SAR18-002

Project Overview

SAR18-002
Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2018: $11,111.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2020
Grant Recipient: University of Arkansas- Pine Bluff
Region: Southern
State: Arkansas
State Coordinator:
Dr. Henry English
University of Arkansas- Pine Bluff

Commodities

  • Agronomic: corn, hay, mustard, peas (field, cowpeas), rice, sorghum (milo), soybeans, wheat
  • Vegetables: cabbages, cucurbits, eggplant, okra, onions, peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips
  • Animals: bees, bovine, goats, sheep
  • Animal Products: eggs

Practices

  • Animal Production: aquaculture, grazing - rotational
  • Crop Production: cover crops, fertilizers, high tunnels or hoop houses, pollination, varieties and cultivars
  • Education and Training: extension, workshop
  • Farm Business Management: agricultural finance, budgets/cost and returns, business planning
  • Pest Management: biological control
  • Production Systems: aquaponics
  • Soil Management: green manures
  • Sustainable Communities: partnerships, urban agriculture

    Proposal abstract:

    Arkansas’s 2018-2019 Model State Program will focus on opportunities and trainings for Extension agents, associates and program aides, USDA staff, farmers’ market managers, other agriculture professionals and farmer leaders on issues important to increasing the sustainability of Arkansas farmers. Proposed activities include two workshops for CES agents and NRCS field staff - one on Managing Soil Health and Fertility and the other Managing Grazing Systems. Travel scholarships will be provided to agriculture professionals to offset costs to attend sustainable agriculture training events in and out of state. The 2018-2019 plan was based on input from the Advisory Committee, participants from previous workshops and the availability of professional development opportunities offered by outside organizations. As a result of these opportunities the knowledge, interest and application of sustainable practices for Arkansas farmers and agriculture professionals will continue to expand in Arkansas.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    The 2018-2019 objectives of the Arkansas SARE PDP program are:

    1) To expand the understanding and application of sustainable agriculture concepts by agriculture professionals including Extension agents and specialists, farmers market
    managers, farmer leaders and others and to increase their confidence to implement and share sustainable agriculture information.
    2) To increase the awareness of the SARE program among agriculture leaders in Arkansas, the resources it provides and increase awareness of training opportunities and scholarships for Arkansas agriculture leaders interested in sustainable agriculture.
    3) To continue to employ the advisory board to provide input to the AR SARE PDP program, and share information about the AR SARE program through their professional circles.

    These objectives are programmatic objectives and thus have not changed since last year. As a result of the AR-SARE activities, SARE and SARE resources are becoming more recognizable in Arkansas, sustainable agriculture concepts are better understood and the application of sustainable agriculture practices are increasing. In the 2018-2019 program, we expect that as a result of the soil health and fertility in-service training, Extension agents and NRCS field staff will be better able to assist farmers in making decisions on using cover crops in their farming operations. They will also be able to better understand soil test results and provide information to farmers on resources offered by NRCS and CES. As a result of the in-service grazing workshop, CES agents will be more informed on sustainable grazing practices and will better equipped to provide assistance to farmers. As a result of travel scholarships, farmers, researchers and educators not only gain knowledge of specific practices but also increase their motivation and their vision for how they can apply sustainable ideas and practices within their directives. Agriculture professionals that receive these scholarships are required to share information they gained with others. As a result of AR-SARE outreach and communication efforts, recognition of the national, regional and Arkansas SARE programs and resources will increase. Agriculture professionals will recognize the national, regional and state SARE program as a reputable source of science based information on sustainable agriculture. By meeting with the AR SARE advisory board at least once per year, ideas can be shared and a representative proposal can be developed for the upcoming year.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.