Marketing Methods Used in 2001
(percentage using each strategy)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

-

Wholesale Buyers, Brokers

36.67

47.40

-

Grocery Stores

4.44

6.40

-

Growers’ Cooperatives

12.22

25.73

-

Farmers’ Markets

2.22

8.28

-

Direct Sales (Catalogs/Internet)

7.78

8.54

-

Community Supported Agriculture

3.33

1.79

-

Roadside Stands/Farm Stores

5.56

12.19

-

U-Pick Sales

6.67

6.83

-

Food Cooperative

2.22

2.31

-

Production/Marketing Contract

10.00

14.36

-

Institutional (schools, etc.)

1.11

1.88

-

Restaurants

0.00

3.32

-

Retained Ownership

6.67

6.60

-

Other

42.39

29.31

Farm Products Grown/Produced in 2001
(percentage growing each commodity)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

-

Fresh Vegetables

11.11

10.05

-

Fresh Fruits

4.44

28.16

-

Fruits/Vegetables for Processing

1.11

10.53

-

Grains

22.22

17.15

-

Hay

61.11

28.60

-

Ornamentals (Flowers, Bulbs, etc.)

4.55

7.31

-

Eggs and/or Poultry

6.74

4.51

-

Dairy Products (milk, cheese)

3.37

2.98

-

Cattle and/or Cows

55.06

34.92

-

Hogs

4.55

3.15

-

Sheep

6.82

3.32

-

Goats

2.27

2.21

-

Value-Added Products (jams, etc.)

1.14

2.05

-

Other

12.64

16.62

Strategies to be Attempted in 2002-2004
(percentage choosing each strategy)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

-

More Direct Marketing to Consumers

26.09

25.13

-

Diversify Products Grown on Farm

20.65

23.85

-

Explore Greenhouse Production

4.35

6.39

-

Add On-Farm Packing/Processing

2.17

4.86

-

Join Producers’ Cooperative

8.70

5.45

-

Market Directly to Stores/Restaurants

4.35

7.16

-

Use Product Labeling (e.g. “green”)

4.35

5.88

-

Other Strategy

14.13

17.21

-

NO RESPONSE

55.43

60.14

Farming Practices Used in 2001
(percentage using each practice)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

-

Crop Rotation

45.78

32.06

-

Vegetative Buffer Strips

14.63

18.28

-

Reduced Tillage

21.25

21.50

-

Direct Seeding/No-till

19.75

13.79

-

Intercropping /Companion Planting

16.25

7.19

-

Cover Crops

17.28

23.02

-

On-Farm Composting

32.53

21.45

-

Apply Compost/Organic Materials

38.55

27.27

-

Fertilize at Agronomic Rates

48.15

49.82

-

Mulch Using Organic Materials

21.69

18.51

-

Use Manure as Fertilizer

61.45

42.40

-

Water/Soil Moisture Monitoring

23.17

32.47

-

Soil Conservation/Erosion Control

48.15

43.32

-

Soil Nutrient Testing

32.53

45.83

Release of Beneficial Predators

6.10

9.52

Pheromones

1.22

15.18

Monitoring Pest Populations

25.30

42.37

Intensive Rotational Grazing

31.33

22.16

Tillage for Weed Control

38.55

37.81

Precision Agriculture with GPS

2.53

6.89

Attitudes Toward Marketing and Farm Policy
(percentage of Those Who Neither Agree nor Disagree are not given)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

Agree

Disagree

Agree

Disagree

-

Labeling products as “Grown in WA” would benefit producers

76.47

5.89

77.22

5.63

-

Biggest threat to my farm’s viability is falling prices

79.76

10.71

73.86

12.68

-

Free Trade Agreements will help my farm be profitable

12.95

50.60

21.91

45.50

-

Government-supported agriculture programs should be targeted to small/medium farms

75.00

13.07

68.23

14.39

-

“Buy Local” campaign could increase consumption of local products

56.62

13.25

57.22

13.82

-

Maintaining family farms is important to County’s future

90.48

5.95

86.60

4.82

-

Need is greater than ever for Public Ag. Research and Extension

68.29

12.20

63.79

11.45

-

Private Agribusiness can replace most University Research and Extension

10.96

58.54

13.03

56.38

-

In-County consumers should have more local foods made available

57.31

6.10

57.08

6.32

-

Direct Marketing is effective for keeping farms viable in my county

62.65

7.23

60.96

11.09

-

Significant demand exists for organic ag. products in Washington

47.56

18.30

39.43

23.18

-

Extension programs benefited my farm business

58.03

14.81

59.05

14.21

Level of Involvement in Farm Related Organizations from 1999-2001
(percentage of Those Who Are Not Involved are not given)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

Somewhat

Very

Somewhat

Very

-

Farm Bureau

11.90

1.19

21.53

3.63

-

Commodity Commission

4.82

1.20

8.86

3.41

-

Grange

25.58

0.00

13.53

2.93

-

Growers’ Association

15.66

6.02

24.67

12.43

-

Growers’ Cooperative

21.43

1.19

18.95

11.62

-

Farmers’ Market Association

8.43

1.20

6.80

3.59

-

Other Farm Organizations

4.60

3.45

2.94

3.60

Attitudes Toward Farming and Environmental Issues
(percentage of Those Who Neither Agree nor Disagree are not given)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

Agree

Disagree

Agree

Disagree

-

Environmental Regulations have negative impact on farming practices

72.6

18.07

74.26

12.52

-

Farmers’ Contributions to land stewardship are appreciated by public

29.76

50.19

28.60

53.51

-

Environmental Risks of GMOs are not well understood

68.23

8.24

69.18

8.04

-

Farmers should be paid for participation in wildlife programs

77.21

5.33

73.78

9.35

-

Local Gov’t should restrict non-ag. development in key ag. areas

74.12

11.77

65.82

19.02

-

Land should be farmed to protect long-term productive capacity

75.00

14.28

59.31

19.16

-

Consumer Concerns about GMOs outweigh overall benefits of their use

27.71

20.48

27.66

35.64

-

If a GMO were available in one of my commodities, I would try it

27.39

35.72

41.75

25.69

-

To protect against urban sprawl, ag. land restrictions will be needed

49.43

37.93

43.57

43.22

-

Farmers should be compensated if restricted from selling ag. land

77.91

9.30

81.03

9.97

Information Sources Accessed by Farmers During 2001
(percentage of Those Who Do Not Access a Particular Source are not given)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

Once or Twice

>Twice

Once or Twice

>Twice

-

Other Growers/Farm Managers

35.72

26.19

27.70

45.52

-

Private Consultants

15.19

8.86

15.62

17.74

-

Commodity/Grower Associations

21.52

8.86

26.06

17.79

-

WSU Co-operative Extension

26.83

17.07

36.25

18.97

-

Farm Supply Dealer/Ag. Business

38.64

37.50

30.77

46.65

-

Farm Newspapers/Magazines/etc.

35.36

36.59

30.18

45.65

-

State Department of Agriculture

24.36

5.13

24.66

8.64

-

Farm Bureau

8.86

2.53

15.52

7.66

-

Natural Resource Conservation Svc.

21.25

5.00

18.24

7.51

-

Banker/Financial Consultant

13.58

4.94

16.86

10.66

-

Legal Consultant

11.25

6.25

18.43

7.27

-

Television/Radio

21.95

10.98

14.58

10.69

Internet

12.34

19.75

16.93

25.26

Farmers’ Current Moderate and High Priority Information Needs
(percentage of Those Not Indicating This Need are not given)

Northeast Region

State-Wide

Moderate

High

Moderate

High

-

Soil Fertility Management

50.62

28.40

39.68

33.97

-

Farm Product Diversification

40.51

29.11

36.23

30.43

-

Non-Chemical Pest Management

35.44

25.32

32.98

26.96

-

Biotechnology, including GMOs

24.36

7.69

28.44

12.76

-

Marketing Approaches

32.05

30.77

32.41

42.14

-

Regulatory Changes

35.53

23.68

30.58

37.87

-

Helping New Farmers get Started

35.80

28.40

29.75

26.01