Everdale-FarmStart New Farmer Survey

FarmStart and Everdale are developing educational programs to meet the needs of new and transitioning farmers. We have put together the following questions in the hope of learning more about the needs and desires of these groups. The survey is designed for new farmers, people who are thinking about farming, and transitioning farmers. It should take no more than 10 minutes of your time.

By participating in this survey, you are helping us to create strong, responsive programs. Thank you for your time!

Section One: A few questions about you

1. Gender

2. Year of Birth

3. Country of birth

4. If you were born outside of Canada, how many years have you lived here?

5. Education

6. Present occupation (s)

7. Postal code

Section two: Some questions about your farming experience and plans

8. At what stage are you in your farming career?

	I am actively exploring farming as a career option, but have not yet committed to farming as a career
	I am actively committed to becoming a farmer, but am not yet farming commercially
	I am in my first, second, or third year of operating a farm commercially
	I am an experienced farmer who is considering transitioning to a new production or marketing strategy
	Other

9. If you selected 'other', please explain.

10. How many years have you been farming?

11. How have you gained your farming experience? Please select the option that best fits your experience.

12. If you selected 'other', please explain

13. What kind of products do you plan to produce? Check any that apply.

14. If you selected 'other', please explain

15. What kinds of marketing strategies do you plan to employ? Please select any that apply.

16. If you selected 'other', please explain

17. Please rate your farming skills in each of the following areas, from 1 (minimal) to 5 (very strong).

	Rating
Field crop production
Horticultural production
Livestock care
Agricultural machinery maintenance and repair
Processing value-added products (cheeses, jams, etc.)
Farm business planning
Marketing and promotion
Human resources: managing volunteers and staff
Budgeting and accounting

18. Which of these farming skills would you most like to upgrade? Please rank your choices below.

First choice
Second choice
Third choice

19. To what extent is each of the following factors a barrier to your success as a farmer? Please rank from 1 (not a barrier) to 5 (a strong barrier)

	Rating
Time
Access to investment capital
Lack of experience
Lack of a support network
Access to land
Access to markets
Business skills
Farming skills
Lack of information
Other

20. If you selected 'other', please explain.

21. What are your motivations to farm? Please select any that apply.

22. If you selected 'other', please explain.

23. Would you be interested in further developing your business and farming skills by attending a course or workshop?

	Yes
	No

24. Please provide your contact information if you would like to see the results of this survey and/or receive updates on our programs.

Your name and contact information are confidential; we will never share this information with other agencies.

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number

	Volunteering
	Internship(s)
	Farm employment
	Farm management
	Farm business owner
	Family farm background
	Other

	Vegetables
	Field crops (grains or beans)
	Livestock
	Herbs
	Seeds, seedlings or nursery stock
	Flowers
	Other

	Wholesale
	Farm store
	Farmers' markets
	CSA
	U-pick
	Value-added productes
	Farm tours
	School groups
	B&B
	Other

	Lifestyle
	Spiritual
	Environmental
	Community building
	Economic
	Family
	Other