2024-2025 Model State Program Proposal

Commodities

Practices

Overarching objectives of the 2024-2025 SC SARE Program will be to continue the existing strategic and collaborative planning process for statewide sustainable agriculture development; to provide professional development opportunities for Extension agents, NRCS field staff and other agriculture professionals; to continue to organize and/or support in-service trainings in sustainable agricultural practices; and to support practical implementation of practices or technologies pertaining to sustainable agriculture. The 1862 MSP Assistant will work with the 1862 Program Coordinator to identify and support or organize training activities for 1890 and 1862 Extension and other agriculture professionals that will address critical needs identified by program stakeholders. The program is guided by stakeholder input through an advisory committee consisting of farmers, agriculture professionals, NGO representatives and others with an interest in sustainable agriculture development. Our mission/strategic plan is to foster the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices statewide through education and outreach programs on relevant topics for Cooperative Extension Service personnel, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff and other agriculture professionals, farmers, and landowners. Program objectives will remain consistent. Training topics are revised based on current needs identified by our program stakeholders. The program advisory committee met on January 11, 2024 and identified priority topics for 2024-2025 training programs. A separate budget for Clemson and South Carolina State University has been developed; starting in 2023 each institution will manage their awarded funds independently. The 1862 MSP Assistant position will continue to facilitate program reporting and evaluation and will assist with project accounting and budgeting for the 1862 institution.

• Continue the existing strategic planning process for statewide sustainable agriculture development. Building on new and existing collaborations with stakeholder groups, the state co-coordinators will work with the MSP Assistant and with the SC SARE Advisory Committee to broaden the pool of stakeholders including under-represented groups who are involved with the planning process and the development of educational programs. As in previous years, an annual Open Forum will be organized the second week in January (in-person only, January 11, 2024 at the Clemson Sandhills Research and Education Center in Columbia, SC) to identify priorities and to plan educational programs based on stakeholder needs. In 2024 the SC SARE Program partnered with the SC Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program to host a Joint Open Forum. This fostered collaboration between the two programs. We will continue to collaborate on training programs with stakeholder organizations and with SARE PDP personnel from neighboring states when appropriate. The comprehensive and inclusive planning process will limit duplication of effort and will help to leverage available resources.
  
  2024 Open Forum Minutes
  
  
• The SC SARE PDP Program will continue to organize and conduct in-service training opportunities for Extension agents, NRCS, FSA and state Department of Agriculture personnel, agricultural educators, and for other interested persons as space permits. Workshop topics will be determined annually regarding input from the program Advisory Committee during the annual Open Forum each January and/or through digital polls as needed. With a new Program Coordinator comes a new shift in program direction. For 2024-2025, the 1862 SC SARE Program will heavily prioritize trainings that have a strong hands-on, real-world component. The SC SARE Program will strongly support those trainings which lead to the establishment of demonstration plots to display the results of implementing sustainable ag practices. To a lesser extent, the program will continue to sponsor relevant trainings that do not included a hands-on component. The MSP Assistant, in consultation with the training's invited trainer, will have overall responsibility for workshop organization, publicity and evaluation. This on-going objective is a repeat from 2023 because new trainings are needed/requested annually and as new information is published.
  
  
• Continue to provide professional development opportunities for Extension agents, NRCS, FSA and state Department of Agriculture staff and other sustainable agriculture educators. To a far lesser extent than in previous years, limited travel scholarships will continue to be provided for select Extension agents and agricultural professionals to attend relevant trainings/conferences. These events represent valuable educational and networking opportunities for our agents and others in agriculture. This objective is a repeat from 2023 because conferences in 2024 will offer new information and opportunities for ag. professionals.