GRIFFIN, Ga. — Training programs and educational tools for ag professionals covering local food systems, natural resource management, soil health, IPM, and cover crops have been funded by the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program.
The Professional Development Program Grants are “train-the-trainer” grants that provide sustainable agriculture education and outreach strategies for ag professionals who work directly with farmers and ranchers. Training activities can include seminars, workshops, farm tours, on-farm demonstrations, or marketing materials.
Seven projects, totaling $482,627, were funded. They include:
ES18-138 Growing Your Local Food System and Its Brands, $79,999, Mississippi State University, James Barnes, james.barnes@msstate.edu
ES18-139 Natural Resource Management for Sustainable Agriculture Production in East Texas, $42,773, Texas A&M University, Vanessa Corriher-Olson, vacorriher@ag.tamu.edu
ES18-140 Training Innovative and Impactful Trainers to Provide Beginning Farmer Support in the Southern Appalachians, $43,450, Organic Growers School, Cameron Farlow,Cameron@organicgrowersschool.org
ES18-141 Soil SMaRTS (Specific Management and Resources Training for Sustainability) for Soil Health in Tennessee, $77,414, Tennessee State University, Jason de Koff, jdekoff@tnstate.edu
ES18-142 Promotion and Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Practices in Texas: Training the trainers, $80,000, Texas A&M University, Jake Mowrer, jake.mowrer@tamu.edu
ES18-143 Cattle and Small Ruminant IPM Educational Materials: A systems approach that will lead to a sustainable future, $79,900, Auburn University, Kely Palmer, ridleka@auburn.edu
ES18-144 Sharing the Wealth of Cover Crops: Improved cover crop and soil health knowledge sharing and networking, $79,091, Virginia Tech, Wade Thomason, wthomaso@vt.edu
The Professional Development Program Grant Calls for Proposals for FY2019 are currently open. The application deadline for pre-proposals is June 1. Click here to learn more about the Professional Development Program Grants, including who can apply, eligible activities, and the grants release schedule.
—Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program