Calhoun Fields Laboratory: A Program for Experiential Training in Organic Farming Systems

Calhoun Fields Laboratory: A Program for Experiential Training in Organic Farming Systems

Summary

The overall goal of this training project is to enhance the proficiency of Extension, NRCS and DNR staff in South Carolina in areas related to organic production, with emphasis on procedures leading to organic certification. Participants in this training program will gain the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence that will enable them to guide growers/clients through the process of a transition to organic production, including certification requirements under the USDA National Organic Program.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Specific objectives are to: 1) Develop a user-friendly training manual with topics related to organic production and certification for classroom and on-farm sessions; 2) Establish demonstration plantings within the Clemson University Calhoun Field Laboratory site for on-farm training in each topic; 3) Organize and conduct the training in a series of workshops (classroom and field); and 4) Evaluate the impacts of the training program.

Accomplishments/Milestones

As of this report the following two workshops have been conducted; Principles of Organic Farming (21 attendees) and Sustainable Soil Management (16 attendees). Attendees at the two workshop represented Clemson Extension, SC DNR and SC NRCS agencies who received training on specific topics including:
Introduction and history of organic farming
Overview of the USDA National Organic Program
Introduction to soil quality management for organic systems
Introduction to weed management for organic systems
The soil food web
Soil management for healthy root growth
Characteristics of South Carolina soils
Do-it-Yourself testing for soil quality

There are four workshops planned for the remainder of 2003 that will cover additional topics including; cover crops and soil amendments, pest management, transition to organic and niche market production, and effective marketing strategies for high value and organic products.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Participants in this training project will not only gain specific knowledge related to organic production and certification, they will also get hands-on experience that will enable them to more confidently recommend adoption of sustainable/organic production practices to their grower constituents. The desired changes in behavior among participating agents and other trainers will be:

They will gain the knowledge and confidence to provide technical assistance to organic producers and to others interested in transitioning to organic production.
They will be more willing to advise conventional growers about transitioning to more sustainable cropping systems.

Collaborators: