Program Assistant for Sustainable Agriculture Education for Socially Disadvantaged Producers in Arkansas

Progress report for SAR23-A002

SAR23-A002 (project overview)
Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2023: $33,000.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2025
Grant Recipient: University of Arkansas- Pine Bluff
Region: Southern
State: Arkansas
State Coordinator:
Dr. Henry English
Email
University of Arkansas- Pine Bluff
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Project Information

Abstract:

The program assistant (PA) will be assisting the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) State Coordinator in developing the UAPB Annual SARE State Plan. The PA will assist in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the plan including all SARE Activities. The PA will work directly with the UAPB – SARE Team and the UAPB – SARE Partners. These groups will be assisted in arranging and conducting SARE Educational activities for the UAPB Outreach and Extension Staff, the UAPB Partners, and farmers. The PA will develop a final report of the activities that occurred during the year and present the report to the UAPB Outreach and Extension Staff.

Project Objectives:

Funding from the 2023 Program will be used to provide education and demonstrations on the use of soil health principles in vegetable and row crops, seasonal high tunnels, gardens, and raised beds. Soil health principles will be taught to both urban, vegetable, and row crop producers. Participants in food desert communities, small vegetable producers, and socially disadvantaged row crop producers will be targeted. The objectives from 2022 will be repeated because it will take several years before a significant number of SDPs adopt soil health practices and without continuous education, it will not happen.

Advisors

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  • Dr. Obadiah Njue (Educator)
  • Katy Brantley (Educator)
  • Stephan Walker (Educator)
  • Aaron Cato (Educator and Researcher)
  • Dr. Henry English (Educator and Researcher)
  • Heather Friedrich (Educator and Researcher)
  • Mildred Griggs (Educator)
  • Margo Hale (Educator)
  • Amanda McWhirt (Educator and Researcher)
  • James Morgan
  • Ryan Neal (Educator and Researcher)
  • Sixte Ntamatungiro (Educator and Researcher)
  • Elizabeth Young (Educator)

Education

Educational approach:
Our educational approach includes workshops conducted both in-person and via Zoom. Farmers are invited to educational conferences and encouraged to participate in various field days and events. We have demonstrations at four sites in eastern Arkansas. We often sponsor an Annual Rural Life Conference and a Field Day at the Lonoke Farm. Sustainable agriculture workshops are conducted at the Annual Rural Life Conference, and demonstrations of sustainable agriculture practices are held at the field day. Additionally, we conduct an Edible Garden Conference each year at Forest City or Marianna. Sustainable agriculture practices are always demonstrated at the Edible Garden Conference.

Education & Outreach Initiatives

Using Soil Health Principles in Crop Production
Objective:

To educate the UAPB faculty and staff, along with farmers, gardeners, and urban growers, about soil health and the use of soil health principles

Description:

To educate producers, demonstrations were conducted at UAPB, East Arkansas Enterprise Community (EAEC), UAPB Lonoke, and Marianna Farms. Cover crop demonstrations were located at the Lonoke Farm and EAEC, while high tunnel, drip tape, and black plastic mulch were demonstrated at all locations.

The UAPB Faculty and Staff also conducted sustainable vegetable production workshops in Marianna and Pine Bluff. The faculty and staff also conducted an edible garden conference in Forrest City.

Outcomes and impacts:

The UAPB faculty and staff, along with farmers, including those in the Beginning Farmers class, learn about soil health from an NRCS presentation at UAPB. The faculty, staff, and farmers also attended the Tuskegee Professional Agricultural Worker Conference, where several educational sessions on sustainable agriculture were conducted. In addition, the faculty and staff attended the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia, and the Louisiana Sweet Potato Field Day in Chase, Louisiana.

The UAPB Team (faculty, staff, and farmers) gained knowledge about the five principles of soil health. They also gained knowledge of NRCS soil health conservation practices, including cover crops, no-till, minimum-till, crop rotations, and integrated pest management. Several producers planted cover crops, and some used minimum till to keep the soil covered.

Educational & Outreach Activities

75 Consultations
1 Curricula, factsheets or educational tools
4 On-farm demonstrations
1 Published press articles, newsletters
10 Travel scholarships
3 Workshop field days

Participation summary:

150 Farmers/Ranchers
10 Agricultural service providers
50 Others

Learning Outcomes

350 Farmers/Ranchers gained knowledge, skills and/or awareness
10 Agricultural service providers gained knowledge, skills and/or awareness
125 Others gained knowledge, skills and/or awareness

Project Outcomes

50 Farmers/Ranchers changed or adopted a practice

Face of SARE

Face of SARE:
The SARE program is promoted through the UAPB School of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences Facebook Page, the Small Farm Program Facebook Page, and the Small Farm Newsletter, "Farm Sense". Additionally, news articles about the Producers Grant are published in local newspapers. The staff also posts information about workshops on the Arkansas SARE website.
125 Farmers/Ranchers received SARE resources
10 Ag service providers received SARE resources
50 Others received SARE resources
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Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.