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.