For 100 years , farmer have been turning to their localcooperative extensionoffices for advice and intelligence . The side of farming has changed in more way than this service ’s father could have possibly suppose — the term “ urban agriculture , ” an actual conflict between “ organic ” and “ ceremonious ” farming , the use of tractor and the cyberspace in agriculture , and a teddy from rural to urban and suburban living , to name a few change . Yet since 1914 , county and state cooperative file name extension agent have aid to better agrarian sideline of all kinds in their residential district .
The conjunctive extension is a military service provided by your province ’s body politic - grant insane asylum , and it ’s paid for partly with your tax dollars . If you ’re not already working with your local cooperative lengthiness , here are six way you’re able to make use of this valuable resource .
1 . Get EducatedThe cooperative extension ’s educational scheduling is maybe the greatest asset for a small - scale farmer .
“ There are many examples across the land of prolongation publications , workshops and short courses that concentre specifically on the pauperism of small , part - time and homestead granger , ” says Rob Hedberg , national program leader of the USDA ’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and national director of Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education . “ These can be comprehensive programs that address all aspect of successfully pull off multiple little - farm enterprise or as simple as a fact sheet telling how to grow a specific harvest successfully with minimal inputs . ”
Check out your local office ’s workshop calendar to go to event from afternoon - long food - saving workshops to multisession Master Gardener certification programs to university - farm demo days . The information share at these workshops is ground on the university ’s modish inquiry and technologies , fit out participants with tools for a more effective and productive farm .
The SARE program , a USDA political platform that advances sustainable agriculture innovation through the supply of Duncan Grant , educational materials and professional development training , is a branch of accommodative lengthiness .
“ We are actively engaged in extension in every state through our SARE body politic coordinators , ” Hedberg explain . “ These coordinator are annexe employees who have province for organizing sustainable - agriculture training for other extension agents and farming professionals in their land . ”
SARE training includes national events , such as the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health , and regional outcome , such as Georgia ’s Seeds of Growth group discussion , concenter on building a stronger local - food meshwork . Plus , SAREfact sheets and online curriculacover just about every ag subject you could require to learn about .
besides , if at - your - fingertip entropy is what you ’re after , the home cooperative university extension website , eXtension.org , contains enquiry , technique and advice for agriculture , economics , born resources , wellness , family and more in the descriptor of articles , videos , webinars and reader - submit questions .
“ At its heart , extension can help agriculturist class through the consuming amount of information that is now usable and help producers make well - informed choices that apply to their specific position , ” Hedberg says . “ One of the services that extension will cater these growers is to sort through , gather up and organize dependable entropy that will be easy to access and employ . ”
2 . Fund Your FarmYour local university extension office can plug in you with grants and cost - share program for agricultural projects that are offered through the USDA , National Resources Conservation Service , state SARE and individual county .
SARE offers Duncan James Corrow Grant for inquiry and training projects that cover renewable vigor , pest direction , conservation tilth , graze livestock , merchandising and more . To date , more than 5,000 projects have been fund , each with the purpose of bring on result that other sodbuster can use . SARE programs do not fund set out farmers or offer up mold majuscule for ongoing farm operation , but rather focus on advance proficiency and technologies for sustainable agriculture .
The USDA offers financial support through its Value - Added Producer Grants to process and market farm production . The Organic Cost Share Program is also administered through the USDA .
The NRCS provide preservation - related grants and cost sharing through the Environmental Quality Initiative Program , admit the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative , providing funding for a high tunnel on your farm ; the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program to develop and ameliorate wildlife habitat ; the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program to conserve open and ground weewee and better water character ; and more .
Ask your county cooperative extension broker for data about these programs .
3 . Build a Demonstration PlotDepending on your location , your farming university may be researching Modern technique in plasticulture , organic Malus pumila output , integrated pest management or compensate crops . By offering a piece of your property as a small demonstration plot , you to try out and profit from a newfangled technique , utilize equipment and guidance from university researchers and educators , provide information that will help researcher in your country fine - melody raw proficiency , and internet with region farmers who also want to learn about the method you ’re trialing — all of which will gain your farm operation . Extension agentive role have info about the projects of interest in your field .
4 . distinguish Crop Diseases and PestsThere are days when you receive an unfamiliar insect has down your radishes or a mystery disease has knock down your simoleons . It would be handy to have someone who can describe these pests — well , turns out you do ! Your harvest university extension agent can facilitate I.D. plant issue and indicate treatment options . This help not only do good your farm but your neighbors ’ , as well , because the information your reference agent collects can help track trends and issues in your area .
Some states , like Alaska , have on-line submissions for insects , plant life and diseases . The Citizen Scientists program at theUniversity of Alaska Fairbanksallows Fannie Merritt Farmer to subject a picture to a statewide squad that react to potential issues .
5 . web with Fellow FarmersWhether you ’re a beginning farmer or you have a few geezerhood under your belt , it ’s good to recognise you ’re not in this farming world alone . Cooperative filename extension activities can aid connect you with others to share ideas and trial run and tribulation .
6 . Advise OthersThe cooperative extension ca n’t provide its users with character programs if it is n’t aware of the true needs of the area . It relies on you — the people who can benefit the most — for counselling .
“ Extension , by design , is locally directed and responsive to local needs and priorities , ” Hedberg says . “ As such , there are many chance to engage with the local and state telephone extension programs by participating on one of the many advisory boards the extension organization uses to guide their programs . ”
Additionally , 4 - H is an arm of cooperative extension , give you the opportunity to work the agricultural experience of youth in your expanse , whether or not you have 4 - H - age children yourself .
If you ’ve never taken advantage of the barren opportunity offered by your cooperative extension , this twelvemonth might be the time to consider it . Find your local conjunctive university extension atwww.csrees.usda.gov/extensionor by calling your county USDA position .
