Project Overview
Information Products
Commodities
- Agronomic: corn, soybeans, wheat
Practices
- Crop Production: conservation tillage, cover crops, no-till
- Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, mentoring, networking, technical assistance, workshop
- Soil Management: organic matter
Proposal abstract:
PROBLEM AND JUSTIFICATION
The agricultural community widely recognizes no-till and cover crop practices as beneficial to soil health and long term farm sustainability. However, the transition to no-till and cover crop farm systems can be difficult and demands acquiring a significant amount of knowledge, skill, and equipment to ensure success. Many agricultural service providers (ASPs) do not possess the necessary knowledge nor resources to assist farmers with implementation decisions. Furthermore, digital and print educational resources available to northeastern commodity crop farmers do not provide concise, practical instructions. Thus, the onus is on the producer to research practice implementation -- often a time consuming and overwhelming task. Knowledge barriers prevent widespread adoption of soil health practices which enhance farm productivity and promote resilience while protecting water quality.
SOLUTION AND APPROACH
Well trained ASPs can more effectively promote, encourage and facilitate no-till and cover crop implementation. This project will engage 120 ASPs, including extension agents, NRCS, FSA, soil conservation districts, crop consultants and others, in a comprehensive education program that focuses on preparation for and implementation of no-till and cover crop. To encourage subject mastery, a three-step approach will be used:teach, review, apply. Topics will be introduced at a broad level during a series of lunch-and-learns held via webinar. The material will be reviewed during field-based workshops which incorporate active learning pedagogical techniques and material will be reinforced during subsequent Listserv discussions. As participants apply learning, project leaders will be available for consultation and assistance as needed. To supplement ASP farmer interactions, the project will generate detailed, practical recommendations for a comprehensive list of the common no-till or cover crop scenarios using insights from experienced farmers.
To reduce participant travel requirements and facilitate higher enrollment, the workshops will be replicated at four locations throughout the Delaware River Basin. The project coordinator will measure changes in participants’ knowledge and skills as a result of project participation, and track participants’ delivery technical assistance to farmer and farmer’s subsequent actions.
A network of educated and knowledge ASPs will support farmers transition to no-till and cover cropping and reduce the knowledge barrier that discourages implementation. Access to well-informed ASPs and succinct unbiased education materials will simplify the transition process, reduce uncertainty, and increase the likelihood
of farmer success.
Performance targets from proposal:
100 agricultural service providers (ASPs) who increase knowledge related to specific techniques and challenges associated with planting cover crops and adopting no-till in commodity crop systems, will provide comprehensive technical assistance to 600 farmers, operating 60,000 acres of cropland, regarding transitioning to no-till and implementing cover crops.