Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The 2024 Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK) Conference targeted a diverse audience, including farmers, agricultural professionals, researchers practicing organic methods, and individuals interested in organic and sustainable agriculture across Kentucky and the southeastern U.S. The conference responded to farmer stakeholders' needs for opportunities to network, share strategies for overcoming production challenges, and explore new techniques and resources in organic agriculture. It also provided a platform to connect with industry leaders, researchers, and the broader community of organic agriculture stakeholders in the region. Programming was designed to address the educational needs of both beginning farmers (10 years or less of experience) and advanced farmers. Detailed engagement from specific farmer stakeholder groups is included below. OAK invited stakeholder feedback well in advance of the event, collecting input on conference topics, priority speakers, and workshop ideas. Attendees from previous conferences, field days, and listening sessions shared their thoughts on educational topics and research priorities. Additionally, six months before the event, OAK issued an open call for session proposals through its website and monthly newsletter. The conference featured an in-person format open to researchers, farmers, and other stakeholders. Sessions were recorded and made available to attendees immediately after the event, with public access to the recordings released in the Summer and Fall of 2024. Promotion efforts spanned Kentucky and extended to farms, educational networks in eight neighboring states, and key partners throughout the southeast region. OAK farmer members, organic industry partners, researchers, extension agents, government representatives, and other agricultural stakeholders collaborated to shape the conference's vision and agenda. These groups also actively participated in the conference and benefited from the shared content and programming. Over three days, the conference welcomed 392 attendees. The event sold out, reaching the venue's capacity limit. Thanks to NIFA-OREI support through this project, OAK hosted a successful conference and was able to secure additional funding to offer reduced registration fees and provide 125 full scholarships. Details on the target stakeholder participants include: Attendees originated from a total of 14 states, with the majority (89%) being from Kentucky and 4% from the southeast region outside of Kentucky. Farmers constituted 70% of event attendees Farmers (Beginning to 10 years or less): 30% Farmers (Experienced - more than 10 years): 26% Farmers (Aspiring farmers - not currently farming): 14% Students: 2% Black, Indigenous, People of ; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;" aria-level="1"> Agricultural professional / extension: 23% Research: 10% Farmer Participants reported: 74% diversified produce production 4% broad acreage row crop production of corn, soy, small grains 22% livestock Overall Farmers reported 29% manage certified organic operations 49% use organic practices but are not certified 9% use conventional practices 12% active transition to organic 1% did not specify Farmers and researchers worked together during program planning to ensure the conference content was relevant and impactful. In 2024, this collaboration shaped sessions and presentations focused on key topics, including strategies for improving soil health, reducing dependency on plastics, examining the connection between the soil microbiome and human health, expanding the cultivation of perennial crops for emerging markets, and advancing organic grain production challenges and research and technical assistance needs. These themes fostered dynamic discussions about regional challenges and opportunities related to production practices, market demands, and research priorities. Farmers were particularly interested in approaches that minimized reliance on external inputs, enhanced production efficiencies, and built whole-farm resilience. Overall and across all commodities, conversations highlighted a need for more durable and expansive certified organic market development. Many noted that consumer desire for "local" is still stronger than "certified organic." Participant conversation indicated a desire for guidance on diversifying product offerings to improve market access and profitability. The annual conference played a vital role in delivering information to strengthen the region's foundational knowledge of organic production. It served as a platform for sharing insights and identifying the support and solutions needed to address emerging challenges and opportunities in organic agriculture. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project delivered sessions and networking opportunities, connecting farmers with technical advisors and researchers who shared sustainable production content and resources farmers can put to use in the field. In total, the Conference delivered 32 sessions, convening 392 farmers and agricultural professionals for a combined 3 days of learning and networking. 91% of attendees said they learned something new they would put to use on their farm to advance their operation in the coming year. 83% of attendees also reported a high likelihood of sharing information learned with their peers, indicating that the information was valuable and worth sharing and reinforcing the peer-to-peer community of support. Additionally, 92 agricultural professionals accessed the event to learn about organic practices and access professional development opportunities in organic and sustainable production. Professional development opportunities were further accessed by 22 participants who chose to claim Continuing Education Units (CEUs). CEUs were available to agricultural professionals through Extension (KERS) and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Pesticide Applicator Certification CEU). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of the 2024 Conference were disseminated to the Kentucky agriculture network through email, newsletters, and social media. The session recordings are available on OAK's Conference webpage:https://www.oak-ky.org/conference-2024-recordings. Soon after the conference was complete OAK shared a program impact summary with collaborators, speakers, sponsors, industry partners, and attendees. OAK recorded all the sessions with the assistance of a project partner, Kentucky State University, providing an expanded opportunity for participation for those who were not available to join in person. Session recordings were made available to all those registered in the spring of 2024 and then to the public at large starting June 2024 with new installments of content added monthly through September 2024. Content dissemination through OAK's communications network reached 4,350 stakeholders, with session recordings having been viewed over 1,600 times. ? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The 2024 OAK Conference brought together farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals to enhance their understanding of organic farming practices. The conference focused on improving farm productivity, resilience, and the relevance of research and technical assistance. By fostering networking and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders, this project built on past successes to support continued progress in adopting practices focused on plant and soil health. It also encouraged the use of new approaches to decision-making, addressing production challenges, boosting farm profitability, advancing regional conservation initiatives, and exploring regional market constraints. Ultimately, the identified research and resource needs will drive long-term outcomes and further promote the adoption of organic farming practices. O1 Providing an inclusive community-learning experience O1 Major Activities Coordinated Conference Offered low-cost registration and 125 scholarships Provided Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for professional development O1 Data #2 Demographics 392 attendees 125 scholarships Farmers: beginning 30%, experienced 26%, aspiring 14% BIPOC: 18% Extension: 23% Research: 10% 29% certified organic operations 49% organic practices not certified 9% conventional practices 12% active transition to organic O1 Discussion #3 The conference engaged 392 attendees, which was fewer than expected, but more participants registered for pre-conference workshops, increasing overall session attendance compared to the previous year. Scholarships and the conference's affordability removed financial barriers to participation. Session recordings were made publicly available after the event, enhancing accessibility for non-attendees. 70% of participants were farmers, with 30% being beginning farmers, 26% experienced, and 14% aspiring, indicating the content was relevant to a range of experience levels. 18% of attendees identified as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color, reflecting the event's inclusivity. Among farmer participants, 29% managed certified organic farms, 49% used organic practices without certification, 9% used conventional methods, and 12% were in active organic transition, highlighting strong interest in organic farming. O1 Outcomes #4 93% of participants reported that the content accessed through the Conference was "good" or "excellent," 91% of respondents reported that they plan to use something they learned, and 83% reported they would likely share content with a peer, indicating a broad reach. CEUs were claimed by 22 individuals for professional development, the vast majority from higher education and extension institutions. O2 - Connect farmers with TA, Research and Resources O2 Major Activities #1 Coordinated Conference Provided opportunities for stakeholders to connect Promote sessions for organic grain survey, agroforestry survey and resource panel O2 Data #2 See conference agenda, sessions and speaker details in the Conference Print Program Offered 32 sessions 65 experts connected with farmers O2 Discussion #3 The Conference connected farmers with technical advisors, researchers, and other experts who shared sustainable production content and resources. See the Conference Program for details on the 32 sessions offered. Panels, keynotes, farm tours, demonstrations, and community discussions proved accessible and engaging, increasing connectivity among interdisciplinary stakeholder groups. O2 Outcomes #4 Conference evaluations showed that 91% of attendees were "definitely" or "most likely" to apply what they learned to their farms. Sessions provided practical guidance on topics like grazing management, agroforestry, crop planning, and cover cropping. The project also identified and developed additional technical tools to support farmers. USDA representatives and grant recipients showcased funded research and highlighted opportunities through USDA programs, including upcoming funding for equipment and infrastructure. O3 Advancing organic agriculture post-event O4 Major Activities #1 Two roundtable discussions Organic grain survey and agroforestry survey promoted Stakeholder input on production and marketing needs gathered across all commodities O4 Data #2 Organic Small Grains Survey 25 responses: 92% cited soil health as a primary motivation Farmers ranked grain quality as a minor obstacle to marketing, but organic market size, demand and consumer awareness were ranked as more pressing issues Agroforestry Survey 96 responses from farmers: 15% experienced, 65% beginning and 16% aspiring Marketing challenges are a barrier to expanding agroforestry businesses with 54% citing buyer transparency need; 33% need aggregation and distribution; 30% need marketing and business planning. 47% need better access to planting stock and 42% require access to capital for processing equipment. Overall participant feedback defined the need for resources and decision-making tools including: an inputs resource guide, organic recordkeeping tools, vegetable crop planning templates, soil test analysis template. O4 Discussion #3 Organic Small Grains Survey: A University of Kentucky partner surveyed current and aspiring organic grain farmers in Kentucky and led a conference session. Challenges identified throughout the production cycle included weeds, animal damage, and issues with harvest and post-harvest equipment. Marketing emerged as a significant concern. Future research should focus on market development and assistance and production technical assistance. Agroforestry Survey: This baseline assessment of agroforestry producer needs was part of a collaborative planning effort across central Appalachia led by Virginia Tech. Priority needs identified involve production, inputs, processing, market development, and access to wholesale buyers, including developing connections for farmers with national and global organic value chains for woodland medicinals. O4 Outcomes #4 This project highlighted sessions and surveys led by partners and opportunities to provide direct stakeholder feedback. Findings from surveys will be shared by partners to inform future projects. The tools developed by OAK staff are available for use. Through continued conversations and considering that investment in organic research in the southeast region has historically been lower than in other regions, there is a high need for more research leadership and organic farmer participation across the region to bolster available technical assistance and grow durable organic market access. O4 - White paper O4 Major Activities #1 Collecting stakeholder insights with registration and post-event survey Recording of sessions and notetaking during conference sessions and roundtable discussions O4 Data #2 Production and business challenges, research needs (see details above in O3) O4 Discussion #3 The goal of the white paper will be to provide an assessment of the state of organics in Kentucky with unique insights to communicate farmer-identified production challenges, research needs, and barriers to expanding organics in the region, setting the stage for changes in conditions for the region. Participants highlighted several key challenges: low farm profitability, consumer demand failing to deliver premium pricing, insufficient capital for infrastructure improvements, unreliable or costly labor, and limited access to certified organic processors for livestock and value-added products. Beginning farmers specifically noted difficulties in business management, record-keeping, crop planning, and addressing pest and disease issues. O4 Outcomes #4 Partners at the University of Kentucky are collaborating on a forthcoming manuscript that will provide an overview of the state of organics in Kentucky. The paper will incorporate insights gleaned from the 2024 OAK Conference sessions and stakeholder feedback. The partners plan to submit it to the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development.

Publications