Increasing Access to Updated Regional Resources For Beginning and Diversified Farms in the Southeast

Commodities

Practices

There is a critical need for updated regional resources for beginning and diversified farms in Northeast Georgia and surrounding area. This project will provide collaborative Professional Development opportunities for UGA Cooperative Extension agents regarding:

1. Modified Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) Resources for Regional Producers Following Organic Standards and Pollinator Precautions
2. Enhancing Access to, Interpretation of, and Action Plans for Common Testing Analysis: Soil, Plant Tissue, Milk, and Hay 
3. Tailoring Regional Cover Cropping Plans for Diversified Vegetable Production Without Herbicides

This funding would help increase the success of beginning and diversified farms, continue efforts and education to protect our native pollinators, increase health and safety of consumers, farmers, and animals, help lower exposed soil and runoff while building healthier soils on agricultural lands, and serve historically underserved farmers in the region. 

Physical handouts, digital resources, and in-person demonstrations developed through this grant funding will provide valuable information available through Extension offices, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, and for those interested in more sustainable growing practices.

The goal is to have farmer-created resources that incorporate the latest research regarding the most common sustainable production practice needs for small farmers, and made available through Extension agents in rural Georgia.

Objectives for this project include updating regional resources for beginning and diversified farms in Northeast Georgia and surrounding area regarding: 

1. Modified Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) Resources for Regional Producers Following Organic Standards and Pollinator Precautions
2. Enhancing Access to, Interpretation of, and Action Plans for Common Testing Analysis: Soil, Plant Tissue, Milk, and Hay 
3. Tailoring Regional Cover Cropping Plans for Diversified Vegetable Production Without Herbicides

The first objective is to modify resources surrounding Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Regional Producers Following Organic Standards and Pollinator Precautions. This can include  modified “last resort management” recommendations and integrating the top choices of pest management from local farmers who follow Organic practices. GMFN will consult with scientific community and environmental research regarding the potential effects on native pollinators and endangered species and provide a practical guide for pest management applications for commonly grown crop families and/or pests. A presentation, demonstration, and resource will be compiled and disseminated widely. 

The second objective is enhancing access to, interpretation of, and action plans for common testing analysis: Soil, Plant Tissue, Milk, and Hay. This can include common testing details compiled and outlined specifically with small scale diversified farmers in mind. GMFN will consult with farmers and the scientific community to provide general applications, precautions, and action plans based on certain results to increase human, animal, and plant health. A presentation, demonstration, and resource will be compiled and disseminated widely.

Thirdly would be tailoring regional covercropping plans for diversified vegetable Production Without Herbicides. This can include a guide to common covercrop mixes, sourcing, planting dates, benefits, and more sustainable termination techniques for diversified vegetable production. GMFN will consult with Ag professionals and local farmers to highlight scenarios and benefits for popular covercrop choices in the region. A presentation, demonstration, and resource will be compiled and disseminated widely.

We hope that these project objectives allow more comfortable conversations between rural Extension Agents and beginning farmers seeking resources. With these new resources at hand, in multiple formats, agents can more easily provide quick-start guides for smaller farming operations aiming for more sustainable practices.