Final report for SNE23-003-DE
Project Information
The aim was to contribute to a realm where farmers adhere to agricultural activities that are environmentally sound, in the face of rapidly increasing extreme weather. The Northeastern U.S. is experiencing an increase in extreme weather events, changes in seasons and challenges with pest and disease pressure. There are potential opportunities for longer growing seasons, but farmers need specific information, tools, and resources to help them adapt to, and mitigate, extreme weather. A pre-project survey of Ag agents yielded results indicating a gap in training needed to better equip them with critical and timely information. The project provided agricultural educators with knowledge and tools to assist farmers in making informed choices within the context of increasing extreme weather.
Through this two-year project, we established a smart farm model at Smyrna Outreach Research Center (SORC), conducted workshops at SORC, and incorporated some training sessions with the help of Cornell partners on integrated crop and livestock systems. Topics tackled during workshops were related to extreme weather and agriculture issues and focused on information relevant to Delaware. We incorporated comprehensive, practical, research-based information that covered current knowledge regarding greenhouse gases and extreme weather; changes in temperature and precipitation patterns in our region and projections for the future; potential impacts (positive and negative) on agriculture, and implications for pest, soil, and energy management in relation to farm profitability. Evaluations before and after workshops provided great feedback and were used to improve delivery.
Service providers thought it a worthy project. Dr. Amar Venapussa, a researcher at DSU and a frequent attendee, quipped that the project provided good forums for service providers and farmers to work out solutions that benefit the farmer. As a result of their participation in the project, 22 service providers helped 13 farmers use ground cover/ fabric for weed management, use soil temperature and weather data to determine planting date, trellis in high tunnels, and download weather and pest identification apps on phones.
A planning committee in partnership with established resources from USDA Northeast Climate Hub and Cornell University will help provide training. Thirty (30) agricultural service providers in Delaware and parts of Maryland will be trained in pertinent issues relating to extreme weather and will have acquired knowledge to offer information to their clients on opportunities and risks for agriculture associated with extreme weather, with a focus on practical and profitable farmer responses.
Of the 30 Ag providers; 20 will follow-up on knowledge acquired to reach 100 growers. Those educators will be expected to deliver extension programming that will lead to an increase in knowledge in extreme weather smart solutions to 60 growers before the conclusion of the project.
The establishment of demonstration plots at Smyrna Outreach center as a model extreme weather smart farm will attract 450 visitors. 360 degree -tour virtual realities, will be used as future training tools.
The training, learning plans, and hands-on demonstration. The 360-degree approach will be documented and serve as a template for other producers to adapt and modify for hands-on labor training and skill development in basic farm tasks to improve labor training and production skills efficiency.
Description of Problem or Opportunities
In a quest to establish a good program for Delaware, a series of three surveys was administered to service providers as part of the proposal development process.
The first survey to help guide the choice of sustainable agriculture research and educational initiative for Delaware Ag was administered during a Joint Delaware State University (DSU) and University of Delaware (UD) Agriculture In-service retreat on Sept. 22, 2022, held at Killen’s pond. A total of 29 service providers gave answers. The survey requested a list of concerns among target audiences and topic areas of interest. The agents consisted of plant specialists, animal specialists and farm management specialists.
The survey revealed top 5 concerns among target audiences to be: *Sustainability in the face of extreme weather; *Pest and cover-crop management; *Maintaining State level certifications/ Regulatory concerns/ Regulations compliance; *Soil and nutrient management; and *Accessing USDA services/payouts for conservation practices.
Agents also listed topic areas that they would be interested in for their professional development. These included but were not limited to: Grant Writing; Extreme weather smart Ag tools; Marketing Training; Data Management/using and developing digital tools such as app management; Equipment training; Effective presentation techniques; Vertical gardening; Agrivoltaics; Creating fact sheets; Working with Labor agencies; and Evaluation of programs.
The need to increase participation of farmers, connecting with new audiences, talking to farmers about controversial topics, and tackling extreme weather were indicated by 19 of the 29 agents (63%).
A follow-up survey was administered during Delaware Ag week on 10-12, Jan. 2023 targeting the very same Ag agents with survey questions on a 5 point Likert scale with a series of statements emanating from the first survey seeking to rank the statements of concern. Taking the first number as the base number, the response rate was 73% (22 people out of the 29, responded).
The third and last survey seeking to articulate the best topics of discussion, and preferred methods of outreach to the agents just went forth on 4/28/2023. Sixteen returned surveys indicated the preferences for face to face workshops as (70%) or hybrid meetings as (65%) and virtual meetings as (35%). Through the survey results, we have identified audience perceptions, experiences, and priorities related to extreme weather; assessed audience awareness of sustainable agricultural strategies to mitigate the impact of extreme weather. This information is pertinent in developing and delivering extension-based activities to advance audience environmental literacy on the effects of extreme weather on agricultural systems, mitigation practices, and resilience strategies to handle them.
Delaware agriculture is particularly vulnerable to a extreme weather. Warming temperatures threaten to shift the kinds of crops that can be grown in the state. The vision of agriculture that has long been articulated and modeled by sustainable agriculture provides powerful solutions. Despite the increased understanding of the linkages between extreme weather and agriculture, these issues are new to many agricultural professionals and the farmers and ranchers they work with. Fortunately, there is a growing body of research looking at the agricultural practices that may offer benefits.
The launch of the country’s first mandatory carbon market opened up new opportunities for agriculture to sell carbon credits, and revenue may become available for public investments in agricultural efforts to mitigate and/or adapt to extreme weather. Increasingly, agricultural professionals need to understand the science of extreme weather and agriculture as well as policies such as cap-and-trade that will affect producers.
Solutions and benefits
In essence, there was need for training of agricultural service providers to help them assist farmers in helping them make informed choices. The extension program activities by the agents enhanced audience's awareness about the impacts of extreme weather on production systems and their ability to implement resilient strategies. Through workshops and conference topics, we educated our audience on extreme weather science as it related to Delaware agriculture, sustainable farming practices that mitigate or adapt to extreme weather, and we reviewed the latest in related agriculture policy. Partnership with individuals from the Cornell and the USDA Northeast Climate Hub enhanced the training. We conducted 4 workshops and two field days at SORC along with various exhibition events where we distributed SARE literature.
Our project deepened the understanding of extreme weather and the role of sustainable agriculture in providing mitigation and adaptation among Delaware agricultural professionals.
Advisors/Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor (Educator)
- - Technical Advisor - Producer (Educator)
Educational approach
Engagement
Recruitment of participants was done through emails and messages sent through various list serves; Delaware State University (DSU) and University of Delaware (UD) co-operative extension; Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA); DE Soil & Water conservation districts; DE Master gardener list serves, were required to respond to recruitment materials that clearly stated the participation required for the proposed program. Service providers were encouraged to complete the application process which included a pre-training skills assessment and a requirement to identify interested farmers they were currently advising and who they could further assist on extreme weather issues.
Integrated extreme weather-smart farming programs that combined agricultural modelling research, social science research on farmer needs, development of decision tools, and dedicated extreme weather extension programming were effective in reaching farmer audiences. The Delaware extension, USDA Northeast Climate Hub and Cornell Smart Farm team provided resources and learning tools as outlined on the education plan. The key individuals mentioned in the project were well versed with the topics.
Learning
Workshops and field days and virtual engagements were our main forms of interaction. Established resources, newsletters and other published work were used, too. We partnered with other experts in the field for delivery, Our Delaware team (Rose, Jenn, Gulni, John) were in the frontline in supporting agents to:
*Increase farmer use of Farming decision support tools and develop new tools based on stakeholder input. The plan to develop 360° video educational resources to use for the training and educational activities was not entirely completed as our extension website was not established as planned.
*Develop outreach materials and case studies to provide accessible information on extreme weather adaptation and mitigation planning and strategies.
*Develop and deliver CSA workshops and sessions in existing agricultural meetings for Extension educators, farmers and stakeholders.
*Provide training for Extension educators, advisors, consultants and farmers on how to use tools; and how to adapt to and mitigate extreme weather through farmer meetings, trade shows, Extension in-service sessions, a webinar series with the HUB, and extreme weather-smart demonstration farms in DE
*While providing the training to the Ag agents, ways of reaching out to new audiences were explored under the following objectives;
- Develop and deliver extension-based activities to advance stakeholders literacy on the effects of extreme weather on agricultural systems, mitigation practices, and resilience, and
- Improved outreach to farmers Extension activities will enhance audience's 1) awareness about the impacts of extreme weather on production systems and 2) ability to implement extreme weather resilient strategies.
Evaluation
Intermittent evaluation was carried out to ascertain that the project was on target and improvements to it were being carried out as needed. the program. Pre and post training surveys were administered during training.
Milestones
- Workshop 1, January 2024; This will be either at Smyrna outreach center or carried out during Ag week. Ag agents will be meet the key individuals at a sitting. It will form the first face to face meeting where topics to be tackled will be introduced. and discussions will be largely based on concerns emanating from extreme weather. Having the meeting during Ag week will help inclusion of visiting Ag agents from other states to be part of the clientele.
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- Status: Complete.
- Accomplishments: January 8 to 11 2024 was Ag week in Delaware; During the Ag week, up to 200 farmers and most of the Ag agents are in attendance. This was the first face to face meeting when our Delaware State NESARE agenda is unveiled to the larger public mainly through setting a SARE vendor table (SEE FACE OF SARE). A survey relating to extreme weather was administered to farmer and non-farmer audiences. topic of presentation and discussion related to the topic at hand was presented during one of the conference sessions. Dr. Rose Ogutu and Ms. Rosalyn Battle passed on surveys to willing participants to answer questions. The questions were availed through QR codes. 35 people participated in the survey.
- Establishment and maintenance of demonstration plots at SORC-Spring through summer 2024- With the help of the program assistant, plots demonstrating adaptive activities that help mitigate extreme weather will be established in readiness for workshops in Summer and Fall.
- Status: Complete. Plots were established at SORC during spring. Timely planting-beds preparation as a pre-requisite for good production was stressed by indicating the steps followed on labels beside the plots.
- Accomplishments: 15 Farm School participants visited the plots during a class tour to learn about hygiene, bed preparation and manure incorporation in readiness for planting. A handout containing preferred planting dates for various vegetable crops was handed over.
- Workshop 2 and Field Day-Summer 2024; This workshop will be carried out at SORC- wherein we will have a show case of farm activities that are recommended activities deemed to be 'Extreme weather Smart'. Up to 40 participants will learn principles related to cropping systems including nutrient management, cover crop etc. (topics are still being lined up by key individuals). The field day will also give a chance to participating farmers and their advisors the experiences and ideas of extreme weather smart farming through observation of demonstration and participation in workshop presentations.
- Status: Plots were established at SORC plots and high tunnels for both Summer and Fall Vegetable production in conventional plots and high tunnels. This presented an opportunity for attendees and visitors to learn about the principles related to cropping systems including choice of variety, timing plantings, water and nutrient management, cover cropping etc as they relate to extreme weather.
- Accomplishments: These plots showcased various vegetable crops, choice of variety, production, and scheduling in the face of erratic weather patterns. In the summer, 2 trainings and a workshop were carried out at SORC.
- During the 1st training 12 farmers and 5 service providers participated in the events relating to extreme weather smart farming.
- On October 29, 2024, during the Delaware Cooperative Extension Annual Conference, a SARE table was set up (See FACE OF SARE). Dr. Ogutu and Prof. Gulnihal Ozbay delivered a talk titled 'Technologies for smart Agriculture and Farm Extreme weather Resiliency' Sixty two (62) Delaware Extension personnel gained knowledge on available technologies that could guide Ag activities to help accomplish Extreme weather resiliency. Out of the 62, forty five (45) service providers actively participated in daylong training that was heavy on AI and its applications towards resilience in farming in the face of extreme weather.
- In the Fall, November 12 and 13th, 2024, a conference was held at SORC and a SARE table was set up (SEE FACE OF SARE). A session was set aside for discussions concerning the effects of erratic weather patterns on production by small farms. Groups of farmers discussed some of the issues with DE Agents with Mr. John Clendaniel and Dr. Kwame Mathews, who moderated the sessions. Up to 150 attendees listened to the sessions with a total of 5 farmers and 3 Agents actively participating.
- Workshop 3 January 2025: This will be either at Smyrna outreach center or carried out during Ag week.
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- Status: Complete.
- Accomplishments: The workshop was held during Ag week in Delaware; During the Ag week (January 13 to 16 2025) up to 180 farmers and most of the Ag agents are in attendance. A SARE vendor table was set up (SEE FACE OF SARE). A topic of presentation and discussion related to the topic at hand was presented during one of the conference sessions. Dr. Rose Ogutu and Prof. Gulnihal Ozbay delivered a presentation titled 'Adapting our Ag practices to Extreme weather Risks-AI Extreme weather Smart Solutions' https://sites.udel.edu/delawareagweek/2024/10/14/fvgad-general-session/ Fifty six (56) people in the audience gained knowledge on practices that help farmers adapt to changes.
- Establishment and maintenance of demonstration plots and Workshops at SORC-Spring through summer 2025.
- Status: completed
- Accomplishments: With the help of the program assistant and student assistant, plots and high tunnels demonstrating adaptive activities that help mitigate extreme weather were established.
- Workshop 4 and Field Day, July 2025: Thirty (30) farmers will attend the second field day associated with workshops. They will gain valuable information with real world situations to observe, and gain experience about. The participants will complete post workshop and field day surveys/evaluations.
- Status: Complete
- Accomplishments: July 15, 2025: Weed and weed management. Fifteen (15) farmers attended the workshop. They gained valuable information and observed situations relevant to extreme weather resilience. This workshop targeted Ag agents and small farmers demonstrating how weed management can be done in situations of floods droughts etc. 4 out of the 15 farmers who attended the workshop adopted the use of ground covers to suppress weeds.
- Virtual meeting training September 2025- This will form the end of the meetings for the 2-year project.
- Status: Complete
- Accomplishments: August 21, 2025: IPM and beginner farmers. In collaboration with University of Delaware, this in-person workshop targeted both farmers and Ag agents. A farmer panel consisting of 3 incubator farmers served as a great resource by sharing their experiences. Seventeen (15) farmers and five (6) Ag agents attended the workshop.
- A pre and post workshop evaluation indicated that 85% of attendees most of the farmers appreciated the need of getting weather-based information in a timely manner.
- An additional “End of Season Workshop” was offered on Harvesting crops, Fall Crops Planting and Overwintering: September 30, 2025. The workshop held at Smyrna Outreach Research Center had 25 attendees in total, including 5 Ag agents, 12 Farm School clientele. Out of the 25 attendees, 19 identified as being involved in farm production activities. The Plots and High tunnel demonstrations were toured by the group. A pre and post workshop evaluation indicated that 30% of the farmers were going in some Fall production to take advantage of the mild winters.
- At the conclusion of trainings, the 30 service provider beneficiaries will develop their own “Trainer Tool Kit” by the end of year 2. The “Tool Kit” will consist of presentations, slides, hand-outs, references, demonstrations, etc. introduced during workshops and field days. Beneficiaries will be encouraged to share what tools and resources they have or discover with each other. The “Tool Kits” will be used by beneficiaries to help prepare for their own extreme weather smart solutions and technical assistance activities with their clients. Participants will be strongly encouraged to participate with organizations such as USDA Northeast Climate Hub, Smart Farm Programs etc. to expand their knowledge and resource base. We will provide contact information and meeting dates for these organizations. In addition, we will encourage beneficiaries to consider forming farmer extreme weather smart discussion groups.
- Status: in progress
- Accomplishments: Materials presented during the workshop are in a file and will be shared on the DSU extension website when it is developed.
- Through the list serve that was put together to reach out to interested parties, we encourage participants to report any unique challenges they face in their farms due to erratic weather events. We encourage farmers to share ways in which they monitor situations and what forms the basis of their decision-making process.
Milestone activities and participation summary
Participation summary:
Learning Outcomes
Performance Target Outcomes
Performance Target Outcomes - Service Providers
Target #1
Will follow-up on knowledge acquired to reach 100 growers. Those educators will be expected to deliver extension programming that will lead to an increase in knowledge in extreme weather smart solutions to 60 growers before the conclusion of the project.
100
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 12 |
Topics related to extreme weather resiliency included during the 2024 conference at SORC.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 94 |
| Activity | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curricula, factsheets and other educational tools | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Consultations | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| On-farm demonstrations | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Online trainings | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Study circles / focus groups | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Tours | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Webinars, talks and presentations | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Workshops and field days | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Farm Visits | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
Each year, Delaware puts together an annual conference. In 2024, we had it on October 29th. This is a great opportunity to meet service providers as University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Department of Agriculture service providers attend.
Last year, 2024, 67 people were in attendance. The focus was on AI and Smart farming. I (Dr. Ogutu) and Dr. Gulnihal delivered a talk titled 'Technologies for Smart Agriculture and Farm Extreme weather Resiliency'. This was followed by a clicker survey in which the numbers reported above were collected for 2024.
Performance Target Outcomes - Farmers
Target #1
No farmer performance target was proposed for this project.
13
Most farmers now use ground cover/ fabric for weed management. Use of soil temperature and weather data to determine planting date. Trellising in high tunnels, Downloading weather and pest identification apps on phones.
Additional Project Outcomes
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500000 | $0 | $0 | $500000 |
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 0 | 18 |
The work on extreme weather related activities during the first year of this SARE grant highlighted our work and we got an invitation to collaborate in bigger grants. This will be captured as a success story.
SARE Outreach
We have ordered a number of SARE educational materials which always accompanies our SARE display. We also have QR codes for distribution and a number of attendees scan it for content.
- During the January DE- Agweek (Jan 8-11, 2024) which runs for 4 days. A Delaware Northeast SARE vendor table was set up. Interested individuals got to register by giving their e-mail contacts. Thirty-five (35) new names were included on the list serve. Up to 100 SARE literature pamphlets were given out. Within the 3 days of activities, 98 participants visited the table.
- In the Fall, (Nov. 12 and 13, 2025) a conference was held at SORC and a SARE table was set up. Over 120 participants visited the SARE table and a total of 56 various flyers associated with SARE were taken willingly from the table set up.
- During Ag week of January 13-16, 2025. Eleven (11) new people signed to receive SARE information. Thirty (30) various flyers were taken from the table set up.