Producer Managed Efforts in Marketing of Livestock - Livestock Products

Producer Managed Efforts in Marketing of Livestock - Livestock Products

Summary

Our work on this project is running somewhat behind schedule due to a lack of time and competition from other projects which had to be attended to. Nonetheless, progress has been made. The PI has identified and contacted a Project Core Team who will meet in May 2004 to focus the content area in “Producer managed marketing of livestock and livestock products” for training of agricultural educators across the South. We will conduct the regional training in fall 2004 or early 2005. A team internal to NCA&TSU, myself, an Extension Associate and a person responsible for project management have been working on establishing the project on campus.
Research into the topic of livestock marketing continues on a variety of levels by several team members. Participation in local meetings and attention is being paid to issues which are emerging in sustainable and organic livestock marketing. The agenda for the meeting is set. The general topics are set though discussion of the exact elements at the core team meeting will set the content of the program. In addition, there will be discussion of the process and of evaluation.
We are in the process of identifying an outside consultant to help develop and design the program/ curriculum for use at the regional meeting and distribution to the program participants. This has been a challenge. We are on our third contact.

Objectives/Performance Targets

After participating in the educational program, a total of 25 extension agents, 20 farmer partners and 10 non-profit group partners (from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) will have become informed about issues. They will then return home and will conduct educational outreach programs in their counties or with their constituents so that 500 farmers will be knowledgeable about marketing livestock and livestock products in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Of that number, After participating in the educational program at least 10 extension faculty, 15 farmer partners and 3 non profit group partners who work specifically with limited resource farmers will have become informed about issues and will conduct educational outreach programs in their counties or with their constituents so that 100 limited resource farmers will be knowledgeable about marketing livestock and livestock products in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.

After participating in the educational program 15 sustainable agriculture coordinators or their designated representatives along with 15 partners will bring the information to their states/ territories for dissemination so that at least 2000 additional producers across the Southern region will be able to market livestock and livestock products in a more knowledgeable way or are able to dialogue with regulators and legislators about rules and regulations governing such marketing.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Campus Team established.
Core team contacted.
Core team meeting planned

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Nothing to report yet.

Collaborators: