State Program Plan for University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Transcription

1 State Program Plan for University of Maryland Eastern Shore Project Title: Educating Ag Service Providers and Farmers about Ethnic and Specialty Crop Production Opportunities State Coordinator: Berran Rogers

2 Northeast SARE State Program Project Plan for the: University of Maryland Eastern Shore Project Title: Educating Ag Service Providers and Farmers about Ethnic and Specialty Crop Production Opportunities PROJECT TOPIC AND JUSTIFICATION OF TRAINING NEED The overall goal of this project is to introduce and educate agriculture service providers and farmers to popular ethnic crops that can be grown on the Delmarva Peninsula and educate them about research-based production and marketing practices for the selected crops. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Maryland s population grew 9% to 5.77 million over the past decade. This growth is largely attributed to the diversity in ethnic groups moving into region. For example, Hispanics make up 8% of the state with half located on Maryland s Eastern Shore; Asians represent 5.5%, and other minority groups make up 7.9%. As a result, the increasing immigrant population in Maryland and along the Delmarva Peninsula has created the demand for ethnic crops in the region. Hence, growing these crops could present opportunities for farmers to diversify thus opening up new market streams, while at the same time, provide healthy diets desired by these growing ethnic populations. At the University of Maryland Eastern Shore s annual Small Farm Conference in November 2013, the planning committee offered an educational seminar on World Foods-Ethnic Crops whereby participants were introduced to a sample of various ethnic and specialty crops common among immigrant populations within the local region and their market potential. An evaluation survey was administered which showed: Approximately 50 persons attended the session, 38 farmers or aspiring farmers, 11 Ag Professionals, and 3 other. 45 participants indicated that they would like to know how to grow and market ethnic crops and would attend a follow up workshop. 5. BENEFICIARY AUDIENCE DESCRIPTION and RECRUITMENT EFFORTS Beneficiaries 20 Ag Service providers will be recruited to participate; they will consist of (but not limited to): UME extension educators, USDA NRCS & FSA personnel, MDA personnel, Non-profit Agricultural Organization representatives, and UMES Agriculture Researchers. 40 Farmers will be recruited and invited to participate in planned educational activities. Recruitment Efforts - Individuals who participated in the Small Farm Conference will be invited to educational program events on Ethnic and Specialty Crop Production. - Small Farms Project will utilize existing client database to solicit interest in educational programs via /mail. - A listserv of UME extension educators and other Ag professionals will receive notices of upcoming events on Ethnic & Specialty Crop Production and will be encourage to participate as well as share with respective farmer clientele. 3. LEARNING OUTCOMES Beneficiaries will increase their knowledge or skill set in the following: - Identification of select ethnic and specialty crops common among Hispanic, Asian, and/or African populations in the region and crops suitable to grow in region. - Production practices and guidelines associated with select crops demonstrated to include: planting techniques, fertilization, pest and disease management, harvesting, and post-harvest handling and storage. - Identification of marketing considerations or opportunities to include: packaging and processing. As a result of learning, agriculture service providers will be in a better position to advise and share information to farmers inquiring or expressing an interest in growing specialty crops. Farmers will be equipped with the knowledge and skill to diversify and try new alternative crops which in turn could increase farm profitability. 4. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES PLANNED - Meeting with project committee consisting of UMES Ag researcher(s), 2 farmers, a representative from select ethnic population groups, and Small Farm Project staff to determine a minimum of 2 different specialty crops from each ethnic group category (Hispanic, Asian, and African) to feature as a trial demonstration in year 2 and year 3. - Plant selected crops from each ethnic category group in year 1. - Host 2 on-farm demonstrations on campus research farm to showcase the new specialty crops and the horticultural practices for growing them. - Include a 1 ½ hour seminar on the ethnic & specialty crops SARE project as part of the annual Small Farm Conference in year 2 and 3. Presenters will cover the production, economics and marketing potential for the featured enterprises demonstrated. - A fact sheet on the identification of each selected ethnic and specialty crops to include production information will be developed. SEE ATTACHED MILESTONES FOR YEARS 1, 2 AND 3 VERIFICATION OF LEARNING OUTCOMES - All participants who attend educational activities will receive an initial pre- survey to assess their current baseline level of knowledge, skills and confidence, and particular learning interests. - A one page post survey will be administered at the end of each demonstration/workshop. These surveys will assess knowledge gained, the intent of ASPs to transfer knowledge and skill s to farmers and of farmers to adopt new crops, and additional learning needs or interests of both groups. 2a. AG SERVICE PROVIDER ACTIONS PROJECT PERFORMANCE TARGET - 10 Agricultural Service Providers who gain knowledge about production and marketing of popular, selected ethnic and specialty crops will transfer this knowledge to their respective farmer clientele in a variety of methods which may include: delivering educational workshops, fact sheets, group meetings, and one-on-one farm visits reaching a minimum of 100 producers or aspiring farmers. 2b. INDICATORS OF AG SERVICE PROVIDER ACTIONS - Number and type of methods used to deliver/transfer knowledge to farmers. - Number of farmers reached. - Number of project developed fact sheets distributed by ASPs. VERIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE TARGET - Participants will receive a template for recording information about their educational efforts with farmers, and sample questionnaires for use at workshops or other events to collect farmer contact and demographic information and to verify learning. The benefits to participants as well as the project of collecting and maintaining this data will be emphasized. - Follow up s will be made to all ASPs who participated in educational programs 3-6 months after event to ascertain if any actions have been made. - A final survey will be sent to all ASPs to at the end of year 3 to measure performance targets. 1a. FARMER ACTIONS DESIRED 10 farmers will adopt one or more specialty crops featured to their existing farm operation as a trial. 5 farmers will develop a new market for their ethnic/specialty crop thus increasing farm sales by an average of $2,500. 1b. INDICATORS OF FARMER ACTIONS - Number of farmers adding or adopting a new specialty crop to their existing operation. - Number of farmers who identify or develop a market for specialty crops grown. VERIFICATION OF FARMER ACTIONS (optional) The project will be reaching both ASPs and farmers. Farmers who participate directly in project educational programs will be surveyed by the state coordinator. The ASPs will be instructed and reminded to keep track of the farmers they reach, obtain contact information if possible, and record any information they learn about any actions that resulted from farmer participation. To facilitate good record keeping, a template will be created to help ASPs track the following: - Positive farmer actions and changes realized as a result of participation. - Tracking of how many educational materials (fact sheets) distributed and/or information shared via group meetings/presentations given. Sample surveys for use at educational events that ask about farmer learning and intent to act on knowledge gained will also be provided.

3 Northeast SARE State Program Project Plan for: University of Maryland Eastern Shore Project Title: Educating Ag Service Providers and Farmers about Ethnic and Specialty Crop Production Opportunities YEAR 1 Milestones: October 1, 2014 September 30, Project Committee meets and select 2 crops (from each ethnic category group) to be featured for trial demonstration in year 1 in November 2014 and again in January Establish demonstration plots to include site preparation and planting of seeds/transplants (May-June 2015). 3. Project team evaluates and collects production data (planting, fertilization, pest & disease management, plant growth/vitality, and harvesting) for educational purposes and to be shared via Small Farm Conference in ASPs and 500 farmers in Maryland and along the Delmarva Peninsula receive invitations in September to attend and learn about the project-sponsored specialty crops seminar at the Small Farm Conference scheduled in November YEAR 2 Milestones: October 1, 2015 September 30, ASPs and 500 farmers in Maryland and along the Delmarva Peninsula receive reminder invitation to attend the project-sponsored specialty crops seminar at the Small Farm Conference in November ASPs and 35 farmers attend the specialty crops seminar and learn about identification, production and marketing considerations of selected specialty crops featured from each ethnic category group (Hispanic crops could include: Tomatillo, Specialty Peppers, etc..; Asian crops may include: Karela (bitter melon), Guvar (cluster melon, etc..); African crop examples include: African eggplant, Amaranth, etc..). Participants receive pre and post evaluations, and educational materials, and other resource information. (November 2015) 3. Project Committee meet to assess the success of 1 st year planting, make modifications, and identify new crop varieties to feature for year 2 or continue with some existing crops featured in year Establish demonstration plots to include site preparation and planting of seeds/transplants (March-May 2016) ASPs and 200 farmers invited to attend field crop demonstration plots featuring selected ethnic crop9s) at campus research farm in April May ASPs and 25 farmers attend crop demonstration held in April or May ASPs and 200 farmers invited to attend 2nd field crop demonstration on selected ethnic crop(s) at campus research farm in August September

4 8. 5 ASPs and 20 farmers attend field crop demonstration held in August Sept YEAR 3 Milestones: October 1, 2016 September 30, ASPs and 500 farmers in Maryland and along the Delmarva Peninsula receive reminder invitation to attend the project-sponsored specialty crops seminar at the Small Farm Conference in November ASPs and 35 farmers attend the specialty crops seminar and learn about identification, production and marketing considerations of selected specialty crops featured during the crop year. Participants receive pre and post evaluations, and educational materials, and other resource information. (November 2016). 3. Project Committee meets and select 2 crops (from each ethnic category group) to be featured for trial demonstration in year 3 in January Establish demonstration plots to include site preparation and planting of seeds/transplants (March-May 2017) ASPs and 200 farmers invited to attend field crop demonstration plots featuring selected ethnic crop9s) at campus research farm in April May ASPs and 25 farmers attend crop demonstration held in April or May ASPs and 200 farmers invited to attend 2nd field crop demonstration on selected ethnic crop(s) at campus research farm in August September ASPs and 20 farmers attend field crop demonstration held in August Sept Project team work on compiling an informational fact sheet on the identification of each selected ethnic crop featured during project to include production information and marketing considerations such as packaging, storage, and/or value-added processing in September October Key Individuals Erroll Mattox & Pete Charlerie (Small Farm Outreach Agents) will help recruit ASPs and farmers to attend on-farm field demonstrations held at UMES research farm and annual Small Farm Conference; will also assist in planning, coordinating, and advertising SARE PDP events. Ms. Corrie Cotton (UMES-Agriculture Research Assistant professor) will assist with management of demonstration trials on research farm. Ms. Cotton has six years of experience conducting floricultural research trials at the UMES Agricultural Experiment Station. The trials 2

5 provided unbiased evaluation of plant cultivar performance in the landscape under local growing conditions to stakeholders (four seed companies that participated in the research trials). Ms. Cotton also has experience conducting greenhouse, high tunnel and field research in plant-microbe interactions, organic crop production, and food safety of fresh produce, and several years of experience participating in UME outreach and educational activities. Dr. Stephan Tubene - will serve as an Advisor and an occasional Trainee for the project. Dr. Tubene has good experience with growing various types of Ethnic and Specialty Vegetables here in Maryland. In 2004, Dr. Tubene co-authored a production handbook guide based on the results of field trials of new and exotic to the Southern Maryland region. Dr. Tubene will evaluate the technical aspect of the project and make sure that the project addresses its objectives and is on the right track in reaching target goals/outcomes. The project team will also utilize a wealth of resource information made available from the following resources: UMass Vegetable Program website ethnic crops section: Word Crops website a Rutgers, UMass and Cornell collaborative effort that was supported with funds from RMA and NESARE: Ethnic Vegetable Production Handbook. A handbook developed by Stephan Tubene and Dave Myers of the University of Maryland on ethnic vegetables: SARE Outreach Activities 1. Make information about SARE grant programs and other sustainable agricultural resources available to the agricultural community via attending Agriculture Field Days, Ag. Extension Programs and meetings throughout Eastern Shore. 2. Respond to inquiries (via , phone, office visits, farm visits) about SARE grant programs and other resources offered. 3. Promote SARE-sponsored events (UMES website; logos on educational program advertisements --brochures, flyers, etc ; newsletters) 4. Promote outcomes, educational resources and project profiles or stories from SARE-funded projects 5. Help strengthen sustainable agriculture networks in the state or region by collaborating with local, regional, and state agriculture agencies and non-profit organizations that share common goals and objectives. 3