Project Overview
Commodities
- Vegetables: onions
- Animals: bees, bovine, goats, poultry, sheep, swine
- Animal Products: meat
Practices
- Animal Production: meat processing, meat processing facilities, meat product quality/safety
- Crop Production: beekeeping, greenhouses
- Education and Training: extension, farmer to farmer
- Production Systems: organic agriculture
- Soil Management: soil quality/health
- Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, public policy
Abstract:
2020-22 Colorado PDP program project proposal was to; 1) increase the knowledge level and understanding of sustainable agriculture practices, 2) provide sustainable agriculture in-depth training for agricultural professionals, educators and producers across the state through mini-grants and training, 3) provide support promoting and potentially hosting educational workshops, 4) facilitate grant proposal development opportunities for state agriculture professionals and producers to have a better understanding of WSARE programs and grant opportunities. Specific topics that were covered include, but were not limited to, food and cropping system diversification, energy efficiency, farmer networks, meat production and its supply chain, and range and livestock integrated resource management.
Project objectives:
Objective 1) Enhancement of the knowledge-base and skills of Colorado agricultural professionals interested in sustainable agricultural practices: In 2020-22, provide a competitive-mini grants program and the Colorado County Agents Association Professional Development Conference in sustainable agriculture. We supported six competitive mini-grants to conduct demonstrations projects, workshops, and/or farm tours. Provide five travel scholarships to regional and national conferences/workshops related to sustainable agriculture.
Objective 2) Increase clientele's understanding of sustainable agriculture practices through educational methods: A comprehensive review of the knowledge gaps existing among the Colorado’s sustainable community helped design approaches to develop and deliver information related to alternative management practices. This was accomplished through workshops, training, and interaction with professionals and producers by supporting conferences focusing on sustainable farming and ranging and on the effects climate variability on range, livestock and crop production.
Objective 3) Promote awareness of WSARE grant opportunities: To increase the level of involvement of agricultural professional across Colorado we will distribute materials and promote activities related to sustainable agriculture through the CO-WSARE web page which will require extensive updating. The Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference and educational conferences by providing information about SARE.