Professional Training for Sustainable Agroforestry in Kansas

Project Overview

ENC11-125
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2011: $50,946.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2013
Region: North Central
State: Kansas
Project Coordinator:
Nicole Ricci
Kansas Forest Service
Co-Coordinators:
Dr. Megan Kennelly
Kansas State University

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Nuts: pecans, walnuts
  • Additional Plants: ornamentals

Practices

  • Crop Production: windbreaks
  • Education and Training: demonstration, extension, workshop
  • Natural Resources/Environment: riparian buffers
  • Pest Management: chemical control, cultural control, disease vectors, field monitoring/scouting, integrated pest management, physical control, prevention, weed ecology
  • Production Systems: agroecosystems
  • Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures

    Abstract:

    The overall objective of this SARE professional development project (PDP) was to provide


    training (short-term learning) that will be the foundation of middle and long-term (ie,


    career-long) interest and expertise in agroforestry and tree health. This project raised the level of


    expertise of our county educators through a series of four training sessions in 2013 and the development of a new tree health (disease, insect, environmental stress) publication. Dates and sites for the workshops were selected in conjunction with our target audience of county educators who provided information on their availability. The events were designed with a goal of “train the trainer.” Evaluations showed that participants gained knowledge, skills, and abilities in the target area of focus.

    Project objectives:

    Based on the challenges outlined above in the introduction, we recognized a need for professional development training for extension personnel. Our main objective was to develop and deliver this training through a series of hands-on workshops and corresponding reference information.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.