2018 Washington State University PDP Project

Project Overview

WSP17-015
Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2017: $38,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2019
Grant Recipient: Washington State University
Region: Western
State: Washington
State Coordinators:
Tara Zimmerman
Email
Washington State University
Co-Coordinators:
Chad Kruger
Email
Washington State University

Information Products

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Animal Production: grazing management, grazing - rotational, pasture renovation, pasture fertility, rangeland/pasture management, stocking rate
  • Crop Production: cover crops, food product quality/safety
  • Education and Training: extension, farmer to farmer, workshop, Science communication / education
  • Farm Business Management: labor/employment, marketing management, new enterprise development, value added
  • Natural Resources/Environment: carbon sequestration, habitat enhancement, soil stabilization, water rights, Climate change, nitrogen pollution
  • Pest Management: allelopathy, disease vectors, field monitoring/scouting, prevention, sanitation, Quarantine and regulations
  • Production Systems: organic agriculture, organic certification, transitioning to organic
  • Soil Management: nutrient mineralization, organic matter, soil analysis, soil microbiology, soil quality/health
  • Sustainable Communities: ethnic differences/cultural and demographic change, food hubs, public policy, Food waste, food banks/ hunger

    Abstract:

    • In 2019, Washington’s sustainable agriculture PDP program included a wide range of topics such as: soil health, Cultivating Success curriculum training, data visualization for decision support tools, nutrition education, agricultural drainage and agricultural water regulation in the Puget Sound, cultivation in small-scale vegetable production, and rangeland resilience.  In 2019, based on opportunities we shifted toward more "hosted" events and fewer single "attendee" events, but the focus remained on targeted educational events reached agricultural professionals who gained knowledge and/or skills in one or more of these topics that could in turn lead to specific, improved extension and educational activities and curriculum.

     

    Project objectives:

    Short-term. We aim to increase the awareness, knowledge, and skills of at least 200 ag professionals in areas related to their expertise and local needs for the improvement of the agricultural sustainability of their operations and clientele (via mini-grants and educational
    events). We aim to increase the awareness and knowledge of 50 extension educators about three sustainable agriculture topics in Washington State (via educational materials/webinars).
    Medium-term. We aim to increase the quality of sustainable agriculture programs and events in the state of Washington (via mini-grants and educational events). Using mini-grants and educational events, we aim to increase ag professionals’ ability to answer questions from their
    clientele on sustainable agriculture related activities, especially those identified as needs. We aim to improve the ag professionals’ ability to assist their clientele in adopting sustainable agriculture practices in the future (via educational materials). We aim to increase the number of extension educators associated with the WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (via all activities).

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.