Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Small and Limited-Resource Farm Families Single Parent Families Disadvantaged Youths Families with young children Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Hands-on training workshops, conferences, farm visits including field days were used to educate our audience on needs that were identified through questionnaires administered at various town hall meetings. The identified needs enabled the development of the training curriculum. Thus, the curriculum for sustainable crop production emphasized a holistic, integrated and systems approach to solving disease, insect pest and weed problems including training workshops IPM that cover some of the major vegetable pests in the regions. A participatory training approach was also utilized during the trainings sessions where participants were given pest problem scenarios and were asked to discuss in groups and identify appropriate solutions. Participants were also given printed resource materials relative to the topics being discussed at the workshops thirty (30) including field days fifteen (15) conferences and farm visits forty-five (45). Participants were also trained on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and Good Handling Practices (GHPs). Thus, the trainings enabled fifteen (15) farmers obtain the Produce GAP Harmonized and Post-Harvest Audit Certification which is required by retail markets. Thus, the certification enabled farmers to sell their produce to retail markets. Participants were also educated pesticide on the use and safety, selecting the right pesticide, and equipment calibration. The training also afforded seventy-five (75) farmers obtain Pesticide Private Application Certificates. Our key measure of success was that participants become active trainers on IPM agriculture and some participants reported that as a result of the training they were able to share information on IPM agriculture with at least other agricultural educators, farmers including non- agriculture other people hence, creating an expanded cadre of organic service providers throughout the state. Accessing markets can be particularly problematic for small, limited-resource farmers that lack sufficient volumes of products to feasibly attract and retain larger-scale buyers. Economies of scale can often result with producers and agribusinesses working together to address these production and marketing barriers. Thus, marketing as a group will enable small farmers gain access to new and larger markets. Therefore, farmers were educated on the techniques on how to build relationships with major retail markets such as (1) Walmart, (2) Whole Foods, (3) Sodexo, (4) Sunflower, and (5) Kroger.. The workshops afforded farmers the opportunity to learn how to negotiate fair and profitable prices, packaging, and delivery of produce. Additionally, a comprehensive list of potential produce markets such farmers markets and grocery stores within a 10 miles radius of each demonstration/educational center was made available to each participant. Such list provided another avenue were farmers can possiblysell their produce Farmers were also educated on how to diversify their farming operations and improve their marketing potentials. Value-added opportunity was also provided to the farmers where participants were educated on how to properly wash, cool, grade, package hence, adding-value to their produce which ultimately . Farmers were also educated on how to develop a consortium that leverages the strengths of each partner in a manner that builds capacity to work together on planning, organizing and marketing such that sustainability of their agricultural operations are enhanced. The workshops afforded farmers the opportunity to strengthen to pool their resources together and sold their produce to retail markets. The lack or poor financial planning and lack of good record keeping limit farmers' access to credit opportunities in turn limit small farmer's potential to obtain financial capital to upgrade or purchase modern farm equipment and enough materials and supplies for their operation. Hence, poor record keeping limits the farmer's capabilities for growth and development. Therefore, trainings and workshops on financial planning, good record keeping and cash flow analysis associated with farming were conducted to educate limited-resource farmers on how to improve their farm income and also enable them to determine expected expenses and their returns from their operation How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information were disseminated during trainngs, workshops, town-hall meetings group, meetings conferences and field days through presentations, hand-outs, fact sheets and bulletins What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Hands-on training workshops, conferences, field days and farm visits were used to educate farmers, agricultural agents students and other agriculture professionals on sustainable vegetable crop production practices, alternative marketing strategy and good farm record keeping. The activities were conducted at Alcorn State University Demonstration Centers located in Mound Bayou, Preston, Lorman and at participating farmers' fields located in Marks and Brookhaven Mississippi. Both farmers have agreed to offer mentorships. Need assessment survey was conducted for our target audience to determine their knowledge of the above subject areas prior to the training activities. The information obtained from the survey served as a guide in developing curriculum for the training workshops. Hence, the curriculum on vegetable production, marketing and farm management obtained from Alcorn State University Extension Program (ASUEP) resource library was revised to meet the specific objectives of the project. For sustainable crop production practices educational materials were designed to build up the IPM knowledge and skills of farmers, county extension agents and other agriculture professionals. The IPM educational resources (fact sheets, brochures, and handouts), field days, hands-on training workshops including on-farm demonstrations were used to educate our target audience about an environmentally-friendly approach to solving pest problems. The established on-farm demonstration plots served as outdoor hands-on experiential learning. The field plots served as laboratories where students, farmers, extension agents and the public received hands-on experience on the activities associated with IPM agriculture. The field activities comprised of field identification of pest and beneficial insects, weeds, learning about nonpesticidal tactics (organic agriculture), maintenance of seasonal records, determining economic threshold of certain insect pest and recording observations from the plots. The training workshops were also offered during the field days at participating farmers' locations who agree to offer mentorships. The activities also show cased different pest monitoring techniques such as sweep-net sampling, insect pheromones traps, and traps of different colors attractant to insects. Participants were also educated on the use of resistant crop varieties, balanced plant nutrition, preventative management strategies, reduced-risk pesticide selection and application, cultural practices such as sanitation, crop rotations, cover cropping, trap crops, and the creation of habitat for natural enemies and pollinators. Thirty (30) educational programs including fifty-five farm visits were conducted during the grant period reaching approximately two thousand seven hundred and fifty (2,750) individuals. Training workshops also included soil fertility, composting, crop rotation, cover crops, tillage equipment and field preparation, seeds selection (variety) and transplants, irrigation and spraying systems, harvest and postharvest handling. Participants were also trained on insects, diseases and weed management. Additionally, 45 farm visits were also conducted. Farmers were also trained on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and Good Handling Practices (GHPs). Food safety training workshops were also organized for farmers in the Northern Mississippi Delta Region particularly for farmers who are involved in the Walmart. Sunflower and Kroger initiative (Selling produce to Walmart, Sunflower and Kroger retail markets) which is to produce and purchase locally produced vegetables. Additional workshops included good farm record keeping, farm financial planning, and cash flow analysis associated with farming. These workshops afforded farmers the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and also help them to understand the importance of keeping accurate farm records that will assist them to determine expected expenses and their returns from their farm operation. Trainings were also conducted on the range of different market outlets such as direct market, CSA, farmers market, road sides, and marketing cooperatives, pick your own, farm-to school food programs, grocery stores, institutional and others tol enable farmers understand how to retain more of the food dollar, provide consumers with fresh, non-standardized food, and improve linkages between urban and rural communities Retrospective post survey revealed that 90% of the participants indicated taking action or making changes on their pest management program based on the information received from the training workshops; 75% of the participants are now engaging in farm record keeping due knowledge gained from past training activities while 80% of respondents have either engaged in new marketing opportunity or have developed a consortium with other farmersto leverage the strengths of each partner in a manner that builds capacity to work together on planning, organizing and marketing such that sustainability of their agricultural operations are enhanced
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
The Benefits of High Tunnel Production
Sustainable Vegetable Production Practices
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Farmers, extension specialists/agents and other agricultural peaople Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The success of a farm rests on the farmer being skilled in a wide number of areas; production, state and federal regulations, strategic business planning, human resource management, farm financial management, good record keeping, machine maintenance and repair, food safety and marketing. Therefore, farmers must be exposed to new knowledge that will enable them use modern management techniques that reduce capital expenditures, sustainably produce products of higher value, and capture a larger share of the food market. While most efforts to enhance sustainable production agriculture have focused on the traditional single meeting/in-service education format it does not cultivate a holistic, integrative, in-depth view of the sustainable agriculture approach. Therefore, farmers need research-based information on sustainable agriculture production practices to support their farming operations; hence, this project combined lessons from ASUEP and other educational curriculums on sustainable crop production marketing and management to create a model for in-depth training for farmers and agricultural educators. Thus, trainings focused on non-chemical, preventative disease, insect and weed management strategies appropriate for the southern region. A participatory training approach was emphasized where participants were given pest problem scenarios and were asked to discuss in groups and identify appropriate solutions. Prior to each session, participants received objectives and desired learning outcomes. Additionally, participants were given printed resource materials relative to the topics being taught. Resource materials broadened participants understanding of sustainable agriculture philosophy and principles. Farmers were also trained on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and Good Handling Practices (GHPs). Trainings/workshops on the range of market outlets available (direct or non-direct markets) and strategies on how to access these markets strategically were also conducted. Curriculum on farm financial management which included good record keeping, crop insurance, computer use in agriculture, and economics of sustainable agriculture methods was used to educate participants on how to improve their farm income and determine expected expenses and their returns from their farming operation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Research based information were disseminated at the training workshops and field days through presentations, hand-outs, factsheets and bulletins that covered sustainable vegetable crop production practices that utilize inputs that can be derived from on-farm biological resources, good farm record keeping and marketing strategies for commodities produced. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? To expand the scope of training module for project participants who cannot attend workshop/training meeting due to time conflicts via an interactive video/teleconference and development of educational resources and to establish an IPM website. (2) To continue hands-on training exercises on extension/research farms and participating farmers’ fields and also the development and distribution of educational materials.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Six workshops including three on-farm and on-hand training on sustainable crop production practices, alternative market strategies and effective management plan for sustainable farming operations were conducted for our target audience at Alcorn State University demonstration centers located in Mound Bayou, Preston, Marks, and Lorman and also at participating farmer’s fields. A total of three hundred and twenty-five (325) farmers and agriculture professionals attended the training workshops. The trainings utilized the curriculums on vegetable production, marketing and farm management obtained from Alcorn State University Extension Program (ASUEP) and resource library and revised to meet the specific objectives of the project. The trainings covered a diversity of horticultural enterprises, market outlet opportunities and good farm record keeping. For sustainable crop production processes, the training/workshops focused on site selection, soil fertility, composting, crop rotation, cover crops, tillage equipment and field preparation, seeds and transplants, irrigation and spraying systems, harvest and postharvest handling, integrated pest management as it relates to managing insects, diseases, weeds, and wildlife. Farmers were also trained on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and Good Handling Practices (GHPs). Trainings were also conducted for project participants on pesticide use and safety, selecting the right pesticide, and equipment calibration and optional tests of participants interested in becoming certified (or recertified) applicators of restricted pesticides. Marketing is one of the most important factors in determining the success of any farming enterprise. It includes most of the decisions made by producers. These decisions range from determining the most marketable varieties to produce to deciding how to deliver high quality vegetables to consumers at a profit. Therefore, trainings/workshops on the range of market outlets available (direct or non-direct markets) and strategies on how to access these markets strategically were conducted. Participants were also educated on web-based market opportunity. Such market has potential for increasing visibility and marketing opportunities to consumers who may not be aware of a local Community Supported Agriculture or unable to the local grocery store or attend farmers markets. Curriculum on farm financial management which includes good record keeping, crop insurance, computer use in agriculture, and economics of sustainable agriculture methods was used to educate participants on how to improve their farm income and determine expected expenses and their returns from their operation. Results from the questionnaire survey administered at the training workshops revealed that the average age of the participating farmer is 45 years old. The farm size ranged from less than 3acres (5%), up to 10 acres (40%), 11-25acres (35%) and more than 25acres (20%). Majority of the participants (84%) reported that they receive just a fraction of their annual income from the farm. The primary crops grown are southern peas, sweet corn, sweetpotato, okra, melons and green (mustard, turnips, collards and kale). The results also indicated that majority of the framers do not keep records of their farming operations however, 80% of the participants indicated taking action or making changes based on the information received from the training workshops. Also results from the training workshops indicated that 80% of the participants will engage use in sustainable crop production practices using cover crop and crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and also for weed control measures.
Publications
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