Project Overview
Organic Agriculture Hands-on Training and Educational Materials for Extension Professionals in the Southeast
Annual Reports
Commodities
Practices
- Crop Production: crop rotation, cover crops
- Education and Training: extension, workshop
- Pest Management: integrated pest management
- Production Systems: organic agriculture, transitioning to organic
- Soil Management: organic matter, soil quality/health
Abstract:
This project was implemented by a team of experts drawn from multi-institution and multi-state to offer an effective hands-on education program in organic agriculture. The cooperating institutions were Tuskegee University (lead institution), Auburn University, North Carolina State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network. The overall project goal was to enhance organic agriculture knowledge-base and practical skills of Extension personnel, mentor farmers and NRCS personnel, from three SSARE states including Alabama, North Carolina and Arkansas. The specific objectives were to: i) conduct a basic organic agriculture workshop during the first year and an advanced, hands-on training during the second year; and ii) to develop and disseminate organic agriculture educational resources suitable for the southeast region of the US. A two-day basic organic agriculture workshop was hosted by Tuskegee University from May 17-18, 2011. The advanced hands-on training was hosted by North Carolina State from June 17-19, 2012. The impact of the training workshop was evaluated by Tuskegee University using pre- and post-tests, self-reporting, as well as follow-up interviews. The results revealed positive short-and medium-term impacts of the educational program with majority of participants reporting increased awareness, increased knowledge and confidence in teaching about organic farming practices.
Project objectives:
The overall goal of this project was to enhance the organic agriculture knowledge-base and practical skills of target audience that included the Extension personnel, mentor farmers and NRCS personnel from the southeast region of US. The specific objectives were to 1) Organize and conduct in-class workshops and advanced hands-on training exercises and 2) Develop educational resources accessible to the educators in the SSARE Region States. The objectives were accomplished by the project collaborators drawn from the five cooperating institutions, Tuskegee University (lead institution), Auburn University, North Carolina State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network.
