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SSAWG 2017 Three Springs Farm
- 1. Three Springs Farm EmilyOakley & Michael Appel Oaks, Oklahoma farmers@threespringsfarm.com
- 2. Presentation Outline • Alittle history about our farm • Production • Equipment • Marketing • Financial Decisions • Lifestyle Choices
- 3. Next Steps: SustainingYour Farm • You’ve been farming for several years successfully— what next? • You have some important decisions to make: – Do you expand your operation? – Do you hire more people? – Do you buy more equipment? – Do you diversify your marketing approach? • There’s no magic formula or cookie-cutter answer for the best type of farming operation.
- 4. Our Farm • Own20 acres: 3 in annuals & 1 in perennials; the balance is in wildlife habitat • Located 65 miles east of Tulsa • USDA Certified Organic through ODAFF • Sell through Tulsa Farmers’ Market and 120+ member CSA • Two + person farm—no hired labor/interns • Full-time job—no off-farm income** • Starting our 14th season (first 3 on leased land)
- 6. Our Goals • Economicallyviable for two full-time farmers – We want to be as small as possible, while still making a decent living. • Environmentally responsible • Provide healthy food to our community • Achieve a restful “off”-season in the winter • Farm for the long-term and avoid burn-out
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- 9. BUYING OUR OWNLAND Looked at 150 properties within 1.5 hours of Tulsa over 3 years. Bought 20 acres pasture & trees, fixer upper, old barn = $105K. Paid cash = some family help & farm-saved income (frugal living).
- 10. Production • Cultivating lessacreage over time. • Building soil with cover crops allows us to get more production on less land. – Increasing systems efficiencies • Keeping things simple and staying focused on what’s working. • Look for most profitable crop mixes. – Dropping crops with low returns and high labor – Removing marginally productive perennials
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- 12. 12 COVER CROPS Save timein the long term: 1) smother weeds 2) build fertility
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- 14. Crop Rotations • Wedivide our field into 2 equal parts – 1 for spring crops and 1 for summer crops. Each year we rotate these two fields. Prevents weeds from getting established. • The Cycle: – spring cash crop (lettuce, broccoli, etc.) summer cover crop (sorghum sudangrass/soybeans/sunhemp) winter cover crop (oats/peas/vetch/tillage radish) summer cash crop (tomatoes, peppers, etc.) – summer cash crop (tomatoes, peppers, etc.) winter cover crop (oats/peas/vetch/tillage radish) spring cash crop (lettuce, broccoli, etc.) summer cover crop (sorghum sudangrass/soybeans/sunhemp)
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- 17. Equipment • Some ofthe hardest and divisive conversations we have are about equipment. • It’s hard to differentiate (for some) between what is needed and what is wanted. • Balance between expensive purchases versus labor-saving potential. • Buy a little bit at a time & the simpler the machine, the better. • New or used?
- 18. TILLAGE & BEDPREPARATION
- 19. PLANTING & TRANSPLANTING Aimto use equipment wherever possible to save labor hours
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- 21. 1968 John Deere820 (35 hp) Bought used in 2004 - $5,500 Over the years put in - $4,000 TRACTORS – new vs. old 2008 Massey 2615 (45 hp) Bought new in 2008 - $14,000 Has only needed routine maintenance.
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- 23. Marketing • Refined ourmarketing approach. • Went from two markets a week down to one Saturday market. • Modified our CSA. – Less work, more retention • Limit wholesaling. Only have 1 major account. • Restaurants are a waste of time.
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- 25. Farmers’ Market CSA •Dropped the “Basket CSA”. • Started “Farmers’ Market CSA” in 2008. • 120+ members. • How it works: – Pay up front just like a regular CSA – Members pick out what they want, when they want – Selections deducted from their accounts – 10% bonus, weekly newsletter
- 26. Financial Decisions • Limitdebt • Don’t over invest in the farm • Save money each year • Off-farm investments – Diversifying our income – Planning for retirement
- 27. 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000 100000 110000 120000 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 2004 2005 20062007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Labor versus Income Labor Hours Income Linear (Labor Hours) Linear (Income)
- 28. Profit and LossOverview 2016 • Income – CSA $30,000 – Farmers’ Market $70,000 – Wholesale $ 8,000 – TOTAL $108,000 • Expenses – Farm $10,000 – Selling $4,500 – Administrative $6,500 – Other $3,000 – Vehicle $3,000 – Capital $7,000 – TOTAL $34,000 • NET INCOME $74,000 28
- 30. Lifestyle Choices • Endmarketing season Labor Day for longer “off” season. • Sundays off, no work unless rain imminent. • End workday earlier: no later than 5:30. • Child/family time.
- 31. Our Year inReview – January: seed order, crop planning, taxes – February: greenhouse, begin field planting – March: field planting in full swing – April-June: harvesting, marketing, field planting & maintenance – July-August: harvesting, more harvesting, marketing – September: field clean up, plant winter cover crop – October-December: rest, travel, misc. house and farm projects
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