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2009 Professional Development Program Winners

In 2009 after preproposal and full proposal reviews, the Administrative Council chose 5 projects for funding with amounts ranging from $62,000 to $99,000 with a funding total of more than $400,000

The 2009 project chart below gives insight not only about what SARE reviewers look for in a grant but also a glimpse into what's currently on the mind of researchers. The following abstracts introduce the new projects.

Investigators will be entering their new projects into the data base and following up with annual reports throughout the life of the project. View the reports at www.sare.org

ES09-095 Training the Trainers in Community-based Food Systems

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems will join with partners to train county-based teams led by extension in community based food systems. Based on farmer assessment and input, we will train extension personnel and other community professionals in asset-based community project development. From responses to a call for participation, 5 county-based teams will be selected from around the state. Chosen participants will attend a two-day initial intensive training covering all aspects of community-based food systems and later receive specific planning assistance for their own county projects. Our Project Team, and others as needed, will then serve as consultants providing ongoing support as each team develops and implements their project. This hands-on learning will provide the insights and skills necessary for the county-based team to train others.

During year two, the county-based team will select, train, and mentor a county-based team in an adjacent county with a “passing on the gift” approach, ultimately developing a total of 10 counties trained and networked through Extension. At the end of year two, we will conduct a short-course at Southern SAWG to share this approach (successes and challenges) across the Southeast.

Our overarching goal is for Extension to be key facilitators in building strong sustainable ag practices through community food systems. This goal breaks down to three program objectives: Food Systems Education for and with extension, Food Systems Project Development addressing local needs with sustainable agriculture approaches, and a Collaborative Training System through “passing on the gift.”

Nancy Creamer
North Carolina State University
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Campus Box 7609
Raleigh , NC 27695
Ph: 919-515-9447
Fax: 919-515-2505
Em: Nancy_Creamer@ncsu.edu

Some characteristics reviewers liked about it:

• Good mixture of personnel with meaningful parts of the plan(university, community college, CBO and farmer).

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ES09-096 Training Educators and Agricultural Professionals on Sustainable, Pasture-based Dairy Systems,

The number of Management-intensive Grazing (MiG) dairies in the South is increasing substantially. In Georgia alone, cows on MiG dairies have increased from <1% to nearly 6% of the dairy herd since 2006. Faculty and staff of the University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University propose to educate our target audience (Cooperative Extension Agents, technical personnel from USDA-NRCS, and policy and technical personnel in departments of agriculture in collaborating southern states) about grazing dairies with the aim to overcome misconceptions and biases about MiG dairy systems. To accomplish these goals, we have three objectives: 1) expose the target audience to MiG dairy systems; 2) present and discuss research relevant to the social, economic, and environmental viability of these operations; and 3) allow for shared-learning between our target audience and their peers from states/regions who have worked with MiG dairy systems.

In the initial activity, educators and agricultural professionals will visit MiG dairies and be exposed to the many facets of pasture-based dairy systems. The second activity will be organizing a one-day conference consisting of two sessions: a morning session where researchers will present and discuss relevant research from SSARE-funded and other projects in Georgia and other southern states; and an afternoon session where invited speakers (peers of the target audience) will share the challenges and opportunities for the pasture-based dairy industry faced by other states. The impact of these efforts will be assessed by tracking the knowledge and opinions of participants before, immediately after, and 6-months after the activities.

Dennis Hancock
University of Georgia
3111 Miller Plant Sciences
Athens , GA 30602
Ph: 706-542-1529
Em: dhancock@uga.edu

Some characteristics reviewers liked about it:

• Good collaboration, 1862,1890,NRCS,Producers,SSARE State Coordinators, Dept of Ag. Identify other Southern States that will collaborate.
• Southern dairy industry needs help, this approach should be well received.
• Evaluation plan well designed and should provide meaniful information.
• This program builds on existing SARE projects and information.
• Peer involvement in the conference is a great approach to gaining acceptance to the subject matter.

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ES09-097 Moving nursery producers toward sustainable production practices

This project will move the nursery industry towards sustainability by training Extension agents and specialists in the area of sustainable nursery production methods. Conventional nursery production relies heavily on use of plastic containers, chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and imported substrate ("potting soil") components. A team lead by University of Florida faculty will instruct Georgia and Florida Extension agents on topics related to sustainable nursery practices that reduce the aforementioned production inputs. Other team members are a sustainable nursery producer, faculty from the University of Georgia, and two faculty from the 1890 institution, Florida A&M University. Our team will develop resources and provide a curriculum for county Extension faculty to train existing and prospective nursery producers ("farmers"). An advisory committee of existing nursery producers ("farmers") will assist in developing and revising resources and curriculum to result in effective, "real-world" tools for county Extension faculty and their clientele. Evaluation instruments will be used immediately after county Extension training and again 6 months later to revise and refine the resources and curriculum. The completed curriculum and resources will be available nationwide from a website and from the Virtual Field Day webpage. The objective of this project is to convince existing and prospective nursery producers to adopt sustainable nursery production practices as outlined in the resources and curriculum generated by this grant. The long-term goal of this project is to enhance the environmental sustainability of nursery production while maintaining economic sustainability.

Gary Knox
University of Florida / IFAS
N. Florida R&E Center
155 Research Road
Quincy , FL 32351
Ph: 850-875-7162
Fax: 850-875-7188
Em: gwknox@ufl.edu

Some characteristics reviewers liked about it:

• This is a very exceptional proposal with exceptional team and excellent collaboration network. The proposing team did an excellent job putting this proposal together. The budget is just right and well explained. The objectives are clearly stated as are the activities to be undertaken. Well written proposal.
• Good collaboration and cooperation by a number of institutions along with producers. Can see where this project could be very valuable to the states involved.

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ES09-098 Strengthening the Goat Industry: a national conference

According to Bowman (2003), meat goat production continues to be one of the fastest growing livestock industries in the U.S and has proven to be a profitable enterprise for many small farm families. The demand for goat meat among ethnic consumers has continued to increase. There has also been increased evidence of significant health benefits from the consumption of chevon or cabrito. Because of this increased demand among a diverse population of consumers, many small and limited resource producers are raising goats as an alternative source of income. However, producers in many cases still lack the necessary skills and knowledge to adequately produce quality meat goat products for profit. There is also a lack of reliable scientific information regarding the production and management of meat goat enterprises.
Realizing these facts, Florida A&M University will collaborate on this project with eight other 1890 institutions, two 1862 institution, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services and a community based organization to host a national goat conference. Several other faculty from key institutions around the U.S. has also be identified to collaborate on this project. The conference objectives are to develop a national strategy and agenda to train extension agents, and others on goat production, management and marketing. Extension agents and other individuals will be invited from each committee member's state to attend the conference. Survey instruments will be used to determine which new technologies that can be used to further develop strategic plans to enhance the goat industry.

Angela McKenzie-Jakes
Florida A&M
215 Perry Paige Bldg., South
Tallahassee , FL 32303
Ph: 850-875-8557
Em: Angela.McKenzieJakes@famu.edu

Some characteristics reviewers liked about it:

• This is a cost-effective proposal with excellent collaboration, coordination and project team. The budget is reasonable with in-kind support, suggested by the fact that the project team does not charge to the project the cost of its efforts in the first year. It is a great proposal with everything just right.

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ES09-099 Developing successful organic horticulture farms: practical training for agricultural professionals

This proposed project brings together three key elements: an already developed and well-tested farmer-led organic production training course, a practical science-based body of research and experience, and agriculture professionals seeking information about organic methods. The project, led by Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG), will provide practical training and resources on organic horticultural crop production to enhance the capacity of Extension, NRCS, and FSA personnel to provide effective technical assistance to current and aspiring organic farmers.

Key partners include Virginia and Tennessee organic farmers, Virginia Extension, NRCS and FSA personnel, Extension personnel on the Deep South Fruit and Vegetable Growers (DSFVG) Conference planning team, and Tennessee Extension personnel.

Two-day trainings, delivered by both scientists and farmers, will be conducted at three locations in Virginia. Each of these trainings will consist of one day of classroom instruction, and one day of hands-on training at a successful organic farm. These trainings will build on well-received No-Till trainings for agricultural professionals recently conducted in Virginia.

In addition, a one-day training will be offered at two winter conferences, the DSFVG Conference and the Southern SAWG Conference, to reach audiences over a wider geographic area.

Instruction will focus on principles, practices, economic viability and decision-making in organic farm management. Supplemental training materials, including Southern SAWG's comprehensive organic vegetable CD-ROM featuring materials from land grant universities and farmers around the country, will be provided.

We will train at least 120 professionals. We will use pre- and post-training questionnaires to evaluate this project.

Jean Mills
S-SAWG
14430 Jackson Trave
Coker, AL 35452
Ph: 205-333-8504
Em: jean@ssawg.org

• Great collaboration with good involvement of 1862 and 1890 universities; CBO; USDA; ag producers. Will allow for previously developed materials to be used.
• This project is a good project. The individuals involved in its execution have demonstrated experience in the area.

ES09-100 Green Roof Technology as a Tool for Sustainable Cities , $20,000

Green roof technology is becoming an instrument for sustainable cities across the world; among the benefits are the increase in green areas, the reduction of storm water runoff, and less consumption of fuel used to modulate temperatures in buildings.

The purpose of this project is to adapt green roof technology for Puerto Rico and merge this knowledge with crop production. The expected outcome is a novel alternative in sustainable agriculture feasible to our farmers. At the same time the project will benefit the urban infrastructure with the increase of green areas that will modulate the microclimate, reduce water runoff and increase food availability.

The main objective is to develop a new concept in commercial sustainable agriculture production for Puerto Rico. A trained team will become trainers of farmers, extension agents and students in order to outreach urban and suburban communities through the Island. It is expected that once the team get trained on green roof technology, they will incorporate tropical urban agriculture and forestry practices into this technology in order to maximize the outcome: new alternative for commercial crop production and edible gardens, storm water runoff control and a new efficient and environmental method to cool homes and buildings. The use of xeriscape concept and native plants according to their ecological life regions will be tight to this initiative too.

The initiative will promote the green infrastructure concept and will encourage citizens to maximize green urban spaces with the development of horticulture crops on urban and suburban roof areas of Puerto Rico.

Sally Conzales
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
P.O. Box 9031
Mayaguez, PR 00681
Ph: 787-833-9350
sgonzalez@uprm.edu

• This is an excellent and unique project that would indeed benefit urban dwellers involved in urban agriculture on the Island.
• Great justification.

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