Farm Visit 101 – Building a Strong Relationship with the Farming Community

As a new agricultural conservation professional, the first few farm visits may feel daunting. "How do I make a positive impression and begin to build a good relationship with farming communities? How do I find the farms that I should go see? What tools and equipment do I need to have for a site evaluation? How do I make a good impression as a competent resource for the farmer?"

These concerns and many others are likely running through your mind. For those of you who are newcomers to fieldwork, and specifically to farms and agricultural facilities, there are a few basic, but critical, do's and don'ts. This article, while not all-inclusive, will cover some on-farm etiquette to help make those initial visits a little smoother.

Plan Ahead.
It is always a good idea to do some pre-visit research and planning. Who are the owners? Is there a manager? Where is the farm located? Map it out. What type of farm is it? Crops? Livestock? Dairy? Plain sect? Non-traditional? What is the purpose of your visit? What questions do you need to ask the farmer or manager before or during your visit? What other research about the property should you do?  Some of the property research you may need to do, for example, is to find out what the topography, soil types, and waterways are on the farm operation. There are online options to find some of this information including NRCS Web Soil Survey and Google Earth. Research and planning indicate to the farmer that you have made an effort to know about their specific property and are not treating them as just another farm.

Scheduling.
We all have busy schedules, farmers included, and some periods of the year are busier than others on farms. Reach out to the farmer ahead of time to schedule a day and time that works for them. Make your visit as easy and seamless as possible for them by being on time and not popping in unannounced. Be sure to arrive on time but be flexible and patient if the farmer is not immediately available or needs to attend to something unexpected while you are onsite.  Keep in mind that many farms have a regular schedule. Dairy cows, for example, are on a strict feeding and milking routine. Equipment and materials being delivered from outside vendors may arrive while you are there, and the farmer may be distracted for a brief time to attend to that. During planting and harvesting seasons there is a lot of coordination getting seed to planters, working ground, and moving equipment from field to field. Be aware of time constraints that the farmer may have and keep track of the time throughout the visit.

Onsite Parking and Driving.
Prior to your visit, ask where to park and confirm you are in the correct location upon your arrival. Ensure your vehicle does not block farm lanes, driveways, or storage sheds. Farming equipment can be cumbersome to move around parked vehicles. Drive carefully on lanes and around the farmstead. Yield to moving equipment. Always be aware of children, pets, horses, and other livestock when you are driving. 

Biosecurity.
Learn and follow good biosecurity practices when visiting all farms, especially those with poultry or livestock. Ask the farmer or manager ahead of time what, if any, biosecurity measures they would like you to adhere to while onsite. Bring your own supplies. Scrub and disinfect your boots, even if that is your first farm visit of the day. This demonstrates to the farmer that you are aware of possible bio-security risks and take those risks, and their livelihood, seriously. 

Resource Concern Identification.
The farmer or manager will walk around and show you resource concerns that they feel should be addressed. Listen actively. Ask questions for clarification. Farmers will know more about the soil, topography, water flow, and other conditions on the farm much better than you will be able to discern on one visit. When appropriate, make suggestions or notate other resource concerns that you notice or indicate how multiple resource concerns could be linked. Be cognizant of the passion that farmers have for their land, animals, business, and family connections to the farm. Allow them to share those passions with you and ask questions about their short and long-term intentions. This will help you understand how to help them more effectively when considering management of the resource concerns that may exist.

Wrapping Up Your Visit.
At the end of the visit, thank them for their time, clean your equipment, and ask the farmer for the best way to follow up with them. Once you are back at the office, type up your visit notes as soon as possible so you don't forget anything.  Follow up with them to let them know what the potential next steps are, if any; let them know what further information you may need from them or steps they need to take; and schedule your next visit.

Final Thoughts.
There is a lot to take in on a visit to a farm, especially if you are not familiar with agricultural practices. Following these guidelines should help to alleviate some of the stress of a first visit and go far in establishing a positive relationship with farmers. A good first impression can help spread the word through the farming community that conservation professionals are respectful and committed to helping establish best management practices.