Training professionals on sustainable agriculture for enhanced ecosystem service from the ground up

Training professionals on sustainable agriculture for enhanced ecosystem service from the ground up

Summary

In 2012 we conducted three train-the-trainer workshops in Ohio, Texas and Michigan. A total of 212 participants attended the sessions. About 90% of participants rated the workshops as “one of the best or above average” (details are in the three attached files). (Including 2011, total participation is 338.) More workshops will be conducted in 2013.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Our overall objective was to conduct a series of train-the-trainer workshops for Educators and agricultural professionals to equip them with new information, practical knowledge, teaching materials and techniques, and assessment tools to assist farmers in shifting to sustainable agriculture. Specific objectives were:
(I) Develop teaching/training materials including USB flash drive, notebook, fact sheets, and electronic media with the assistance and review from a multi-state advisory group representative of the target audience.
(II) Train 200 – 250 professionals to gain knowledge and understanding of sustainable agriculture for enhanced ecosystems services.
(III) Foster partnerships among the professionals to support and organize cooperative programs on sustainable agriculture in NC region.

Accomplishments/Milestones

1. Developed and provided training manual and teaching materials (as hard copies and digitally on USB flash drives) to participants.

2. Three training workshops were organized in Ohio, TX and MI:
• Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference (CTTC) annual meeting, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH (March 5 and 6, 2012). This training included 5 hours the first day, and up to 7 hours the second day from two concurrent session on Cover Crops and No-till.
• Soil and Water Conservation Society’s (SWCS) International Meeting, Fort Worth, TX (July 22, 2012). (6 hours)
• North Central Carbon, Energy and Climate (CEC) Meeting, Kellogg Biological Research Center, Michigan State University, MI (September 27, 2012). (4 hours)

3. A total 212 participants (141 in OH; 35 in TX and 36 in MI) attended the workshops.

4. Several speakers gave Powerpoint presentations plus a soil quality demonstration (including a colorimetric and color chart tests) at CTTC and SWCS meetings. At the CEC meeting the training concentrated mainly on the soil quality field test (colorimetric vs. color chart).

5. A USB flash drive containing all the lectures and soil quality test demonstration manual was given to all the participants at CTTC and SWCS meetings. (Soil quality test kits and USB flash drives will be delivered to other participants).

6. Post-workshop surveys were conducted at each location (attached files). At CTTC in OH, about 60% of the participants completed the workshop evaluation questionnaire; at SWCS meetings in TX about 85%, and at CEC meetings in MI, about 95% evaluated the workshop.

7. A diverse group of professionals from different states and Canada attended the workshops.

8. A web page on sustainable agriculture and soil quality is under construction, as part of the Soil, Water and Bioenergy program of the OSU South Centers website.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

1. Participants showed a great interest to our workshop and the supporting materials.
• About 75 to 90% of the participants evaluated our workshops as well prepared, organized, and easy to follow, and provide new and useful information.

• Averaged across all sites, the participants stated a15 to 23 percent increase in knowledge gain on the topics covered.

• A lack of knowledge/education was rated the most important barrier to improving soil quality by 35% of participants.

• Cover crops (40%), conservation tillage (especially no-till) (20%), and crop rotation (30%) were identified as the most important components of the sustainable agriculture by the participants.

• Soil organic matter (carbon) was identified as the most critical soil property to sustain soil quality and improve ecosystem services.

• About 75 to 95% of the participants liked the instant soil quality field test.

2. Requests to organize more agricultural sustainability workshops in the Midwest.
Participants from AR, CA, CO, IA, Il, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, MT, NE, OH, PA, TN, TX, WI, Washington DC, and Canada attended the workshops. We have numerous emails/phone calls/social media interactions with the participants regarding future workshops and plans.
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3. Participants were asking for more information and tools to organize local meetings for farmers on sustainable agriculture and ecosystem services.
• About 75 to 80% of the participants were educators (mainly University Extension), private companies and federal agencies.

4. Our OSU South Centers website has had hundreds of inquiries looking for information on sustainable agriculture and soil quality.

5. Details are in the attached files.

• Sustainable Ag. workshop at CTTC, Ada, OH, March 5 and 6, 2012
• SWCS National Meeting, Fort Worth TX, July 22, 2012
• NC Carbon, Energy and Climate Meeting, Kellogg Biological Center, Michigan State University, September 27, 2012

Collaborators: