Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
- Crop Production: conservation tillage, cover crops, crop improvement and selection, cropping systems, crop rotation, high tunnels or hoop houses, multiple cropping, no-till, nutrient management, pollinator habitat, season extension, seed saving, varieties and cultivars
- Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, extension, focus group, mentoring, networking, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, workshop
- Farm Business Management: community-supported agriculture, cooperatives, farmers' markets/farm stands, grant making, new enterprise development
- Pest Management: integrated pest management
- Production Systems: agroecosystems, holistic management, organic agriculture, transitioning to organic
- Soil Management: composting, organic matter, soil microbiology, soil quality/health
- Sustainable Communities: ethnic differences/cultural and demographic change, food hubs, local and regional food systems, partnerships, urban agriculture, urban/rural integration, values-based supply chains
Abstract:
Florida activities for 2020-2021 will build upon the basic framework for the model state program. Planned activities include integrating results of SARE funded research and Extension activities, and other relevant research, and using this information as resources for educational programs. We also plan to continue to strengthen our focus on targeted training for state and county Extension faculty, representatives of non-profit organizations, representatives of state and federal government agencies, and farmer representatives. To fulfill the priorities and objectives of our program, our training funds will be used to address programs in three subject matter areas:
(1) new and emerging solutions for Florida agricultural production,
(2) advancing Extension capacity in sustainable agriculture, and
(3) entrepreneurial innovation in sustainable agriculture.
Project objectives:
- Maintain existing and establish new collaborative Extension trainings and programs with faculty members and county agents at University of Florida and Florida A&M University whose work addresses sustainability in production agriculture.
- Extend collaboration with organizations that are active in the post-production components of food systems, particularly non-profit, state, and governmental organizations whose work fosters development of food and agriculture businesses.
- Support the development of Extension programs in food systems, including Regional Specialized Agents whose work includes both on-farm production and post-farm gate aspects of food system development.
- Expand participation of minority, women, and limited resource farmers and professionals in SARE activities and programs, ensuring that these groups are well represented in the full range of SARE-funded professional development opportunities.
Our expected outcomes are:
- Extension faculty will participate in SARE in-service training programs and use this information in their own programming,
- Extension faculty will participate in regional and national training programs in sustainable agriculture and apply the lessons learned in their own programming,
- at least two of the statewide Extension priority teams will include information and resources about sustainable agriculture and SARE in their professional development training programs and Extension programming,
- through SARE, Extension agents and farmers will identify opportunities for the development, outreach, and research of alternative crops and enterprises,
- regional and local county agents will develop new collaborations with organizations, agencies, and groups working in sustainable agriculture, and
- Extension faculty and agents will make increased use of resources to support programming in sustainable agriculture.