About the Professional Development Program
The Western SARE Professional Development Program, begun in 1994, aims to help agricultural professionals increase their understanding and proficiency in sustainable agriculture. The program strongly encourages cooperative learning opportunities involving both producers and professionals.
The first PDP competitive grants were funded in 1995. Since then, nearly 100 projects have been funded to spread knowledge on sustainable agriculture in the Western region. In addition, PDP has funded more than 200 state or protectorate implementation grants, typically conducted by PDP coordinators in each of the Western Region's 17 states and island protectorates. The variety and breadth of PDP grants reflect the geographic and agricultural diversity of the far-flung Western region. Here are a few recent examples:
- A Nevada extension educator is developing a handbook that discusses the principles of using livestock to tackle invasive plant species.
- In Oregon, educators are producing information tools designed to help ag consultants and producers improve their awareness of managing nutrients applied to crops.
- To help farm and ranch owners pass their operations to the next generation and to harness land preservation tools like conservation easements, California ag professionals have been conducting seminars on tax laws and other key elements of the processes.
- A Hawaii PDP project collected, improved access to and distributed key information on cover crops and green manures appropriate for farmland use in the Pacific region.
- A five-state project involving educators in Hawaii, California, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado has designed and distributed educational materials to agriculture and community development professionals on successful direct marketing channels and strategies.
Agriculture professionals who want to become involved in the Western SARE Professional Development Program will be interested in the guiding legislation that established the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. It says that PDP, also known as Chapter 3, is designed "to develop specific training and education activities to facilitate adoption of sustainable agriculture production systems and practices, as researched and developed under SARE, water quality and other appropriate programs at the USDA."
Specifically, Chapter 3 authorizes the development of important documents, including technical guides, handbooks and other education materials for sustainable agriculture. These documents "establish the framework within which farmers and ranchers develop agricultural production system plans for compliance with laws or voluntary actions."
The technical guides, handbooks and educational materials - developed through cooperative efforts of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service - should be designed to provide practical instructions and be organized in a way that facilitates the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices and systems by agricultural producers. They must address site-specific environmental and resource management issues related to the sustainability of farm and ranch profitability, including:
- enhancing and maintaining the fertility and conservation of farmland and ranch soils, ranges, pastures and wildlife,
- attaining efficient and effective use of agricultural inputs,
- protecting or enhancing the quality of water resources and
- optimizing the use of on-farm and on-ranch and nonrenewable resources.
In addition to these materials, the legislation says that PDP will establish a National Training Program in Sustainable Agriculture for all field-level key agricultural extension staff, with training also available for NRCS, Farm Service Agency and other professionals involved in providing information to farmers and ranchers. The propose of the training is to develop understanding, competence and ability to teach concepts related to establishing sustainable agriculture production systems, with emphasis on promoting SARE goals, including strengthening the family farm system.
Training in sustainable agriculture is to be based on proven adult education methods and practices, including the development of national and regional curriculum-based educational materials designed to lead toward the successful integration of methods and practices that enhance development of sustainable systems. Producer knowledge, expertise and experience must be the fundamental element of curriculum development and delivery.
Another element of the legislation states that the Cooperative Extension Service within each state and protectorate should transfer information developed through the SARE program and other appropriate research programs of USDA that:
- assist in developing farmer-to-farmer networks,
- conduct farm tours and field days,
- plan for extension programming with farmer input,
- provide technical assistance,
- consult closely with NRCS,
- develop educational and outreach programs for groundwater protection,
- develop information sources relating to crop diversification,
- establish well water testing programs and
- provide information on water quality practices, nutrient management and whole-farm management systems developed through SARE research grants and other USDA programs.
For more information, call 307.837.2674 or fax 307.837.2963.
