SARE Outreach seeks your help in identifying producers considering the transition to organic production, to feature in a new business planning manual. 

Currently under development by the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA), the manual will feature case studies and organic transition business planning tools and worksheets. The authors seeks farmers and ranchers who are thinking about transitioning to organic, to work through the manual's materials and use their planning experience as the basis for case studies.

SARE grantees are a plus, but not required. Specific ideas from MISA include:

·       A small farm, perhaps dairy or other livestock, that is struggling conventionally and interested in exploring transition.

·       A specialty crop farmer who is interested in transitioning.

·       A larger grain farmer who is thinking about organic as a way to bring on new family members. 

Participants don't need to actually embark on the transition process - they simply need to fill out a transition plan and share their experience with the authors. Compensation for the producers' time may be available from MISA. 

If you know farmers or ranchers who fit any of these criteria and may wish to participate, please forward their name, contact info and a short description of their operation to communications@sare.org. MISA staff will follow up with selected candidates. 

Thanks for your help,

Andy Zieminski, SARE Outreach 

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