2026 Southern SARE Model State Program – Program Assistant

Commodities

Practices

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, statewide 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 PVAMU Extension will meet agents' 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 demonstrate impacts across Texas through advances in food and fiber production, environmental awareness and protection, organic, IPM, and alternative production methods, marketing, farmer cooperation, and the development of multidisciplinary teams to reach common goals. Administrative success stories and awards should reflect these programs
teaching sustainable practices.

Individuals will indicate increased knowledge of sustainable agriculture and sustainable production techniques by reporting contacts, outcomes, and narratives regarding educational activities in monthly statewide reports available to program coordinators, including subject matter, narratives, evaluations, and on-farm contacts or sustainable demonstration projects.

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. PVAMU Extension PA (PV-PA) will serve on the organizing committee and deliver sustainable agriculture educational programming based on AC recommendations for Extension agents and mentor farmers, focusing on irrigation water quality and quantity. The PV-PA will also deliver programming highlighting sustainable methods and SARE educational approaches.
• July-. PVAMU Extension AgNR agent training, Ashley James, will provide SARE educational training to 22 PVAMU Extension agents who will travel to Hempstead from across the state.
• Aug.- Sheep and Goat Expo, San Angelo, the PV-PA 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, Ashley James (or the PV-PA) 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 showcase SARE educational materials and approaches.
• Nov.- Annual Agriculture Day at Prairie View A&M educational booth space. A booth will be used to showcase SARE educational materials and approaches.
• July 2024 & Feb. 2025 Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference, Rosenberg, the PV-PA 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, Ashley James (or the PV-PA) 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 support training for 40 County Extension Agents.
• April- College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources- Annual Ag Day on the Hill.
• May- Grass-fed Beef Training. A booth will be used to showcase SARE educational materials and approaches.
• June- Production, Marketing, and Sales of Local Foods Training - Training will focus on food safety for cottage foods, farmers' markets, on-site animal processing, and Whole Foods purchasing of locally grown produce.