Strategically Growing Your Farm

Enterprise

Jody Bolluyt

Roxbury Farm Kinderhook, NY

Introduction to the Farm

Overview of Farm Growth

Things to consider as you scale up:

•Who are your customers

•Planning

•Financials

•Equipment & Infrastructure

•Labor

Introduction to the Farm

Overview of Farm Growth

Things to consider as you scale up:

•Who are your customers

•Planning

•Financials

•Equipment & Infrastructure

•Labor

Started the farm in 1990 with 5 acres

Through the generosity and support of

Roxbury Farm CSA members, Equity Trust, and

the Open Space Institute the farm has grown

to over 350 acres.

The land, farmhouse, and barns will remain

affordable for farmers in perpetuity.

3 5 a c re s i n G re e n M a n u re C ro p s

3 5 a c re s i n Ve ge t a b l e s

2 1 0 a c re s i n H ay a n d Pa st u re

9 0 a c re s i n we t l a n d , fo re s t , s h r u b - l a n d a n d

w a t e r w ay s

FarmAid 2013

Introduction to the Farm

Overview of Farm Growth

Things to consider as you scale up:•Who are your customers•Planning•Financials•Equipment & Infrastructure•Labor

1990 5 acres of vegetables for

wholesale: mostly head lettuce

•Neighbor did primary tillage

•Super C tractor with basket

weeder

•Rotavator

•Waterwheel wheel for

transplants

•Roller marker for direct seeding

•1-row Nibex push seeder

•14 X 48 tunnel with propane

heater for transplants

•Access to an old dairy barn

•Installed a cooler and set up

washing area

•10 horsepower pump & 1000 ft

of 2-inch irrigation pipe

•30 member CSA in

NYC

•Greenmarket in NYC

•Restaurant

accounts

•6 acres of

vegetables

•Kubota tractor & 2

bottom plow

•Small disc

•Rotary mower

1991

1992•CSA started in the Albany

Area: up 200 CSA

members total

•Greenmarket in NYC

•Restaurant Accounts

•8 acres of veggies

•4 wheel drive tractor with

a bucket

•Chisel plow for primary

tillage

•Improving land: building

roads, protecting creek

banks from erosion

•Building Housing:

apprentice housing &

farmer housing

•10 acres of

vegetables

•300 CSA

members

•Restaurant

and

Institutional

Accounts

•Potato

planter

•Potato

harvester

•12 ft box

truck

1993

1994 to 1999 •Increased to 20 acres of

veggies

•Cow/calf herd with 10

mother cows

•Grew to 650 CSA

members

•Institutional Accounts

•Case 265 cultivating

tractor

•Haying equipment

•Improved barns for

livestock and loading dock

•Manure spreader

•Irrigation equipment

•Traded in smaller tractors

for larger tractors

•Waterwheel transplanter

2000 •Moved to new land

•150 acres with a house

and 99 year lease

•100 acres with short-

term lease and leased

barns, greenhouses,

housing for farm

workers

•Cut back to 550

members

•Sold cow herd

•Imants Spading Plow

•Lannen Carosel Planter

•New Cooler for barn

•25 horsepower diesel

irrigation pump

2001•25 acres of

vegetables

•850 members

•last year of our

institutional accounts

•100 horsepower

tractor (used)

•2 row potato digger

2002 to 2005 •1100 CSA members

•Quit growing strawberries

•High clearance tractors

•Additional cultivation tractor

•Larger harrow and disc

•Winstrip greenhouse trays &

new benches

•Tray filler for greenhouse

•MaterMac 3 row seeder

•Plastic crates for harvest and

delivery

•Hillside cultivator for plastic

crops

•Quick hitches for all tractors and

implements

2006 to 2010 •1100 CSA members

•Livestock

•Traded in 100 horsepower

tractor for JohnDeere

tractor (new)

•Built 100 acres of fence

•Built farm worker housing

•Barns for sheep and hay

barn/cow barn

•Hay equipment

•Made our own straw for

mulch

•Bale shredder in between

plastic beds

2011 to

Present

•1100 CSA members

•Added winter share

•2 farmers markets

•1 restaurant account

•Expanded cow herd

•Built new cow barn

•Cultivating equipment

•Harvesting & washing

equipment

•Bin Washer

•Purchased more land

•Built more farm roads

•Upgraded hay equipment

Introduction to the Farm

Overview of Farm Growth

Things to consider as you scale up:

•Who are your customers

•Planning

•Financials

•Equipment & Infrastructure

•Labor

Introduction to the Farm

Overview of Farm Growth

Things to consider as you scale up:

•Who are your customers

•Planning

•Financials

•Equipment & Infrastructure

•Labor

•Provide high quality food at an affordable price

•Provide meaningful work in a respectful

workplace

•Sustain and build soil fertility using as few off-farm

inputs as possible

•Develop a relationship with the land: look at

each field individually and each part of the farm

and find its best possible use, respect the limits of

the land, the natural areas on the farm are

important part of the overall farm.

•Provide livestock with the best environment

possible in order to allow the animals to express

their true natures

Records

PlanningEvaluation

Harvest Record Keeping

Record Keeping

Salad mix 288 lbs Lind. Sect. 4 bd 3cilantro 72 lbs Lind. Sect 4 bd 4

HARVEST RECORDS

2 Beds of Fall Bunching Carrots 12 bu of carrots .12 acres

Prepare Soil: time/acre in min time for carrots in min

Chisel Plow 1x 15 2

Disc Bedder 20 2.4

Rough Bed 15 2

Stale Seed bed 3x 45 5

Fertilizer 15 2

Manure, compost

Other

Plastic mulch

Seed/Transplant:

Seeding in field 60 7

Cost of seed

Transplanting labor

Cultivation:

Reemay on/off

Hoeing 1x, 2x, 3x

Hand weeding 1 6000 720

Hand weeding 2

Hand weeding 3

Straw mulch

Irrigating 1x

Tractor cultivating 3 x 120 14

Side-dressing

Spraying

Flame weeding

Other

Pre-harvest Subtotal: 755 12.5 hours

Harvest:

Yield 7300 bunches 876 bunches

Harvesting 14500 (240 hours) 1740

Washing 360

Post Harvest:

Mow crop

Remove mulch

Disk 45 5

Sow cover crop: spinner

Sow cover crop: no-till drill 45 5

Harrow 20 2.4

Post-harvest Subtotal: 2113 35 hours

Marketing Costs:

Labor: sales calls for

season (for this crop only)

Commissions

Farmers’ market expense

CSA share

Format from

Richard Wiswall

How long

does it take

you

complete

certain tasks

Soil Tests

Crop Rotation Records

Harvest Projections

Roxbury Farm HOME DATA

2006

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3

5.8 bu/bed 44.8 bu 5.8 bu/bed 44.8 bu 5.8 bu/bed 44.8 bu

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

ROUTE 9H

turn

ips

Radis

h /

Aru

gula

Min

i C

abbage

Min

i C

ab

ba

ge

/ 2

nd

Ta

tso

i

Bro

ccoli

Rabe

Bro

ccoli

Rabe /

3rd

Tats

oi

3rd

Peas

3rd

Peas

3rd

Peas

3rd

Peas

tats

oi

Tats

oi /

Turn

ips

2nd P

eas

2nd P

eas

Chard

Scalli

on 1

Chard

2

Scalli

on 2

1st

Peas

1st

Peas

1st

Peas

1st

Peas

2nd P

eas

2nd P

eas

Lindenwald Field Map

Crop Rotation Plan

Crop Rotation Sampleyear 1 barley, peas, bell beans

broccoli, cauliflower, kale

broccoli, cauliflower, kale

year 2 spring fallow

sorgum sudan grass, forage soybean mix

late summer fallow followed with oats

year 3 potatoes or spring fallow

potatoes, or winter squash

rye and hairy vetch

year 4 rye and hairy vetch for straw

summer bare fallow

oats and peas

year 5 spring fallow

carrots, beets, celeriac, parsnips and sweet potatoes

carrots, beets, celeriac, parsnips and sweet potatoes

year 6 back to year 1

Excel for Crop Planning

Introduction to the Farm

Overview of Farm Growth

Things to consider as you scale up:

•Who are your customers

•Planning

•Financials

•Equipment & Infrastructure

•Labor

Make sure your financial planning includes funds for

reinvestment in the farm and can pay you a living wage and

good wages to your employees.

Month by month Cash Flow Statement

Crop Enterprise Budget Copyright © Richard Wiswall 2009

Crop Year: 2014 Crop: Bunching carrots Unit Area: 1 bu Note: 100 bed units per acre

and specify: early, mid, late Bed feet or acres: 12 bu

Today's Date: Rows per bed & plant spacing:

Costs in $: Remember to prorate to unit area Field: Projected

$ $ $

Prepare Soil: Labor cost Machinery cost Product cost labor at 15.00$ per hour tractor rental $37/hr

Chisel Plow 1x 3.57 20.50$ acre 1.11$

Disc Bedder 4.99 20.00$ acre 2.59$

Rough Bed 3.21 17.50$ acre 1.11$

Stale Seed bed 3x 5.06 17.50$ acre 2.96$

Fertilizer 2.39 31.50 10.70$ acre 1.11$

Manure, compost $350 a ton for Kreher's Composted Poultry M anure Fertlizer at 1500 lbs per acre

Other

Plastic mulch

Seed/Transplant: Tractor Cost $30.50 per hour

Seeding in field 6.06 20.00$ acre 3.66$

Cost of transplants

Transplanting labor

Cultivation:Reemay on/off

Hoeing 1x, 2x, 3x

Hand weeding 1 180.00

Hand weeding 2

Hand weeding 3

Straw mulch

Irrigating 1x

Tractor cultivating3x 5.40 15.00$ acre tractor cost $30.50 per hour

Side-dressing

Spraying

Flame weeding

Other

Pre-harvest Subtotal: 180.00 30.68 31.50 = 242.18 Pre-harvest cost for 12 bu

Harvest: Total yield for 12 bu 880 bunches

Total hours to harvest 12 bu 29

washing 90.00

Bags, boxes, labels 6.00 0.10 per box x 60 boxes

Delivery

Post Harvest:Mow crop

Remove mulch

Disk 5.36 20.00$ acre plus $37 an hour for tractor

Sow cover crop: spinner

Sow cover crop: No-till 5.25 19.10$ ace plus $37 an hour for tractor

harrow 4.69 17.50$ acre plus $37 an hour for tractor

Post-harvest Subtotal: 270.00 45.99 37.50 = 353.49 Harvested cost for 12 bu

Marketing Costs:Labor: sales calls for Average 10 mins/week for 3 weeks: .5 hr

season (for this crop only)

Commissions Commissions, if any, to growers’ co-op, broker, or salesperson

Farmers’ market expense See Worksheet 1.

Total Crop Costs: 270.00 45.99 37.50 = 353.49 Total crop costs

Harvest cost 435.00

Total Costs:

Format from

Richard Wiswall

Cost of Salad Harvester compared to hand harvesting

Purchase cost 24,000.00$ 2,000.00$

Salvage value 9,000.00$ 750.00$ After 12 years of use

annual depreciation 15,000.00$ = 1,250.00$ purchase cost minus salvage value

years of use

Overhead:

Interest 160.00$ = 80.00$ (purchase cost+salvage value+depreciation)$ per year X real interest

2 2

Insurance 34.00$ = 17.00$ (purchase cost+salvage value+depreciation)$ per year X insurance rate

2 2

Shelter 80.40$ = 80.40$ $0.67 per sq feet of floor space

Maintenance 450.00$ New blades, bearings belts etc

Cost per year: 1,877.40$

1100 times 0.75 lb for 20 weeks 16500

Cost per lb @ 16,500 lb 0.11$ $1877.40 divided by 16500 lb

Cost per hour 45.51$

Annual use 41.25 hours

Capacity

hand labor per hour 50 lb 50

harvester per hour 400 lb 400

Cost Salad harvester per hour

Tractor 40.00$ per hour

Labor 3 people $15.00 per hour 45.00$ per hour

harvester cost per hr 45.51$ per hour

Total cost per hour 130.51$ per hour no time is taken into consideration for hook-up or breakdown

Total cost per lb 0.33$ per lbs

Cost hand harvesting 15.00$ 0.30$ per lbs

Equipment cost comparisons

QuickBooks Accounting

Software

Introduction to the Farm

Overview of Farm Growth

Things to consider as you scale up:

•Who are your customers

•Planning

•Financials

•Equipment & Infrastructure

•Labor

Farm Layout and Field Arrangement

72 “

row 1 row 2 row 3 row 4 row 5 row 6 row 7 row 8 row 9

Determine the working width of all

equipment and set the

wheel width of all tractors

56 “

High Clearance with creeper gear

Ut i l i ty w i th creeper gear

Cultivation and Weed Control

Root Harvester

Equipment for Washing & Packing

More Storage & Cooler Space

Well lit and cool area for washing & packing

Salazar Bin

Washer

Introduction to the Farm

Overview of Farm Growth

Things to consider as you scale up:

•Who are your customers

•Planning

•Financials

•Equipment & Infrastructure

•Labor

number of

Labor needs workers hrs/week

January 6 25

February 6 25

March 6 40

April 7 45

May 11 45

June 12 45

July 12 50

August 12 50

September 12 50

October 12 45

November 12 35

December 6 30

Roxbury Farm’s Seasonal Labor curve

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

number of workers

hrs/week

total

Procedures

CommunicationEvaluation

Flow

Daily Crew Meetings

Weekly Task List

In the field instruction

TRANSPLANT SPACING

CROP ROWS SPACING (IN.) NOTES

Basil 3 9 lannen: 9" sprocket, every cup

Broccoli 2 12 lannen: 12" sprocket every cup

Broad Beans 2 5 lannen: 5" sprocket, every cup

Brussel Sprouts 2 36 lannen: 18" sprocket, every other cup

Cabbage 2 12 lannen: 12" sprocket, every cup

Cabbage, Mini 3 12 lannen: 12" sprocket, every cup

Cantaloupe 1 12 water wheel

Cauliflower 2 24 lannen: 12" sprocket, every other cup

Celeriac 2 12 lannen: 12" sprocket, every cup

Celery 2 9 lannen: 9" sprocket, every cup

Chard 3 9 lannen: 9"sprocket, every cup

Collards 2 24 lannen: 12" sprocket, every other cup

Corn, Sweet 2 14 lannen: 14" sprocket, every cup

Cucumbers 1 12 water wheel

Eggplant 2 18 water wheel

Flowers 2 9 water wheel (use two wheels from onion wheel)

Fodder Beet 2 12 lannen: 12" sprocket, every cup

Garlic 2 9 lannen: 9" sprocket, every cup

Joi Choi 3 12 lannen: 12" sprocket, every cup

Kale 2 12 lannen: 12" sprocket every cup

Kale, flowering 2 14 lannen: 14" sprocket, every cup

Kohlrabi 3 5 lannen: 5" sprocket, every cup

Leeks 2 9 lannen: 9" sprocket, every cup

Lettuce, Head 3 9 lannen: 9" sprocket, every cup

Mei Ching Choi 3 9 lannen: 5" sprocket, every cup

Onions 3 9 water wheel with small spikes

Parsley 3 9 lannen: 9" sprocket, every cup

Peppers 2 18 water wheel

Pumpkin 1 12 water wheel

Rutabaga 3 9 lannen: 9" sprocket, every cup

Sorrel 3 9 lannen: 9" sprocket, every cup

Strawberry 2 12 bare root

Summer Squash 1 12 water wheel

Sweet Potato 2 12 bare root

Tomato 1 24 water wheel: plug every other hole on wheel

Watermelon 1 12 water wheel

Winter Squash 1 12 water wheel

LANNEN SPROCKETS: smallest is 5", next is 9", next is 12", next is 14" largest is 18"

WATER WHEEL: 2-row wheel spikes are 18" apart; 1-row wheel spikes are 12" apart;

3-row wheel spikes are 9" apart

Cheat Sheets

Cheat

Sheets on

transplanters

Written Policies & Agreements

Transitions between jobs

Division of Labor

Roxbury Farm 2013