Progress report for ENC20-192
Project Information
The Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS), a fiscally sponsored program with the Organic Trade Association, aims to improve farmer access to agricultural professionals trained in organic field crop production practices. Organic field crop production is full of opportunities for farmers but it can be challenging to successfully realize this potential due to the steep learning curve in transitioning from conventional to organic production practices. Farmers need more robust access to one-on-one support from agricultural professionals trained in science-based organic methods. This project will train agronomists, Certified Crop Consultants, ag. service employees, extension educators, NGO program staff, and NRCS employees in the science of organic field crop production so that they can meet the educational needs of transitional and certified organic farmers.
This project will take an innovative approach to delivering this training. We will deliver training in three regions of the Midwest through a flipped classroom, hybrid online and in-person model. The course will consist of seven modules of highly engaging, high-production value video lessons that will be tailored with specific practice recommendations for each of the three regions. Participants will be organized into cohorts by region and will meet by video conference to analyze and discuss each of the seven modules and to interact and build connections with each other. The course will conclude with an in-person, on-farm session where participants will see working examples of content from the online portion of the course, hear from farmers who are successfully managing organic acres, and engage in group learning activities.
|
Output |
Description |
Goal |
|
Adapted video lessons |
Distance learning modules adapted to contain regionally relevant and specific content including crop rotations, cover crop recommendations, and weed management strategies |
Two modules |
|
Exercises for lessons |
Exercises for each of the seven modules are reviewed and adapted to contain regionally specific content |
|
|
Cohort participants |
Agricultural professionals participating in each of three regional cohorts, includes agronomists, Certified Crop Consultants, Extension educators, NRCS staff, ag. retail consultants, private consultants, NGO educators |
45 participants in each of the three cohorts, 135 participants in total |
|
Online directory |
Directory of agricultural professionals trained in organic production methods who meet qualification criteria and desire to be included |
30 past OATS participants; 30 participants from 2021 programming; 1000 unique page views in 12 months |
|
Partnerships |
Total number of members of the OATS consortium and regional advisory committees |
40 consortium members |
Cooperators
Education
OATS has developed a hybrid distance learning/in-person professional development
training program for agricultural professionals on agronomy and production strategies for organic field crops
that utilizes a flipped classroom model of learning. Through this approach, we aim to reach more agricultural
professionals across a wider geographic area while not compromising the benefits associated with high-quality
in-person instruction.
This hybrid training program consists of three elements: 1) independent distance learning modules containing science-based material, 2) virtual classroom sessions via video conferencing, and 3) an in-
person event.
The independent distance learning modules are highly engaging, high-production value, video-based
lessons on the following topics:
- National Organic Program regulations, structure, and history
- Certification and recordkeeping
- Soil Health: crop rotation, cover crops, and reduced tillage
Pest and disease management - Weed management
- Fertility management
- Marketing, economics, and profitability
- The role of an organic advisor
The structure of this program allows participants to gain knowledge of more content at a greater depth than
was possible at our previous in-person trainings. The flipped classroom model allows more time for participants
to take in new information and fosters deeper discussions and analysis during the virtual classroom and on-farm
contact hours.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Improve agricultural professional's knowledge and competency in designing organic field crop rotations
The crop rotation module consists of three video-based lessons.
- Designing a crop rotation
- Example crop rotations by region
- Farmer perspectives on crop rotation
Each video is accompanied by a list of resources for further reading. The module concludes with a quiz to assess participant learning.
The video-based lessons are designed to achieve the following learning objectives:
- Understand the six principles of crop rotation
- Understand the goals of crop rotation
- Understand the role of context in designing a crop rotation
- Understand the limitations of short crop rotations
- Understand the benefits of crop sequencing within a rotation
Participants will view the lesson videos at their own pace and then meet with a cohort of their peers and a course facilitator for a Q&A discussion of the module content.
The goal is to prepare agricultural professionals to better advise organic and transitional field crop farmers on the central role of crop rotation in an organic production system. The participants will be prepared to provide guidance to clients on crop sequencing, pest/disease/weed management, and marketing through a crop rotation lenses.
This module is currently under development. It will launch for participants in 2022.
Improve agricultural professional's knowledge and competency in weed control strategies for organic field crop farms
The weed control module consists of ten video-based lessons.
- Organic weed control overview
- Knowing your weeds
- Keep weeds from emerging
- Kill the weeds that do emerge, part 1
- Kill the weeds that do emerge, part 2
- Long-term control
- Focus farmer's perspective on flame weeding
- Focus farmer's perspective on blind cultivation
- Focus farmer's perspective on cultivators and alternative tools
- Focus farmer's perspective on weed control timelines
Each video is accompanied by a list of resources for further reading. The module concludes with a quiz to assess participant learning.
The video-based lessons are designed to achieve the following learning objectives:
- Understand the goals of organic weed control
- Understand the strategies and tools available for organic weed control
- Understand weed lifecycles and vulnerabilities
- Understand strategies for preventing weed emergence
- Understand the importance of timing in cultivation for weed control
- Understand the many cultivation tools, their strengths and weaknesses
- Understand alternative mechanical strategies for weed control
- Understand the role of crop rotation in weed management
- Understand strategies for reducing the weed seed bank
Participants will view the lesson videos at their own pace and then meet with a cohort of their peers and a course facilitator for a Q&A discussion of the module content.
The goal is to prepare agricultural professionals to better advise organic and transitional field crop farmers on the cultural and mechanical strategies for controlling weeds. The participants will be prepared to provide guidance to clients on strategies such as crop rotation, organic no-till soybeans, blind cultivation, row cultivation, flame weeding, weed zapping, and weed control timelines.
This module is currently under development. It will launch for participants in 2022.
Improve agricultural professional's knowledge and competency on the organic regulations, organic yields, and the effects of and mitigations for tillage
Organic and regenerative agriculture share may objectives. This presentation explores the USDA organic regulations and how they support the principles of regenerative agriculture. We also tackle two of the top criticisms of organic farming: yield drag and the effects of tillage.
The American Society of Agronomy hosted a Sustainability Conference in the summer of 2021. OATS was invited to present to over 3000 CCAs on organic field crop production. At this presentation, we shared information on the organic regulations, data on organic yields, and information on mitigating the damaging effects of the tillage used for weed control - all content that was developed in part with funding from this project. We also promoted the upcoming launch of the hybrid course.
The presentation slides from the talk can be viewed here: ASA-Presentation_OATS_2021-08-24 (1)
Improve agricultural professional's knowledge and competency on the organic regulations, crop rotation, and fertility management
Organic farmers need better access to highly qualified technical advisors. In this presentation, we will explore organic fertility management through crop rotations, cover crops, and allowable inputs. You'll leave with a better understanding of the organic regulations and how you can help organic farmers thrive.
Montana Organic Association hosted a virtual conference in December 2021. OATS was invited to present to over 50 agricultural professionals and farmers on organic fertility management. At this presentation, we shared information on the organic regulations, goals of fertility management, organic crop rotations, cover crops, allowable inputs, using manure and compost - all content that was developed in part with funding from this project. We also promoted the upcoming launch of the hybrid course.
The presentation slides from the talk can be viewed here: Presentation_MOA-2021 (1)
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Project Outcomes
In year 1 of this project, the OATS team developed scripts for and filmed the video-based lessons for 2 modules of the OATS hybrid course. These video-lessons were filmed on working farms and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison research farm. The videos include narration by the course host, Nate Powell-Palm, and interviews with successful working farmers. Filming started in July and ended at the end of November, 2021.
The OATS team also delivered two virtual presentations on topics related to the hybrid course materials. The first presentation was at the American Society of Agronomy's Sustainability Conference which attracted over 3000 registrants. The second presentation was at the Montana Organic Association's virtual annual conference which attracted over 50 registrants. Both of these presentations drew a national audience of technical advisors and farmers.
In year 2 of this project, the raw footage for the video lessons will be edited and delivered to OATS by the the videographer. The hybrid course will launch for participants to enroll in the second half of the year. Additional materials such as quizzes and exercises will be developed to accompany the videos in the lessons. OATS will also launch the online directory of agricultural professionals that will help farmers connect with one-on-one technical support.