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
Proposal abstract:
2020 Colorado PDP program project proposal are to; 1) increase the knowledge level and understanding of sustainable agriculture practices, 2) provide sustainable agriculture in-depth training for agricultural 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. 5) and state agriculture professionals will have a better understanding of WSARE programs and grant opportunities. Specific topics that will be covered include, but are 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 from proposal:
Objective 1) Enhancement of the knowledge-base and skills of Colorado agricultural professionals interested in sustainable agricultural practices: In 2020, provide a competitive-mini grants program and the Colorado County Agents Association Professional Development Conference in sustainable agriculture. We expect to support 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 by March 30, 2020.
- Meat Summit work to advance market opportunities, build connections, and support collective skills development and learning across many segments and scales of Colorado and the Western U.S.’s agricultural and food system. Western U.S. Meat Summit: 1.5 day event in December 2020.
- The Legacy Program is to help participants develop the skills and learn about resources necessary for farmers and ranchers to make informed decisions about end-of-life issues, their estates, and transitioning their farms and ranches to the next generation. The increase in understanding/awareness and skills will help Colorado’s farm and ranches be sustainable across the generations.
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 will help design approaches to develop and deliver information related to alternative management practices. This will be accomplished through workshops, training, and interaction with professionals and producers by, a sustainable conference focusing 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.