Project Overview
Commodities
- Agronomic: canola, hay, peas (field, cowpeas), potatoes, wheat
- Fruits: berries (other)
- Animals: bees, bovine
Practices
- Animal Production: grazing management, range improvement, rangeland/pasture management
- Crop Production: beekeeping, cover crops, varieties and cultivars
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, workshop
- Farm Business Management: agricultural finance, value added
- Natural Resources/Environment: habitat enhancement
- Pest Management: biological control, chemical control, integrated pest management, precision herbicide use, weed ecology
- Production Systems: dryland farming, organic agriculture
- Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, quality of life
Proposal abstract:
The 2019 – 2020 Montana WSARE PDP proposal seeks to enable agricultural professionals to provide outreach and education to farmers, ranchers and other Montana citizens on sustainable agricultural principles and practices. The focus of this outreach and education will be the cornerstones of sustainable agriculture: environmental preservation, public health protection, vibrant community maintenance and animal welfare protection. To achieve this the following objectives have been identified: 1) provide professional development opportunities to improve agricultural professional’s knowledge and understanding of sustainable ag, 2) facilitate development of sustainable agriculture outreach opportunities, 3) Increase grower engagement in sustainable agriculture programming and practices, and 4) evaluate, communicate and report the Montana PDP activities. Areas of specific emphasis will be toward improving knowledge, skills and abilities in soil health, crop diversification and rotations, climate variability impact mitigation, forage quality and resource management for livestock, cover crop/livestock integration, value-added food and farm-to-table programming.
Project objectives from proposal:
1) provide professional development opportunities to improve agricultural professional’s knowledge and understanding of sustainable ag, 2) facilitate development of sustainable agriculture outreach opportunities, 3) Increase grower engagement in sustainable agriculture programming and practices, and 4) evaluate, communicate and report the Montana PDP activities.