Moving nursery producers toward sustainable production practices

Moving nursery producers toward sustainable production practices

Summary

Notification of the grant award was sent 13 February 2009. SARE grant funds were received by the University of Florida 21 September 2009. Delays in awarding subcontracts to collaborators at Florida A&M University and University of Georgia prevented significant progress on the grant project.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• Objectives for the first full year include:
• Planning and development, including meetings with collaborators, nursery producer (“farmer”) advisers and interested clientele.
• Preparation of presentations, handouts and activities for a comprehensive training on sustainable nursery production.
• Two-day training for up to 45 Extension agents and specialists, including visits to regional nurseries using sustainable production methods.
• Review of materials by “farmer” (nursery producer) advisory committee.
• Revision of presentations, handouts and activities for a comprehensive training on sustainable nursery production.
• Distribution of presentations, handouts and activities for a comprehensive training on sustainable nursery production.
• Filming of modules for the “Virtual Field Day” website.
• Final revision of presentations, handouts and activities for a comprehensive training on sustainable nursery production.
• Distribution of evaluation instrument 6 months after training, and assessment of results.
• Submission of annual progress report.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Despite funding delays, my collaborators and I began grant planning and development. These activities included email exchanges and conference calls to track grant subcontracting, form our producer advisory committee and develop lists of resources to use in our grant.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

My collaborators and I began gathering necessary background information to initiate the grant project during fall and winter 2009, and we subsequently began grant planning and development. Because we did not have a full year to accomplish Year 1 objectives, I will submit a request for a no-cost grant extension of one year to enable us to fully execute the grant project.

Collaborators: