Final report for WSP19-024
Project Information
Our state stakeholder advisory committee will meet in May and discuss priority SA topics in Oregon. Based on the discussion, we will choose an SA topic to focus on for 2020 that can be applied throughout the state. Because Eastern and Western Oregon have very different climates and Oregon also has highly diverse farms, ranches and cropping systems, we will attempt to decide on a topic that is relevant to farmers and ranchers in all parts of the state. Here we describe our process. In future years we plan to meet with our AC to identify priority topics and work plans before April so that we can include more details in our annual application.
2020 is the first year we are switching from a model of disbursing SARE PDP funds for mini-grants to more in-depth work on one priority topic in sustainable agriculture and delivering education on that topic in different regions of the state. By employing this new model, we hope to increase our responsiveness to high priority topics that are currently relevant to agricultural professional, farmers and ranchers. Additionally, by deploying education on a certain topic in four different regions of the state, we hope to encourage collaboration in different regions of the state in an effort to provide the highest-quality programming.
Objectives of this project include:
- Work with the Advisory Committee to identify statewide priority topic in sustainable agriculture
- Develop a strategy for delivering educational programming to address topic
- Increase knowledge, skills and technical capacity of agricultural professionals on this topic
- Increase knowledge, skills and technical capacity of farmers and/or ranchers on this topic
- Assess success of educational programming and determine whether or not to address same topic 2021
Timeline:
May 2019: SARE PDP Advisory Committee meets to choose topic for 2020.
October 2019: SARE PDP Advisory Committee meets to discuss strategy for addressing education on chosen topic.
January-October 2020: Workshops, classes, conference, and farm tours in four regions of Oregon.
Winter 2020: SARE PDP Advisory Committee meets to choose topic for 2021.
November-December 2020: Evaluate Program
Advisors
- - Producer
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- - Producer
- (Educator)
Education
We offered a 3 day, 9 hour Train the Trainer Program for Oregon Agricultural Professionals titled A Climate Resilience Toolbox
for Oregon Farmers and Ranchers.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Increase knowledge of technical service providers, farm advisors, and researchers to better support growers in their transition to farming for climate resilience.
We
- Provide an interactive training for Oregon agricultural professionals to advance knowledge of farm-based solutions for climate resilience. These solutions reduce risks from extreme weather events, store more carbon in the soil and work for a farmer’s bottom-line.
- Create a community of practice in Oregon dedicated to supporting, improving, and better understanding farming and ranching for climate resilience in Oregon.
As a result of the training, a new local working group of agricultural service providers in the Lower Willamette Valley has been formed. Their focus is on continued training and working together on climate resilience for farmers and ranchers in their region. Two Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the area took the lead and are working with five additional SWCDs as well as NRCS staff and OSU Extension in their region – initial list of forty-four staff invited to the regional workgroup.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
The planning team for this event was a mix of NRCS, OSU and OSU Extension, SWCDs, the NW Climate Hub, and Cultivating Resilience, LLC. This collaboration not only increased outreach and participation but also improved the content of our training. Unexpectedly, we began building a new community of practice within the planning team itself. We became a group that was coordinating, sharing information, and learning from each other across silos, and even within organizations like Oregon State University.
As a result of the training, a new local working group of agricultural service providers in the Lower Willamette Valley has been formed. Their focus is on continued training and working together on climate resilience for farmers and ranchers in their region. Two Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the area took the lead and are working with five additional SWCDs as well as NRCS staff and OSU Extension in their region – initial list of forty-four staff invited to the regional workgroup.
- Success stories: You may enter one or more individual stories, examples of success or quotes from participants that illustrate the value of the project to farmer beneficiaries. Farmers' quotes and stories are a valuable means of helping others understand the project's influence on farmers. Please do not use individual's names, but instead describe their business and location (e.g. a dairy farmer from western Pennsylvania).
“The training was inspiring. It gave me new ideas for outreach to producers for installing soil health practices and made connections with other groups to partner with on projects and outreach. Bravo!”
“It was really great hearing from a diverse group of voices, especially the grower panels. There was a lot of fabulous information presented and I liked the small group breakouts to help with networking and thinking through ideas.”
“I've been interested in soil health since 2006 and attended many soil health and conservation trainings. This training was so well orchestrated! Each presenter had unique, valuable information to share. Information that I had not heard applied to conservation work was abundant. The potential for collaboration, community, and hope far exceeded expectations and filled important current needs. Each partner contributed vastly to my work. It has been a long time since an event has activated my brain cells like this great event did!”
“This was an exceptional training presentation. The speakers were leaders in their fields, the presentations very clear and well done, and the overall experience valuable and inspiring.”
“To advance the work I do, I will need to collaborate directly with agency staff and knowing they are now versed in the concepts, challenges and tools will accelerate engagement with farmers and practices on the ground. Fantastic!”
Face of SARE
We promoted the SARE program with all of our outreach to OR NRCS, OSU Extension, SWCD and Watershed Councils, non-profits, and other state agency staff. Outreach also appeared in newsletters across the region from the USDA NW Climate Hub to the Oregon Conservation and Education Assistance Network.