2024 Oklahoma SARE PDP Model State Program

The learning and action outcomes and impacts of these initiatives are as follows:

*Educator Bee Keeping Program--Overall, the county hives have been doing well. The educators that have been in the program longer have begun incorporating beekeeping education into their programing. Much of the education has been one-on-one with producers. This has been especially helpful in counties without a robust beekeeping club. Many of the counties experienced educator turnover which has delayed programing. Many of the new educators have gone through training and are now able to start programing this spring. The demonstration hive previously purchased was used in multiple educational programs, and was especially helpful for programs targeted toward youth. Group meetings have included discussion regarding IPM practices, and general beekeeping knowledge in a train-the-trainer capacity. The beekeeping expert at Langston university has been generous with his time and is now helping with the county programs as well.

Adair county

• One hive, still doing well
• Has not had programming, hive was getting established and then they did not have an ag educator. The new educator Johnny Mithcell is planning programs starting in the spring

Pontotoc county

• One hive, still doing well
• Has not done programming yet, will be getting with Erin Hubbard about possible projects.

Love County

• Bees did not make it through the freeze.
• Educator has gained experience and is ready to start programing.

Oklahoma County

• One hive is alive
• New educator Mason Huddleston is planning programing starting as early as April

LeFlore

• Educator became active with local beekeeping group
• One-on-one consultations-27
• One day workshop-

Creek

• Bees are dead- needs bees
• One-on-one consultation
• Multiple Beekeeping talks

No report

Cotton – Kim Davis

Kiowa- Travis Tacker

Additional activities (number attended) [Average increase in knowledge if program was evaluated across all questions, 1 (low) to 5 (high), n=sample size]

Beginning Beekeeping. Agri Kids Program. Stillwater, Oklahoma. Dec. 6, 2024 (6).

A Honeybee in my Bonnet: the economics of beekeeping and the role of veterinarians. Part 2. Oklahoma Veterinary Conference. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jan 24, 2025 (47).

A Honeybee in my Bonnet: the economics of beekeeping and the role of veterinarians, Part 1. Oklahoma Veterinary Conference. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jan 24, 2025 (42).

The Economics of Beekeeping- the Basics, and Legislation. Latimer County OK. July 11, 2024 (11).

The Economics of Raising Honey Bees. OKC Farm Show. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Apr. 5, 2024 (20).

Educator Resources- meat, bees, and farm management. Ag Coffee Shop. Virtual. May 15, 2024 (27).

The Economics of Beekeeping, the Basics, and Legislation. Poteau Oklahoma. Mar. 21, 2024 (31) [4.02, n=13].

Introduction to Beekeeping, the Importance of Recordkeeping. This is for the girls Oklahoma Youth Expo Event. Mar. 19, 2024 (128).

Beekeeping basics, economics and legislation. Newcastle Library. Mar. 2, 2024 (21) [3.81, n=8].

Recordkeeping for beekeepers and beekeeping basics. Oklahoma State Beekeeping Club. Feb. 27, 2024 (15).

*Backyard Poultry Project--The link for viewing the Oklahoma Backyard Poultry curriculum is  https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/backyard-poultry/   This has proven to be very popular.  Additionally, OkSARE has sponsored several poultry presentations at various field days.

*The Climate Smart Agriculture held several sessions with topics related to sustainable livestock production.  These sessions were as follows:  New and Beginning Farmers, Bee Keeping and Goat Keeping--Nose to Tail.

*The 2024 Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference was attended by 176 folks.  The following sessions demonstrates this program's dedication to concepts related to sustainable production:  Feeding horses when cattle is your day job, Forages First, Low Stress Cattle Handling and Facilities Design, Buzzing into Beekeeping:  A Beginner's Guide, Calving Time Management, Custom Slaughter and Processing Expectations,

*The OFRA Field Day was held near Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  OkSARE was pleased to provide 3 speakers for this event to promote the reorganization of the Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers Association.  Topics presented were New and Beginning Farmers, Backyard Poultry and Farm Management.  It was attended by 26 producers.

The learning and action outcomes and impacts of these initiatives are as follows:

*The Climate Smart Agriculture Workshop included the following sessions:

Watermelon Research and Plasticulture
Ginger Trials and Hoophouses
New and Beginning Farmers
Value of Gardening for Mental Health
Visit Vendors/Collaboration
Plasticulture and Vegetable Marketing
Bee Keeping
NRCS Eqip and High Tunnels – Urban Planning
Pest and Insect Control. IPM
Nose to Tail (Held Outside)
Gardening Tools and Mineral Tubs (Held Outside)

*The 2024 Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference hosted the following sessions in support of this objective:  The Homemade Food Freedom Act, Berrie Basics:  How to incorporate growing berries into your landscape, Value-added food production for home producers.

*Langston Conference on Sustainable Small Farming, including Goats and Hair Sheep covered many relevant topics such as artisnal cheese making, goat processing and marketing, IPM scouting, plasticulture and commodities such as watermelon, ginger and cucurbit production.

*The Master Preserver Committee met throughout the year online and in-person with the goal of developing a series of online modules to include the latest practices in pressure canning, hot water bath canning, dehydrating, steam canning and pickling. These modules will be completed individually by the prospective program participants who will then attend a two day intensive practicum to become a certified master preserver.  The goal is to have the on-line learning modules with training videos completed and ready by April.  We have a Master Food Preserver Extension in-service (hands-on) for FCS Educators scheduled for May 27-29^th.   Then, we are planning to begin the training for volunteers in the fall.  The volunteers will need to complete the on-line modules in September, and the hands-on portion is scheduled for October 8^th and 9^th.    The outcomes of those trainings will be included in the next programming cycle. 

*The SOWTH Conference was attended by 8 Oklahoma educators.  There was a travel scholarship provided by Georgia Organics which was utilized by representative from Langston University and the College of the Muscogee Nation.  The OkSARE PDP made the decision to allocate travel funds for four OSU personnel to also attend the event.  The following is the feedback received from the conference by beginning educator Mason Huddleston, "My recent work trip to Atlanta for the SOWTH Conference was a valuable experience that provided me with new insights and perspectives on southern organic growing. The conference featured a range of sessions and discussions that covered crucial aspects of sustainable agriculture, allowing me to expand my knowledge and gather ideas to bring back to my county.
One of the most impactful experiences of the trip was visiting Patchwork City Farms, an urban farm demonstrating what can be achieved in a small-scale, urban agricultural setting. Located on less than an acre, the farm showcases innovative techniques for maximizing production in limited space. This visit was particularly inspiring as it provided a practical example of how urban farming can contribute to local food systems and offer fresh, organic produce to urban communities.
The conference itself offered a diverse range of lectures and discussions. I had the opportunity to learn about topics such as fruit and fungi production, ruminant livestock management, and farm-to-school initiatives. Each session provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing both new and established farmers. The discussions on soil health, organic certification as well as certified naturally grown certification, and climate adaptability were especially relevant, offering practical strategies that can be applied across various farming operations.
Beyond the knowledge gained for the various lectures , the conference allowed me to engage with other agricultural professionals, researchers, and farmers who shared their experiences and challenges. Hearing firsthand about the obstacles farmers are facing from regulatory issues to market access, provided a well-rounded understanding of the industry.
Overall, attending the SOWTH Conference was a great experience. The knowledge and insights I gained will be highly beneficial in supporting agricultural programming and assisting clients in my county. From urban farming techniques to livestock management strategies, the information acquired will help improve our local agricultural efforts and contribute to the growth of sustainable farming practices. I look forward to incorporating these learnings into my work and sharing them with those who can benefit the most."

*The Entomology and Plant Pathology Educator Training Program was provided digital microscopes/magnifiers with SARE funds.  Models were selected that would connect to computers as well as cell phones allowing extension educators to enlarge small organisms/structures both in the office and in the field.  They are especially useful for small insects and leaf spot fungi.  To date, 41 of the microscopes to county extension educators and 11 to state or area specialists.  Their use will be highlighted in several upcoming webinars beginning in April of 2025.

*The 2024 School and Community Gardening Conference was hosted by Horticulture Educator Julia Laughlin at the Oklahoma County OSU Extension Conference Center and at various garden sites in the area.  Friday morning's presentations focused on gardening basics and how to get a school or community garden started.  The afternoon sessions were case studies of different community or school gardens.  Water conservation and proper garden planning were key topics.  On Saturday morning, attendees traveled to view local host garden sites.

*The first OLAC Bus Tour sponsored by the OkSARE PDP was held in Muskogee, Oklahoma on September 12, 2024.  The itinerary was as follows:

Farm Tour Schedule:  

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*The second OLAC Bus Tour took place in the Lawton, Oklahoma area.  The itinerary for this tour is as follows:

*The third OLAC Bus Tour was held in Edmond, Oklahoma on January 31st, 2025.  The itinerary for this second tour is as follows:

1. Phocas Farm (Edmond): 1220 High Street, Edmond, OK 73003
   • Owner: Kentrel Broom
   • High tunnel vegetable production
   • Speaker: Josh Campbell
2. Indigo Acres (Edmond/Guthrie): 4050 W. Evergreen Road, Edmond, OK 73025
   • Owner: Kevin Marshall
   • Efficient vegetable production on 1 acre, but producers like he is growing on 3 acres.
   • Speaker: Greg Scott
3. Ruzycki Farm (Jones): 10200 N. Choctaw Road, Jones, OK 73049
   • Owner: Emily & Michael Ruzycki
   • Flower and vegetable Farm
   • Has a farm hub on farm

The learning and action outcomes and impact of this initiative are as follows:

*The 2025 OSU Winter Crop School is a very successful program filling to capacity each year.  This year the agenda was as follows:

Tuesday, December 17, 2024
10:00 – 12:00 IPM 2 IPM - Weed Sci (Galvin, Shrestha) FB: OK State Weed Science Galvin Strategic herbicide resistance management: Long-term vision and extension messaging for small grains
Lunch – CCA Meeting
1:00: 3:00 SW 2 SWC – (Gholson, Kukal @agrohydrology, Gholson) @DMGholson
Gholson - Using Soil Moisture Sensors to Schedule Irrigation, Kukal – Crop coefficients: Development, application, and best practices for irrigation management
Gholson - How Tillage and Cover Crops affects soil moisture in Cotton in a humid environment
3:00pm - 4:00pm Graduate Student Poster Time – Judges Needed: Snacks available.
4:00pm - 6:00pm .5 IPM, 1.5 CM CSM - (Brown, Cannon, {Silva}) Brown - sorghum and corn pests Cannon – Cotton boll location. Bushong- Optimizing Wheat Yields.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024
8:00-10:00 IPM 2 IPM – History of Corn Stunt Disease and its Recent Incursion to the Great Plains (Faris, Duffeck, Wayadande) Instagram: osu_crop_insects, osu.plant_pathology, okstate.epp 10:15-12:15 1.5 NM .5 CM CSM/NM – Forages (Arnall, Pugh, Trammel) Pugh – Herbicide treated fertilizer Arnall – P and K in Pasture and Range recovery Trammel – From East to West. The role of novel endophytes and summer dormancy in the persistence of tall fescue across multiple environments.
Lunch 1:15-3:15 1.5 SW .5NM SWC/NM - Bad Water (Akin, Martin, Sharry) Akin – Salt and BiCarbs impact on soil Martin – Management Strategies in saline and sodic soils Sharry – IDC (Iron Deficiency Chlorosis) management in Soybean
3:30-5:30 2 NM NM - (Phillips, Lofton, Arnall) Phillips – Essential vs Beneficial Plant Nutrients: Scientific Debates and Policy Implications
Lofton – Spring Oat Nitrogen Management Arnall/Sharry – Summer crop N management

The learning and action outcomes and impacts of this initiative are as follows:

*The 2025 Master Irrigator's Conference provides advanced training on irrigation water management, irrigation system and equipment maintenance, energy conservation, water conservation and quality, and economics of irrigated agriculture.  The program includes classroom training, peer-to-peer exchange of information between producers, field demonstrations, and free-of-charge services such as energy audits through mobile irrigation laboratories. Instructors include extension specialists, irrigation specialists, and economists from OSU and adjoining states, producers, crop consultants and NRCS personnel. Use of irrigation scheduling technologies and tools, such as soil moisture sensors and/or crop growth model based irrigation schedulers, require advanced knowledge to apply effectively. The overall goal of the program is to facilitate improved water use efficiency and farm income via increased farmer adoption of advanced water management strategies and technologies. Prior research in the High Plains region found that using precision irrigation scheduling increased water productivity by 25% compared to conventional irrigation application. This was achieved with a 10% reduction in water use and a 13% yield increase. This suggests that adoption of precision irrigation management could reduce water demand by 76,000 acre-feet/year statewide while potentially increasing productivity.  

Participants are required to complete four days of training to be eligible for the following benefits:

• Four days of basic and advanced training on irrigation, crop choices and irrigation systems.
• Producer participants will be eligible for reimbursements of $2000 on purchase of soil moisture sensors. through funding provided by Oklahoma Conservation Commission and Oklahoma Water Resource Board.
• Free of charge energy and irrigation system efficiency audits will be provided to the participants through mobile irrigation laboratory.

  The Oklahoma State University’s Mobile Irrigation Laboratory provides free pumping energy use efficiency audits and irrigation application uniformity tests to graduates of Oklahoma Master Irrigator Program. Since the beginning of the program in 2021, the laboratory has performed audits on 16 systems belonging to 6 graduates from the Oklahoma Panhandle.

   

• Please see the above objective for specific information regarding the 2025 OSU Winter Crop School agenda.

The learning and action outcome and impact of this objective was as follows:

The Joint County Emergency Management Thought Exercise meeting was held in collaboration with Texas County Emergency Management.  It was a four-hour, multi-agency ‘thought’ exercise. This exercise will walk through scenarios impacting agriculture, households, and local businesses, focusing on improved communication and coordination between participating agencies.  Stakeholders from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado were invited to participate.  The agenda was as follows:

• Registration
• Welcome and Introduction of Special Guests
• Break
• Exercise Scenario 1
• Exercise Scenario 2
• Break
• Exercise Scenario 3
• Exercise Scenario 4
• Final Hotwash
• Closing Comments and Dismissal