Progress report for SAR24-A02
Project Information
The UAPB Program Assistant will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the SARE Program. This individual will plan and help in implementing all activities and events conducted for the program. The Program Assistant will stay in contact with the 1862 Program Assistant and look for ways in which the two Program Assistants can work together. The Program Assistant will work directly with the UAPB Agents and the UAPB Partners: EAEC and SHHCDC. These groups will be assisted in arranging and conducting training and educational workshops on soil health principles for farmers.
The Program Assistant will identify appropriate training and conferences for the agents to attend in order to increase their knowledge of soil health. In addition, the Program Assistant will work with agents to develop a list of participants using soil health practices. The Program Assistant will produce a final report from the activities that occurred during the year and present the report to the UAPB Staff.
The current training will remain basically the same as the prior training. Therefore, training for agents will focus on soil health with an emphasis on vegetables and row crops. Consequently, the UAPB agents will attend workshops and conferences on soil health, emphasizing vegetable and row crop production. The agents will also meet with NRCS State Office EQIP Staff representatives to be updated on soil health conservation practices and climate-smart conservation practices.
Implementing soil health practices may take trial and error occasions. It may take several years for some farmers to work out or develop a good soil health program. They will try many different tools. This is also true for the agents at UAPB. Therefore, there is a great need to continue this type of education.
The objectives are:
To provide soil health education to agents and Socially Disadvantaged Producers (SDPs) with education on conservation programs and practices that could be used to accomplish their soil health goals.
To provide high tunnels, cover crops, and raised beds demonstration to educate agents and farmers, including urban gardeners, on sustainable agriculture practices for the different enterprises.
To assist individuals in food desert areas in developing community gardens using sustainable agriculture practices.
Advisors
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
Education
Education & Outreach Initiatives
To educate farmers in a predominant row crop area on basic and sustainable vegetable crop production as a means of increasing income on small-acre farms.
To support the vegetable education of farmers, the faculty and staff attended the Watermelon Field Day in South Carolina, the Sweet Potato Field Day in Louisiana, and the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savanna, GA.
To educate farmers on sustainable vegetable production, the UAPB faculty and staff conducted two vegetable production workshops and an Edible Garden Conference. The in-person vegetable workshops were held in Marianna and Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and the Edible Garden Conference took place in Forest City, Arkansas. Approximately 150 individuals attended the workshops.
The workshops emphasized integrated pest management, herbicide-resistant weed programs, organic weed control, soil compaction with control methods, and the use of Extension-recommended management practices. A special effort was made to get farmers to use the Extension service for production recommendations. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of reporting vegetable acreage to the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office to be eligible for federal disaster payments in the event of a disaster.
Many of the participants who attended the workshops have begun taking soil tests to assess fertility and receive lime recommendations. Other participants have taken the soil compaction test, and some are developing herbicide-weed resistant control plans. A few participants successfully implemented their herbicide-weed-resistant control plans. Participants are also planning crop rotations and using Extension-recommended crop varieties. Participants are also asking our agents for recommendations before planting.
To help farmers improve the productive capacity of their soil and land by using sustainable agricultural practices.
To educate farmers on soil health, the UAPB Faculty and Staff worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS Staff conducted a Train-the-Trainer Conservation Workshop for the Small Farm Staff. NRCS provided an overview of their conservation program and practices. Emphasis was placed on their Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and their Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The EQIP conservation practices were highlighted, with special emphasis on soil health conservation practices.
Project participants have adopted several EQIP conservation practices to enhance soil health. The primary practice adopted was the use of 340 cover crops. Consequently, participants are learning how to implement cover crop practices. For example, dry soil conditions after harvest can delay the planting of cover crops, resulting in the crops failing to achieve sufficient growth. Additionally, selecting a cover crop, along with the appropriate variety, is a crucial decision that must be made. Other row crop farmers have also adopted minimum till as a conservation practice to help reduce erosion.
To educate urban producers and community gardeners on sustainable vegetable production principles and conservation practices available for their use.
The Small Farm Staff at UAPB and the East Arkansas Enterprise Community (EAEC) Staff in Forest City received requests from city dwellers (urban vegetable growers) for assistance in growing vegetables to generate income. Additionally, some individuals from food desert communities in southwest Arkansas have requested assistance in developing community gardens. Consequently, the staff assisted these groups. Vegetable production training and technical assistance were provided to the groups. Information on companion crops, irrigation, raised beds, cool-season and warm-season vegetables, and other relevant topics was provided. The groups were informed about NRCS conservation programs that provided funding to help install high tunnels, raised beds, mulch, and irrigation drip tape, among other items. Participants were also informed of how to obtain a USDA Farm Number, which was required to qualify for the conservation practices.
The staff helped four communities in food desert areas develop community gardens. In some situations, the staff provided the groups with raised beds and transplants to get the garden started. The staff provided guidance and training to several individuals within the city of Pine Bluff on developing their vegetable garden plots, from which they sold vegetables.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
The staff has continued to educate producers about the importance of using conservation practices, such as cover crops and minimum-till, to build soil health and reduce erosion. As a result, approximately 20 producers have adopted the use of cover crops. In addition, extesive education has been provided on the use of high tunnels to extend the growing season, and approximately 10 individuals have applied for funding to install high tunnels. Additionally, several farmers have started taking soil tests, and following the recommendations, others are also using disease-resistant or Extension-recommended varieties.