Progress report for WUT21-001
Project Information
The Utah Professional Development Program (PDP) provides resources and training to agricultural professionals and producers that promote the goals of Western SARE. The program is guided by an Advisory Committee of seven members (as of March 2022). The Committee urges the Utah PDP to seek answers to the state’s challenges, such as being the 9th most densely urban and the 2nd most arid state in the nation, in a way that protects natural resources and human safety, and enhances the quality of life for our producers. Specific topics recommended by the committee include improving local production and distribution of food (as affected/evidenced by COVID-19), building soil health practices, increasing adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), and improving sustainable grazing.
Three objectives will target the overall goals for the Utah PDP in 2021-24 to increase local production and distribution of food (as affected/evidenced by COVID-19), build soil health practices, increase adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), and improve sustainable grazing.
- Increase knowledge and skills of nine Utah Extension agricultural professionals and up to 300 producers through the award of approximately three mini-grants each year for travel or event-hosting (offered spring and fall of each year), measured by reporting and follow-up surveys of award recipients. (“Travel/Event Hosting Awards”)
- Facilitate adoption of sustainable agricultural practices of 900 professionals and producers through the support of four conferences and workshops offered in spring, summer, and fall of each year, as measured by retrospective surveys after each event. (“Support of Conferences/Workshops”)
- Increase knowledge and skills of up to 120 agricultural professionals and 500 producers in integrated pest management through on-going presentations and delivery of publications and guides, conducted throughout the duration of the award, and measured by paper or online surveys. (“General Outreach”)
Because Utah is the 9th most densely urban, and the 2nd driest state in the nation, the Utah PDP Advisory Committee recognizes that this program must address these challenges to protect natural resources and human safety while enhancing the quality of life for our producers, particularly within specialty crops (13,600 acres valued at $33 million) and forage and rangelands (710,000 acres). Training efforts and travel awards are based on past crop surveys (conducted by our partner, the Utah IPM Program), past conference pre- and post-surveys, and input from the PDP Advisory Committee.
The Utah PDP primarily reaches the livestock, forage, and specialty crop industries, particularly on small farms. For 2021-24, the program will direct resources to the following activities each year: four conferences/workshops, training in IPM, access to publications, and mini-grant awards. Delivery of resources will be structured as needed based on whether the COVID-19 restrictions are in place (virtual or live). Two conferences supported by the program are long-standing events, and include the Urban and Small Farms Conference (reaching over 200 producers and professionals) and the Utah-Arizona Annual Range and Livestock Conference (reaching over 180). Support of additional workshops are new events for the Utah PDP, and mini-grant awards for projects, professional travel, or event hosting will continue as they have in the past.
Advisors
Education
The Utah PDP emphasizes multiple modes of education, including face-to-face, written and online, and self-exploratory. The content for the workshops and conferences range from beginner to intermediate and consist of indoor presentations and where appropriate, hands-on activities or outdoor farm visits. The trainings also include complementary written materials and publications for attendees to review. The written and online training involves production and delivery of crop management guides and a subscription email service of seasonal, pertinent content. The self-exploratory education occurs through travel and event hosting scholarships, where agricultural producers attend or host professional development workshops to further their understanding of sustainable agriculture, and pass the information on to their constituents.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Increase knowledge and skills of nine Utah Extension agricultural professionals and up to 300 producers through the award of approximately three mini-grants each year for travel, event-hosting, or projects (offered spring and fall of each year), measured by reporting and follow-up surveys of award recipients.
In 2022, the Utah WSARE PDP awarded two mini-grants: one event-hosting scholarship and one project award. The event-hosting award was again given to the Utah Association of Conservation Districts to host the second annual Soil Health in the West workshop for beginner farmers. This workshop, held in Feb 2022, was part of the overall 3-day event, 2022 Utah Soil Health Conference in St. George, Utah. The workshop consisted of in-class sessions on soil health was introduced, a No-Till Drill demonstration, and a field visit that provided soil health demonstrations and a hands-on field assessment. The Utah PDP sponsored the supplies needed for the field component (Soil Owner’s Manual and other books, moisture sensors, brix meters, pliers, etc.).
The mini-grant project award set up an integrated pest management (IPM) vegetable demonstration farm. The farm is a full acre of fourteen, 200-foot rows of crops. Various demonstrations in 2022 included an organic fungicide trial for cucurbit powdery mildew (squash, cucumber, and watermelon), weed management options, squash trap cropping (Hubbard squash) against squash bug, colored mulches to prevent virus diseases on tomato, row covers for insect exclusion, insect trapping options, and flower “insectary” strips to attract beneficial insects.
At the beginner soil health workshop (event-hosting award), there were 68 producers and 11 ag professionals in attendance (from NRCS, Utah Dept of Agriculture and Food and Conservation Districts). A survey was delivered to attendees and 91% of producers improved their understanding of soil health and 40% of them felt that they could incorporate this new knowledge into their current farm practices.
The vegetable IPM demonstration farm (project award) was successfully established and attracted the attention of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food who provided flowering perennials as a border planting for pollinator monitoring. Three field days were held at the farm, attracting an average of 35 producers at each. The exit survey revealed that 99% of attendees were satisfied with the event, and 92% learned something new. The project also wrote two articles. Utah Pests News (page 3), "New Vegetable IPM Farm is an Outdoor Classroom," was distributed via email to over 11,000 subscribers and USU Outcomes & Impacts Quarterly (page 3), "Demonstration Farm Provides Educational Opportunities for Integrated Pest Management," is a peer-reviewed journal distributed to professionals in cooperative extension nationwide.
Facilitate adoption of sustainable agricultural practices of 900 professionals and producers through the support of four conferences and workshops offered in spring, summer, and fall of each year, as measured by retrospective surveys after each event.
The UT/AZ Annual Range and Livestock Workshop is an event that the WSARE PDP program has been involved with for many years. It brings together ranchers, land management agency personnel, representatives from federal and state agencies, state farm bureaus, conservation districts, and businesses serving the livestock industry. In 2022, the Utah WSARE PDP sponsored the conference proceedings (which included one page dedicated to Western SARE) for the 44th annual workshop and tour, held in late March 2022. Topics included rotational grazing, virtual fencing, livestock handling, prescribed burning, grazing on public lands, trail and game cameras, and funding opportunities (including through Western SARE).
The Sustainable Grazing Institute is a workshop for Utah livestock producers who want to increase sustainable forage production, animal performance, and net income through improved grazing management. The 4th annual workshop was held over three days in early June 2022. Participants learned the science of grazing in a classroom setting and made management decisions in the field, designing pastures for grazing livestock. Topics included [upload agenda] estimating potential forage yields, management of temporary fencing and grazing cell design, pasture forages, pasture irrigation and fertility, and forage pest management.
The range and livestock workshop was attended by 164 (45% farmers and processors, and 55% professionals), representing approximately 2,100 cattle managed. Overall, 95% of attendees increased their knowledge, 82% modified their opinions, and 64% will share their new information with others and they scored the workshop a 4.4 out of 5. When asked about their knowledge level of each individual topic before and after the workshop, the percent change ranged from 26% to 20% and averaged 52%.
The Sustainable Grazing Institute was attended by 30 livestock producers and 7 agricultural professionals representing almost 4,000 acres and 947 grazing animals. In a follow-up survey, 95% of attendees felt the event was “”very good” or “excellent”. When averaging attendees responses for each individual topic, 45% reported that their knowledge level was “much improved,” and 81% of attendees intend to adopt new skills. In addition, 60% “strongly agree” that their new skills will improve their farm's profitability, and 30% “strongly agree” they will be successful in implementing the new practices on their farm.
Increase knowledge and skills of up to 120 agricultural professionals and 500 producers in integrated pest management through on-going presentations and delivery of publications and guides, conducted throughout the duration of the award, and measured by paper or online surveys.
The Utah PDP Coordinator promoted SARE publications and Western SARE grant opportunities at three fruit and vegetable grower meetings (82 producers and 13 ag professionals), at workshops listed above, and at the Annual Utah Fruit Convention in Jan 2022, Urban and Small Farms Conference in Feb 2022, and the Utah Invasive Species Workshop in Sept 2022 (total attendance for all three, 279 producers and 27 professionals). In addition, the PDP Coordinator mentioned Western SARE at two webinars (soilborne pathogens and vegetable IPM), attended by 262 producers and 19 ag professionals.
At the webinars, attendees are provided a link to a survey where they enter responses to two simple questions. For the two 2022 webinars, 94% reported having increased their knowledge, and 79% reported that they planned to implement one new practice on their farm or operation.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Face of SARE
For promotion of Western SARE grants and services, the State Coordinator has reached 154 agricultural professionals and 556 producers through a variety of events in 2022. The audiences included producers and professionals specializing in growing tree fruits, vegetables, and forage crops, and managing livestock. The coordinator has also promoted WSARE grants in emails to community mailing lists, the Utah Pests Facebook page, and through a quarterly newsletter delivered to over 11,600 individuals in Utah.