Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences include minority (including women) farmers and producers, especially those that are small-scale and/or limited resource. Efforts include demonstration farm development and tours, workshops, seminars, and offering travel support for these and other professional development opportunities. In addition support for existing cooperatives developed and new ones were included in the efforts for this project. Changes/Problems: Project timelines and some goals were modified with not as much depth as would have been liked (including impact evaluation) for several reasons. There was an initial delay in getting funds at the University from NIFA as well as with paperwork for hiring the Project Assistant. The process for hiring was delayed by a couple of initially unsuccessful searches. Once a Project Assistant was hired, some adjustments were needed when that person was injured on the job, had reduced job duties for a year and then could not return, so temporary assistance was used in his place. In addition, one project co-PI took another position in (and then retired from) the University. Also, the project PI, the only Animal Science Specialist at the University, and the remaining co-PI were appointed to majority administrative appointments mid-way through the project period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Growers Schools and invited presentations/seminars (topic examples: carcass evaluation, parasite management, introduction to goat/sheep production, introduction to pasture pork and poultry production, grass fed beef and more). Demonstration site tours including topics of rotational grazing, natural resource management, value added production, marketing, and more. Farm tours (including A&T demo sites) including one event with over 60 minority and small-scale farmers from Tennessee and Alabama. Farmers indicated they increased their knowledge and would use the information on their farm. Several Field Days with a majority of producers who are socially disadvantaged were provided at the A&T demo sites, with over 200 people attending in total over 3 years. Pasture pork, beef cattle and sustainable goat production were highlights. Advertisement/support was provided for webinars related to farmers adopting computer training, and for various production topics (lambing, parasite control, etc.). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Posters were provided on the program and results for Small Farm Conference and Association of Extension Administrators. Non-profit colleagues and collaborators have been beneficiaries of the project and have been providing information to their clientele. Information is provided at Annual Extension Conferences and agent in-service trainings for Extension field staff. Information about efforts is provided during the annual Small Farms Week event and farms owned by socially disadvantaged demo farms were used for tours during this event. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? This is the final report, but efforts continue with the cooperatives, demonstration site farms and NGO/NPO partners.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Educational workshops, seminars and conferences have provided production information, including information for existing and a potential new marketing cooperative made up of minority farmers (through colalborations with Operation Spring Plant) as well as individual farmers and other 1890 clientele. Previous cooperatives have been supported, including support with website development, expanding membership and evaluation of product (meat quality) in order for meat quality guidelines to be developed for specific markets. Information has been provided to agents about USDA and other sources of funding/programs for farmers and marketing cooperatives in part through demonstration site farm tours as well as Growers Schools and invited presentations. Handouts that are practical and producer-level were developed and used (for future fact sheet publication via other funding sources). Two women owned farms were developed/supported as demonstration sites for rotational grazing of sheep and for diverse livestock production and niche marketing (hogs, cattle, lamb, goats, chickens). Advisory Council members have been consulted, including livestock associations/groups. More details are provided in additional sections of this report.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences include minority (including women) farmers and producers, especially those that are small-scale and/or limited resource. Efforts include demonstration farm development and tours, workshops, seminars, and offering travel support for these and other professional development opportunities. In addition support for existing cooperatives developed and new ones is included in the efforts for this project. Changes/Problems: Project timelines and some goals were modified with not as much depth as would have been liked (including impact evaluation) for several reasons. There was an initial delay in getting funds at the University from NIFA as well as with paperwork for hiring the Project Assistant. The process for hiring was delayed by a couple of initially unsuccessful searches. Once a Project Assistant was hired, some adjustments were needed when that person was injured on the job and had reduced duties; temporary assistance was required. In addition, one project co-PI took another position in the University, and the project PI, the only Animal Science Specialist at the University, and the other co-PI were appointed to majority administrative appointments mid-way through the project period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Growers Schools and invited presentations/seminars (topic examples: parasite management, introduction to goat/sheep production, introduction to pasture pork and poultry production, grass fed beef and more). Demonstration site tours including topics of rotational grazing, natural resource management, value added production, marketing, and more. Farm tours (including A&T demo sites) included one event with over 60 minority and small-scale farmers from Tennessee and Alabama. Farmers indicated they increased their knowledge and would use the information on their farm. Several Field Days with a majority of producers who are socially disadvantaged were provided at the A&T demo sites with at least 80 people attending individual sessions, over 200 attending each Field Day. Pasture pork, beef cattle and sustainable goat production were highlights. Advertisement/support was provided for webinars related to farmers adopting computer training, and for various production topics (lambing, parasite control, etc.). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Posters were provided on the program and results for Small Farm Conference and Association of Extension Administrators. Non-profit colleagues and collaborators have been beneficiaries of the project and have been providing information to their clientele. Information is provided during Extension field staff trainings as well. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Work will continue with demonstration sites, Grower's Schools and Extension field staff, even beyond the granting/funding period.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Educational workshops, seminars and conferences have provided production information, including information for a potential new marketing cooperative made up of minority farmers (through colalborations with Operation Spring Plant). Previous cooperatives have been supported. Information has been provided to agents about USDA and other sources of funding/programs for farmers and marketing cooperatives in part through demonstration site farm tours as well as Growers Schools and invited presentations. Handouts that are practical and producer-level were developed and used.Two women owned farms have been developed/supported as a demonstration site for rotational grazing of sheep and for diverse livestock production and niche marketing (hogs, cattle, lamb, goats, chickens). Advisory Council (members) consulted and expanded.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Responding to the needs of socially disadvantaged livestock producers. Proceedings, Association of Extension Administrators National Meeting, June 24-28. Poster presentation. 2012. Whitley, N., M. Eley, J. OSullivan, R. Franco, K. Moulton, K. Baldwin, J. Hartsfield and A. Hatcher. (Abstract and poster presentation; NIFA support acknowledged on poster)
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Livestock integrated parasite management in North Carolina. 2012. Whitley, N., K. Moulton, R. Franco, A. Cooper, R. Jackson, and T. Conrad-Acuna. Proceedings, 6th National Small Farm Conference:124. (Abstract and poster presentation; NIFA support acknowledged on poster)
|
Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Educational workshops, seminars and conferences have provided production information, including information for a potential new marketing cooperative made up of minority farmers (through colalborations with Operation Spring Plant). Information has been provided to agents about USDA and other sources of funding/programs for farmers and marketing cooperatives in part through demonstration site farm tours as well as Growers Schools and invited presentations. Handouts that are practical and producer-level were developed and used. Minority farmer (women-owned) sites have been identified and supported for rotational grazing of sheep and for diverse livestock production and marketing (hogs, cattle, lamb). Advisory Council members have been consulted. PARTICIPANTS: Operation Spring Plant has helped recruit and organize workshops with groups of minority farmers, including those interested in starting a marketing cooperative; Dr. Michelle Eley and Dr. Keith Baldwin at NCA&TSU CEP have provided support for the grant; other educational partners have provided assistance (serving as speakers for example) such as Dr. Ralph Noble (NCA&TSU Animal Sciences Department Chair), Casey McKissick from NC Choices and various instructors from North Carolina State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Minority (including women) farmers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The timeline has shifted back some just due to delay in getting funds at the University and paperwork for hiring the Project Assistant. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Niki Whitley, The Cooperative Extension Program at NCA&TSU - PI Dr. Michelle Eley NCA&TSU - The Cooperative Extension Program at NCA&TSU PI Operation Spring Plant - Dorathy Barker, Raymond Hawley; helped recruit minority farmers for (and also attended some) workshops, seminars and professional development opportunties. Dr. Ralph Noble - NCA&TSU Department of Animal Sciences Chair - presentations for producers/farmers Casey McKissick, NC Choices, presentations for producers/farmers, recruitment of farmers for events Various Extension Agents - assisted in farmer recruitment and organization of workshops/events; participated in professional development opportunities (livestock artificial insemination, goat management, etc.) TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include minority (including women) farmers and producers, especially those that are small-scale and/or limited resource. Efforts include demonstration farm development and tours, workshops, seminars, and offering travel support for these and other professional development opportunities. In addition support for existing cooperatives developed and new ones is included in the efforts for this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
One minority farmer with goats was assisted with writing a grant for his farm and was funded. Upon suggestion by Cooperative Extension collaborators and project PIs, a woman farmer applied for local grants and NRCS funding and was awarded both. For short-term impacts, participants have indicated increased knowledge of topics provided in the educational workshops and seminars. Participants also indicated intent to change things on their farm to help make them more profitable and sustainable. Pasture pork demonstration farm tour survey results indicated that Participants agreed they learned more about: water sources and location (96%), using buffers to filter nutrient run-off (96%), planting crops to remove nutrients (92%), managing woodlots containing hogs (87%), pasture rotating and stocking rates (80%) and soil testing (76%). Only 60% indicated they would make changes on their farm (nearly half of participants were NRCS agents). Evaluation of tour results (a year after tour) from previous 2501 project demonstration farms to be used in current projects along with new sites indicated that participants responding to the first year follow-up survey, 71.4% had made changes to create a more environmentally- and animal-friendly farm. The types of changes made included planting more forages and rotating animals, adding new pastures and shelters, giving pigs more space and moving pigs away from streams.
Publications
- Evaluation of the use of pasture pork demonstration sites for on-farm educational programming. 2011. N. C. Whitley and M. L. Eley, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro. J. Anim. Sci. 89:42. (Peer reviewed abstract and poster presentation for National ASAS meeting)
- Poster developed for 2501 PI meeting. 2011.
|
Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Educational workshops, seminars and conferences have provided production information, including information for a potential new marketing cooperative made up of minority farmers (through colalborations with Operation Spring Plant). Information has been provided to agents about USDA and other sources of funding/programs for farmers and marketing cooperatives. Handouts that are practical and producer-level were developed. Minority farmer demonstration sites have been explored and a couple identified. Some members of the Advisory Council have been identified. PARTICIPANTS: Operation Spring Plant has helped recruit and organize workshops with groups of minority farmers, including those interested in starting a marketing cooperative; Dr. Michelle Eley and Dr. Keith Baldwin at NCA&TSU CEP have provided grant support; other educational partners have provided assistance (serving as speakers for example) such as Casey McKissick from NC Choices and various instructors from North Carolina State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Minority (including women) farmers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The timeline has shifted back some just due to delay in getting funds at the University and paperwork for hiring the Project Assistant.
Impacts
Because this is the first year of the project, most impacts measured have been short term only. Participants have indicated increased knowledge of topics provided in the educational workshops and seminars. Participants also indicated intent to change things on their farm to help make them more profitable and sustainable.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|