Project Overview
Annual Reports
Commodities
Practices
- Education and Training: networking
- Production Systems: organic agriculture, transitioning to organic
- Soil Management: soil quality/health
Abstract:
This project was aimed at Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Extension staff in MN, IA, ND, SD, NE to help them learn how to assist farmers and ranchers become eligible for and apply for new USDA organic and related conservation programs. This help came in the form of on-line training and farm tours.
The reason for the project was that experienced organic farmers need NRCS help with program signups while new organic farmers need NRCS and Extension advice on organic benefits and procedures, yet NRCS and Extension have had little experience with organic practices and how they fit into conservation programs. Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) and state partners hosted webinar and farm-tour training sessions for these ag educators about Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) rules, organic certification, organic farming practices, information resources, and local contacts. State NRCS offices and state PDP Coordinators helped recruit participants. Organic farming/ranching experts and other crop advisors were encouraged to certify as NRCS Technical Service Providers to assist with organic and other conservation planning. CFRA had developed a web-based curriculum for a pilot program in Nebraska and hosted 40 NRCS participants in May 2009. This curriculum was modified for use in the target states. Evaluation of training participant knowledge of programs and organic procedures was conducted with pre/post-participation questionnaires and second-year follow-up. Results were focused on NRCS participants being able to provide effective program assistance to applicants, Extension participants able to conduct their own programs for farmers/ranchers based on materials and contacts initiated in this project, and Technical Service Providers certified to provide planning and advising services.
Primary outcomes were expected to be 1) NRCS and Extension staff that understood organic farming practices and are now able to help farmers and ranchers apply those to conservation programs, and 2) enrollment of Technical Service Providers to assist with organic transition plans.
This project produced a curriculum and training materials for NRCS staff to assist farmers/ranchers with applying organic practices to EQIP and CSP program eligibility. These materials were localized to specifics of MN, ND, SD, IA, and NE state rules. These materials have been archived electronically for use throughout the project period and will be transferred to state –based websites as needed.
Application guides for Technical Service Providers (TSP) were developed to assist their application process. These materials were archived electronically for use throughout the project period.
Networks between NRCS, Extension, state organizations that support organic production, and organic farmers/ranchers were developed in each of the five states in order to facilitate continued discussion and technical assistance with organic farming and federal conservation programs.
Our goals of trained personnel from this project were at minimum:
• 40 NRCS and 5 Extension attendees in each state at web seminars
• 30 NRCS and 5 Extension attendees in each state at farm tours
• 10 TSP candidates in each state; 3 TSP applicants/state
Project objectives:
1. NRCS and Extension staffs in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska will learn how to help farmers and ranchers become eligible for and apply for new USDA organic and related conservation programs.
2. Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) and state partners will host webinar and farm-tour training sessions for these ag educators about Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) rules, organic certification, organic farming practices, information resources, and local contacts.
• 40 NRCS and 5 Extension attendees in each state at web seminars
• 30 NRCS and 5 Extension attendees in each state at farm tours
3. Organic farming/ranching experts and other crop advisors will be encouraged to certify as NRCS Technical Service Providers to assist with organic and other conservation planning.
• 10 TSP candidates in each state; 3 TSP applicants/state