Final report for SLA18-002
Project Information
- Maintain the state SARE website with sustainable agriculture materials and resources, and links to related state organizations.
- Conduct workshops on sustainable agriculture for extension and agriculture professionals.
- Conduct bi-annual state advisory board meetings with the purpose of revising and modifying the strategic plan.
- Identify annual training objectives with the input from the Louisiana Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Board.
- Encourage extension and agricultural professionals to continue to attend sustainable agriculture meetings such as the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group annual meeting.
- Continue participation in workshops, meetings, and field days that highlight sustainable agriculture practices.
- Promote the SARE program results, resources, and grant opportunities in Louisiana.
Advisors
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
Education
Education & Outreach Initiatives
• Conduct workshops on sustainable agriculture for extension and agriculture professionals.
• Encourage extension and agricultural professionals to continue to attend sustainable agriculture meetings such as the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group annual meeting.
• Promote the SARE program results, resources, and grant opportunities in Louisiana.
A Fall gardening workshop was conducted to train farmers, extension agents, teachers, and community garden leaders to address issues and to increase knowledge of fruit tree grafting, fermentation and wine making, backyard birds, and non- traditional vegetable production and marketing.
November 20, 2018 Southern University AgCenter hosted the 2018 Fall Garden Workshop in Baton Rouge, LA. 89 participants were in attendance.
The training included topics such as wine making, fruit tree grafting, production and marketing. The workshop also included a session on growing and marketing non-traditional vegetables, which discussed the types of vegetables that can be grown in each season.
The Fall Gardening Workshop was co-sponsored by the Southern University AgCenter, The Wisteria Alliance Program, and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program.
Here’s a link to the story on NBC Local 33’s website on the Fall Garden Workshop, https://bit.ly/2FMgWbF. The station also posted the flyer on their Facebook page with a link to the story on Nov. 20.
• Encourage extension and agricultural professionals to continue to attend sustainable agriculture meetings such as the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group annual meeting.
• Continue participation in workshops, meetings, and field days that highlight sustainable agriculture practices.
• Promote the SARE program results, resources, and grant opportunities in Louisiana.
Travel to SSAWG conference and meeting with LA SAWG group in order to address issues related to sustainable agriculture in Louisiana.
January 23-26, 2019 – At Southern University we were able to secure funds for 12 participants, and because of having a smaller group and budget, we decided to drive university vehicles, selected Ag professionals, and extension agents from Southern University and LSU as well as mentor farmers were able to travel to Chattanooga, TN.
• Conduct workshops on sustainable agriculture for extension and agriculture professionals.
• Encourage extension and agricultural professionals to continue to attend sustainable agriculture meetings such as the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group annual meeting.
• Promote the SARE program results, resources, and grant opportunities in Louisiana.
• Continue participation in workshops, meetings, and field days that highlight sustainable agriculture practices.
The conference was designed to provide expanded awareness of educational opportunities; U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and services; and other resources to help small farmers stay in business. The event was targeted at beginning farmers, small and urban farmers, agricultural business owners, community leaders, extension agents, Ag professionals, and community-based organizations.
March 14-16, 2019 – The theme for this year was “Unlocking your Potential.” 120 participants were in attendance.
A Pre-conference workshop on Produce Safety Alliance was conducted on Wednesday , March 13, 2019.
Sessions were held on grant writing, Southern University Ag Center Certification Courses, soil health, small ruminant reproduction, Backyard chicken production, self- sufficient farming practices, and value added products.
Presentation on income taxes, branding and land and property rights
A full day was dedicated to a Pasture walk for best management practices in action. This event took place at a cattle operation ranch owned by Ricky Gutierrez and Lynette Felder.
Other events during the conference include the Louisiana Living Legends Banquet and the graduation ceremony for the 2016 Class of the Louisiana Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute.
Mr. Brennan Washington, Minority Farmer/Outreach Specialist from SARE, was one of the presenters.
Mr. Yasin Muhaimin, Value added Specialist from Pride Road LLC presented a session on Value added of Hibiscus and tea products.
SUAREC faculty and staff members and experts from other governmental, NGO’s and private organization from Louisiana and other states provided their expertise to make all the mentioned events a success.
• Conduct workshops on sustainable agriculture for extension and agriculture professionals.
• Encourage extension and agricultural professionals to continue to attend sustainable agriculture meetings such as the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group annual meeting.
• Promote the SARE program results, resources, and grant opportunities in Louisiana.
A Training workshop on cut flower production was conducted, giving emphasis on production and marketing of cut flowers, edible hibiscus(Hibiscus sabdarifa) and value added products, house plant care and business, hands-on demonstrations on construction of rain barrels, raised beds and hydroponic systems. This workshop is put together by Southern University Agcenter in partnership with “Flower Lovers Garden Guild" and Wisteria Alliance (SU Women in Agriculture group).
The Cut Flower and Spring Garden Workship took place April 24, 2019. 95 participants were in attendance. The target audience was low income women in urban and rural communities, extension agents, agricultural professionals and small farmers. A diversity of speakers were invited. Three horticulturists and nursery owners conducted lectures and extension agents conducted hands on trainings.