A Farm to School Procurement Calculator for Specialty Crop Producers and School Food Service Staff

Farm to School logoFlorida Farm to School programs are designed to connect producers with schools. But school food service staff make their purchasing decisions in terms of servings and producers pack their products by weight. General calculators and guides designed for national Farm to School programs don’t address Florida’s diverse production of fresh fruits and vegetables. This procurement calculator and guide for Florida Farm to School programs was written by Jonathan A. Watson, Danielle Treadwell, Anna Prizzia, and Kelli Brew, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, September 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1250

Estimated Livestock Fencing Costs for the Small-Farm Owner (AN258)

One of the most expensive costs for a small-farm owner considering the production of livestock is pasture fencing. The type of permanent fence constructed impacts the cost per foot and total cost. This publication compares the cost of constructing a ¼-mile (1,320 feet) fence with two different types of permanent fencing plus temporary interior fencing for rotational grazing. This 7-page fact sheet was written by Derek L. Barber, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, January 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an258

HS1186 Solutions for Small Farmers and Home Gardens: Building a Low-Cost Vertical Soilless System for Production of Small Vegetable and Fruit Crops

HS1186, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Bielinski M. Santos, Teresa P. Salame-Donoso, and Shawn C. Arango, provides written and graphic instructions on how to build a homemade vertical soilless (hydroponic) growing system (also known as “bottle grow”) to produce vegetables and small fruit crops at a fraction of the cost of commercially available systems, without occupying premium agricultural land and by utilizing materials available in the home and local hardware store. Published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, November 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1186

WC088 Characteristics of Small Farm Operators in Florida: Economics, Demographics, and Preferred Information Channels and Sources

WC088, an 11-page illustrated report by Steven A. Gaul, Robert C. Hochmuth, Glenn D. Israel, and Danielle Treadwell, summarizes the results from the 2008 University of Florida IFAS Extension–Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Small Farm Survey. This information can then be used by Extension faculty to identify target audiences, develop relevant materials, and deliver this information through appropriate channels to assist farmers in achieving the goals of their small farm enterprises. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, July 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WC088