Collaborative On Farm Research

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, display, extension, farmer to farmer, networking, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, study circle

Project Focus:

Agricultural Service Providers (ASPs) including university faculty, extension educators, research and program coordinators, agriculture technicians and community education partners face limited time and capacity to conduct on-farm research. Collaboration within and across organizations has become essential for delivering effective, farmer‑centered education. Penn State Extension has found success in bringing farmers together in small groups to discuss issues important to their farm businesses. One Pennsylvania seed dealer says "we just need a place to bring people together during difficult times, no program, just time together and resources that can help, I will even bring the hotdogs" after attending a lecture-style workshop.

Solution and Approach:

ASPs will meet in local workgroups to plan and execute listening sessions important to their farm communities. Each region will identify the training opportunities needed and provide them at that event with the help of the state coordinator. 30 ASPs will host listening sessions and conduct on-farm research or demonstrations at 10 farms reaching 300 farmers. Farmers might include crops, livestock, horticultural, forest or other farm types of a variety of sizes.

30 ASPs will conduct on-farm research and demonstration projects on 10 farms reaching 300 farmers.

60 farms will demonstrate intent to adopt a practice as a result of demonstrations and research they participate in.

10 farms will adopt a recommended sustainable agricultural practice.