2024-2025 Model State Program Assistant - Clemson University

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Animal Production: grazing management
• Crop Production: beekeeping, cover crops, no-till
• Education and Training: extension, workshop
• Farm Business Management: agritourism, community-supported agriculture
• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, habitat enhancement
• Production Systems: integrated crop and livestock systems, organic agriculture, organic certification, transitioning to organic
• Soil Management: soil analysis, soil microbiology

The MSP Assistant for Clemson University (1862) will be based at the Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC. The Assistant has eight years of experience with the Clemson Extension Service presenting programs on plant breeding to stakeholders statewide, organizing the Pee Dee REC Field Day, and meeting graphic design/communication needs for the REC. He completed his M.S. in Plant and Environmental Sciences in Spring 2020. Working closely with the 1862 state SARE coordinator, the Program Advisory Committee, and the newly hired 1890 MSP Assistant for SC State University, the 1862 Assistant will support and promote the SC SARE PDP program.

• 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.