K Farm
(Example of a farm in central Hokkaido, Japan)

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(Mrs. K)

Location

Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan

Brief overview of management

Paddy rice 1,784a

Wheat 1,204a

Soybean 109a

Adzuki bean 85a

Buckwheat 183a

Vegetables

Sweet corn 40a

Other vegetables 36a

Total acreage 3,441a

Family structure

Principal person (53)

Manager (56)

Successor (Eldest son 29)

Others Eldest son

fs wife 30 (engaged in a non-agricultural occupation), fourth son 22 (a college student)

Organizations she belongs to

# Herb Study Society (Chairperson)

# Pressed Flower Club

gByukah

# Healthy Club (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives [JA] Vegetable Cultivation Study Group: watermelon, melon, yarcon)

# Flower Road Group

# Community volunteer (To read aloud to people and be a conversation partner for elderly persons living alone)

# JA volunteer (Wheelchair cleaning in special elderly nursing home)

# JA Jaunt Club

# Sorachi Southwest District Farm Village Women

fs Group Network gHinatabokkoh

Management and Action Policies of K Farm

# Their farm management is based on family labor, and they make decisions by discussing thoroughly so that all members of the family can enjoy working. They work hard in summer, while in winter they go on a trip and attend various studies, which they believe enrich their farm management and daily life.

# Once they transfer management to their successor, she and her husband plan to further increase exchanges through providing visitors with experiences on the farm and direct marketing activities. This year 2004, they are preparing little by little for the conclusion of an agreement of a family-run farm and making plans for a processing facility.

# Direct marketing and exchanges through providing visitors with experiences on the farm

Selling products: Rice, white radish, sweet corn, hensf eggs, and dried flowers. (buckwheat noodles)

Harvesting experience for visitors: white radish, sweet corn

Activities of the principal person

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In summer, in cooperation with her family members, she is engaged in direct marketing and accepting visitors who want to experience harvesting.

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At Herb Study Society, she sells processed goods at events both inside and outside community, makes wedding gifts and lays out herb gardens at the request of the community. She also actively works with the other organizations she belongs to.

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In winter, together with her friends, she makes bean curd and soybean paste for family consumption.

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Nominated by the community as the leader of a farm products processing group, she teaches the community residents how to make bean curd, soybean paste, fruit juice, etc. She also teaches how to make buckwheat noodles when asked to do so.

July 7, 2004 Sorachi Southwest District Agricultural Extension Center

J Farm (Mrs.J)

Location

Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan

Brief overview of management

Paddy rice 659a

Wheat 661a

Adzuki bean 228a

Vegetables

Cabbage 100a

Total acreage 1,648a

Family structure

Principal person (46)

Manager (49)

Successor (Second son 21, a college senior)

Organizations she belongs to

# Pressed Flower Club

gByukah (Chairperson)

# Healthy Club (JA Vegetable Cultivation Study Group: watermelon, melon, asparagus, prunes)

# Sorachi Southwest District Farm Village Women

fs Group Network gHinatabokkoh

# Sorachi Hatsuratsu (meaning vigorous) Women

fs Network (Accountant of the event sales department)

Management and Action Policies of J Farm

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Farming policies are determined through family discussion.

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Upland field crops are greater than paddy rice in terms of cropping acreage. They make an utmost effort to prevent disease damage by rotating vegetable, wheat and Adzuki bean crops, and thus aim at a steady income

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She is the leader of the vegetables section, planning, growing, managing, and shipping. (Plowing and fertilizing are performed by her husband and the successor.)

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In winter, she and her husband make decorations of straw ropes for sale for pleasure and profit.

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In several years, they want to create a cozy space where both farmers and non-farmers will be able to communicate casually and have various experiences.

Activities of the said person

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She and her friends are learning how to operate PCs in order to record their cultivation histories and make blue forms for their income tax returns. When they have difficulties in operating PCs, they gather together in the evening and teach one another, hoping to be able to file their blue forms by PC next spring.

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She is recruiting members of the community to the Pressed Flower Group. The group is currently producing Japanese paper from rice straws. Rice is one of the major products of the locality. They are conducting research into making it a specialty product.

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She was active being vice chairperson in 2002 and chairperson in 2003 of the Sorachi Hatsuratsu Womenfs Network. As the accountant of the sales department of the network that was started up in 2004, she is working hard so that Sorachifs safe and secure agricultural products will be delivered to consumers and she aims to make the womanfs networkfs activities better understood.

July 7, 2004 Sorachi Southwest District Agricultural Extension Center