Progress report for WWY23-001
Project Information
We will use these funds to host a state-wide sustainable agriculture program each year, support professional development stipends for agriculture professionals, and hire a part-time sustainable agriculture assistant.
Objective 1: Increase the knowledge base and skills of agriculture professionals in Wyoming so that they can more effectively help farmers and ranchers meet their sustainability and resource management goals.
Objective 2: Make it easier for farmers and ranchers to attend regional educational programs and training opportunities related to sustainable agriculture.
UW Extension continues our statewide effort to identify emerging educational needs and contemporary issues for our stakeholders. Wyoming is a small population state and relative to other states has a small agriculture sector dominated by livestock and forage crop production. The majority of farming is concentrated along river corridors and is irrigated. Much of the farming is for hay production for on-farm animal feed. SE Wyoming produces dryland wheat. NW Wyoming produces malt barley and sugar beets. There has been an increase in small to mid-sized integrated vegetable and small livestock operations in the last few years.
In Wyoming, agriculture professionals and agricultural enterprises are particularly influenced by public land, geographic isolation and the generally low level of resource productivity. Most of the crop producers in the state have been slow to adopt soil health practices like cover crops and reduced tillage.
In past years, Wyoming’s WSARE Development Program had a focus on travel scholarships to agricultural professionals to participate in professional development opportunities. Due a variety of factors, the demand for these travel scholarships has decreased. Instead, funds have been used to provide stipends to producers who wish to participate in trainings related to sustainable agriculture and soil health and to purchase SARE books. In UW Extension we have a challenge with human capacity and staffing. As a result, it will be very valuable to use some of these funds to hire a part-time assistant for hosting and organizing educational programs and events.
In addition, stipends to support farmers and ranchers who want to participate in professional development programs have been very well received and impactful. As a result we will continue to offer these stipends and promote this program.
April 2023 - WY State Coordinator attends Western SARE annual meeting in Hawaii
November 2023 - Statewide conference/workshop
Summer 2024 - WY State Coordinator attends Western SARE annual meeting
November 2024 - Statewide conference/workshop
Summer 2025 -WY State Coordinator attends Western SARE annual meeting
November 2025 - Statewide conference/workshop
Eight training stipends will be provided each calendar year( 2023 - 2025)
Advisors
- (Educator and Researcher)
Education
Objective 1: Increase the knowledge base and skills of agriculture professionals in Wyoming so that they can more effectively help farmers and ranchers meet their sustainability and resource management goals.
Methods:
- Host annual state wide/regional workshops or conferences focused on sustainable agriculture and bee keeping.
- Work with the Wyoming Agriculture and Natural Resource focus area to assist with organizing the annual events, and other smaller events around the state.
Objective 2: Make it easier for farmers and ranchers to attend regional educational programs and training opportunities related to sustainable agriculture.
Methods:
- Provide small stipends to individual farmers and ranchers to reduce barriers for participating in trainings and workshops related to sustainable agriculture.
- Employ a part-time Sustainable Agriculture Program Assistant to assist with managing the stipends and selecting recipients.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Inform participants of proper bee keeping techniques and the sustainable benefits of pollinators.
The Wyoming Bee college provides three tracts for bee keepers (beginning, intermediate, and advanced). All tracks cover basic bee health and management guidelines, tips for success, pollinator management strategies, and husbandry.
Learning outcomes include;
- Increased understanding of bee housing.
- Increased understanding of bee care.
- Increased understanding of honey production and marketing.
- Increased understanding of pollinator benefits and strategies.
This event aimed to equip beef producers with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate industry challenges and seize emerging opportunities, and increase sustainability.
The 2024 Southeast Wyoming Beef Symposium & Trade Show was a group effort by area educators, agricultural experiment stations, and extension specialists from the University of Wyoming and University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Our objective was to gather livestock producers and allied industry for a one-day networking and educational experience. A finalized agenda was generated using the ideas of the planning committee and input from stakeholders around the state.
The program included presentations from six area educators, two University of Wyoming extension specialists, one specialist from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, the associate dean of the agriculture experiment stations, and one keynote speaker affiliated with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Topics ranged from innovative technologies in beef production, management practices, beef marketing, and potential long-term weather impacts on agriculture.
The learning objectives included;
- Increase awareness of long term weather impacts on agriculture.
- Increase understanding of livestock market conditions.
- Increase understanding of range and pasture management strategies.
- Increase understanding of emerging production techniques.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Face of SARE
SARE programs were promoted within the State Extension system. Educators were informed of opportunities for training as well as grant programs to partner with producers. Attendees at SARE supported events were told of the SARE programs and opportunities as well.