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2008 Professional Development Program Winners

In 2008 after preproposal and full proposal reviews, the Administrative Council chose 5 projects for funding with amounts ranging from $61,000 to $97,000 with a funding total of $$416,993

The 2008 project chart below gives insight not only about what SARE reviewers look for in a grant but also a glimpse into what's currently on the mind of researchers. The following abstracts introduce the new projects.

Investigators will be entering their new projects into the data base and following up with annual reports throughout the life of the project. View the reports at www.sare.org

ES08-089Toolbox for Small Ruminant Educators: Building on the Small Ruminant Resource Manual, $61, 523

Sheep and goat enterprises offer diversification opportunities for small and limited-resource farmers in the South. Educators need materials to meet farmers' increased interest in these enterprises. The proposed Toolbox for Small Ruminant Educators builds on the success of the previous SARE-funded project, “Enhancing Educator Knowledge of Sheep and Goat Production,” (ES02-060). In response to interest and demand created by that project we will:
• Expand and update the training manual and resource list including new ready-to-use presentations
• Organize training workshops in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky for CES agents, NRCS staff, Heifer International field staff, and Young Farmer advisors to provide guidelines and practice in using these resources:
o Small Ruminant Sustainability Checksheet
o Small Ruminant Resource Manual
o PowerPoint tutorial library
o Additional resources about sheep and goats

These materials will be available through the ATTRA information service, publicized through the ATTRA website and newsletters and weekly updates. They will also be linked through the e-Extension site.

Participants will be surveyed pre- and post-workshop to assess changes in knowledge and confidence levels in presenting the subjects. The project will equip agents for assisting sheep and goat producers by providing new tools to conduct workshops in their home states.

Linda Coffey
NCAT, PO Box 3657
Fayetteville , AR 72702
Ph: 479-442-9824
Fax: 479-442-9842
Em: lindac@ncat.org

Why We Picked it

• Builds on and expands work of a very successful previous project based on user demand

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ES08-090 An agent Training Program in Safe Food Handling & Legal Liability , $77,344

An agent training program will be established to create certified Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) trainers in each of the state's 101 Cooperative Extension offices. Training modules will be created with input from experienced growers who have implemented GAP into their farm operations and have existing food safety plans. The growers' knowledge-base will also be used to develop training materials that address Best Management Practices (BMP). Training will initially consist of direct delivery of material through a classroom setting. A web site that provides up-to-date information on state and federal food safety regulations that includes on-line modules for use as refresher courses and new agent training, will be developed. Agents will receive resources to conduct training sessions with their growers, assist producers with the development of food safety plans, and advise growers on the best agricultural and appropriate human resource and risk management practices to assure produce safety, reduce liability and maintain access to markets. Program evaluation tools will be developed to assess changes in agent attitudes about the importance of good agricultural practices, evaluate agent understanding of the practices, and monitor the training programs and clients served through the resulting agent-led educational programs. Each Extension office's GAP-certified trainer will organize classroom sessions to deliver the GAP/BMP curriculum to produce growers who participate in local farmers' markets, have roadside stands or sell produce to small retailers or through North Carolina's farm-to-school program, which connects local producers with school cafeterias statewide and offers them a market for their produce.

Annette Dunlap
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 8109 - Nelson Hall
Raleigh , NC 27695-8109
Ph: 919-515-5969
Fax: 919-515-6268
Em: Annette_dunlap@ncsu.edu

Why We Picked it

• Timely topic because of so much consumer concern about food borne inllnesses and recent recalls of fresh green onions and spinach
• Could serve as model for other states
• Appropriate for Southern region because salad ingredients are main crops at farmers markets

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ES08-091 Organic Dairy Training Conferences and Educational Materials for Professionals, $97,456

We will conduct an information exchange tour for organic groups in Arkansas and North Carolina to share information on organic dairy farming from each state so that the participants can determine the problems and possible solutions to enhance the efficiency and profitability of organic dairy farming in the southern region. The groups will be composed of 2-3 dairy farmers, 2-3 extension personnel, 1 NRCS or FSA agent, and 1 organic dairy industry representative from each state. The information collected on the tours will be used to plan the conferences in the next year. Emphasis of the exchange tours will be to find needs of farmers for organic dairy production, especially during the transition year, and to establish the characteristics of more successful producers. A list of products used on organic dairies will be collected and made available in the South.

The second objective is to conduct two training conferences on organic dairying for professional educators in the South. The workshops will provide interactive problem solving exercises and hands-on learning with an organic dairy farm. Practices and concepts will include: an overview of the National Organic Program, preventive management for optimum livestock health, pasture management, soil fertility, weed control, and cropping rotations which maximize production, sustainability, nutrient management, and pest management. Emphasis will be placed on factors for successfully transitioning to and sustaining organic dairy production but will be applicable to transitioning other livestock farms. A follow-up survey will assess organic management practices adopted.

Jodie Pennington
Univ of Arkansas CES
PO Box 391
Little Rock , AR 72203
Ph: 501-671-2190
Fax: 501-671-2185
jpennington@uaex.edu

Why We Picked it

• Timely because consumer demand is rising for organic dairy products and the South lags behinds the other regions in confronting the challenges of organic dairying
• Project leader has long experience in subject area
• Good farmer involvement in setting criteria for workshops
  

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ES08-092Energy Training for Agricultural Professionals in the Southern SARE Regions, $97,684

High energy costs are putting intense pressure on many farms in the Southern SARE region, while at the same time new energy technologies and opportunities are becoming available. Farms need to find ways to adapt to changing energy realities while maintaining or increasing the sustainability of their operations.

Because of their educational mission and network of local offices throughout the region, the Extension system and USDA agencies – especially NRCS – are well situated to provide technical assistance on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The National Center for Appropriate Technology and our collaborators propose a pilot effort to train Cooperative Extension agents, USDA staff, and other agriculture professionals as Agricultural Energy Specialists. We will prepare these educators to lead training efforts in their own communities, helping farmers manage their energy resources profitably and sustainably. We will also create a curriculum and certification process that will serve as a template for subsequent training efforts.

Participants will be chosen by a competitive application process to participate in an intensive and rigorous three-day energy training course at The Center for Environmental Farming Systems, (www.cefs.ncsu.edu) near Goldsboro, North Carolina. The course will include classroom training as well as hands-on experience and site visits.

After successfully completing this training, graduates will return to their communities to provide energy-related technical assistance, and will develop a network for energy-related communication and support. Future professional training will be strengthened by an in-depth interview and program evaluation, four to six months after the training.

Mike Morris
National Center for Appropriate
Technology (NCAT)
107 Laurel Hill Circle
Chapel Hill , NC 27514
Ph: 406-533-6652
Fax: 406-494-2905
mikem@ncat.org

Why We Picked It

• An excellent example of a proposal that is not written by a professional. Well written and to the point.
• Energy education is timely
• Hands-on experience and site visits as well as classroom training

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ES08-093 Agritourism Training for Agriculture Professionals, $82,986

A 2005 survey conducted by the University of Georgia found that agritourism represents a significant source of on-farm income. According to the USDA in 2006, farms with sales under $250,000 (90% of farms) have experienced negative farm operating profits and derive most of their income from off-farm sources. Smaller farmers are looking at agritourism as a new enterprise that may generate additional income. Georgia and North Carolina have over 650 and 850 identified agritourism operations, respectively. Agritourism industry has been growing at an estimated 30% annually creating new opportunities for farmers.

However, business information specific to agritourism is lacking with most current programs focusing more on idea sharing rather than agritourism business training. The University of Georgia, North Carolina State University, Fort Valley State University, North Carolina A & T, agricultural professionals and interested farmers will develop a workshop, agritourism manual, and web-based curriculum and other educational materials. A series of worksheets on evaluating market potential, legal and regulatory issues, budgets and financial worksheets will be developed to allow operators to evaluate the business aspects of a agritourism operation. The educational materials will be focused on addressing the issues identified by the advisory committee. The participants will evaluate the workshop and accompanying educational materials upon completion of the workshop and then three months later. As a result of this training, Georgia and North Carolina extension agents will be asked to conduct an agritourism workshops. In addition agents will work with 10 farmers from each state.

Kent Wolfe
University of Georgia
222 Conner Hall
Athens , Ga 30602
Ph: 706-542-0752
Fax: ----
kwolfe@uga.edu

• This is an excellent proposal, brief and clearly written. Good collaboration and builds on previous SARE support. Great proposal.
• Good multiplier effect by having each trained agent go back home and train 10 farmers
• UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development has a solid reputation for nearly a decade of work in agritourism
• Manual, cd-rom and fact sheets will provide permanent aids for future training

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