2016-2017 Model State Program University of Georgia

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Animal Production: grazing management
• Farm Business Management: Marketing
• Production Systems: organic agriculture
• Soil Management: composting
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems

The SARE Advisory Committee met in August 2015 and agreed that the Georgia SARE LOGIC model objectives needed revision. The last revisions were in 2007 so the group worked hard to update the SARE Logic Model. The updated objectives are conservation tillage systems, organic production, grazing-based animal production systems, composting, direct marketing, and local food systems. The Committee also decided upon trainings and conferences to support for the upcoming year that would fulfill these objectives. These include, travel support for extension agents to attend the Compost Operation workshop, the Georgia Organics Conference Scholarship, travel scholarships to the Non-Point Source Conservation Practices training and support for a direct marketing workshop. All of these activities increase knowledge and confidence in participating agriculture professionals which then translates to an increased ability to assist organic farmers, resource limited, and small farmers.

During 2006, the Georgia Model State Program developed a LOGIC Model to guide our training efforts. The LOGIC Model was then updated in 2015 to reflect the current needs of Georgia as directed by the SARE Advisory Committee. To reach our long-term goal of “Increased use of sustainable agriculture practices by producers at multiple scales supported by a knowledgeable network of agricultural professionals ensuring a high proportion of diverse, profitable, and environmentally-friendly farm operations”, we identified, in 2015, the following six areas for training workshops: conservation tillage systems, organic production, grazing-based animal production systems, composting, direct marketing, and local food systems.