North Carolina Cooperative Extension at NCSU and NCA&T Strategic Plan for Sustainable Agriculture Training

in conjunction with the Professional Development Program 1999-2004

Paul Mueller
Crop Science Dept. NCSU
919-515-5825
paul_mueller@ncsu.edu

John O'Sullivan
Cooperative Extension Program NCA&TSU
336-334-7957
johno@ncat.edu

MISSION STATEMENT

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, in collaboration with farmers, governmental and non-governmental organizations will educate and train extension workers and other agricultural advisors in concepts and practices that support agricultural sustainability.

CORE VALUES

Integrity in exploring agricultural issues by pursuing a Systems Approach

Shared learning respectful of all concerned

Concern for economic, environmental and social well-being of present and future generations

GOALS

1. Institutionalize introductory training on sustainable agriculture concepts for new extension workers of the NCCES as mandated by Farm Bill Legislation.

Action Steps:

Research and lay out training options within CES with key ANR and Staff Development personnel. (10/99)
Develop a plan to meet training needs of new staff so that all new staff are informed of sustainable agriculture research and programs within 18 months of starting service. (11/99)
Involve state Sustainable Agriculture Coordinators with New Agent Training Program. (2/00)
Establish a New Faculty Sustainable Agriculture Connection on a one-to-one and on-going basis so that there is the development of relationships and networks on a mentored basis. (12/99)
Develop a New Faculty Sustainable Agriculture Resource Guide. (01/00)
Develop an In-Service training session and curriculum of new faculty to be offered at CEFS. (6/00)
Explore the opportunity of including Sustainable Agriculture in Annual Conference in November. (4/99)
Encourage new faculty to attend and participate in the CFSA Sustainable Agriculture Conference. (10/99)
100% of the new CES faculty receive training on a regular basis. (01/04)

2. Explore networking possibilities for training NRCS concerning sustainable agriculture activities such as whole farm planning, conservation tillage, cost share programs related to stream buffering, etc., and pasture ecology and rotational grazing.

Action Steps:

Meet with ANR program leaders to formulate a plan to connect with NRCS within North Carolina. (6/99)
Meet with NRCS state leaders to identify steps to take to integrate CES and NRCS sustainable agriculture efforts. (9/99)
Develop a plan for shared training and program collaboration involving CES, NRCS, farmers and non-government. (12/99)
Implement the plan so that 50% of NRCS field staff have CES SA training (12/04)
Twenty-five CES agents will participate in the same training with NRCS so as to enhance collaboration. (annually starting in 03/00)

3. Network with IMP program in providing training and other information regarding the ongoing dialogue over the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)

Action Steps:

Identify program continuities with a planning session between the SA Coordinators and IPM Coordinators on a semi-annual basis. (each yr.)
Plan In-service training for agents over implementation of FQPA. (06/each yr.)
Conduct Training.
25 agents will participate in IPM/SA training per year. Five field faculty of NCA&TSU will participate in this training as well.
Strengthen collaboration between NCSU IPM and NCA&TSU pesticide education program for small and limited resource farmers. (by 02/04)

4. Conduct training with CES staff and farmers on methodology of obtaining unbiased, site-specific research information in helping farmers generate information relevant to their own farms. This farmer-driven approach may be effective in helping farmers through transition in their farming operations brought about by changes in governmental commodity programs.

Action Steps:

Offer an In-Service training in collaboration with RAFI on the Peanut Project Process. (summer 99 and summer 00)
25 field faculty will participate in training and carry on farmer-driven extension programs in their counties. (12/02)
Work with CFSA to develop an organic farmer-drive research approach.
Plan approach for an organic program (04/99)
Develop a program (99 and 00)
By 02, CFSA will be supported in their organic outreach by CES and CFSA will be supporting organic research and outreach (01/02)
Twenty-five agents (including 3 A&T field faculty) will participate in organic training, organic schools and other organic outreach and demonstrations in cooperation with CFSA on an annual basis.
Work with the No-till Alliance and other groups to establish farmer driven research and farmer generated information sharing systems.
Continue no-till demonstrations (annually)
25 agents will participate in No-till training per year. Five field faculty of NCA&TSU will participate in this training as well.

5. Continue the establishment of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) as a collaborative effort among institutions (NCDA&CS, NCSU and NCA&TSU), farmers and organizations (NGOs and others) for study of agricultural sustainability through research, demonstration and training.

Action Steps:

Develop a plan to effectively use the state funds for planning the CEFS center. (3/99)
Develop a Friends of CEFS marketing and support effort. (3/00)
Emplement the marketing plan for CEFS so as to increase public visibility of the research and demonstration site at CEFS. (6/99)
25 agents will participate in training at CEFS per year. Five field faculty of NCA&TSU will participate in this training as well. The training will be designed to use the whole farm component on CEFS as well as other systems.
Develop and implement a plan to market CEFS as part of the Neuse River protection solution. (12/99)

6. Establish curricula within the higher education system through: development of an agro-ecology curriculum within the land grant system; providing organic production information for CES staff and farmers; support for small-farm and beginning farmer programs sponsored by local community colleges.

Active Steps:

Develop the documentation and obtain authorization from faculty and administration for an agro-ecology curriculum at NCSU. (3/00)
Twenty-five students per year will participate in the agro-ecology program. (09/00-01/04)
Develop the documentation and obtain authorization from faculty and administration for a sustainable agriculture curriculum at NCA&TSU. (09/00)
Fifty students per year will participate in courses in SA. (01/01-01/04)
Review policies, develop and implement a plan to support from the land grant institutions small-farm and beginning farmer programs at local community colleges. (9/01)
Implement five new SA programs with community colleges. (10/04)

7. Together with NGOs and organizations, explore the development of training programs to help farmers survive the period of transition from government support programs and globalization of markets. Areas such as land-loss prevention, farmland preservation, value-added marketing strategies, financial planning and debt management and asset preservation options should be explored.

Action Steps:

Develop and implement a plan to help farmers address transition issue which includes farm and environmental groups across the state. (10/99)
Work with the Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics Department to develop a plan to address farm needs for financial and debt management planning which include an SA perspective. (10/99)
Through CEMP 14 and other extension approaches bring the CES resources to bear on the question of value added marketing. (10/00)
Support the NCA&TSU Small Farm Demonstration Field Day effort to promote marketing or other market issues. (annually)
Provide resources to efforts to address specific issues such as the agro-tourism efforts in the mountains in so far as possible and in so far as they can be encouraged to adopt or include an SA perspective.
Network with the Natural Resource Leadership Institute and other internal and external groups addressing farmland and land use issues.

8. Develop and evaluation plan that:

Determines to what degree education objectives are met.
Provides adequate feedback so that program efforts can be revised.
Allows for efficient allocation of program resources.

Action Steps:

Develop and implement a plan to establish the benchmark of sustainable agriculture research and extension efforts across CALS, NCA&TSU and inform the public of such efforts through a brochure, the SA website and/or other methods. (09/99)
Develop and implement a plan to establish a benchmark of work being done at CEFS and inform the public of such efforts through a brochure, the SA website and/or other methods. (09/99)
Participate in regional SA PDP evaluation efforts so as to understand and inform the public of results being achieved in North Carolina. (annually)
Share evaluation results with the ANR Program leader and SA Coordinators so that program efforts can be revised and program resources reallocated as needed. (annually)

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