Environmental Farm Analysis and Planning: A Whole Farm Planning Training Exercise Designed for Extension and NRCS Personnel

1999 Annual Report for ENC99-046

Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 1999: $82,994.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2002
Region: North Central
State: Kansas
Project Coordinator:
William Hargrove
Kansas State University, KCARE

Environmental Farm Analysis and Planning: A Whole Farm Planning Training Exercise Designed for Extension and NRCS Personnel

Summary

Extension, NRCS and state and federal agency personnel, as well as any others participating in the training workshops, will:

1) Increase understanding of integrated decision-making on potential farm business economics, family goals and environmental impact.

2) Gain first-hand exposure to farm family goal-setting, farm financial analysis, and environmental farm planning tools.

3) Practice the integration of best management practices for environmental stewardship on farm-level decision-making.

4) Improve understanding and skills for teaching whole-farm environmental assessment, analysis and implementation planning.

Extension agents and specialists; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service district, area, and state conservationists; and other state and federal agency personnel must understand and appreciate the complexities and potential conflicts of family goals, farm business goals, environmental stewardship and the reality of profitability on the farm.

These individuals are the target audience to receive comprehensive training and access to resources designed for farm/ranch family, environmental, production and financial goal-setting, assessment, planning and monitoring to lead to sustainable agriculture.

Project coordinators will conduct five or six workshops with a total of 125 persons. The workshop training will provide hands-on use of a newly developed Kansas environmental farm assessment and planning tool along with farm financial planning tools. The workshop training will include presentation and use of the tools on a case farm. Draft assessments and plans will be shared with the farm family for possible use.

For more information:
William Hargrove
Director, KCARE
45 Waters Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-4008
785-532-7149
785-532-6563 (fax)
bhargrov@oz.oznet.ksu.edu