING EMPLOYEE OWNED STRUCTURES AND COOPERATIVES, TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND CURRENT SMALL MEAT PROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE DESIGNING A VIABLE, DETAILED BUSINESS MODEL AND NECESSARY LEGAL STRUCTURE, DETERMINING THE CAPITAL NECESSARY TO ACTUALIZE THE PLAN, AND WORKING WITH STATE AGENCIES TO ADDRESS ANY REGULATORY BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION AS A REPLICABLE MODEL. IT IS THE COLLABORATORS INTENT TO MAKE THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY AND RESULTING BUSINESS PLAN AND MODEL WIDELY AVAILABLE AND ADAPTABLE BEYOND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN, AS IT ADDRESSES AN URGENT NEED FOR SMALL, GRASS BASED LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS NATIONALLY.

DEVELOPING FARM FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE OF BEGINNING ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE FARMERS

TO DEVELOP A RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM TO ENHANCE INCOME

MEETING THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS AT MIDWESTERN FARMING CONFERENCES

2018RRMEPP

RME AWARD

RME OUTREACH

RME OUTREACH

MAPPING THE FUTURE OF ORGANIC RESEARCH 2050

2016 RMEPP AWARD

TO DELIVER TRAINING AND INFORMATION TO ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCERS FROM WISCONSIN MINNESOTA AND IOWA ON RISK MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND STRATEGIES.

CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

EXPANDS CLIMATE-SMART WHEAT, GRAIN, SPECIALTY AND ORGANIC CROP MARKETS IN IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, TN, WI AND SUPPORTS FARMER CLIMATE SMART PRACTICE IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING.