2025 Model State Program-The University of Georgia

Commodities

Practices

The UGA SARE program is in the process of developing a new logic model and a 5-year plan to address upcoming needs for professional development opportunities with the addition of our new UGA Coordinator. The new logic model will be completed during the 2025-2026 project year. The current SARE Logic Model training objectives are conservation tillage systems, organic production, grazing-based animal production systems, composting, direct marketing, and local food systems. We will continue to provide training in areas including: cover crops, composting, conservation tillage, organic vegetable production, online marketing for farms, GAP programs, and grazing production systems. Further, the program will address needs in urban food production, which were not part of the prior logic model. We will continue to provide support for Extension professionals to attend conferences and educational programming in addition to providing more opportunities to support and expand the UGA Journeyman Farmer program, which has seen renewed interest in urban and peri urban regions of the state. These activities increase knowledge and confidence in participating agriculture professionals which then translates to an increased ability to assist organic, resource-limited, and small farmers as well as urban audiences.

The Georgia Model State Program previously developed a Logic Model to guide our training efforts. The Logic Model, was last updated in 2015 and is in the process of being updated to reflect more current, reflects needs of Georgia as directed by the SARE Advisory Committee as well as clientele throughout the state. A new SARE Logical Model will be developed in the 2025-2026 year. We seek to include input from urban audiences as well as non-traditional underserved farmers and growers. Our overall goal is still to promote "Increased use of sustainable agriculture practices by producers at multiple scales supported by a knowledgeable network of agricultural professionals ensuring a high proportion of diverse, profitable, and environmentally-friendly farm operations".

Each year, we develop training opportunities to address one or more of the SARE Logic Model training objectives. The 2025-2026 cycle will build upon previous cycles in the areas of composting, local food systems, direct marketing, organic production (all commodities), and urban food production.

We will again be providing support for Extension professionals to attend both the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference and SOWTH Conference. We will provide support for up to 6 total attendees (4 for SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference and 2 for SOWTH Conference). This is a repeat of prior years, but we feel that these are important conferences for agents to attend to gain valuable professional development and the opportunity to network with growers and other sustainable agriculture professionals. They are central to our mission of training the trainers.

We will also be providing support for the Journeyman Farmer Program in Georgia. This program has been very successful and is the only program of its type in Georgia. We will be expanding this program in the 2025-2026 year to include training on composting and cut flower production. We have included honorarium funds for four speakers from Ag. South/Farm Credit to provide training on the agricultural business portion of the program.

We are requesting an additional honorarium for grower speakers to present at hands-on field days. We are planning a 2025 Sustainable Urban Agriculture Field Day event and will include two growers as speakers. We feel that grower-led discussion can be highly impactful.

We are requesting materials and supplies to hold hands-o learning opportunities for agents and growers in the field at UGA Research Centers. An example is an upcoming program that is being planned for 2025 which will provide training to growers and agents in the area of mushroom production and local food systems. We also have a 2025 training which will focus on precision agriculture, cover cropping, and integrated pest management.

Our current SARE program assistant is housed at the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture and we are seeing an increased demand of SARE-supported sustainable urban agriculture programming throughout the year.