Building Capacity to Support Small Farm Profitability

Building Capacity to Support Small Farm Profitability

Summary

Forty case studies developed by partner organizations have been grouped based on themes and converted into seven PowerPoint presentations suitable for Extension use during programs for clients. The presentations, which include detailed information, photographs and scripts, will be burned onto CDs along with the original case studies. Supplementary materials and resource lists are being compiled. Training workshops on using the materials are being planned for Extension staff in each of the partner states of Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Missouri. Each attendee will receive a CD with the original case studies, the PowerPoint presentations, and supplementary materials to use in educational events.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. Extension employees learn about seven categories of production and marketing topics that focus on cutting costs and reaching new markets.

   Extension employees gain confidence in the feasibility of the ideas and practices presented.

   Extension employees gain knowledge and materials to effectively discuss, promote and advise on these new production and marketing topics.

   Extension employees use these materials for programming directed at agricultural clients, leading to increased farmer/rancher adoption of more profitable practices and higher farm/ranch profits.

Accomplishments/Milestones

We’ve completed the initial conversion of the written cases studies into seven PowerPoint presentations. These presentations are currently being reviewed, with final versions to be complete by the end of January, 2003. Securing of supplementary materials and resource lists is underway, as is scheduling of in-service trainings of Extension personnel. Remaining work involves finalizing PowerPoint presentations, and then burning these onto compact discs along with the original case studies. Cataloguing and reproducing supplementary materials also must be completed, as do both actual training events and evaluation.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The project has not yet progressed to the point of being able to measure contributions and outcomes. The work to date has involved developing the materials to be used to train Extension staff to secure the desired outcomes.

Collaborators: