(1) please check all that apply to your situation:

(1) Please check all that apply to your situation:

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Dairy Goatbreeder

Veterinarian PublicConsultant(state/fed.)

3-D Column 1

(1) Please check all that apply to your situation:

Choice Count Percent of Sample

Dairy Goat breeder 53 36.3%

Dairy Sheep breeder 14 9.6%

Fiber/Meat goat/sheep breeder 43 29.5%

Non-profit organization 14 9.6%

Veterinarian 2 1.4%

Educator 20 13.7%

Commercial Farmer 40 27.4%

Part-time Farmer 52 35.6%

Public Consultant (state/fed.) 3 2.1%

Private Consultant 6 4.1%

Other 22 15.1%

(1) Please check all that apply to your situation: - Other

• will-be dairy goat and fiber sheep hobby farmer

• considering dairy goats

• 4-H club

• home maker

• considering dairy goats

• Farmstead Dairy

• DHIA organization

• Hair Sheep Breeder

• Cheesemaker/start-up dairy goat farmer

• Cheese maker

• Rabbits

• wannabe sheep/goat breeders

• goat dairy

• Cheese maker

• Fiber goad owner (not breeder)

(1) Please check all that apply to your situation: - Other (Continued)

• Sheep Dairy

• cheesemaker

• previous owner.breeder of fiber and dairy goats

• Dairy Goat milker

• interested Vermonter

• Some food we produce on shelves in store.

• 4-H member

• I'm terribly tentative but a small part of me plays with keeping angora goats.

(2) Do you read the newsletter/calendar regularly?

0102030405060708090

100

Yes No

Percent

(2) Do you read the newsletter/calendar regularly?

Choice Count Percentage Answered

Yes 144 98.6%

No 2 1.4%

(3) The newsletter/calendar has helped me in the following ways: (check all that apply)

0

20

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80

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I findinformationuseful to my

farm ...

I locatedlivestock, a

job, etc. or s...

3-D Column 1

(3) The newsletter/calendar has helped me in the following ways: (check all that apply)

Choice Count Percent of Sample

I find information useful to my farm or work

127 87.0%

I connected with someone to answer a question

53 36.3%

I adopted a new practice 38 26.0%

I located livestock, a job, etc. or sold something

63 43.2%

It increased my technical understanding of a production issue

66 45.2%

Other (eg. saved money) 27 18.5%

(3) The newsletter/calendar has helped me in the following ways: (check all that apply) - Other (eg. saved money)

• helped me understand the Northeast issues

• workshop listings

• found out about upcoming events

• I enjoy staying in touch with small ruminant farming business

• Found equipment in the classifieds

• Lets me know what is going on in community

• refer people to this newsletter and the office

• learn of upcoming events of interest

• got a farm intern in 2005

• Passed information to new clients

• saved money

• shows me your world.

• attended many calendar events

• notices of workshops and events

(4) Please describe a specific example where the newsletter/calendar helped you:

• buying/selling animals; no actual sales yet, but gives me an idea of prices and potential markets for kids

• conceerns about illnesses, viral and bacterial

• Grain/ pasture needed for growing animals. SCC in milking goats.

• several articles on management/feeds

• Helps me with the price of items, classes and learning new techniques of goat husbandry and running an agricultural business.

• most recently, I enjoyed the article about improving profits by selecting dairy goats for production and/or conformation traits. Previous to that, an article about the cost of raising replacements, and another about feeding concentrates has been interesting and useful. And I always enjoy the variety of information and the snapshot I get of the industry in the Northeast. The newsletter is very well done, and I am impressed at the number and quality of events listed on the calendar.

• Seminar schedule and ideas to pass on to other folks.

• I like to find out about goat-related workshops.

• Attended conferences listed, sought livestock to purchase

• I get some great idea's of workshops that could be offered in my area.

(4) Please describe a specific example where the newsletter/calendar helped you: (Continued)

• Keeping up on dates/times of events that are of interest and finding events that will help with my business. Classifieds are exceptionally helpful

• An article on parasite control was particularly helpful and I adopted some of the practices that the article discussed.

• better informed on cost of raising/selling etc.

• attended Caprine classic 2006 which I found out about from the newsletter. Also located 2 animals interested in purchasing.

• classifieds

• I plan on attending the electric fencing workshop scheduled for early May 2007 in New Hampshire

• I was able to put a UVM student in contact with a sheep/goat farmer in the section of vermont she wished to complete an internship in.

• FAMACHA workshop is/was invaluable. I have heartily recommended the practice to other breeders.

• Just recently receiving newsletter. I plan on taking workshops on cheesemaking. Also will be looking for equipment.

• Keeps me informed as to cultural holiday market. Helped find breeder.


• Primarily classified ads to find guard puppy, purchase cheesemaking equipment, etc.

• Cost of raising replacement kids - eye opener!!

• It informed me about date and topic of workshops that I attended.

• I took a cheese class in Vt.

• I pass it on to a friend when i find interesting things specific to them and mostly enjoy reading it.

• conferences attended; livestock located

• I had been trying to sell a buck for 2 months, he sold the day after my ad appeared in the newsletter

• Vt. fancy meats selling male dairy goats for meat

• Dates for auctions/holidays, info of industry in general

• sold equipment/livestock; found livestock

• Workshops on new grazing practices and new information about parasites and new practices on treatment for parasites.

• As president of a livestock organization I've been able to share this info with new and not so new breeders.

• Updated information on cheesemaking classes and classes on ruminant medicine


• Just started receiving newsletter this winter.

• Found a bulk tank for sale

• Cheesemaking classes, selling goats, resourceful articles

• job posting, news about classes and training, news about specific farmers, technical information

• Knowing of upcoming events and learning about small ruminent care.

• Trainings for cheese making & herd management.

• Understanding internal parasite control.

• It provides valuable information and connects us to others with similar issues and situations. I like the information sharing.

• grazing

• I used one of the articles in class that I taught about (ventilation) and also sold some dairy goats

• I've been to a few workshops

• Schedule when to attend

• Goat browsing/grazing study at Doe's leap and advertising for my seminars and workshops. Helped me with nutrition for goats.


• Fencing workshop

• We were connected to folks selling goats and equipment that we bought

• I have attended several workshops listed that I was otherwise unaware of.

• Finding classes and workshops! Excellent. Local items for sale - excellent classifieds. I sit down with my own calendar and determine which classes I will attend. Also, article on cost of kid/lamb replacement will help me in financial section of my business plan.

• I attended a FAMACHA WORKSHOP AND GRAZING CLASS

• Though I currently do not have any small ruminants, as a concerned citizen in regards to the future of small farms in Vermont it is good to know what is going on as well as to know a resource for knowledge and support exists (other farmers, workshops, etc.)

• Articles on wormers, colostrum - there have been lots of great articles

• I like having all the meetings listed in one place

• Attended several farm meetings/pasture walks

• I can keep updated with things.

• When you wrote article on feeding concentrates levels above 1/2 - 1/4 of Dry matter intake animal starts to impair rumen bacteria that digest fiber. interesting and helpful.


• locate a goat breeder - to purchase an animal

• We advertised for an intern.

• Locate goats to purchase

• Helps in planning for future use of marginal (for vegetables) areas of our farm

• Listings of events and workshops of interest to me.

• articles regarding nutrition and management cheese workshop schedule

• information on cheese making workshop

• It has introduced me to a large # of people with similar interests, and has given me the encouragement to keep on believing in what my goals are thru the wide array of workshops and demonstration and speeches.

• I attend many events listed which I otherwise would not have known about. So much information has been learned and passed on it's difficult to list just one. This is a great tool for finding programs that fit your interest and budget.

• Technical info, i.e. parisitology

• Cheesemaking classes


• I passed on information on artificial insemination clinic in March '07 to a neighbor who attended.

• General info on parasite management

• General interest in what's going on in sheep and goat world. Marketing wool - I haven't made use of info but might.

• Various articles in newsletter, especially on pasturing and goat health are always interesting, frequently useful. The calendar has been a wonderful resource for workshops in the past although due to my husband's health issues, I've been unable to attend any recently.

• Internship listing led to a job. Article on costs of establishing a sheep dairy helped me plan business. Also learned about shearing class.

• Just bought 75 gal. past. advertised. This will improve cash flow and bring business to target of 10,000 # cheese annually.

• Kids came march 2007. Needed to supplement kids b/c mother's milk was lacking - learned about milk replacer in newsletter.

• I save and/or show information on goats with newcomers.

• On what is good to geed my goats and what is not.

• I bought equipment advertised in newsletter. I attended a class offered in newsletter.


• Let me know about upcoming workshops in my area.

• Carol placed an ad in the letter for me when I was seeking a sheep dairy where I could learn milking. I received an immediate response to my ad, and spent a very valuable week at a sheep dairy in Vermont as a result.

• connected with the person who became my farm intern in 2005

• A farmer starting a goat dairy hadn't received the newsletter, but did know of the service. We forwarded the newsletter and he contacted another farmer listed in the newsletter.

• Up coming events.

• got to visit another farm after learning about a workshop being held; never would have otherwise had the chance to see this operation, always learn new things to help our business

• learned about a lot of workshops

• I always find the classifieds to be both interesting and useful. While I don't always respond to a particular ad, I do get a very good sense who's doing what and where.

• facilitated a contact with an instructor and class on making farmstead cheese

• Forwarded info on events and internships to my daughter.


• Morrisville workshop

• notification of events

• The calendar helps me to know when and where local workshops are being held

• I was able to connect farmers I work with to training/educational opportunities that help them tremendously

• great calendar - interesting articles (even though we milk cows_

• I found

• I found

• An article on gastro-intestinal parasites and anthe/mintic resistance provided valuable information

• Just good to learn who's doing what, who's selling, who's buying, what price, etc.

• I was able to locate some breeding stock and another meat market for my meat goats.

• Looking for kids for 4-H projects

• Learned about FAMACHA workshop

• An article on parasites helped our understanding for the dairy we used to have - we sold all our dairy equip. through the newsletter


• It has helped me find trainings in my area.

• Found a person to buy a goat (both directions); found and attended classes

• Managed intensive grazing

• informed me of educational meeting. Helped sell equipment. Info on parasite control

• It helps us learn what others art trying and making work successfully, as well as giving us contact for further info.

• I upped the grain ration to our kids after reading an article and was pleased with the results.

• To know what events are coming up. Enjoy articles about goat management.

• The help wanted section helped me to find some students of SUNY-Coldeshill college a job. Also, I was looking for some goats in the classifieds.

• Found livestock (goats) through paper.

• informed me of workshop, which i attended

• Took lambing clinic; took fecal exam class; want to take other classes. found sheep to purchase; found rams to purchase.

• Source of used equipment. Source of new genetics.


• Classified ad.

(5) Please indicate how useful the current sections of the newsletter/calendar are for you by putting a check under

“Very, Somewhat, Not very, or Not at all.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Technical articles Workshops/Events

Not at allNot verySomewhatVery

(5) Please indicate how useful the current sections of the newsletter/calendar are for you by putting a check under

“Very, Somewhat, Not very, or Not at all.

Topic Very Somewhat Not very Not at all

Technical articles 72 61 7 0

Announcements/Resources

84 54 4 0

Classifieds 86 43 14 0

Workshops/Events 98 36 6 1

(6) Please list or write any comments on the newsletter's worth to you and/or suggestions to improve it.

• good as is

• I am mainly interested in zoonoses

• Informational -- that's always good. I'm sort of stuck in my habits and don't change much, but like to keep an eye on what others are doing and what I MIGHT be doing

• I have only been receiving the newsletter since January. I enjoy the format and the information. Haven't been reading this long enough to comment, except- thank you for doing this.

• I work for a national sustainable ag information service, and I have been located in the central part of the US all my life. This newsletter helps me understand the northeast region of the country and also provides me with research information that I can apply for my clients and for my own farm. The writing is excellent and the variety is good. Keep up the good work!

• This doesn't directly relate to the newsletter. But I would like to suggest that more goat workshops in the winter rather than during the growing season.

• Increase the scope to include more New York events.

• I can't think of any suggestions except keep doing what you are doing!

• I know this is a VT based newsletter - how about more information about what is going on in Mass. How about 4-H events. ADGA show schedules.

(6) Please list or write any comments on the newsletter's worth to you and/or suggestions to improve it. (Continued)

• no recommendations

• Sometimes it arrives in the mail too late to participate in an event.

• I expect it to become an invaluable tool for contacts and workshops.

• Really like the in-depth pieces on individual farms - helps to see how other places are managed. Would love more focused pieces on small aspects of business end- wholesale cheese and milk, retailing cheese, mastitis, homeopathic and conventional treatments.

• very informative - keeps us connected to other

• It meets my needs well in its present form.

• I would like to see more information relating to wool production and also more on Sarasa and Alpaces.

• I like it the way it is.

• Very interesting, especially goat classes

• More technical stuff/news, please. Also more sheep/goat health articles.

• It is a wonderful resource, especially for people in CT that have nowhere to turn!

• More on organic livestock practices


• none - I really like it! I am a cow dairy farmer but am small and grass based and find your publication more useful and helpful than the cow dairy periodicals

• I think this is a great newsletter and love that it is emailed!

• Excellent the way it is!

• The technical articles are very useful. The workshop announcements just make me envious because I live too far away to attend any of them!

• more tech

• It is a great resource. I appreciate receiving it. Electronic format is great - can you advertise it to others in some publications? United Caprine NEws, Dairy goat journal, Sheep, Banner, Boer Goat, Farm and RAnch...to name a few.

• I think this is a great service to the small operator. Wish we had the same in N.H.

• Some of the dates were not listed far enough in advance so we can plan to attend certain events.

• Although I deal primarily with sheep each issue contains info that I can apply to sheep or it can cause you to re-examine practices that you are using.

• The newsletter is my source for info and for a connection to local farmers and what's going on


• Since I raise fiber goats, there is not much referring to them. Now that I have one Dairy goat for home use maybe more will be of interest to me.

• a lot of events out of state don't bother looking at

• excellent resource, locally based for dairy goat farming. Very worthy.

• I am on the VT Sheep and Wool festival committee and your listing and info on our event is very appreciated.

• Any access to the most recent research based information on small ruminants is much appreciated

• It is a wonderful resource. I look forward to each new issue.

• It is the only thing I read regularly besides the NY Times. I appreciate the way Carol pulls together info.

• I look forward to receiving the calendar and even keep back copies for future contact information. Keep up the GREAT work that's put into this!

• I love reading the newsletter! It gives helpful information and I like the workshop listings.

• Calendar of events is great resource

• I look forward to the quotation at the head of each SRDP newsletter.


• I like it for what it is, a point of reference for networking.

• In entirety newsletter is helpful. I know what workshops I can afford ($) to attend, and listing are helpful to know what goat breeds surround this area.

• am unable to travel these days as I used to. It helps me keep up on newer methods of livestock care.

• I like it just as it is. I find it very informative.

• I find the newsletter very useful. Thank you.

• I am in California, where there is little support for sheep dairies. I am grateful to have the small-ruminant project letter. Some of the more local aspects of the newsletter are less valuable to me, only because of my geographic location.

• Good as is

• it's the only one of its kind that consolidates workshop and networking information for goat producers, especially dairy; keep it going!

• Increase, if possible, the number of exhibits and photographs.

• don't

• More advance notice for events would be appreciated


• You do a great job!

• You do a great job!

• Most of events are out of my area.

• Sometimes it comes late for events

• The workshops could be very useful to us, but we haven't been able to attend any other than one on parasites several years ago.

• I look forward to reading the newsletter and finding out what workshops are being offered. It is very helpful and interesting. Thank you!

• It is good to have Carol keeping us all connected.

• How about putting all the announcements in english?

• I find the newsletter a valuable tool. Perhaps more info on raising livestock would be good.

• Stop mailing me stuff! I know where to go if I'm more ready.

• Anything to make our job run more smoothly helps (and saves us money).

• More info on fiber and meat sheep; not just dairy!

• Please combine the calendar of the SRDP with the one that accompanies the Solar Dollar! For those of us who subscribe to both, it's a waste to receive two nearly identical events calendars!


• More cheesemaking info please!

• More info. on practices, mastitis prevention, rationing, etc.

(7) We would like to know how you get technical information about small ruminants and milk processing. Please check how often you use these services below: - FREQUENCY IN

GETTING TECHNICAL INFORMATION

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Internet websites Online classes/workshops

Not at allYearlyQuarterlyMonthlyWeekly

(7) We would like to know how you get technical information about small ruminants and milk processing. Please check how often you use these services below: - FREQUENCY IN

GETTING TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Topic Weekly Monthly Quarterly Yearly Not at all

Internet websites

35 33 31 9 18

Internet list serves

27 14 11 7 57

Private consultants (feed company, vet., cheese expert)

2 23 45 20 35

Public consultant (Extension agent, Ag. agency)

4 22 26 47 26

Publications/newsletters/books

40 66 21 4 3

Live workshops

3 12 30 68 18

Online classes/workshops

3 7 3 10 94

Farmer discussion groups

7 12 21 30 53

Goat or sheep breeders/cheesemakers

19 24 43 30 15

(8) Do you know about the New England Dairy/Meat Goat and Dairy Sheep Directory? (see it at

www.uvm.edu/sustainableagriculture/smallrumi.html)

0

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40

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60

70

80

Yes No

Percent

(8) Do you know about the New England Dairy/Meat Goat and Dairy Sheep Directory? (see it at

www.uvm.edu/sustainableagriculture/smallrumi.html)


Yes 101 72.7%

No 38 27.3%

(8a) Yes, I know about the New England Dairy/Meat Goat and Dairy Sheep Directory: (chose one of the following)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

It should be sent free tonewsletter ...

I believe a charge ofprinting/mailin...

Percent

(8a) Yes, I know about the New England Dairy/Meat Goat and Dairy Sheep Directory: (chose one of the following)


It should be sent free to newsletter subscribers

36 36.7%

I believe a charge of printing/mailing costs (~$5) is reasonable

62 63.3%

(9) Would you subscribe by mail to the Small Ruminant Dairy Newsletter (quarterly) and Calendar of Events (monthly) if there were a single

subscription fee? Please check your most accurate response:

05

1015202530

Yes, andI would

pay up to$6 peryear

Yes, andI would

pay up to$18 per

year

No, Iwouldonly

continuereceiving

i...

Percent

(9) Would you subscribe by mail to the Small Ruminant Dairy Newsletter (quarterly) and Calendar of Events (monthly) if there were a single

subscription fee? Please check your most accurate response:


Yes, and I would pay up to $6 per year

42 29.2%


37 25.7%


6 4.2%

Yes, and I would pay up to $ 4 2.8%

No, I would only continue receiving it if it were free and sent by mail.

13 9.0%

No, but I would sign up for a free email version or look at the online version on the small ruminant webpage.

42 29.2%

(9) Would you subscribe by mail to the Small Ruminant Dairy Newsletter (quarterly) and Calendar of Events (monthly) if there were a single subscription fee? Please check your most

accurate response: - Yes, and I would pay up to $

• 30

• I think the newsletter is worthwhile.

• $20/yearly or free with @ $50 donation to SRDP

• 10

This survey was filled out:

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

online by paper

Percent

This survey was filled out:


online 39 26.7%

by paper 107 73.3%

(1) please check all that apply to your situation:

Documents

following ways

information useful

milking goats

variety of information

new practice3826

angora goats

iry sheep breeder149

new clientssaved moneyshows