Small, locally-marketing farms are garnering more attention with regard to their ability to supply their regions with food. Their economic viability is called into question because if they cannot sustain themselves financially, they cannot be relied upon as an alternative food system. This paper looks at economic viability and ask the question “how are farmers making it work?” Data is based on a 25 interviews with farmers on the Saanich Peninsula, British Columbia, Canada. The decision to continue running a farm year to year is complex. The answer to valuing these farms may come by looking at the productivity of the farms, their many services to the environment and to their communities, rather than just the financial picture. Farmers are finding ways to retain more of the value of their productivity from transactions with customers. Navigating the regulatory environment remains a challenge. The paper concludes with policy recommendations. / Graduate

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Orientador: Antonio Jose da Silva Maciel / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T15:39:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Albiero_Daniel_D.pdf: 5141700 bytes, checksum: 5427f7d285092270bb614f9a4cc75e96 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A agricultura familiar tem papel de destaque no Agronegócio brasileiro, pois a maior parte dos alimentos consumidos pelo povo brasileiro é proveniente desta categoria de produtores rurais. Apesar disto em termos de mecanização agrícola tal importância não é reconhecida nem atendida, já que pouca pesquisa tem sido feita para atender às demandas, além de haver poucas indústrias que se interessem em explorar o mercado de equipamentos agrícolas deste setor. Este panorama subentende um sério problema de utilização de trabalho mecânico nas pequenas propriedades rurais que se traduz em uma defasagem muito grande entre as pequenas e grandes propriedades, principalmente em relação à eficiência do trabalho na produção o que perfaz um ciclo onde a agricultura familiar mal consegue produzir para sua própria subsistência. Assim ela perde a oportunidade de se inserir eficientemente nas grandes cadeias produtivas do Agronegócio Brasileiro. Supõe-se que dotando a agricultura familiar, com um sistema mecanizado que realize as operações de semeadura de forma eficiente e conservacionista é possível amenizar a questão da utilização de potência. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver, construir e avaliar uma máquina multifuncional de semeadura conservacionista em faixas para pequenas propriedades rurais, com alta tecnologia, simplicidade de operação e pouca manutenção. Foram construídos dois protótipos que realizaram testes em campo para a caracterização da nova máquina com dados relativos ao desempenho do equipamento, principalmente em relação à emergência de plântulas. Foi utilizada a cultura da soja para os testes, pois possui dados exaustivos sobre sistemas de plantio conservacionista (plantio direto), facilidade para montagem do experimento e principalmente pela extrema eficiência do mecanismo dosador selecionado em distribuir as sementes de soja. Foi realizado também um estudo da qualidade das operações pertinentes à nova máquina, assim como uma Análise do Modo de Falha e seus Efeitos (FMEA) para propor modificações que visam melhorar o projeto. Pelos resultados obtidos, a nova máquina de semeadura confirmou a hipótese do trabalho de que o desempenho em relação à emergência de plântulas é compatível ao plantio direto. As características operacionais foram adequadas às necessidades das pequenas propriedades rurais, já que a capacidade de campo da nova semeadora possibilita o trabalho por toda a área das pequenas propriedades (10 ha) em tempo hábil dentro do período de semeadura (45 dias) / Abstract: The small farms in Brazil have an important position in agro-business, because it is the greater food's producing. However agricultural mechanization is not considered nor assisted, therefore it there is little research for to assist the demands of small farmers, beyond of industries have not interest for this market. This scenery is a big problem in relation at the utilization of power, mainly because of low efficiency of job in production, that it generate a cycle where the small farms do not get to produce for yourself consumption, and so it lost the opportunity of itself insert in agro-business. It is believed that with a conservationist mechanized system for efficient seeding it is possible that the problem will be decreased. Therefore the subject this work was to design, to develop, to construct and to evaluate a conservationist multifunctional machine of seeding in strip till system for the small farms, with high technology, simplified operation and with little maintenance. They were constructed two prototypes that they accomplished the field tests for the characterization performance of equipment, mainly in relation with plant emerging. It was seeding the soybean therefore this crop has many data about no till system (conservationist system) and the seeder have good performance with this seed. It was done a study of operation quality and a Fail Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) for to propose optimal modifications in project. For the results the new machine confirmed the hypothesis that the plant emerging is equal with no till system. The characteristics of operation were appropriate at needs of small farms, therefore the Field capacity of machine allow to sow every area of small farms (10 ha) in time period appropriate (45 days) / Doutorado / Maquinas Agricolas / Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola

No description available.

Economic and climate changes, combined with changing government regulations, are altering the strategic business model for small farm operators and necessitating their reliance on multiple income sources to maintain financial viability. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies of 3 small farming businesses in California's San Joaquin Valley that successfully implemented value-added products which contributed to their financial sustainability. Data from semistructured interviews and relevant documents were analyzed through the lens of system theory, utilizing in vivo coding to identify patterns and themes. Three high-level themes emerged: knowledge, marketing, and networking. The theme of knowledge reflects the value of pre-existing and new knowledge. The theme of marketing reflects 3 key areas including differentiation of value-added products, customer experience, and the value of word of mouth and social media marketing. The networking theme reflects the value of professional and community networking and connecting with family and friends. The findings of this case study may have implications for positive social and economic change. Farmers who sustain their operations and remain financially viable contribute to the local economy, provide continuing knowledge of agricultural practices to future generations, and contribute to the stability of available food. Providing information on successful value-added strategies used by a group of small farm operators may assist other owners of small farms looking to add value-added products and increase farm income. Doing so could lead to increased employment and a stronger local tax base.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Maryland, College Park, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2003.

Diss. (sammanfattning). Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2008. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.