2024-25 Southern SARE Model State Program

Commodities

Practices

Florida activities for 2024 - 25 will maintain the framework for the model state program. Planned activities will include Research and Extension activities, and other relevant educational programs that provide solutions for Florida citizens. We will continue to focus on targeted training for state and county Extension faculty, representatives of non-profit organizations, state and federal government agencies, and farmer representatives. To fulfill our goals and objectives, we will address programming in five subject matter areas: (1) new and emerging solutions for Florida agricultural production, (2) advancing Extension capacity in sustainable agriculture, (3) entrepreneurial innovation in sustainable agriculture, (4) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and (5) Greater emphasis on the quality of life of underserved Florida citizens and residents.  Our expected outcomes are: (1) Extension faculty will participate in SARE in-service training programs and use this information in their own programming, (2) Extension faculty will participate in regional and national training programs in sustainable agriculture and apply the lessons learned in their own programming, (3) 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, (4) through SARE, Extension agents and farmers will identify opportunities for the development, outreach, and research of alternative crops and enterprises, (5) regional and local county agents will develop new collaborations with organizations, agencies, and groups working in sustainable agriculture, and (6) Extension faculty and agents will make increased use of resources to support programming in sustainable agriculture.

The 2024-25 Outreach/Training Objectives will build on those of the previous year to include an expanded focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.  Emphasis will be placed on underserved audiences including new and beginning farmers, military veterans and other clientele from vulnerable populations. The 2024-25 outreach and training objectives will include:

1. Entrepreneurial innovation in sustainable agriculture, including urban farming.
2. Enhancing the quality of life for underserved farmers and ranchers (including women farmers, new and beginning farmers, ranchers and military veterans).
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Expand participation of minority, women, urban, 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.