North Carolina SARE Professional Development Program Evaluation 2000

PROGRAM RESULTS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 1995 - 2000

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SOUTHERN REGION TRAINING CONSORTIUM

John Sabella, Ed.D. - March, 2001

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

USDA’s SARE Chapter 3 Professional Development Program (PDP) is a federally funded but regionally administered, competitive grants program. Initially funded in 1994, SARE PDP provides sustainable agriculture education and outreach strategies for Cooperative Extension Service personnel, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff and others who work directly with farmers and ranchers. The primary goal of the PDP in North Carolina has been to use regionally allocated funding for the development of training and educational opportunities in sustainable agriculture (SA) for field faculty, NRCS personnel, farmers who provide training and non-government organization (NGO) staff. Generally, these training events have been organized and conducted by NCSU and NCA&T extension faculty, field faculty or NGO meeting or workshop organizers.

The NC SARE funded training and educational opportunities are intended to increase the knowledge, awareness and skills of county extension agents in sustainable agriculture concepts and practices. It is expected that the agents will then incorporate these acquired skills and practices into their overall extension plan of work.

The purpose of the present NC SARE PDP Evaluation 2000 is to gather evidence of and evaluate the degree extension agents have brought back to their counties, information learned at SARE PDP funding educational programs. Secondly this evaluation has been developed to identify the results of these programs in the degree to which farmers and other clients now adopting sustainable practices because of the SARE PDP program. Specifically this evaluation reports the following indicators of results achieved since 1995:

The total number of NC SARE funded training events conducted, topics of the events, and agent participation since 1995;
The programmatic changes extension agents have made to their overall plan of work as a result of their participation with NC SARE PDP training;
The production, marketing and attitudinal changes their farmer/clients have made as result of county agents increased knowledge and skills of sustainable agriculture practices;
The extent of institutional changes in attitude and behavior towards sustainable agriculture.

This study includes two distinct data sets. These are here listed as Results and Impacts.

RESULTS: Quantitative data describing the total number of NC SARE PDP funded, sustainable agriculture conferences, demonstrations, field-days and training and educational events held in the state (or if out-of-state, attended by North Carolina educators) since 1995, for extension agents and other front-line agricultural professionals.

IMPACTS: Qualitative data documenting the changes in skills, knowledge and behaviors in the area of sustainable agriculture of those Cooperative Extension Personnel who have participated in one or more of the NC SARE PDP funded events since 1995.

Significant Findings

Since 1995, NC SARE PDP has supported a total of thirty-three (33) sustainable agriculture training and education events throughout the state resulting in a total of 492 contact hours with Cooperative Extension Service personnel, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff and others who work directly with farmers and ranchers. Of the thirty-three events conducted, 14% of the events had a specific sustainable agriculture focus while 86% of the events contained component topics specific to sustainable agriculture.
A total of 968 extension agents, other agricultural professionals and farmers participated in NC SARE PDP funded events. Of this total, 350 participants were Cooperative Extension Agents.
A total of 398 trainers and resource persons were contracted to teach or conduct NC SARE PDP events since 1995.
The majority of agents who responded to the survey (63%) indicated that they have made substantive changes to their over-all plan of work as a result of their participation with SARE training activities.
Agents who have participated in NC SARE PDP training are accessing new sources of information on sustainable agriculture including ATTRA, CEFS research results, the NCSU Sustainable Agriculture Web-Site, and information acquired from attending the annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference and other SARE funded workshops, tours, field-days and demonstrations.
Agents who have participated in NC SARE PDP training reported feeling more comfortable discussing sustainable agriculture issues with farmers and feel better prepared to direct them to the information and assistance they need.
Agents who have participated in NC SARE PDP training are supporting new practices in sustainable agriculture throughout their counties including organic vegetable production, alternative grazing practices, IPM, composting and cover-crops.
Agents who have participated in NC SARE PDP training are now promoting a variety of alternative and niche marketing strategies throughout the counties.
Agents responded that they are now attending and/or organizing meetings relating to organic agriculture production, agro-tourism, and other tours, field-days and demonstrations relating to sustainable agriculture production and marketing.
Agents indicated that they believe organic and sustainable agriculture has reached a level of acceptance among traditional farmers, and that most growers are recognizing the validity of sustainable agriculture concepts such as crop rotation, cover-crops, the use of organic matter and the importance of soil biology.
Agents commented that they have seen a significant and positive change towards sustainable agriculture in the last five years within the state Cooperative Extension Service, the land-grant Universities and other governmental and NGO organizations including more sustainable agriculture research, greater focus on “systems approaches” and an increase in training opportunities. However, agents reported less change with FFA and 4-H programs regarding sustainable agriculture.
Agents indicated that they want and need additional support for sustainable agriculture including more training opportunities, technical manuals and bulletins, tours, demonstrations and research regarding sustainable agriculture production, marketing and issues.

North Carolina SARE Professional Development Program Evaluation 2000

Program Results and Impact Assessment 1995 - 2000

Introduction

USDA’s SARE Chapter 3 Professional Development Program (PDP) is a federally funded but regionally administered, competitive grants program. Initially funded in 1994, SARE PDP provides sustainable agriculture education and outreach strategies for Cooperative Extension Service personnel, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff and others who work directly with farmers and ranchers. The purpose is to increase knowledge about – and help farmers adopt- sustainable agricultural practices that are profitable, environmentally sound and beneficial to local communities and society in general.

With this mandate in mind, the primary goal of the North Carolina SARE PDP has been to provide funding for the development of training and educational opportunities in sustainable agriculture (SA) for county extension agents. Generally, these training events have been organized and conducted by NCSU and NCA&T extension specialists. These SA opportunities have included:

New agent and in-service training;
Support for attending regional and national conferences and workshops;
Tours and field-days;
Semi-annual meetings of a state sustainable agriculture advisory task force;
Courses and workshops that earn university credit towards a Master of Science degree
County level demonstrations of sustainable agriculture practices and enterprise mixes.

The NC SARE funded training and educational opportunities are intended to increase the knowledge, awareness and skills of county extension agents in sustainable agriculture concepts and practices. It is expected that the agents will incorporate these acquired skills and practices into their overall extension plan of work including:

Accessing sources of information
Broadening their farmer/client base
Providing information to farmers/clients
Promoting and providing technical support for agriculture practices
Support of marketing strategies

Purpose and Objective of the Study

Issues relating to sustainable agriculture among university and extension faculty have been studied previously. In 1995, Minarovic conducted a study (as a Ph.D. dissertation topic) to identify attitudes about sustainable agriculture among faculty of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NCSU and in the School of Agriculture at NCA&TSU. In addition, the North Carolina SARE PDP was included in two programmatic evaluation studies of the Southern Region SARE PDP, in 1998 and again in 1999.

However, while all of these previous evaluations did an excellent job of reporting and analyzing PDP programmatic strengths and weakness, none of these evaluations examined the “impacts” of the training in terms of the change in attitudes and behaviors of the extension agents who have participated in SARE PDP funded training and the subsequent changes in attitudes and practices of their farmer/clients regarding sustainable agriculture. Essentially, it still was not known, as a result of SARE PDP training “what new information extension agents are bringing back to their counties, and consequently, what new attitudes and practices in sustainable agriculture are their farmer/clients now adopting”.

In the course of the 1999 evaluation of the Southern Region SARE PDP referred to above, the SARE National Program Leader in Washington, DC was asked, What information is needed from the projects at the level? Her response below illustrates the importance of documenting SARE PDP impacts in the field.

“We have a mandate from Congress to train front-line agriculture professionals in sustainable agriculture principals and practices. We have to demonstrate that we have provided those opportunities, to know what kinds of training have occurred, and what effects or impacts have these training's had on increasing the knowledge base in sustainable agriculture. Are they now doing a better job as a result? We have done a good job in demonstrating information such as numbers of people reached, but we need to do a better job of showing; how agents are actually using these practices, how has it changed lives, what are the economic impacts, are we now providing the public with better service? We would also like to receive from the projects more 'direct quotes' that demonstrate changes in attitudes, knowledge and behavior”.

The purpose of the present NC SARE PDP Evaluation 2000 is to document, since 1995:

The total number of NC SARE funded training events conducted topics of the events, and agent participation;
The programmatic changes extension agents have made to their overall program of work as a result of their participation with NC SARE PDP training;
The production, marketing and attitudinal changes their farmer/clients have made as result of county agents increased knowledge and skills of sustainable agriculture practices;
The extent of institutional changes in attitude and behavior towards sustainable agriculture.
The data from the study will be used to:
Assess the effectiveness of SARE PDP funded training since 1995;
To better understand the agricultural production and marketing practices that are occurring throughout the state;
Identify future agent training and support needs;
Determine appropriate strategies and activities for future planning;
Identify programmatic strengths and weaknesses.

Methodology

This study includes two distinct data sets. These are: Results and Impacts.

RESULTS: Quantitative data describing the total number of NC SARE PDP funded, sustainable agriculture conferences, demonstrations, field-days and training and educational events in the state since 1995, for extension agents and other front-line agricultural education professionals.

IMPACTS: Qualitative data documenting the changes in skills, knowledge and behaviors relating to sustainable agriculture of those Cooperative Extension Personnel who have participated in one or more of the NC SARE PDP funded events since 1995.

For information in the category listed as “Results”, the study relied on NC SARE PDP Documentation Forms from 1995 through 1999. These Documentation Forms are completed by the event organizer at the conclusion of each SARE PDP event and describe the type of the event, topic(s) of the event, total participation, materials provided etc. This data, presented in quantitative form, documents the numbers and kinds of SARE events that have occurred since 1995, and total participation including participants and instructors.

For information on the category listed as “Impacts”, an electronically mailed survey was sent to each Cooperative Extension Agent who participated in one or more of the NC SARE PDP funded events described in data set one. The survey asked the agents to describe how their participation with NC SARE PDP events has impacted:

Their over-all planned educational program;
Their sources of technical information ;
The information that they provide to their farmer/clients;
The agricultural production practices that they support within their county(s);
The marketing strategies that they promote;
The attitudes and opinions of their growers regarding sustainable agriculture;
The attitudes shown within and the degree of support of their institutions regarding sustainable agriculture concepts and practices;
The technical and educational support they need to continue to promote sustainable agriculture to their clients.
The complete survey instrument is included in this study as Appendix A.

The e-mailed survey received a seventy percent (70%) response rate. The electronic format allowed for specific follow-up requests from non-respondents and allowed individual respondents to seek clarification on questions that they did not fully understand. As a further incentive for timely response, the first twenty respondents received a book of their choice relating to Sustainable Agriculture from the SANET SARE publications library.

The data presented in this evaluation is intended to provide SARE program administrators an over-view of the kinds of extension activities and perceptual changes that have occurred throughout the state, since 1995, as a result of NC Cooperative Extension Agent participation in NC SARE PDP sustainable agriculture training,

NORTH CAROLINA SARE PDP

RESULTS

Since 1995, the NC SARE PDP has supported a total of thirty-three (33) sustainable agriculture training and education events throughout the state resulting in a total of 492 contact hours with Cooperative Extension Service personnel, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff and others who work directly with farmers and ranchers. Of the thirty-three events conducted, 14% of the events had a specific sustainable agriculture focus while 86% of the events contained component topics specific to sustainable agriculture. The types of SARE sponsored events conducted during this period include:

Conferences,
Farm Tours & field-days,
Pre-service and in-service agent training,
Workshops,
Sustainable agriculture interest group meetings,
Short-courses,
Train the trainer workshops,
Regional meetings.

According to the SARE 1996 - ’99 Documentation Forms, a total of 968 extension agents, other agricultural professionals, and farmers participated in NC SARE PDP funded events. Of this total, 350 participants were Cooperative Extension Agents. However, the Documentation Forms do not distinguish individuals who participated in more than one of the thirty-three total events since 1995. According to lists of participants from the event organizers, a total of fifty-seven (57) NC Cooperative Extension Agents attended one or more of the thirty-three SARE PDP sponsored events from 1996 – ’99. Other front-line agricultural professionals and farmers (who might serve as educators themselves) that participated include:

Other CES field staff (82),
CES state specialists and staff (76),
Non-CES university staff (22),
Farmers/Ranchers (326),
NRCS personnel (29),
State/Federal agency personnel; i.e. NCDA (10),
NGO/Non-profit representatives (73).

A total of 398 trainers and resource persons participated as educators or conducted NC SARE PDP events since 1995. A break-down of the institutions providing these trainers/resources persons include:

CES University faculty and specialists (179),
Farmers/Ranchers (126),
NRCS personnel (12),
NGO/Non-profit representatives (55),
Others including NCDA, Agri-Business etc. (26).

Topics in sustainable agriculture presented during the thirty-three NC SARE PDP funded training and educational events since 1995 included:

Beneficial insects,
Sustainable economic enterprises,
Pasture ecology and grazing management,
Rotational grazing for dairy herds,
Basic sustainable agriculture concepts,
Organic vegetable production,
Soil Fertility,
Compost based alternative to methyl bromide,
Crop rotations,
Composting,
Agricultural policy issues,
Direct & niche marketing strategies,
Holistic farm management systems,
No-till practices,
Organic cotton production,
Pasture ecology,
Grazing goats & sheep,
Farm animal slaughter regulations,
Specialty crop production & marketing options,
Organic weed control,
Soil disease suppression,
Discussion of Michael Ableman’s book “Good Earth”.
Training materials and handouts that were reported used during the NC SARE PDP funded events since 1995 included:
Kellogg/PIA produced video and companion booklet titled "Breaking New Ground";
Note-book of Sustainable Agriculture Resources;
Michael Ableman’s “Good Earth”;
The Green Book (A list of government and NGO agencies, farmers’ markets, business contacts for local farmers);
Various hand-outs, brochures and bulletins;
Soil testing kits;
Excerpts from Dr. John Ikerd’s ’97 S.A. conference key-note address.

NORTH CAROLINA SARE PDP IMPACTS

Changes in Cooperative Extension Agent Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior as a Result of NC SARE PDP Participation 1995 – 2000

Changes in CES Agents over-all Program of Work

The majority of agents who responded to the survey (63%) indicated that they have made changes to their over-all plan of work as a result of their participation with SARE training activities. One agent reported that since his SARE training, he has “expanded his program towards Sustainable Agriculture and has developed a proposal for a sustainable agriculture position in the country, which has been approved”. An agent in the Piedmont now incorporates 10% of his over-all programming towards sustainable agriculture, and another agent reported that he has “made a commitment to emphasis sustainable and organic agriculture in the two counties he has responsibility for”. Other agent comments regarding changes in their extension program include:

Though I had considerable interest and training in Sustainable Agriculture prior to coming to NC, the SARE conferences and workshops I have attended since 1998 have provided me with new information and new contacts for developing my Plan of Work including an on-farm research component.
Because of the SARE training I have received, programs in organic agriculture and horticultural crops have been included in my plan of work.
Some of the nuggets I extracted from my SARE training I have implemented into our existing programs that probably have played a positive role in further protection of the Catawba and Yadkin river basins.
I am presently in my first SARE training session, but I expect to incorporate much of what I am learning when I finish the course later this year.
The following is a summary of agent’s comments regarding changes made to their extension program as a result of their SARE participation.
I have established IPM test plots.
I conducted IPM workshops for cotton and peanut producers.
My plan of work now contains segments on alternative agriculture, agro-tourism, and organic agriculture.
I teach a small farm course at Ashville-Buncombe Community College and work closely with the Madison County Farmers Market and “Mountain Partners In Agriculture”.
I now work more with “smaller farmers” to help them get started in livestock production.
I applied for a SARE Grant for composting swine lagoon solids with earthworms.
I have expanded my over-all farmer/clientele base.
I am now more conscious of organic production possibilities.
I am now better informed and have more information to provide regarding sustainable agriculture.
I now include information on cover-crops to all my growers.
I have researched and used sustainable agriculture techniques learned with small fruit producers.
I have begun to encourage some producers to begin organic operations on some of their acreage.
I now spend more time on promoting pesticide and herbicide alternatives.
I now am promoting alternative crops instead of just corn, soybeans etc.
I have implemented a demonstration “organic broccoli operation” in my county.
I now work with two growers who are interested in organic and sustainable agriculture.
I have conducted four alternative agriculture tours in Virginia and North Carolina.
I now promote more IPM practices.
I have implemented a test-plot comparing yields of no-till vs. plasticulture organic tomatoes.
I now teach a class on organic vegetable gardening.
I have developed a web-site on cover-crops.
I am working with a grower to plant 1 acre of two new fruit varieties previously not grown in the county.
I have organized two successful sustainable agriculture summits in Orange County that help growers with alternative crops.

Sources of Technical Information

Agents were asked where they go for sources of information regarding sustainable agriculture. One respondent commented that “SARE has opened opportunities for getting new sources of information”, and another agent indicated that “I am now more knowledgeable of the sustainable agriculture resources available.” Still another agent who attended SARE training indicated that “I now have a more complete reference library and am more familiar with NCSU sustainable agriculture specialists”. A summary of the sustainable agriculture sources of information agents reported include:

NCSU research,
ATTRA,
Test-Plot results,
NCSU Sustainable Agriculture web-site,
Dr. Nancy Creamer and Dr. Keith Baldwin,
World-Wide Web,
Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS),
Cover-crops specialists,
NC Sustainable Agriculture Conference (coordinated on an annual basis by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association with support and resources provided by NCSU and NCA&TSU since 1984),
SARE literature when appropriate,
Extension specialists,
Other organic producers for pest management and alternative crops,
Organic and herb growers association meetings,
CFSA Organic Manual and SARE Book of Resources,
Other agents,
Commodity organizations,
Demonstrations.

Information Provided to Farmers

Agents were asked to describe any new information that they now provide their farmer/clients as a result of SARE participation. One agent commented that he “now feels more comfortable discussing Sustainable Agriculture issues with farmers and is better prepared to direct them to the information and assistance they need”. Another agent reported that “now my weekly columns and newsletters often contain information on Sustainable Agriculture”. A summary of agents responses to new information provided include:

Assisting several producers with SARE Grant projects,
I now encourage IPM and often suggest transition to organic production.
I conduct presentations on “Importance of Soil Microbiology” and its role in soil productivity.
Alternative pest control,
The information I now provide to farmers is based upon the “Systems Approach to Farm Sustainability”.
News articles on organic agriculture,
I now incorporate SARE information into my newsletters,
I write a newspaper column on sustainable agriculture news events for farmers and consumers.
I often copy articles relating to sustainable agriculture from verifiable research sources.
I now include more information on organic agriculture.

New Sustainable Agriculture Practices that Agents Now Support in their Counties

Agents listed a wide variety of practices when asked what new sustainable agriculture practices extension agents now support as a result of SARE participation. A summary of these new practices include:

Organic test-plots on Christmas trees, strawberries, ramps (onions) and ginseng,
Organic lettuce operations,
Organic/sustainable production of asparagus, blackberries, raspberries, carrots, figs and vegetables,
No-till demonstration with fall cabbage, broccoli and collards,
Compost demonstration and distribution of compost kits,
Alternative grazing practices,
Rotational grazing with beef producers,
Earthworm casting demonstration for vegetable production,
Our county poultry producers are now composting their litter, and I have been promoting the use of grass for feeding livestock.
Two growers who have gotten organic certification on 15 acres.
Farmers in the county who have adopted organic pest management strategies for alternative crops such as blackberries, greenhouse crops and vegetable transplants,
A local dairy operation that is considering producing a bagged composted manure & bedding product for sale,
A grower who has 500 acres of no-till & cover-cop vegetables, 200 acres of which are organic,
I work with several organic growers at a local farmers market.
Our workshops now feature demonstrations of sustainable weed management, season extension techniques and ethnic vegetables.
I am assisting five growers with “pastured poultry production” and with medicinal herbs.
Workshops on value-added production, marketing, cooperatives and season extension,
I have taken some of the important components of the Organic Systems approach and applied them to ornamental nursery crops in the area of IPM and ground cover management.
Ground cover management in field nurseries (435 acres impacted), IPM in field nurseries (435 acres impacted) and Best Management Practices (290 acres impacted).
A few more farmers have expressed interest in organic agriculture-more than would have 5 years ago. A part time farmer in Perquimans County is experimenting with shiitake mushroom production (SARE Producer Grant). This is a new enterprise in our area.

New Marketing Strategies that Agents Now Support in their Counties

Agents listed a wide variety of practices when asked what new sustainable agriculture practices extension agents now support as a result of SARE PDP educational program participation. A summary of these new marketing strategies include:

The Madison Co. Farmers Market which completed its second year with over $25,000 in sales.
I have assisted three producers in implementing market strategies for specialty crops and clean beef.
There has been a large increase in the number of tailgate marketing opportunities in the county.
I am investigating the costs of raising free-range hogs
County growers are tapping into organic niche markets and initiating value-added processes.
I have worked with the county to build a new farmers market at a new and improved location.
I encourage farmers at the local market to sell a diversity of products to attract a more diverse customer base.
Three traditional farmers in the county have diversified into fruit and vegetable production and are direct marketing their produce.
Our county is developing a buyers cooperative.
I am working with two farmers who have started a “pick-your-own strawberry operation and two tobacco growers who are now growing and selling organic tobacco on contract.
More growers are now producing and selling medicinal herbs.
There is an increased interest in agro-tourism.
Several county growers are exploring alternative marketing strategies for meat animals.
New Meetings that Agents Now Attend
When asked what new meetings extension agents now attend as a result of SARE participation, agents provided the following comments:
I now attend organic growers meetings with a number of our county organic growers and they are very appreciative to see “Cooperative Extension” represented.
I conduct an “Alternative Agriculture Seminar” which over 80 growers have attended in the last four years.
I conduct a “Successful Mountain Farming Options” course that has attracted 200 people in the last two years.
A recent meeting on “agro-tourism” had over 70 people attend.
We certified 15 farms after holding a “Certified Organic Farming “class.
I see an increase in producer attendance of organic workshops.
We are forming the “Yancy Organic Growers Association” (YOGA).
I plan to take a group of local producers to attend a field day at Polyface Farms.
I sent three farmers to a CFSA organic training conference in Kenansville.
I work with a farmer who is active with CFSA.
I have spoken about sustainable agriculture at four area district & state meetings, and one national meeting for the American Heritage Rivers Association.
I work with the Piedmont CFSA Chapter on their annual Sustainable Agriculture Tour.
I recently had a meeting for county vegetable growers featuring a prominent organic farmer to discuss alternative production and marketing strategies.
I have participated in the Burks Co. Farmers Market meetings.

There is increased attendance at CFSA Sustainable Agriculture Conference and SSAWG Conference from our area. We also had about 50 farmers and others attend a meeting on alternative agriculture and organic agriculture opportunities, organized with CFSA. At a district-wide Agriculture Opportunities Expo, organic and sustainable agriculture was represented.

New Attitudes & Opinions by Agents & Farmers Towards Sustainable Agriculture.

Agents were asked to comment on changes in attitudes towards sustainable agriculture they have observed among themselves and the farmers they work with since their participation with the SARE PDP program. The following is a summary of their responses:

The SARE training I attended helped remove my bias towards organic and sustainable agriculture.
Organic and Sustainable Agriculture has reached a level of acceptance among traditional farmers. It is encouraging when a few traditional tabacco farmers get a portion of their farm certified organic.
There is a greater awareness of the need for alternative marketing strategies.
Growers are more concerned about reducing input costs and returning profitability to the family farm.
Growers can see the profitability with organic production, but are afraid of the transition period.
Traditional farmers are recognizing the validity of Sustainable Agriculture concepts such as crop rotation, cover crops, the use of organic matter and the importance of soil biology.
As we as extension agents learn more about sustainable agriculture, farmers are becoming more exposed and more open and receptive to alternative production and marketing options.
Farmers are pleased that Cooperative Extension is taking the initiative to improving farmers’ profitability.
Most growers today are realizing that they have to change their production practices to maintain economic farm viability.
Farmers are still waiting to see scientific results from organic agriculture.
More growers are aware of potential new markets.
Producers have been more receptive to participate in IPM test-plots because of the SARE projects and the results achieved.
Because of the current tobacco situation, farmers are looking seriously at diversification and alternative production practices.
Farmers who have participated in our monthly S.A. workshops have reported an overwhelming satisfaction with the training.
Farmers now have a clearer understanding of farm sustainability and environmental protection as a result of my SARE training experience.

Changes in Cooperative Extension Service

Agents were asked to comment on the changes within the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service towards sustainable agriculture since 1995. The following is a summary of their responses:

There is more research being done on organic agriculture, especially at CEFS.
There is a stronger interest in promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
There is a shift from traditional production to organic/sustainable/alternative agriculture training and research.
There is an increase of sustainable agriculture workshop and training opportunities.
Extension has begun to recognize the value of sustainable agriculture.
More area specialists need to be involved.
There is less negativity towards S.A.
There is more emphasis on small-scale producers.
Agents and specialists are more open-minded and better informed.
CEFS research is winning new attention from conventional farmers.
There is less focus on commodities and more on a systems approach.
CES appears to be directing its focus towards non-traditional clientele who realize the importance of farming systems aligned closely with Sustainable Agriculture.
More support - even funding for positions with sustainable agriculture titles and job descriptions. (This was before the current budget crisis.) Support for CEFS.

Changes in the Land Grant Universities

Agents were asked to comment on the changes within the North Carolina land-grant universities towards sustainable agriculture since 1995. The following is a summary of their responses:

More research being conducted in S.A.
Efforts are being made to develop a research agenda around subjective findings/observations regarding organic agriculture.
More open-minded regarding S.A. concepts.
More focus on IPM.
More focus on small-scale production.
The universities are re-evaluating how they provide research to the public.
Some faculty doing sustainable agriculture research. Support for CEFS. Support for the Organic Farming Systems Course. More faculty teamwork to address sustainable agriculture issues. Less turfism and alignment along commodity lines.

Changes in Governmental Organizations & NGO’s

Agents were asked to comment on the changes within state governmental organizations & NGO’s towards sustainable agriculture since 1995. The following is a summary of their responses:

NCDA is more involved with sustainable agriculture issues.
I have noticed a gradual shift to greater acceptance of S. A. in all the agencies I work with.
NGO’s are gaining visibility, as they become more effective in promoting sustainable agriculture.
I notice reduced pesticide recommendations from several agencies.
There is more cooperation between NRCS and Extension with “water-quality” regulations.
Our local Farm Bureau had to purchase a second no-till planter due to demand.
We have begun partnering with other agencies to meet farmers needs.
These partners have become more supportive of promoting the concepts identified with sustainability of the family farm.

Changes with FFA/4- H

Agents were asked to comment on the changes within FFA and 4-H programs towards sustainable agriculture since 1995. The following is a summary of their responses:

Our county 4-H program in our county is doing a great job in the area of sustainable agriculture. Several projects have been initiated including a community garden.
Materials, Training or Other Needs for Continued Support of Sustainable Agriculture.
Agents were asked to suggest what they feel is needed to continue their support of sustainable agriculture. The following is a summary of their responses:
Universities need more research funds for Sustainable Agriculture.
Tours of innovative farmers markets.
Training in Community Supported Agriculture.
More production/marketing guides on organic agriculture.
Need more science-based information on S.A.
More organic training.
More research on alternative crops and marketing.
Training on how to effectively use the WorldWide Web.
More S.A. demonstrations and regional tours.
More information on forming “Growers Associations”.
Need more scholarships to attend CFSA Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference.
More on-line sources of information.
Looking forward to the completion of the SARE Organic Training Manual.
More regional S.A. updates for agents and growers such as organic production fact-sheets, field-days etc. CEFS is too far away.
Additional grant money to establish S.A. demonstrations.
More information on agro-tourism.
A Sustainable Agriculture newsletter for agents.
More support specialists for forage crops.
Publications of scientific and economic impacts of sustainable agriculture.
There should be more opportunities through CES phase II training to expose agents to sustainable agriculture (i.e. ABC’s of sustainable agriculture/organic systems for new agents –those with less than 2 to 3 years of extension service). More and more new audiences prefer to explore this route vs. Traditional production systems route. Second, how about more information on the NCCES intranet and internet homepage on organic production systems for agents and public. Third, how about a yearly update which is sent to agents on the on-going projects and results across the state from campus and field faculty who are involved with the sustainable agriculture/organic farming project.

General Comments

Agents were asked to provide additional comments and observations regarding sustainable agriculture and their participation with SARE funded training.

I am now better able to help those farmers I already work with.
Over half the county’s acreage in cotton and soybeans are now grown utilizing strip or no-till cultivation.
Some of the S.A. training was too cutting-edge. Some things I saw couldn’t be scientifically explained.
The challenge is to attract interest in sustainable agriculture with traditional farmers.
The work that has been done by Dr. Creamer and Dr. Baldwin has been a giant step in the right direction.
We need more agent participation in the Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference.
There is a need for better collaborative effort within Extension to evaluate viable S.A. projects throughout the state.
Sustainable Agriculture is an over-used buzzword; we have always practiced sustainable agriculture, its just semantics.
I am grateful for the S.A. opportunities SARE has provided me.
I am more knowledgeable about sustainable agriculture as a result of the SARE training
The NC SARE Professional Development Program has been instrumental in the professional development of agents across the state. It has opened the eyes and minds of agents to one of the many ways of the future with production agriculture. This project has and will continue to be instrumental in the future of production agriculture in NC.
The training in organic farming systems was one of the best-organized and agent-friendly courses/training’s I have had in my Extension career. It is a subject area, though, in which changes take place slowly, so it may be that 5 years from now, we can better see the impact of what we learned than we can now. Another great part of the class was the camaraderie among the agents. The two-day, once a month format promoted those kinds of relationships - much more than a once-a- week, 3 hour class.
We are submitting a proposal for the development of the High Country Sustainable Agriculture Project. This proposal seeks to expand an existing regional community-based agricultural system that is helping burley tobacco farmers diversify into other successful agricultural production models that keep tobacco and vegetables as an economic underpinning of western North Carolina's agricultural economy. We are asking for funds to replicate the successful model of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), teamed with the Watauga County Cooperative Extension Service, to create the High Country Sustainable Agriculture Project (HCSAP).
There is a middle of the road level where sustainable agriculture practices should be taught to agricultural producers. Somewhere between traditional practices and the 100% organically certified growers. My SARE grad class was too much geared to persuading us to teach the 100% Organic way. I gladly recommend sustainable practices to growers in my County, but not going the 100% organic way. For the apple growers, tobacco growers, etc here that would be a profitability disaster.

CONCLUSIONS

Based upon the enthusiastic and positive responses from NCCES agents who have participated in at least one NC SARE PDP sustainable agriculture training/educational event, it is evident the NC SARE PDP has had a significant impact in promoting sustainable agriculture practices throughout the state. Agents reported making substantive changes in their over-all plan of work, the sources and kinds of information they provided to farmers, the meetings they attend and organize, and the marketing strategies they promote. Agents also indicated that they perceive important changes in their farmer/client attitudes and opinions towards sustainable agriculture practices and issues. Perhaps this perception is best articulated by a comment an agent from the western part of the state made in response to the survey: “As we extension agents learn more about sustainable agriculture, farmers are becoming more exposed and more open and receptive to alternative production and marketing options.”

However, it is important to point out that the population of NCCES personnel who have participated in SARE training opportunities (43%) is relatively small in relation to the total number of agricultural CES agents in the state (520 field staff and 134 agriculture agents). More CES personnel and specialist need to participate to fully prepare the states agriculture sector in sustainable agriculture practices and principles. Additionally, it is not possible to credit all changes of CES agents in skill, attitude and behavior of towards sustainable agriculture to the NC SARE PDP activities. Many agents reported having an interest and knowledge of sustainable agriculture before their employment with NCCES. At the same time, there are many governmental and NGO organizations throughout the state who have been promoting sustainable agriculture for many years. Nevertheless, SARE PDP has been the only program with a mandate to train NCCES personnel in sustainable agriculture, and the study responses show that the NC SARE PDP has collaborated effectively with these various governmental and NGO organizations. For example, the largest expenditures of SARE PDP funds since 1995 have been to support CES agents and area specialists to attend the annual CFSA Sustainable Agriculture Conference, and other similar events held throughout the region.

SARE PDP has a mandate to provide sustainable agriculture training opportunities not only to CES personnel, but with other front-line agriculture professionals as well. Though the study responses show that the NC SARE PDP has made a significant impact with NCEES personnel, the program has had less success impacting other critical agricultural education sectors, particularly youth programs such as 4-H and High School Vocational Agriculture and its affiliated FFA programs. SARE PDP should consider expanding training efforts to include more sustainable agriculture training for high school vocational agriculture teachers and 4-H instructors. There must be a concerted effort made to provide the state’s emerging agricultural professionals and farmers with the skills and knowledge they will need to be successful in an ever increasingly complex and dynamic agricultural environment.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based upon the agents responses comments to the survey, the following suggestions and recommendations are provided for consideration.

Additional and expanded training and educational opportunities in sustainable agriculture practices and issues for CES agents, specialists and other agricultural professionals.
Provide CES agents more sustainable agriculture material and technical support from scientific research results, technical manuals, bulletins, news-letters field demonstrations, tours etc.
Increased and expanded NCSU/NCA&T research conducted on issues pertaining to organic and sustainable agriculture.
More CES scholarships for attending state, regional and national sustainable agriculture conferences, seminars and workshops.
Additional sustainable agriculture workshops and courses that earn CES agents and other agricultural professionals’ university credit.
A regular NC SARE PDP newsletter with technical information, program up-dates and grower/agent success stories.
Increased support for CES agents to organize and conduct demonstrations, field days and tours etc, pertaining to sustainable agriculture.
Prompt completion of the SARE Organic Training manual.

APPENDIX A

NC SARE PDP EVALUATION 2000 SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

Directions:
Please take the time to consider, and then answer the following 9 questions and return your response ASAP to: jsabella@coastalnet.com

Our records indicate that you have participated in at least one SARE PDP Sustainable Agriculture Training event since 1995 (ex. in-service training, new agent training, regional conferences, NC SARE Organic Systems Training Project, the NC Sustainable Agriculture Conference, the Regional SAWG (sustainable agriculture working group) Conference. Please list the activity(s) you have participated in.

1. Based on your participation, describe the changes you have made with the following:

a) You're over-all extension plan of work?

b) The information you provide to farmers?

c) Your sources of technical information?

d) The demonstrations, newsletters, articles, materials that you distribute in the county?

e) Have you developed or adapted any programs or products in Sustainable
Agriculture because of your SARE or PDP training? Please describe them?

2. Describe any new waterways protected, community relations enhanced or
profitability improved etc., as a result of your training in sustainable agriculture.

3. Describe any new sustainable agriculture practices (composting, no-till, forage grazing, organic agriculture etc.) acres impacted, waterways protected, community relations enhanced or profitability improved etc., that farmers are now adapting as a result of your training in sustainable agriculture

4. Describe any new marketing strategies that farmers are now adapting as a result of your training in sustainable agriculture.

5. Describe any new meetings and activities that farmers are now attending as a result of your training in sustainable agriculture.

6. Describe any perceived new attitudes and opinions among farmers regarding Sustainable Agriculture as a result of your participation in SARE training.

7. What changes do you think have occurred in the last five years within the
following institutions regarding sustainable agriculture?

a) Cooperative Extension Service.

b) Land-Grant Universities.

c) 4-H/FFA.

d) Governmental (NCDA, NRCS, Others....) and Non-governmental agencies (Farm Bureau, RAFI, CFSA, others) and groups with which you're working and collaborating.

8. What additional kinds of supporting materials, training opportunities or other assistance would best support your efforts in promoting sustainable agriculture?

9. Any concluding comments you wish to make?

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