SGA18-001

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Animal Production: grazing management
• Crop Production: conservation tillage, cover crops
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
• Farm Business Management: marketing management
• Production Systems: organic agriculture
• Soil Management: composting, soil quality/health
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems

The SARE Advisory Committee uses the Georgia SARE LOGIC model objectives to help direct their activities each year in the following six established priority areas: compost, conservation tillage systems, direct marketing, grazing-based animal production systems, local food systems, and organic production. Each year, the Committee hosts trainings, workshops, and scholarships and distributes other educational materials to meet their objectives regarding the six priorities. This year, we awarded funds to agents to attend workshops and conferences, including the Young Harris/UGA Beekeeping Institute, Farming with Beneficials, and a Cover Crop Workshop. We also worked with a non-profit organization to host a Composting for Urban Growers workshop, the funds helped sponsor agents, farmers, and agricultural community educators. Funds were also used to cover program costs for delivering two Community Food Systems Assessment trainings for ANR and FACS agents. 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: compost, conservation tillage systems, direct marketing, grazing-based animal production systems, local food systems, and organic production.