South Carolina SAREOpen Forum Meeting

January 29, 2011

Clemson Sustainable Agriculture Program Staff Kelly Gilkerson, Associate Coordinator

Shawn Jadrnicek, CU Organic Farm Manager

Amy Nichols, SC SARE Program Assistant

Geoff Zehnder, Coordinator

PROGRAM PARTNERS

SARE Provides Funds for Training of Ag Professionals

(and Farmers)

Funds available to state Land Grant Institutions with SA Coordinator (Clemson & SC State)

Plan of Work with budget and Annual Reports required

Planning Process for Training and Education Programs

Stakeholder involvement

Open Forum Meeting; discuss and identify issues, needs

Advisory Committee ; prioritize needs and identify topics for training programs

Address emerging needs during year Input from stakeholder groups, Extension agents,

individuals

http://www.clemson.edu/sustainableag/about.html#planning

Review of Program Activities, 2010

Advisory, Planning Meetings

Jan. 29: Local Food Summit, Columbia (SCDA)

Jan .30: Advisory Committee meeting, Columbia

Aug. 9-10: SARE Coordinators Meeting, Asheville

Review of Program Activities, 2010

Educational, Training Events

Fresh produce food safety training (GAPs): SCDA grant June 1,2 (Columbia) July 13, 14 (Clemson) Sept. 21, 22 (Charleston)

Instructors: Lynn Turner, Jack Dantzler

Farm audits

Review of Program Activities, 2010

Educational, Training Events

June 22-23: Ecologically based pest management; Clemson

Mark Boudreau, Daniel Parson, Mark Schonbeck, Geoff Zehnder

Review of Program Activities, 2010

Educational, Training Events

Sept. 20: Organic Insect Pest Mgmt., Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College, Bush River Farm

Daniel Parson Powell Smith

Review of Program Activities, 2010

Educational, Training Events

July through September: Sustainable Vegetable Production and Marketing Training for Lowcountry

Farmers: South Carolina State University

Review of Program Activities, 2010

Educational, Training Events

October 9: Farm Aid: CU Organic Farm

Other Activities, 2010

Jan 19. SC Soil & Water Conservation Service Annual Meeting, Hilton Head, SC

Feb. 27. Backyard Poultry Production, Abbeville, SC

June 5,6. Upstate Farm Tour (CU Organic Farm)

Lectures, seminars, tours of the CU farm (NRCS, 4H, Extension agents, etc).

Other Accomplishments, 2010

Travel scholarships (agents, farmer-educators)

CFSA and SSAWG South Carolina SA Agent of the Year Award

Danny Howard Serve as contacts for sustainable agriculture, organic farming

2010 Advisory Committee List of Priority Training

Topics

On-farm produce food safety and GAPs Backyard poultry production and processing Organic pest management Organic heirloom vegetable production (OREI proposal) Organic grain production (NCSU, Whole Foods

sponsorship) Development of ‘Beginning Farmer Kit’

Resources Business training for farmers

Soil fertility, biofuel workshops Season extension vegetable production

NRCS high tunnel workshop

Plans for 2011

GAPs TrainingFeb. 15-16, AndersonCFSA, Anderson County, Clemson

Organic pest management training SARE PDP grant June 4,5; Upstate Farm Tour, Organic pest mgmt. June 21-22; Organic pest mgmt, Charleston July 28; Organic insect mgmt., Clinton Sept. (TBA); Organic weed mgmt. Clemson

Organic gardening course; February at Clemson

Plans for 2011 Continued

USDA OREI ProposalAdoption of GAPs for Fresh Produce Food Safety on Organic FarmsLongbranch Farm, Fairplay (Bub Dillon)Parson Produce, Clinton (Dan Parson)Clemson Organic Farm (Shawn Jadrnicek)