Progress report for WSP22-002
Project Information
This project will provide continued training for Oregon agricultural professionals about on-climate resilient farming.
Objectives include:
Developing a strategy for delivering PDP education programming for year two of climate resilisent farming
Increase knowledge, skills and technical capacity of a professionals
Increase knowledge, skills and technical capacity of farmers and ranchers
Assess success of educational programming
This project will address climate resilient farming best management practices. We chose a topic that supports good stewardship of natural resources, improves quality of life of farmers, improves the bottom line for farmers, and examines the impacts of adopting sustainable agriculture systems
Our state stakeholder advisory committee met and discussed priority sustainable agriculture topics in Oregon. Based on the discussion and the high level of interest in the climate resiliency professional development three-day workshop planned for November, we decided to continue working on this critical topic. Within three days of opening registration, we had 140 ag professionals sign up for the program.
Depending on how covid protocols we need to follow during 2022, professional development activities may include in-person meetings, perhaps held in different regions of Oregon for more site specific best management practices. The advisory committee also suggested forming a working group on climate change within Oregon State University's Extension program. Currently, there is no such working group.
As the working relationship between the state advisory committee, the Oregon PDP coordinator, and ORCAN has been highly successful, the advisroty committee unanimously agreed to continue the working relationship through a second subaward.
Advisors
- (Educator)
Education
In 2020, we switched from a model of disbursing SARE funds for mini-grants to more in-depth work on one priority topic in sustainable agriculture and delivering that topic on different regions of the state. By employing this new model, we hoped to increase our responsiveness to high priority topics that are currently relevant to agricultural professional, farmers and ranchers. In addition, by deploying education on a certain topic in different regions of the state, we hoped to encourage collaboration in different regions to provide the highest quality programming. In 2020, state funds were used to deliver a two day workshop on hemp production and regulations. Because of covid-19, the program had to be delivered over zoom and did not include a regional focus.
In 2021, the advisory committee decided to focus on climate resilience best management practices. Oregon SARE co-coordinators contracted with Oregon Climate and agriculture Network (ORCAN) to deliver a three day workshop on climate resilient farming. This workshop will be held in November over zoom. Within a week of registration opening, over one hundred and fifty ag professionals have registered.
As a result of the popularity and relevance of this topic, the advisory committee decided to focus on climate change for 2022. We will contract with ORCAN again to help organize additional professional development opportunities.
Resources to be contributed: the Advisory Committee members will participate in two two-hour meetings to help determine strategies for delivering education. Various OSU Extension and other agricultural professionals will provide venues, outreach, and technical assistance for the workshop, classes, or farm tours to be offered, depending on covid restrictions.
Timeline:
September 2021: SARE PSP Advisory Committee meets to choose topic for 2022.
January-October 2022: Workshops, classes, conference, and/or farm tours on climate resilient farming will be conducted.
September 2022: Advisory Committee will meet.
November-December 2022: Conduct Program Evaluation.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Offer a four week training for agricultural professionals and farm educators on best management practices for disseminating climate friendly programing for farmers and ranchers
A total of 196 ag professionals attended a four session training for climate friendly farming in October 2022.
Workshop topics included:
Session 1: Foundations for Climate Resilience Planning on Farms & Ranches in Oregon
What does science tell us about the climate impacts on Oregon? How do producers make decisions about resilience? And, how can we manage risk with soil conservation practices?
Session 2: Talking about climate change with producers
Best practices for communicating with producers about climate change and conservation, leading with empathy. We’ll also take a closer look at peer-to-peer producer groups.
Session 3: Identifying and Implementing Adaptation and Resilience Actions
Dig into resilience planning through the lens of case studies on farming for drought resilience.
Session 4: Policy and Market Drivers for ClimateResilience
Topics will include: Updates on Oregon Policy, Federal Funding and Ecosystem Markets.
Participants included staff and faculty of NRCS, OSU Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Non-profits, and University researchers.
Participants learned about various resources for tracking the latest data and research on climate change.
Participants learned basic communication skills for talking to the producers they work with about climate change.
Participants learned about a toolkit resource for helping producers make decisions on their farms.
Participants heard updates on Oregon climate and agriculture policies, funding opportunities and ecosystem markets.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Face of SARE
SARE was acknowledged at the beginning of each session. Links for Western SARE website was shared in the zoom chat.