Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
Proposal abstract:
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 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 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. We plan to foster the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices statewide through education and outreach training programs on relevant topics for Cooperative Extension Service personnel, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, other agriculture professionals, farmers, and landowners. Training topics are revised annually based on needs identified by our program stakeholders. The program advisory committee will meet on February 17, 2025 to identify priority topics for 2025 training programs. This will be a joint meeting with 1862 and 1890 Program stakeholders, however each land grant institution will manage their awarded funds independently.
The 1862 MSP Assistant will work with the 1862 Program Coordinator to identify and support or organize training activities for 1862 Extension and other agriculture professionals that will address critical needs identified by program stakeholders. 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.
Project objectives from proposal:
- 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 early in the calendar year
(in-person) 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.
2025 Advisory Committee Meeting Invite
- 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 early
each new calendar year and/or through digital polls as needed.
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 previous years because new
trainings are needed/requested annually and as new information is
published.
- Continue to provide travel scholarships for professional
development opportunities to Extension agents, NRCS, FSA and state
Department of Agriculture staff and other sustainable agriculture
educators. 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
2024-2025 will offer new information and opportunities for ag.
professionals.