Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
Proposal abstract:
Ohio SARE PDP initiatives for 2023-2024 include:
-Adapting to a Changing Climate and Other Food System Disruptions (new in 2023-24)
-Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (emphasis on BIPOC audiences) (revised for 2023-24
-Soil Health and Quality (continued from 2021-22)
-Sustainable Agriculture Travel Scholarships (continued from 2021-22)
-New Extension Professionals Training (continued from 2021-22)
-Face of SARE Promotional Activities (continued from 2021-22)
Project objectives from proposal:
Continuing Initiatives – State-Specific
C1 – New Extension Professionals Training
Outcome: Newly hired Extension Educators, Specialists, and Program Assistants will become knowledgeable about sustainable agriculture and SARE programs and resources.
Activity: Sustainable agriculture training will be incorporated into new-employee training conducted by OSU Extension, and one-on-one follow-up support sessions will be conducted for new hires. Each new hire will receive a Sustainable Agriculture Teaching/Learning Kit.
Evaluation: Pre and post tests will be conducted to measure knowledge gained.
Timeline: On-going in 2023 and 2024 as new faculty and staff are hired.
C2 – Sustainable Agriculture Travel Scholarships
Outcome: A minimum of eighteen Extension Educators, Specialists, Program Assistants will increase their knowledge about various sustainable agriculture concepts and applications and develop new local programs on various sustainable agriculture topics, by participating in various conferences, training program, and other professional development activities.
Activity: Matching scholarships will be provided.
Evaluation: The number of local programs developed/taught for clientele as a result of participation in the travel scholarship program will be measured; the number of travel scholarships will be tracked.
Timeline: On-going in 2023 and 2024
C3 – Ohio Soil Health and Quality Training
Outcome: Twenty agricultural professionals (Extension educators, NRCS professionals, and non-profit leaders) will increase their knowledge and skills related to evaluating various soil health and quality parameters, and crop production practices such as cover crops and not-till production which will positively impact soil health and quality.
Activity: 1. A day-long workshop and follow-up tour will be conducted to help agricultural professionals develop the skills and knowledge to evaluate soil health and quality, as well as crop production practices which will positively impact soil health and quality, including cover crops, no-till crop production, etc.).
2. Cover Crop Root Viewing Stations (2) will be developed for Extension Educators to use to demonstrate the benefits of incorporating cover crops into cropping systems.
Evaluation: Pre and post tests will be administered to workshop participants; the number of agricultural professionals assisting crop producers with soil health and quality will be tracked; the number of new Extension programs offered on soil health and quality topics will be tracked; the number of cover crop root stations built and incorporated into educational programming will be tracked.
Timeline: Winter, 2024
C 4 – Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Outcome: Seven to ten Extension Educators and other agricultural professionals will increase their knowledge and skills related to issues related to beginning farmers and ranchers and subsequently provide educational programming to other educators and beginning farmers and ranchers.
Activity: Ohio participated in the NCR SARE regional initiative on beginning farmers and ranchers by supporting the participation of 11 Extension educators and other agricultural professionals in a regional professional development event organized by NCR SARE on beginning farmers and ranchers held in Indianapolis in October, 2019. This group along with additional stakeholders implemented a Ohio Beginning Farmer Training Program in 2022 which will be expanded in 2023. This initiative will likely include more than one specific training program for Beginning Farmers in Ohio. Additional support as needed will also be provided to Extension educators on the topic of beginning farmers and ranchers (i.e., travel scholarships).
Evaluation: The number of clients assisted with beginning farmer and rancher related issues will be tracked; the number of new Extension programs on beginning farmers topics will be tracked; the number of beginning farmers who begin farming will be tracked.
Timeline: 2023 and 2024
New Regional Initiative
R1 – Adapting to a Changing Climate and Other Food System Disruptions
Outcome: Fifteen to twenty Extension educators will increase their knowledge related to climate resilience and adaptations by participating in a learning activity as part of the NCR SARE Regional Initiative on this topic. Additional outcomes are an increased number of clientele programs conducted by Extension educators on the topics of climate change, climate resilience, and adaptations.
Activity: It is anticipated that workshops and webinars will be conducted on this topic and some travel scholarships will be awarded to Extension educators to increase their knowledge and skills related to climate change and climate resilience.
Evaluation: The number of Extension educators participating in climate change related workshops and webinars will be tracked; the number of new Extension programs on climate change topics will be tracked; the number of farmers who make management changes in order to become more climate-resilient will be tracked.
Timeline: 2023 and 2024