Final report for SFL18-002
Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2018: $11,109.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2020
Grant Recipient:
Florida A&M University
Region: Southern
State: Florida
State Coordinator:
Dr. Cassel Gardner
Florida A&M University
Project Information
Abstract:
Florida activities for 2018-2019 will build upon the basic framework for the model state program. Planned activities include integrating results of SARE funded research and Extension activities, and other relevant research, and using this information as resources for educational programs. We also plan to continue to strengthen our focus on targeted training for state and county Extension faculty, representatives of non-profit organizations, representatives of state and federal government agencies, and farmer representatives. To fulfill the priorities and objectives of our program, our training funds will be used to address programs in two subject matter areas:
(1) Alternative Practices to Increase Sustainability Among Small Scale and Minority Producers
(2) Natural Resource and Environmental Quality Protection and Preservation
Project Objectives:
- Maintain existing and establish new collaborative Extension trainings and programs with faculty members and county agents at University of Florida and Florida A&M University whose work addresses sustainability in production agriculture.
- Extend collaboration with organizations that are active in the post-production components of food systems, particularly non-profit, state, and governmental organizations whose work fosters development of food and agriculture businesses.
- Support the development of Extension programs in food systems, including Regional Specialized Agents whose work includes both on-farm production and post-farm gate aspects of food system development.
- Expand participation of minority, women, and limited resource farmers and professionals in SARE activities and programs, ensuring that these groups are well represented in the full range of SARE-funded professional development opportunities.
- County faculty members will participate in regional and national training programs in sustainable agriculture and will apply the lessons learned in their own programs.
- At least two of the statewide Extension priority teams will include information and resources about sustainable agriculture and SARE in their professional development training programs and Extension programming.
- Extension agents and farmers will identify opportunities, such as SARE-funded Research & Education, Professional Development, and On-Farm Research projects, for the development of alternative crops and enterprises and will play key roles in outreach and research projects that focus on alternative crops and enterprises.
- Regional and local county agents will develop new collaborations with organizations, agencies, and groups working in sustainable agriculture, including non-profit and for-profit organizations involved in post-farm gate food processing, marketing and distribution, and policy development.
- State, regional, and county Extension faculty members and agents will make increased use of resources to support programming in sustainable agriculture, including fiscal resources such as Southern SARE grants.
Introduction:
The 2018-2019 Florida SARE programming built upon our previous years’ work in two ways:
(1) We will continue focusing on outreach and training that enhances the environmental and economic benefits of production agriculture.
(2) We will continue hosting trainings that emphasize local and regional food systems to address issues and policies that impact our food system.
The new cycle differed in several ways. Due to our extensive outreach work over the years to increase consciousness of sustainable agriculture programming and resources, sustainable agriculture is now prominent in many Florida Extension programs. The training needs of state and county faculty have changed and they are making additional demands on our SARE program.
(1) They need more trainings to address ethics in human subjects research as they integrate biological and social/educational research.
(2) They want more training in how to develop research and outreach proposals and the teams to implement their projects.
(3) They want more access to cutting edge research in sustainable ag in order to reduce the time between research and adoption.
To accommodate this, we play a strong facilitating role helping state and county faculty collaborate with local farmers and service providers to write winning grant proposals, strengthen the outreach and evaluation components of their project, and incorporate more on-farm trials into their plan of work.
Advisors
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Education
Educational approach:
Our educational approach used in this project provided:
- A research/demonstration project looking at the production and benefits of medicinal plants.
- Field demonstrations, workshops, and informational materials provided at the FAMU Annual Farm Fest.
- Travel scholarships for faculty, staff, and the State Co-Coordinator to attend several conferences and trainings this year.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Alternative Practices to Increase Sustainability Among Small Scale and Minority Producers
Objective:
The target audience for this initiative is county Extension faculty, state faculty, service providers, and mentor farmers. The objectives of this initiative will focus on behavioral changes in participants that will enable them to bring about change in their local audiences and themselves.
Description:
Growing Medicinal Plants
During the 2018-19 growing season, a research/demonstration project was implemented at the Quincy, FL Extension/Research Station which focused on medicinal plants as an alternative enterprise for small-scale and minority farmers. One hundred and fifty (150) Moringa introductions and several other species of medicinal plants produced in the greenhouse were field planted during April – May. These plants are being grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
2018 FAMU Farm Fest
The FAMU Annual Farm Fest took place at the FAMU Extension/Research farm located in Quincy, FL. Featured activities included:
- workshops on organic farming, medicinal plants, and protective structures such as high tunnels,
- culinary preparations
- demonstrations
- exhibits
- farm tours
- youth activities
Outcomes and impacts:
Growing Medicinal Plants
A graduate student working on the project presented a paper from the Moringa study at the annual Association of Research Director (ARD) Symposium held in Jacksonville, FL on 3/31 – 4/3/2019. The three year study will provide data on crop species adaptation, biomass yield, and medicinal compounds.
2018 FAMU Farm Fest
Over 400 people attended the event. Informational materials on sustainable agriculture from SARE were handed out.
Natural Resource and Environmental Quality Protection and Preservation
Objective:
The target audience for this initiative is county Extension faculty, state faculty, service providers, and mentor farmers. The objectives of this initiative will focus on behavioral changes in participants that will enable them to bring about change in their local audiences and themselves.
Description:
Travel Scholarships
We sponsored travel for FAMU faculty, staff, and the Florida SARE State Co-Coordinator to several conferences and trainings this year.
Outcomes and impacts:
Travel Scholarships
Faculty, students, the Florida SARE State Coordinator, and farmers attended the following:
- Two FAMU faculty members and Dr. Gardner attended the 2019 Southern SAWG conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.
- One FAMU staff member was sponsored to attend a farm tour at Emory University. The tour featured crops such as Shitake mushroom that were grown using plant-based waste material as their nutrient sources.
- One FAMU faculty member, a staff member, and a field technician attended the UF strawberry demonstration workshop in Ocala, FL.
Educational & Outreach Activities
71 Consultations
2 On-farm demonstrations
14 Published press articles, newsletters
9 Study circle/focus groups
3 Tours
5 Travel Scholarships
4 Webinars / talks / presentations
4 Workshop field days
Participation Summary:
69 Extension
9 NRCS
67 Researchers
58 Nonprofit
28 Agency
33 Ag service providers (other or unspecified)
143 Farmers/ranchers
166 Others
Learning Outcomes
39 Participants gained or increased knowledge, skills and/or attitudes about sustainable agriculture topics, practices, strategies, approaches
43 Ag professionals intend to use knowledge, attitudes, skills and/or awareness learned
Project Outcomes
3 New working collaborations
37 Agricultural service provider participants who used knowledge and skills learned through this project (or incorporated project materials) in their educational activities, services, information products and/or tools for farmers
151 Farmers reached through participant's programs
Face of SARE
Face of SARE:
We distribute SARE educational materials at all of our SARE trainings and other relevant programs in Florida. SARE materials are distributed to the public by state and county faculty that participate in our programs. We also distribute SARE books and educational materials to our advisory council and scholarship recipients.
443 Farmers received information about SARE grant programs and information resources
217 Ag professionals received information about SARE grant programs and information resources
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.