SKY17-001

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: decision support system, extension, networking, technical assistance, workshop
• Farm Business Management: farmers' markets/farm stands
• Production Systems: organic agriculture
• Sustainable Communities: community development, community services, leadership development, local and regional food systems, partnerships, quality of life, social networks, urban agriculture

This is the second year of Dr. Paul Vincelli and Brett Wolff as the Kentucky SARE team. In addition to his leadership of the program, Dr. Vincelli has brought expertise in the areas of climate change, cover crops, and GMO technology. Brett acts as a networker for the program, identifying new opportunities for collaboration and new venues to share SSARE resources. In the past, KYSARE has supported a number of smaller sustainability-related programs. This year, we are focusing on a few high-impact projects that promise to amplify the financial commitment made to them:

- Southeast Kentucky Ag Service Provider Symposium
o A gathering of sustainable agriculture outreach professionals from the southeast
part of the state to define priorities and receive professional development.
- Genetic Engineering Education
o Programming aimed at Ag outreach professionals detailing the science-based pros
and cons of genetic engineering for sustainability in agriculture.
- Extension Associate Professional Development Scholarships
o Providing travel opportunities for Extension Associates to attend
sustainability-related conferences or workshops in or out of the state.

In 2017-18, we plan to meet with our Advisory Committee once in-person and once via teleconference. In the last year we have expanded our network to include more livestock and grain producers and we intend to develop these relationships further in the coming year.

2016 Objectives & Outcomes:
- Build a broad base of interest and skills in agricultural sustainability among extension agents and other professionals in the state
- Equip them with the needed skills & resources to assist farmers, marketers, and community leaders, and to facilitate a diverse range of collaborative projects.
- Build effective partnerships with NRCS, FSA, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture
- Evaluate and revise our broad strategic plan, and to develop KYSARE LOGIC Model for the program as a whole.

We have delivered on these goals through several projects including: Third Thursday Things’ wide variety of topics, the Annual Minority and Limited Resources Farmer Conference, GAP Third Party Audit training for extension agents, small-scale fruit and vegetable disease identification and integrated management agent trainings, and supporting travel to the 2016 Southern Cover Crops conference for agents, producer leaders, and NRCS personnel. We supported the 2016 Kentucky Grazing Conference, including printing publications on pasture-finishing beef to be distributed to agents, as well as the producers they serve. Our director and program assistant have put an emphasis on networking and promoting the program to agencies across the state.

Additional goals for 2017 include:
- Increasing support of professional development for NGO service providers.
- Further development of relationships with those delivering livestock and grain programming.
- Sustained education in genetic engineering and its pros and cons for sustainability.