2023-2024 Mississippi Sustainable Farming Training Program

Project Overview

SMA23-001
Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2023: $22,000.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2024
Grant Recipient: Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences at Mississippi State University
Region: Southern
State: Mississippi
State Coordinator:
Dr. Leyla Rios
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences at Mississippi State University

Information Products

Commodities

  • Animals: goats, sheep
  • Animal Products: dairy, meat, Sheep and Goats

Practices

  • Animal Production: animal protection and health, grazing management, grazing - continuous, grazing - multispecies, grazing - rotational, herbal medicines, mineral supplements, parasite control, pasture renovation, pasture fertility, stockpiled forages, vaccines
  • Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, display, extension, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, technical assistance, youth education
  • Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, quality of life

    Proposal abstract:

    Traditional agriculture producers can benefit from sustainable agriculture practices, improving their quality of life and benefiting the environment for future generations. One training objective is to assist all agriculture producers with a better understanding of sustainable agriculture and fulfill the mission of the S-SARE program: “to expand knowledge and adoption of sustainable agriculture practices that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and good for all members of the community”. Each year MSSTATE Extension meets in Advisory Council Meetings to find out directly from stakeholders what are the needs of each commodity group. This year we are planning to include in the State program not only teaching sustainable practices for small ruminant producers, as we have done in the past two years, but also for beef producers in Mississippi, and the most important group, which is the new generation of farmers represented through MS 4H groups, so getting the information on educational and research programs for all will be a priority. Other target audiences for this Program include educators, researchers, commodity organizations, agri-business leaders, community leaders, and the general public with program delivery through workshops, seminars, conferences, in-service training, and mass media.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Besides the program TAKING THE LAB TO THE FARM for small ruminant farmers, the State Program 2023-2024 will also include some new activities for being performed through the Program Assistant related to Sustainable Beef production and training the trainers or Extension Agents into 4H activities in MS, these new activities will be directed by Dr. Brandi Karisch and Dr. Dean Jousan.

    This will allow more people in MS to know about SARE and all the opportunities they offer farmers and students in education and research. Also, will allow Mississippi State University to have more impact in achieving sustainable practices in the farming business in the state.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.