Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
Proposal abstract:
The program involves a multifaceted effort that provides training opportunities for County Extension Agents, FSA personnel, NRCS personnel, producers, and other agricultural professionals and also incorporates concepts of sustainable agriculture in existing, state-wide training efforts. These training opportunities include conferences, field meetings, and workshops held at various locations in Texas.
Projects designed to train Extension agents from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension will meet agent’s requests for sustainable information to assist local farmers. Concepts of sustainable agriculture have been and will continue to be disseminated through new agents’ training, leadership training, seminars, workshops, farm tours, publications, websites, manuals, videos, and other events (e-mail, telephone contacts, farm visits, etc.).
Sustainable agriculture training for agents, agency personnel, and mentor farmers should show impacts across Texas with advances in the areas of food and fiber production, environmental awareness and protection, organic, IPMandalternate production methods, marketing, farmer cooperation, and development of multi-disciplinary teams to reach common goals. Administrative success stories and awards should reflect these programs teaching sustainable practices.
Individuals will indicate an increased knowledge of sustainable agriculture and sustainable production techniques by reporting contacts, outcomes, and narratives regarding educational activities on monthly state-wide reports available to program coordinators in the form of contacts, subject material, narratives, evaluations, and on-farm contacts or sustainable demonstration projects.
Project objectives from proposal:
a) At least fifteen Agriculture Extension Agents and five NRCS Field Technicians will become knowledgeable about sustainable grazing systems.
b) At least fifteen Agriculture Extension Agents and five NRCS Field Technicians will become knowledgeable about direct on-farm marketing of livestock and poultry.
c) At least ten Extension Agents and five NRCS Field Technicians will become knowledgeable about the organic production of field crops and inform producers of such information related to organic crop production systems.
July- Sustainable Water Quality and Quantity Training; Perryton, Canadian John Smith will serve on the organizing committee and will deliver sustainable agriculture educational programming based on AC recommendations for Extension agents and mentor farmer education on irrigation water quality and quantity. John also will deliver programming highlighting sustainable methods and SARE educational approaches.
Aug.- Sheep and Goat Expo, San Angelo John Smith will deliver rainwater harvesting for sustainable livestock operations educational programming to attending Extension personnel and mentor farmers whose leadership is key to increased adoption of science-based management practices in sustainable and organic enterprises. The training will include SARE Producer Grant and Farm Research opportunities.
Aug.- Sustainable Gardening, Edinburg Clarence Bunch and John Smith will deliver irrigation water quality and private water well management, rainwater harvesting, and SARE educational programming to attending Extension, NRCS, and Texas Dept. of Agriculture personnel and mentor farmers whose leadership is key to increased adoption of science-based management practices in sustainable and organic operations.
Aug-. Texas Beef Cattle Short Course. A booth will be used to accommodate a display highlighting SARE educational materials and approaches.
Nov.- Annual Agriculture Day at Prairie View A&M educational booth space. A booth will be used to accommodate a display highlighting SARE educational materials and approaches.
Dec-. Cooperative Extension Program ANR agent training, Prairie View Clarence Bunch will provide SARE educational training to 10 Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension Program agents who will travel to Hempstead from across the state
July 2024 & Feb. 2025 Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference, Rosenberg Nelson Daniels, and John Smith will deliver irrigation water quality and private water well management, rainwater harvesting, and SARE educational programming to attending Extension, NRCS, and Texas Dept. of Agriculture personnel and mentor farmers whose leadership is key to increased adoption of science-based management practices in sustainable and organic operations. The program will be delivered online in July 2022 and in person Feb 2023.
Feb.- Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA) Conference, Georgetown Clarence Bunch or rep and John Smith will deliver irrigation water quality and private water well management, rainwater harvesting, and SARE educational programming to attending Extension, NRCS and Texas Dept. of Agriculture personnel and mentor farmers whose leadership is key to increased adoption of science-based management practices in sustainable and organic operations.
April- Organic Production Seminar and Tour Registration Fees. Tour registration fees will be provided to support training for 40 County Extension Agents.
April- College of Agriculture and Human Sciences at Prairie View A&M University Ag Field Day
May- Grass-fed Beef Training. A booth will be used to accommodate a display highlighting SARE educational materials and approaches.
June- Production, Marketing, and Sales of Local Foods Training – Training will focus on food safety for cottage foods, farmer’s markets, on-site animal processing, and Whole Foods purchasing of locally grown produce.