Planning Grant: Development of Low-input Agricultural Technology Demonstrations at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Demonstration Farm

Planning Grant: Development of Low-input Agricultural Technology Demonstrations at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Demonstration Farm

Summary

A comprehensive approach to the selection, screening and development of demonstrations of low-input agricultural systems. The annual agricultural exposition operates a 540 acre farm, on which over 160 demonstrations are conducted each year. This planning project will assemble a Council of Advisors comprised of researchers, educators and farmers from eight southeastern states (VA, NC, SC, GA, TN, FL, AL, MS) to identify and screen low-input agricultural technology and systems. Furthermore, this Council of Advisors will provide direction for successful on-farm demonstrations of that technology or those agricultural systems most effective in reducing use of off-farm input resources.

Objectives

(1) Identify research with potential for rapid application to low-input farming systems for southern farmers.

(2) Screen identified research for its relevance to southeastern farming systems and evaluate the research on its ability to be readily adopted by farmers.

(3) Develop demonstration methodologies for application of selected low-input research at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Demonstration Farm.