Recipient Organization
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
820 CHESTNUT ST
JEFFERSON CITY,MO 651023537
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Through this proposal, the applicant intends to build on the success obtained and the lessons learned from a previously USDA/OPPE funded project, in Southeast Missouri, and expand the services of Lincoln University to the Northeast, Northwest, and Central regions of the State. The applicant aims to help minority, limited resources, and underserved farmers, in the three regions, improve their agricultural practices and increase their income, through increased extension programming, and collaboration with FSA, NRCS, and MDA, to help farmers know about and access the programs of these agencies. The applicant also intends to collaborate with other faculty in the college of agriculture, recruit one graduate student and 2 undergraduate students from underserved groups, and conduct much-needed research on marketing for minority and underserved farmers.This project will increase the capacity of Lincoln University through increased area of service (from 4 centers to 7 centers), increase in the number of farmers' educators by 3 educators, increased number of farmers served by LU by at least 120 farmers, increased LU Extension programming by 9 listening sessions for need assessment; 18 workshops and 9 regional conferences; an increase in LU Extension publications by 5 publications, an increase in LU underserved students by 3, and an increase in LU scientific publications by one thesis and one scientific manuscript published in a scientific journal.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The major objectives of the project are:1) to expand the Extension services of Lincoln University to the farmers of the Northwest, Northeast, and Central MO, to help build a stronger farming community for minority and limited resources farmers in respective regions. The sought outcome of Objective 1 is (1) At least 120 MLRUF in the Northwest, Northeast, and Central MO, that were not previously served by LU Extension, will be worked with and assisted in creating a more successful farming business; (2) Relationships among farmers, and among farmers and USDA and other organizations will be built.2) to provide Technical Assistance and workshops to minority and limited resource farmers to train and provide them with research based information to help them have successful farm businesses and operations. The sought outcome if objective 2 is (1) increased income of the farmer due to the project (ex: increased sales because of a better freshness and display of produce at the farmers market, recommended by the project through farm visits or workshops; (2) improved soil health due to the project (ex: improved soil health because of incorporation of cover crops in a vegetable production rotation, recommended through farm visits or workshops).3) to connect minority and limited resources farmers with the resources available to them through USDA, and other organizations in the region, while building relationships between the farmers and these agencies. The sought outcome of objective 3 is that at least 20 MLRUF/region will receive the resource or the funding they apply for and be able to implement their projects. Not only will the program staff help the clients to access resources but will also help them implement the resourced projects. For example, in the last two years, LU staff in the Southeast region of Missouri helped farmers install 15 high tunnels that were funded by NRCS- EQIP cost-share program. These staff members helped the farmers build their high tunnels (Figure 6) and they continue to assist their clients in learning how to grow crops in high tunnels.4) to conduct research and use the finding to train farmers on the markets and marketing strategies that best suit their operations. The sought outcome of objective 4 is (1) 1 graduate student will graduate from Lincoln University; (2) 2 undergraduate students will learn about research and extension, which will prepare them as trained future workforce for the nation; (3) 1 thesis will be developed and available to the scientists and to the public; (4) 1 manuscript will be published to benefit the scientific community on suitable markets and marketing strategies for minority and small farmers; (5) 1 Booklet on suitable markets and marketing strategies, edited to the 8th grade literacy level, will be published to benefit the farmers; and (6) At least 120 Farmers will be trained on marketing and will adjust their practices to make more profits
Project Methods
Objective One- To expand the Extension services of Lincoln University to the farmers of the Northwest, Northeast, and Central MO, to help build a stronger farming community for minority and limited resources farmers in respective regions: The long-term goal of this objective is to add the Northwest, Northeast, and Central Missouri to Lincoln University centers permanently. To accomplish this goal, three new staff members will be hired, and three volunteers will be recruited to carry out the tasks of this CBGP project. The project directors will train and lead the staff and volunteers to be tasked with producing the outputs and creating the outcomes set forth in the project. Through their work with farmers and regional stakeholders they will connect farmers to useful resources and to one another. These connections will help create a more vibrant and stronger farming community in the regions. This kind of outcome has been tried and tested in the other four regions (Southwest, North-Central, East-Central, and Southeast) with great success. Lessons learned from the formation of the southeast center will be used to improve and better serve the MLRUF in the regions.Objective Two- To provide Technical Assistance and workshops to minority and limited resource farmers to train and provide them with research-based information to help them have successful farm businesses and operations: This objective is at the heart of this project. Through the one-on-one work of the program staff with the farmers, a relationship is built. It is through this relationship that information is shared, and trust is built. Once the trust is established, the client is much more open to suggestions on how they might be able to improve a practice or start a new one. Lincoln University has many resources that the staff will be able to utilize to provide farmers with technical support, educational materials, or training workshops.Objective Three- To connect minority and limited resources farmers with the resources available to them through USDA, and other organizations in the region, while building relationships between the farmers and these agencies: It is very important that farmers are aware of all the resources that are available to them, so that they can take advantage of them. The information about these resources will not only be passed along to the clients, but the clients will be shown how to use these resources to benefit their operations.Objective Four - To conduct research and use the research finding to train farmers on the markets and marketing strategies that best suit them and their operations: One of the most important lessons learned from the past project in Southeast Missouri is how important marketing is for the farmer to prosper and how the MLRUF are challenged in selling their crops and/or selling them profitably. This objective aims to find out the marketing channels that are available to small and medium size farmers and help MLRF access these markets.