Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Agriculture has played an important role in the survival of the Pueblo People of central New Mexico within the past one thousand years. These Pueblo farmers and ranchers have the longest and most continuous history of farming within the continental United States. The custom and culture of the Pueblo People is very much tied to the land and agriculture. Tribal elders have advised that if agriculture is lost at the Southern Pueblos (SP); custom, culture, tradition and their languages will also be lost. Based on the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, the average age of the principal operators in the SP's is 60.7 years of age with very few beginning farmers taking their place. This average age is far above the national average of 58.3 years. NMSU CES (1862 LG) in collaboration with the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) (1994 LG) have worked together to provide educational and technical assistance to our targeted SP Native American beginning farmers and ranchers (BFR). In addition, the project collaborated with local pueblo farmer/rancher mentors, pueblo livestock and growers associations and the USDA FSA, NRCS and NASS. These BFR's are located within the Pueblos of Cochiti, San Felipe, Kewa, Sandia, Santa Ana, Jemez, Laguna and Acoma in New Mexico. Today, there are nineteen Indian Pueblos, the Jicarilla and Mescalero Apache, and the Eastern Navajo Nations located within New Mexico which represents 4,766 small scale farmers and ranchers as reported by USDA NASS based on the 2012 Census of Agriculture. Of these, the Northern and Southern Pueblos represent about one half of this number. These numbers reflect a 1057% increase in Native American farmers/ranchers over the previous 2002 and 2007 Census of Agriculture. New Mexico now ranks 3rd nationally in total American Indian farms behind Arizona and Oklahoma respectively, with American Indian farmers and ranchers representing the second largest group of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in the country, just short in numbers of the Hispanic farmers. The 2012 Census of Agriculture reports that there are 528 BFR's within the Northern and Southern Pueblos which represent 29 % of all Pueblo farmers and ranchers in the target region. The project attempted to serve 50 to 75 BFR's during this three year project period. These BFR's are located within the Pueblos of Cochiti, San Felipe, Kewa (Santo Domingo), Sandia, Santa Ana, Zia, Jemez, Laguna and Acoma in New Mexico. These Pueblos comprise the Ten Southern Pueblos Council. Project staff conducted a series of community meetings at all SP's in an effort to recruit BFR's. 58 BFR's were initially admitted into the program and after interviewing them individually; individualized program curriculums were mutually developed after assessing their needs. The BFR's (n= 58) common needs centered on: farm record keeping (100 %), access to USDA programs (95%), soil testing and fertility (80%), IPM (60%), growing season extension (60%), specialty and new crop production (40%), forage selection and production (70%), herd health (60%), herd management (60%), range management and monitoring (50%), new marketing strategies (70%), other (4%). Five pueblo mentors were identified and paired with BFR's based on BFR individual goals and farming practices. Based on these BFR identified needs, 52 subject matter workshops and 9 agriculture conferences were developed and implemented at the 8 participating Pueblos. Mentors and project staff provided one-on-one assistance to each BFR and made regular farm visits. Changes/Problems:The SPBFRP has developed an Advisory Committee to assist the Project on conducting culturally appropriate programing, evaluate project activity and advise on improving project delivery. The Advisory Committee is composed of BFR's representing all the targeted Pueblos, the 5 Project Mentors, representatives from the USDA FSA, USDA NRCS and the USDA NASS, as well as the county extension agents from Cibola and Sandoval Counties. On November 21, 2013 the Advisory Committee met at Laguna Pueblo and the Project Director gave an overview of project activity, followed by the project team activity. The Advisory Committee was asked to assess the current project and to provide constructive recommendations for improving project delivery. As a direct result of the project implementation, there have been other BFR's who would like to participate in the program. We have asked that they attend the educational programs, but at that time, did not have the resources to include them in the overall BFR program. The Advisory Committee recommended that we should make an effort to showcase these BFR's at NMSU CES programs so that they may serve as role models for those wanting to begin farming and ranching at both the Southern and Northern Pueblos. In addition, they have asked that we provide more time at our workshops to allow USDA to work one-on-one with our BFR's as they are at the Pueblos and have the BFR's full attention to sign-up for their programs. Again, on August 10, 2015, the Advisory Committee met at Laguna Pueblo and was asked to assess the current project and to provide constructive recommendations for improving project delivery in the event the project would be funded by the USDA BFRVDP for continuation of educational and technical assistance. Overall, by a 98% excellent rating, the Advisory Committee felt that the project was on target and had made every effort to recruit all BFR's from within the Southern Pueblos and that the project was accomplishing what it was intended to accomplish based on project goals and objectives. The Advisory Committee recommended that we should make an effort to showcase these BFR's at NMSU CES programs so that they may serve as role models for those wanting to begin farming and ranching at both the Southern and Northern Pueblos. These individuals were acknowledged at the Pueblo Agriculture Conference held on August 11, 2015 which concluded our project activity. Also, in addition to the data provided on project accomplishment, we will be providing a video on BFR's and mentors testimonials in support of their SPBFRP experience as part of the evaluation process. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Based on BFR individual curriculum, project specialists and mentors provide one-on-one assistance to each participant as needed. The Project staff have learned that listening to the needs of the BFR's rather than dictating assessed needs, leads to mutual respect, trust and overall, success for our BFR's. Also, based on traditional Pueblo family culture, we are not just addressing the individual BFR, but the immediate and extended family as well. When we conduct on-farm visits, we will usually visit with not only the BFR but his/her spouse, children, parents, grandparents and others that are interested in the farm/ranch operation. When the project conducts workshops, training programs and conferences for our BFR's, we also prepare for their immediate and extended family to attend our programs. It is extremely enlightening to see several generations of Pueblo farmers and ranchers learning new sustainable agricultural strategies and sharing traditional sustainable agricultural strategies that have been passed down for hundreds, if not thousands of years. During the second and third years of the project, efforts have been concentrated on risk management training which includes strategic planning. BFR's have been introduced to using strategic planning by looking at their farm or ranch's past and current situations to plan for the future. They have been introduced to identifying threats and opportunities when planning. Office hours were held monthly at all Southern Pueblos. Appointments with Beginning Farmers and Ranchers were scheduled to enable agents to provide assistance and training to individuals as needed. Over 250 on-farm visits have been conducted throughout the past three years by the SPBFRP staff and project mentors. In the course of the three year project, space does not allow for describing the subject matter workshops and agriculture conferences provided to our BFR's. In summation these are the numbers of workshops and conferences conducted: 2012-2013 58 farm/ranch assessments 58 soil tests conducted 16 subject matter workshops 2 agriculture conference 2013-2014 24 soil tests conducted 15 range monitoring sites established 17 subject matter workshops 3 agriculture conference 2014-2015 6 soil tests conducted 19 subject matter workshops 4 agriculture conference 5 on-farm tours On-Farm Demonstrations: The BFR's were asked to develop a farm business plan with the assistance of the project specialists that incorporates their proposed on-farm demonstrations. Completing these farm business plans provide an incentive for the BFR's to be able to utilize up to $500 in materials to conduct these on-farm demonstrations which are carefully planned and assisted by the project specialists and would contribute to their farm/ranch operation. These on-farm demonstrations are used primarily to buffer the risk factor from our BFR's with incorporating new and sustainable management practices on their farms and to serve as a show-and-tell demonstration for other BFR's in our program. These past three years, we have conducted 12 on-farm demonstrations which include: (3) fruit orchard demonstrations, (1) grasshopper control demonstration, (1) teff grass demonstration, (5) hoop house demonstrations, (2) alfalfa variety demonstrations. Quotes from some of our BFR's: "This was a unique program which allowed the participants to further their education of the industry best practices." "Because of being Beef Quality Assurance certified, we are now getting much better prices at the sale barn." "The beginning farmer and rancher program has allowed me to get the training I needed to have a profitable alfalfa operation on my 12 acres. Before this program, I was losing money and was ready to give up. Thank you." "With the assistance of the beginning farmer and rancher program, I have begun an apple orchard that I hope my community members will see and become interested in turning their land back to agricultural production." "In the past we assumed a cow would have a calf every year, we never saw pregnancy testing as a valuable management tool. We are now making a living in the industry." "Last summer my traditional sweet corn field was attacked by grasshoppers, the project specialists showed me how to use an organic pesticide and saved my crop. Thank you." "I really enjoyed being in this program, it was very informative and hands-on of the topics I needed assistance." "In the past, I never kept farm records. After learning the importance of keeping records, I started to keep them. A year later a hail storm wiped out my corn and chile crop. Without my records, I would not have been able to recover my losses through USDA. Thank You." "I want to thank everyone who was involved with the program for sharing their knowledge of farming & ranching. It really helps us new green thumbs get our hands dirty in a good way." Others can be found at: https://youtu.be/VwSlkmogKIs How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our BFR's are the best source for dissemination of results in their communities as they are very proud of their accomplishments and invite other BFR to visit their farms and ranches. Pueblo leadership is constantly encouraging tribal membership to continue in the custom and tradition of their people. This leadership encourages the local teachers to work with the elders and now the BFR's to host youth field trips to the farms and ranches to promote and encourage new farmers and ranchers. NMSU CES has promoted the project and project activity over the past three years through newspaper articles that have been disseminated throughout the state and region. In addition, a YouTube video was produced to discuss project activity: https://youtu.be/OYqVrHiPDZA Annual reports have been presented to the USDA NIFA funding agency as well as through the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service reporting system. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project was evaluated through an entry one-on-one survey, pre and post workshop surveys and a final one-on-one exit survey of each participant. In addition, the advisory committee also evaluated the overall project strengths and weaknesses. In general, most (80%) of our participating BFR's had not participated in extension educational workshops prior to our project implementation and less than 10% had participated in USDA FSA, NRCS programs, and not one had participated in the USDA Census of Agriculture. Project participation required that all BFR's must register with USDA and develop a farm plan to be eligible for USDA programs and as a result, 100% of our BFR's are now registered with USDA and 45% eventually participated in FSA and NRCS programs which included: farm production and equipment loans, BFR loans, disaster reimbursement programs like NAP, ECP, and SURE, conservation programs like EQIP and others. Project farm strategic planning and record keeping education skills learned and implemented by the BFR's, insured that the BFR's qualified for these USDA programs. 100% of participating BFR's completed the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture. The following are examples of direct impacts resulting from project educational activity: - Over 98% of our BFR's had never conducted soil tests on their farms which had been in production for hundreds of years.100% of all BFR'sparticipated in the soil testing, interpretation of results and crop nutrition programs, 45% of the BFR's utilized new strategies to improve soil fertility such as cover cropping and rotational legume planting, thus increasing crop yields by 20% and adding up to $4000 in farm income per farm. -100% of our BFR's do not utilize chemical herbicides and insecticides on their farms due to traditional pueblo values. After participating in an IPM program which identified alternative practices, 25% of our BFR's have adopted these practices and are considering to apply for organic certification on their farms with potential monetary gains. The use of organic certified insecticides has prevented crop loss on 28% of BFR's crops which were valued at $6,000 for each farm. - Crop season extension has been a challenge in the high desert of central New Mexico. 9% of our BFR's, through the project, were taught to build inexpensive hoop houses and were taught how to manage production in them and are now growing and selling greens at the local markets. In addition, they are starting temperature sensitive plants like their traditional green chile for transplanting in the late spring. This practice has increased farm income by 20% or $5,000 per farmer. - Three BFR's have planted 20 assorted fruit trees each in on-farm demonstrations. These fruit trees will provide the BFR's and their peers with the varieties that respond well to the micro climates of the individual pueblos thus creating a great potential for large scale orchard production in the near future. The demonstration orchard plots are visited frequently by other BFR's interested in growing fruit. - 85% of our BFR's integrate forage production in their farming operations. After participating in forage production workshops and observing three forage variety demonstrations at cooperating BFR farms, 73% have planted and adopted forage varieties that were proven superiorin their micro climates, thus increasing forage production by 24% and increasing farm income by $6,000 per farm. - About 60% of our BFR's raise beef cattle and prior to project implementation, not one was certified under the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. The BQA program is administered by the NMSU CES and individuals are taught and tested on proper livestock vaccination practices and vaccination/antibiotic record keeping. Cattle buyers pay a premium (10 to 20%) for these calves as they know that if the seller is BQA certified they know what they are purchasing and do not take chances on purchasing non- vaccinated cattle. 90% of our BFR's who raise beef cattle, through our program, became BQA certified and experienced an average increase of 12% in their calf value sales resulting in an average of $190 more per calf sold or $9,500 per rancher. - Due to continued drought over the past 5 years in the high desert SP rangeland, range monitoring is essential to establish range trend and stocking rates. It does not make sense to graze cattle that are barren when grass is scarce and cattle prices are high. 100% of our BFR cattle producers participated in range management educational programs which included establishing range monitoring sites on their ranches. In addition, herd health and management workshops were conducted. As part of the management curriculum, beef cattle pregnancy diagnosis workshops were conducted. These one-on-one, hands-on workshops trained our BFR's to determine if a cow was pregnant, how far along and her nutritional needs. 35% of our BFR's have become proficient in diagnosis and can now cull dry cows in the fall. This management practice will save our BFR's thousands of dollars in feed costs over the years to come, and may be the tool to keep them in ranching in the future. Direct impact is estimated at 25% increase in ranch income due to a higher percent of calf crop and lower feed costs. - Bull testing is an essential management tool in a cow-calf operation. Prior to project implementation, only 6% of our BFR's were testing their bulls for fertility and disease. 100% of our BFR's who raise beef cattle participated in the project's bull management program. As a result, 95% are now testing their bulls and increasing ranch income by 10%.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Agriculture has played an important role in the survival of the Pueblo People of central New Mexico within the past one thousand years. These Pueblo farmers and ranchers have the longest and most continuous history of farming within the continental United States. The Pueblo Indians began their agricultural practices, which included irrigation, in 1000 A.D. to complement their hunting efforts as they settled the fertile river valleys of the Rio Grande and its tributaries in central New Mexico. Many of these farms are still in production today as their descendants continue this culture and tradition. The custom and culture of the Pueblo People is very much tied to the land and agriculture. If agriculture is lost at the Southern Pueblos; custom, culture, tradition and their language will also be lost. The Southern Pueblo Beginning Farmer and Rancher Project (SPBFRP) proposes to develop a practical approach to meeting the individual production, marketing and financing needs of American Indian Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (BFR’s) of the Southern Pueblos in central New Mexico through this three year project. These efforts will assist them in developing sustainable management and production practices and marketing strategies on their farms and ranches in an effort to compete and succeed in American agriculture. These BFR’s are located within the Pueblos of Cochiti, San Felipe, Kewa (Santo Domingo), Sandia, Santa Ana, Zia, Jemez, Isleta, Laguna and Acoma in New Mexico. These Pueblos comprise the Ten Southern Pueblos Council. The overall goal of the project is to provide the best possible research based and proven sustainable educational and technical assistance to the Pueblo BFR’s through culturally accepted methods in an effort to empower them with the skills and knowledge necessary to compete and succeed in their agricultural business endeavors. This project will serve as a model for future BFR development programs at other American Indian farming regions that share similar characteristics. New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service’s RAIPAP has a long and successful history of working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in New Mexico and was awarded the 2008 USDA CSREES National Award for Diversity for this service. We are collaborating with the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), 1994 Land Grant Institution on this project who also have a long and successful history of working with the target audience over the years. This may be the first time an 1862 and a 1994 Land Grant Institutions have worked together to provide educational and technical assistance to our targeted Native American beginning farmers and ranchers. Most importantly, we are collaborating with local Pueblo livestock and growers associations. Through this collaboration, our Southern Pueblo beginning farmers and ranchers will have the best resources available to them to succeed and become a viable entity in American agriculture. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? January 6 to 8, 2014 - NMSU Cooperative Extension Service In-Service, Las Curces, New Mexico February 27 & 28, 2014 - NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Small Farm and Ranch Task Force Retreat, Laguna Pueblo, NM How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Project staff regularly visit with Pueblo leadership and keep them advised of project activity. In addition, the Project has met with our SPBFRP Advisory Board: SPBFRP Advisory Committee: The SPBFRP has developed an Advisory Committee to assist the Project on conducting culturally appropriate programing, evaluate project activity and advise on improving project delivery. The Advisory Committee is composed of BFR’s representing all the targeted Pueblos, the 5 Project Mentors, representatives from the USDA FSA, USDA NRCS and the USDA NASS, as well as the County Extension Agents from Cibola and Sandoval Counties. On November 21, 2013 the Advisory Committee met at Laguna Pueblo and the Project Director gave an overview of project activity, followed by the project team activity. The Advisory Committee was asked to assess the current project and to provide constructive recommendations for improving project delivery. Overall, the Advisory Committee felt that the project was on target and had made every effort to recruit all BFR’s from within the Southern Pueblos and that the project was accomplishing what it was intended to accomplish. As a direct result of the project implementation, there have been other BFR’s who would like to participate in the program. We have asked that they attend the educational programs, but at this time, do not have the resources to include them in the overall BFR program. The Advisory Committee recommended that we should make an effort to showcase these BFR’s at NMSU CES programs so that they may serve as role models for those wanting to begin farming and ranching at both the Southern and Northern Pueblos. In addition, they have asked that we provide more time at our workshops to allow USDA to work one-on-one with our BFR’s as they are at the Pueblos and have the BFR’s full attention to sign-up for their programs. We are working with USDA FSA and NRCS to allow their specialists to accommodate their requests. A full report will be provided on the final project report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? As we are starting our Third and final year of the SPBFRP, we are meeting individually with each of our BFR’s and mutually assessing their programs. We are highly encouraging them to participate in the on-farm demonstrations as they explore the visions of their farm and ranch dreams. As mentioned earlier, as a requirement for an on-farm demonstration project, the BFR must complete with the assistance of the SPBFRP agents, a farm business plan. The inclusion of this requirement assures that there is complete buy in by the BFR and they have made the commitment to follow through with the project. On-farm visits and one-on-one communication with BFR's will continue througout the remainder of the project. Subject matter workshops and conferences are currently being planned and will be implemented throughout the year.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. Identify all BFR’s in the target region and make all available efforts to recruit them into the program. Project Objective 1 completed as of Year One. Finalized recruiting efforts: Program report includes 58 BFR’s and 5 mentors who have been recruited, interviewed, applied for program and have been accepted into the SPBFR program. Objective 2. Develop a Pueblo BFR educational and technical assistance curriculum with the assistance of BFR’s, Pueblo farmers/ranchers (mentors) and project collaborators. The Project staff developed an educational and technical assistance curriculum tool that allowed the BFR’s with the direction of the SPBFRP specialists and mentors, to develop a curriculum specific to their needs and projected goals in Year One. The Project required that each participant: participate in the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture; sign-up and register their farm/ranch with USDA in an effort to be eligible for USDA assistance; conduct a soil test and evaluation on crop and forage fields; livestock producers participate in a range monitoring program; and all participants receive training and keep current farm/ranch business records. As per the end of Year Two, all 58 BFR’s have completed the required pre-requisite conditions of the Project, and the range monitoring educational component continued in the spring of 2014 and is complete as of Year Two. Objective 3. Match cooperating Pueblo farmer/rancher mentors with participating BFR’s. Objective 3 has been met during Year Two reporting period and will be updated as needed. Objective 4. Provide one-on-one technical and educational assistance to the BFR’s participating in the region that will enhance their ability to compete and succeed in the agricultural industry, thus retaining their customs and culture which are closely tied to the land and ultimately preserving their rural communities. Project Activity: Based on BFR individual curriculum, one-on-one SPBFRP specialist and mentor assistance has been given to each participant as needed. The Project staff have learned that listening to the needs of the BFR’s rather than dictating assessed needs, leads to mutual respect, trust and overall, success for our BFR’s. Also, based on traditional Pueblo family culture, we are not just addressing the individual BFR, but the immediate and extended family as well. When we conduct on-farm visits, we will usually visit with not only the BFR but his/her spouse, children, parents, grandparents and others that are interested in the farm/ranch operation. When the SPBFRP conducts workshops, training programs and conferences for our BFR’s, we also prepare for their immediate and extended family to attend our programs. It is extremely enlightening to see several generations of Pueblo farmers and ranchers learning new sustainable agricultural strategies and sharing traditional sustainable agricultural strategies that have been passed down for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The SPBFRP strongly encourages the use of soil testing and provide interpretation/recommendations for all 58 BFR participants. Most of these agricultural lands have been farmed continuously for over 800 years and strategies to improve these soils has become a major concern for our BFR’s. Within the First and Second years of the Project, over 90% of our BFR crop and forage fields have been tested and based on these tests, sustainable strategies to improve the soils have been developed for each field. During the second year of the project, efforts have been concentrated on risk management training which includes strategic planning. BFR’s have been introduced to using strategic planning by looking at their farm or ranch’s past and current situations to plan for the future. The have been introduced to identifying treats and opportunities when planning. Many of the BFR’s will not complete a business plan for their farm or ranch, but with the training they have received they will be able utilize their record keeping and strategic planning skills to make informed decisions. Office hours were held monthly at all Southern Pueblos. Appointments with Beginning Farmers and Ranchers were scheduled to enable agents to provide assistance and training to individuals as needed. Over 120 on-farm visits have been conducted throughout the past year by the SPBFRP staff and Project Mentors. The Project staff have developed workshops based on collective BFR needs and have strategically held them at various locations to accommodate our producers. BFR participants, including Mentors, have been reimbursed for expenses when they are required to travel out of their Pueblo to attend these workshops and regional conferences that fulfill their educational and technical needs based on their personalized curriculum. The SPBFRP, based on the direct needs of our BFR’s, planned, coordinated and implemented these subject matter workshops and conferences as reported. On-Farm Demonstrations: The BFR’s were asked to develop a farm business plan with the assistance of the SPBFRP specialists that incorporates their proposed on-farm demonstrations. Completing these farm business plans provide an incentive for the BFR’s to be able to utilize up to $500 in materials to conduct these on-farm demonstrations which are carefully planned and assisted by the SPBFRP specialists and would contribute to their farm/ranch operation. These on-farm demonstrations are used primarily to buffer the risk factor from our BFR’s with incorporating new and sustainable management practices on their farms and to serve as a show-and-tell demonstration for other BFR’s in our program. This past year, we have conducted 4 on-farm demonstrations at these BFR’s farms as reported. Objective 5. Through a coordinated outreach effort, USDA program opportunities and services will be made available and accessible to the BFR’s who participate in this project. Project Activity: Project coordinators have meet with local USDA service providers and informed them of the SPBFRP and have invited them to participate in providing educational and technical assistance to the BFR’s enrolled in the program. These USDA agencies, FSA, NRCS, RD and NASS, have been invited to speak at nine (9) of our SPBFRP workshops held throughout the past year as they are listed on SPBFRP workshops. Additionally, they are represented on our Advisory Committee. These efforts have resulted in the BFR’s developing a USDA farm plan and are enrolled at the USDA FSA district office. Several of our BFR’s have applied for various USDA programs including the BFR loan program, EQIP and others. As a prerequisite for Project participation, all BFR’s completed the 2012 USDA Agriculture Census document. The Project Director worked closely with the New Mexico USDA Statistician during the first year and requested that USDA Agriculture Census enumerators be present at all community meetings and workshops during the 2012 Census process. All 58 SPBFRP BFR’s participated in the 2012 USDA Agriculture Census and were counted as BFR’s. The SPBFRP team continues to provide information of USDA programs and services that BFR’s are eligible to participate in and provide one-on-one assistance in completing USDA application forms. SPBFRP agents also provide information on USDA programs through email and one-on-one meetings.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The Southern Pueblo Beginning Farmer and Rancher Project (SPBFRP) proposes to develop a practical approach to meeting the individual production, marketing and financing needs of American Indian Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (BFR’s) of the Southern Pueblos in central New Mexico through this three year project. These efforts will assist them in developing sustainable management and production practices and marketing strategies on their farms and ranches in an effort to compete and succeed in American agriculture. These BFR’s are located within the Pueblos of Cochiti, San Felipe, Kewa (Santo Domingo), Sandia, Santa Ana, Zia, Jemez, Isleta, Laguna and Acoma in New Mexico. These Pueblos comprise the Ten Southern Pueblos Council. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Conducted an advisory committee meeting represenative of all target Pueblo communittees. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue providing one-on-one technical and educational assitance to SPBFR participants. Develop and implement subject specific workshops for SPBFR participants. Develop and implement individualized on-farm demonstrations for the SPBFR participants.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. Identify all BFR’s in the target region The PI and the SPBFRP staff, along with the IAIA Agriculture Coordinator met on several occasions during the month of September 2012 to develop a strategic plan to be utilized in: requesting permission from Pueblo officials to provide the service on the target Pueblos; develop a recruitment plan to identify potential Pueblo BFR’s; develop an assessment tool and participant contract form for BFR candidates; develop a curriculum tool that would be used for individual BFR needs; identify and recruit Pueblo Mentors; and plan and schedule focus group and community meetings to announce the project and recruit perspective BFR participants. Starting on 10/10/12, the SPBRP staff began the recruitment process and screening of potential BSF’s that met the criteria of the Project and would agree to participate in the program and abide by the Project guidelines. Individual candidates were interviewed by SPBFRP staff and assisted in completing Project application documents. The following meetings and contacts were conducted by the SPBFRP staff: 10/10/12 – Santo Domingo Pueblo 13 assessments 10/12/12 – San Felipe Pueblo Officials 10/18/12 – Acoma Pueblo Officials 10/1912 – Sandia Farmers 5 assessments 10/25/12 – Committee meeting 11/7/12 – Committee meeting 11/13/12 – Pueblo of San Felipe 11/15/12 –Acoma Pueblo 10 assessments 11/19/12 – Cochiti Pueblo producers 12 assessment 11/27/12 – San Felipe Pueblo 9 assessments 11/30/12 – Jemez Pueblo 12/5/12 – Committee meeting . 33 assessments 12/17/12 –Pueblo of Zia 12/19/12 – Cochiti Pueblo 12/20/12 –Pueblo of Santa Ana 12/20/13 – Sandia Pueblo Interviewed 2 1/22/13 – Santo Domingo Pueblo Interviewed 14 1/25/13 – Acoma Pueblo Interviewed 10 1/29/13– San Felipe Pueblo 5 assessments 1/30/13 –Cochiti Pueblo t Interviewed 12 2/13/13 - San Felipe Pueblo Interviewed 6 3/11,14,15/13 - Cochiti and San Felipe Pueblo soil samples. Received 17 signed agreements 4/5/13 –Acoma Pueblo 7 assessments 4/5/13 – Sandia Pueblo 1 assessment Finalized recruiting efforts: Program report includes 58 BFR’s who have been recruited, interviewed, applied for program and have been accepted into program. In addition, on-site visits to their farms/ranches have been conducted and mapped. These BFR’s represent the Pueblos of: Acoma, Cochiti, Jemez, Laguna, Sandia, San Felipe, and Santo Domingo. In addition, the Project has recruited 5 Mentors representing the Pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Jemez, Santo Domingo and San Felipe. The SPBFRP has also been able to develop a farmer/rancher producer data base from the target communities as a result of the focus group meetings, one-on-one contacts and community meetings during the process of recruiting the BFR’s. This data base will be utilized in providing outreach and assistance to these producers through established extension and USDA programs. Objective 2. Develop a Pueblo BFR educational and technical assistance curriculum with the assistance of BFR’s, Pueblo farmers/ranchers (mentors) and project collaborators. The Project staff developed an educational and technical assistance curriculum tool (see attachment) that allowed the BFR’s with the direction of the SPBFRP specialists and mentors, to develop a curriculum specific to their needs and projected goals. The Project required that each participant: participate in the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture; sign-up and register their farm/ranch with USDA in an effort to be eligible for USDA assistance; conduct a soil test and evaluation on crop and forage fields; livestock producers participate in a range monitoring program; and all participants receive training and keep current farm/ranch business records. Objective 3. Match cooperating Pueblo farmer/rancher mentors with participating BFR’s. BFR’s were allowed to choose their mentors from the 5 Pueblo Mentors who have volunteered to participate in the program. These Mentors are traditional and experienced farmers and ranchers representing the target Pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Jemez, Santo Domingo and San Felipe. Objective 4. Provide one-on-one technical and educational assistance to the BFR’s Based on BFR individual curriculum, one-on-one SPBFRP specialist and mentor assistance has been given to each participant as needed. Soil tests and interpretation/recommendations have been provided for all 58 BFR participants within the first year of the Project. Over 120 on-farm visits have been conducted throughout the past year by the SPBFRP staff. The Project staff have developed workshops based on collective BFR needs and have strategically held them at various locations to accommodate our producers. Participants have been reimbursed for expenses when they are required to travel out of their Pueblo to attend these workshops and regional conferences that fulfill their educational and technical needs based on their personalized curriculum. Programs, workshops and regional conferences that the SPBFRP have planned, developed and presented are as follow: 4/18/13 - Pueblo of Cochiti workshop on Alfalfa/Forage Production, Introduction to Farm and Ranch Record Keeping and Soil Sample Analysis/Interpretation The USDA was represented by(FSA, NRCS and NASS to provide the current information to producers. 40 BFR producers f attended. 5/8/13 - Santo Domingo Pueblo Workshop on: Vegetable Production, Soils Interpretation, and USDA also provided information on their current programs.40 in attendance 5/18/13 - Cochiti Pueblo Workshop on Alfalfa Production, Healthy Soils, and Record Keeping. 40 BFR’s in attendance 5/1,2,3/13-Women In Ag, Leadership Conference, 1 BFR in attendance 5/14,15/13 - Indian Livestock Days, 203 participants, which included BFR’s from Acoma, Santo Domingo, 5/21/13 - Beef Quality Assurance Workshop-was held at Acoma Pueblo, 48 participants, 5/28/13 - Basic Computer Training workshop at Santo Domingo Pueblo 5 attended.. 6/14/13 - Pueblo of Acoma, Range Monitoring Workshop, 12 attended 6/23/13- Tractor/Implement Maintenance and Safety Workshop at the Pueblo of Santo Domingo.. 30 attended 8/14/13 – Bull Selection and record keeping program at Acoma Pueblo was attended by 8 BFRs. 815/13 - Acoma Pueblo workshop, Marketing Cattle During Drought, Trichomoniasis in Cattle, Soils/No Till Farming, Healthy Eating, National Animal ID Program, Range Monitoring, and Wildlife Damage Management. 15 attended Objective 5. Through a coordinated outreach effort, USDA program opportunities and services will be made available and accessible to the BFR’s who participate in this project. Project coordinators have meet with local USDA service providers and informed them of the SPBFRP and have invited them to participate in providing educational and technical assistance to the BFR’s enrolled in the program. These USDA agencies, FSA, NRCS, RD and NASS, have been invited to speak at each of our SPBFRP workshops held throughout the past year as they are listed on SPBFRP workshops. These efforts have resulted in the BFR’s developing a USDA farm plan and are enrolled at the USDA FSA district office. Several of our BFR’s have applied for various USDA programs including the BFR loan program, EQIP and others. As a prerequisite for Project participation, all BFR’s completed the 2012 USDA Agriculture Census document. The Project Director has worked closely with the New Mexico USDA Statistician over the past year and requested that USDA Agriculture Census enumerators be present at all community meetings and workshops during the Census process.
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