A small farms diversification

Since 2014 Bizzell Bluff Farms has utilized research-based information provided by Cooperative Extension to help make operational decisions for their farm. Mr. Rushing started his small farm operation with a you pick blueberry patch as a fun extra source of income.  Livingston ANR helped with publications, variety selection that best suited the area and soil testing. Not only has Mr. Rushing’s hobby blueberry patch grown into a working commercial blueberry patch but has thrived and expanded. In 2016 our client wanted to do even more to diversify his operation. He again looked to Extension for help to accomplish his goals.

First thing Livingston ANR did was ask him how he wanted to diversify his operation.  After our client set a clear direction that he wanted to take his operation in, Livingston County ANR help him map out some steps and time frames that his operation needed to achieve. First, he added black berries and raspberries.  Livingston ANR continues to help him with soil test for Fertility and PH test. The second step was that he added a maple syrup operation. Livingston ANR has helped him develop a marketing plan that has worked well.  The third step was he added a bee operation to sell honey and help with pollination of his crops. Livingston ANR helped with this aspect of his operation with our monthly beekeepers’ meetings and extension publications.

In the past few years of operation Bizzell Bluff Farms has continued to grow and have found that some of their secondary products have become their primary crops. Their blackberry, Maple syrup, products have done well for them, but their Honey production has become by far their best seller. They of course wanted to capitalize on this success. With help from Cooperative Extension publications, Livingston County beekeepers’ meetings before the COVID-19 Pandemic and continued farm visit and assistance from Livingston County ANR Bizzell Bluff farms have grown from two beehives to twenty.  Bizzell Bluff farms has expressed a continued desire to grow its honey business and want to continue to enlist the help and advisement from Cooperative Extension ANR.