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North Central Region SARE Professional Development Program
Missouri Sustainable Agriculture Plan of Work
Calendar Year 2008
Background
Essential program values identified by the SARE PDP Advisory Board are soil health as indicated by soil
organic matter levels; a holistic farm management as indicated by systems relationships; diversity as
indicated by biological and cultural diversity; and profitability as indicated by net profit, energy balance
and community interactions identified as people and food systems. Under these headings the new 2008
program initiatives are youth, farm systems management, food safety and nutrition, livestock, and energy.
There will be an emphasis to include educators who may not have taken advantage of PDP activities in
previous years.
To date there have been 18 NCR SARE funded R&E Grants, 7 PDP Grants, 62 Farmer/Rancher Grants,
and one Graduate Student Grant awarded to Missouri recipients.
The Missouri State Sustainable Agriculture Co-Coordinators are Dr. KB Paul, Lincoln University and
Debi Kelly, Project Manager of the Missouri Alternatives Center from the University of Missouri (.62
FTE Missouri Alternatives Center and .38 FTE SARE PDP). The Professional Development Program will
utilize both the Lincoln University Cooperative Extension’s (LU) and the University of Missouri
Extension’s (MU) four year plans of works as an integral guidelines supporting the priorities identified by
the Advisory Board for all SARE PDP activities across the state. KB Paul and Debi Kelly will be the PIs.
With the transition of the new MU co-coordinator in 2007 and with only six months to carry out a year’s
worth of activities, continuing activities include:
I. Theme: PDP Development and Outreach
a. MO State PDP web page development
The mini-grant application and mini-grant post-event survey as PDFs still need to be added to
the website.
b. SARE PDP Quarterly Updates
Quarterly Updates were not started in 2007. They will begin May 2008.
II. Theme: Pasture-based Dairying Management
a. Travel Scholarships
Due to the timing of the workshop, 1 educator attended the workshop March 13, 2008.
III. Theme: Community Gardens
a. Community Gardens
Due to the lack of time, this activity will be held in its entirety in 2008.
IV. Theme: Biofuels
a. Training/Field Tours (two sites for two separate trainings/field tours)
The Biofuels activity is in the planning stages. It will take place in the Fall of 2008. After
several planning meetings, it was decided to have one location as 2 ½ day training instead of
two locations with 1 day training enabling more in depth training.
Program Logic Model (Attached Appendix 1)
Stakeholder Involvement (see attachment 1A-1D)
Stakeholder involvement is fundamental to our philosophy of education and outreach. The diverse15
member Missouri SARE PDP Advisory Board (Attachment 1) was formed in 2007 with responsibilities of
1) critical input and support to the Missouri Plan of Work; 2) promotion of the program to further expand
and enhance the visibility of SARE. The programmatic priorities for the 2008 MO POW were determined
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and established by the Advisory Board. Subcommittees from the Advisory Board review and award travel
scholarship and mini grant applications.
There will be quarterly Advisory Board meetings. The first three meetings will be via Centra with the last
one face-to-face to provide input and prioritize activities for the 2009 POW. The two Co-coordinators
will solicit volunteers from the Advisory Board membership to assist the Co-coordinators in reviewing
and selecting the mini-grant and travel scholarship recipients.
Expected Outcomes (indicators meaningful, clear and measurable, end results)
Expected outcomes are listed with each Theme’s activities.
Approaches, Methods, Activities, Expected Outcomes and Evaluations
With the input of the Missouri PDP Advisory Board along with the advice of the Agriculture Extension
Program Leader, the LU and MU coordinators submit the following as the Missouri POW for 2008. The
MO POW will focus on:
• Face of SARE
• LU – Community Gardens, Composting
• MU – Pasture base Dairy, Soils
• Joint LU/MU – Small Ruminants, Professional Training (mini grants, travel scholarships,
coordinators training)
I. Face of SARE
Co-coordinators will continue to provide the outreach arm for SARE. LU and MU will place
emphasis on promotion, marketing and conducting workshops for the Farmer/Rancher Grants, PDP
Grants, Research &Education Grants and Graduate Student Grants to producers, educators and
researchers. The MO Advisory Board felt reaching out to youth is of vital importance for this year.
Therefore, co-coordinators will work collaboratively with the Jefferson Institute who manages the SARE
Youth Grants. Co-coordinators will set up exhibits, attend conferences, give presentations to inform
educators, researchers and producers about SARE and SAN.
II. Lincoln University
Growing Community Gardens
Outcome of theme – Community Gardens transform empty lots into green and living spaces,
provide access to fresh produce and plants as well as to neighborhood improvement, the sense of
community and connection to the environment. The establishment of community gardens is dependent on
a safe and healthy growing environment that has improved soil fertility; the integrated management of pests
and diseases; a diverse set of plant varieties and relevant sustainable cultural techniques; as well as on the
programmatic management and outreach that is inclusive to all within the community. The community
gardens will provide ideal grounds for training-the-trainers from extension services, neighborhood associations
and NGOs. While last year’s POW for community gardens targeted training on how to unite the
community in support of a community garden, the focus of this year’s POW is on gardening techniques in
community gardens.
Audience: extension educators and agency partners
Initiative: Sanjun Gu, LU State Horticulture Specialist will initiate four community gardens located
in St. Louis, Kansas City, Marshall and Jefferson City by conducting a one-day training that will
include techniques about how to plan, establish, develop, and manage sustainable community gardens
through presentations, hands-on training, and garden demonstrations.
Outcome: Forty extension educators and agency partners will strengthen their knowledge and
understanding of community gardens; 20 educators will conduct community gardens workshop in
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their respective regions; awareness of the value of community gardens regarding food, food security,
and environmental connection and community development will be increased; 1 educator will give a
report on the SARE PDP Quarterly Centra Update.
Evaluation: A baseline number of educators at the trainings presently working with community
gardens will be determined before the training. Attendance, Event Evaluation Form Survey, 6-9
Month Post Event Evaluation
Composting Training Workshops
Outcome of theme: Community gardening and composting go hand in hand and compliment each
other well. Raising a garden and managing garden waste by composting and returning composted product
to amend the soil is an efficient way of soil quality improvement, environmentally sound by reducing
waste to landfills, and economically feasible for reducing fertilizer cost and fuel cost for waste hauling.
The growing public interest in composting has not matched with the actual action of composting activity.
The public shies away from composting due the unfamiliarity of the principles, lack the knowledge of
"how to", and odor problems existed at poorly managed composting sites. This workshop series will
address these problems by filling knowledge gap, sharpening composting skills, and promoting compost
networking to build up confidence of educators as well as compost operators in demonstrating and
managing efficient composting operations and producing improved quality of compost.
Audience: Extension educators, Vo Ag teachers, and agency partners
Initiative: Hwei-Yiing Johnson, LU State Agronomy Extension Specialist, will conduct 3 one day
workshops that include presentations, hands-on training, and field demonstrations. Thirty
educators will be provided printed materials or a CD and compost bins for training the end-users in
their respective regions.
Outcome: Thirty educators will increase their knowledge and understanding on all aspects of
compost production and utilization; 15 educators will present workshops in their communities to
aid in reducing organic waste or development to an organic product. 1 educator will give a report
on the SARE PDP Quarterly Centra Update.
Evaluation: A baseline number of educators presently working with composters will be
determined in the 3 locations prior to training. Attendance, Event Evaluation Form Survey, 6-9
Month Post Event Survey
III. University of Missouri
Theme: Pasture-base Dairy NRCS Grasslands Specialists Training
Outcome of theme – The inclusion of animal production is an important aspect to a whole systems
approach to sustainable agriculture. Pasture base dairy operators believe in harvesting the sun’s energy by
allowing cows to graze fields of legumes and grasses. This in the long run is both beneficial nutritionally
for cows and economically for producers with less feed costs. With the feeding of legumes and grasses,
there is a need for more educators to better understand the management of grassland which includes
weeds, insects and manure management on the land.
Audience: NRCS Grassland Specialists and agency partners
Initiative: Joe Horner, MU Extension Ag Economics in Dairy will lead a 3 day training.
25 educators/agency partners will learn the concepts, tools and contacts needed along with a
resource manual (powerpoints, handouts, etc.) for successful pastures for pasture base dairying.
Farm tours to successful pasture based dairy operations are included in the training.
Outcome: 25 educators/agency partners will increase their knowledge and understanding of grass
management for dairy production; all will assist producers with pasture-based dairying operations;
1 grassland specialist will give a report on the SARE PDP Quarterly Centra Update.
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Evaluation: The baseline number of NRCS Grassland Specialists who are assisting pasture based
dairy operators will be determined prior to training. Attendance, Event Evaluation Form Survey
and 6-9 Month Post Event Survey
Theme: Sustaining Soil Fertility in Diversified Cropping Systems
Outcome of theme – In response to the Bioenergy White Paper, soils in relation to diversified
cropping systems will become a focal point due to the high demand for continuous corn production. With
continuous corn production, crop rotations to protect the soil may not be used and using margin lands put
into production may increase soil erosion and the loss of soil fertility. Topics that will be taught are cover
crops and/or nutrient cycling through organic materials such as legumes and animal manures reduce on-
farm energy use. Application uniformity of commercial or organic fertilizer can be improved with proper
equipment techniques. Other items of interest include: What types of incentives, educational programs,
or demonstration projects are needed to increase adoption and use of nutrient management plans, site-
specific management practices, and innovative application techniques that result in an overall reduction in
off-farm energy used to sustain soil fertility?
Audience: agriculture extension educators
Initiative: Peter Scharf, MU Associate Professor in Soil Science will lead a 3 day training which
includes tours and hands-on demonstrations. 40 educators will be trained and provided with a
resource manual (powerpoints, handouts, etc.) to hold workshops in their regions.
Outcome: 40 educators will become knowledgeable and understand soils and its effects on
diversified cropping systems; 30 educators will give workshops to producers; 1 educator will give a
report on the SARE PDP Quarterly Centra Update.
Evaluation: A baseline number of educators working with producers on soils in diversified
cropping systems prior to training. Attendance, Event Evaluation Form Survey, 6-9 Month Post
Event Survey
IV. Joint – Lincoln University and University of Missouri
Missouri has two land grant universities each with their own expertise and skill set. Both
universities work collaboratively in programming efforts and with sharing of resources.
Theme: Small Ruminant Production
Outcome of theme – Missouri goat producers had an inventory of 81,000 head on January 1, 2007,
up 8 percent from a year earlier and 15 percent higher than 2005. Increases were noted in meat goats to
68,500 head from 64,000 head a year ago and milk goats to 11,000 head from 9,900 a year earlier. (NASS
2/2/2007). With the increased number of head of goats, educators need to broaden their knowledge and
understanding to provide educational programming for this growing audience. Missouri will draw on the
expertise from both land grant universities in the state to look at the issues of the needs for small ruminant
production which includes the use of biofuel co-products as a feed source.
Audience: agriculture extension educators, university researchers, agency partners
Initiative: Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, LU State Small Ruminant Specialist and Marcia Shannon,
MU Extension Specialist who is an expert in nutrition, will conduct a 2 day face-to-face training.
Twenty educators will be trained to hold workshops about sustainable small ruminant production
and marketing.
Outcome: Twenty extension educators will increase their knowledge and understanding of small
ruminant production; 15 will hold workshops in their regions; 1 educator will give a report on the
SARE PDP Quarterly Centra Update.
Evaluation: A baseline number of educators working with goat producers prior to training.
Attendance, Event Evaluation Form Survey, 6-9 Month Post Event Survey
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Theme: Other Professional Training
Outcome of theme – Mini grants and travel scholarships will be offered to SARE related activities
that enhance the 2008 POW themes and other opportunities that arise throughout the year. A
subcommittee of both LU and MU educators will review applications to make awards.
Mini Grants
Audience: extension educators, university researchers, agency personnel
Initiative: This activity provides grants of up to $1,000 to provide educators with the resources to
develop and deliver trainings that enhance rural and urban communities and the food and
agricultural system through economic viability, environmental quality and social responsibility.
Outcome: Educators will be expected to add knowledge and understanding gained into their
programming efforts. PI will give a report at a SARE PDP Quarterly Update of knowledge gained
and programming efforts to date.
Evaluation: Mini-Grant Post-Event Survey
Travel Scholarships
Audience: extension educators, university researchers, agency personnel
Initiative: This activity will help support educators to attend the National SARE Conference.
Information about the travel scholarship program is included with the announcements about
various conferences, meetings and workshops.
Outcome: Educators will be expected to add knowledge and understanding gained into their
programming efforts. Educators will give a report at a SARE PDP Quarterly Centra Update of
knowledge gained and programming efforts to date.
Evaluation: Travel Scholarship Post-Event Survey, Travel Scholarship 6-9 Month Survey
Co-Coordinators Training
Audience: Co-coordinators
Initiative: Attend the National SARE Conference and other conferences and workshops to gain
additional knowledge and understanding, resources and contacts relevant to sustainable agriculture
and coordination of the PDP.
Outcome: Co-coordinators will give a report on the SARE PDP Quarterly Centra Update and
assist other educators and producers with knowledge gained.
Evaluation: Travel Scholarship Post-Event Survey, Travel Scholarship 6-9 Month Survey
Evaluation - Evaluation is indicted under each Theme’s activities.
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Figure 1. Expected Outcomes—2008 POW
Intermediate Outcomes** Short-term Outcomes* Outcome Measures Activities/Initiative Output Inputs
(outside funding sources)
Lincoln University Lincoln University Lincoln University Lincoln University Lincoln University Lincoln University
Community Gardening Community Gardening Community Gardening Community Gardening Community Gardening Community Gardening
* 20 Educators will implement * Educators will become * Number of programs * 1 day hands-on face-to- * 40 educators have * LU mileage
at least one program on more knowledgeable and conducted on community face training at 4 different increased knowledge of * LU additional financial
community gardens understand the benefits of gardens locations community gardens support if needed
community gardens * Number of community * Trainers provide * community gardens
* Increased knowledge of gardens started assistance to educators started in 4 locations
food security by * Number of producers who after training * training materials and
communities gained knowledge by * Follow-up surveys with supplies for educators
attending a community training participants
garden training * 1 educators will share
information gained on
Centra quarterly meetings
Composting Workshop Composting Workshop Composting Workshop Composting Workshop Composting Workshop Composting Workshop
* 15 educators will conduct * Educators will become * Number of programs * 1 day hands-on face-to- * 30 educators will * LU mileage
composting workshops in their more knowledgeable and conducted on composting face training at 3 different increase their knowledge * LU additional financial
communities understand the significance * Number of composting locations of composting support if needed
* Increased knowledge of of composting and its effect sites started throughout MO * Trainers provide * composting sites in 3
benefits to environment on the soil * Number of producers who assistance to educators locations
* Communities will initiate gained knowledge by after training * training materials and
their own composting sites attending a composting * Follow-up surveys with compost supplies
* Development of composting training training participants * newsletter/directory
operator network to form an * 1 educator will share
association information gained on
Centra quarterly meetings
University of Missouri University of Missouri University of Missouri University of Missouri University of Missouri University of Missouri
NRCS pasture-base dairy NRCS pasture-base dairy NRCS pasture-base dairy NRCS pasture-base dairy NRCS pasture-base dairy NRCS pasture-base dairy
* 25 grasslands specialist will * Educators will become * Number of programs and * 3 day face-to-face * 25 grasslands specialists * NRCS provide travel for
provide one-on-one education more knowledgeable and one-on-one contacts training and farm tours will have increased grasslands specialists
to pasture based producers and understand the value of conducted on pasture base * Trainers provide knowledge and
to those who wish to begin or legume and grassland dairy assistance to educators understanding of grass
convert to pasture-base dairy production of pasture base * Number of producers who after training management for pasture-
dairy gained knowledge by * Follow-up surveys with base dairy
attending a pasture dairy training participants * Training materials,
Intermediate Outcomes** Short-term Outcomes* Outcome Measures Activities/Initiative Output Inputs
(outside funding sources)
program or who received * 1 Grasslands specialist resource notebook
assistance will share information
gained on Centra
quarterly meetings
Soils Soils Soils Soils Soils Soils
* 30 educators will implement * Educators will become * Number of programs * 3 day face-to-face * 40 educators will * ARS soil research scientists
at least one program for more knowledgeable offered on soils in training and tours and acquire increased
producers on soils in understand the benefits of diversified cropping systems hands-on demonstrations knowledge and
diversified cropping systems soils in diversified cropping for producers * Trainers provide understanding about soils
systems * Number of producers who assistance to educators in diversified cropping
gained knowledge by after training systems
attending a soils in * Follow-up surveys with * Training materials,
diversified cropping systems training participants resource notebook
workshop * 1 educators will share
information gained on
Centra quarterly meetings
LU/MU Joint LU/MU Joint LU/MU Joint LU/MU Joint LU/MU Joint LU/MU Joint
Small ruminant production Small ruminant production Small ruminant production Small ruminant prod. Small ruminant prod. Small ruminant production
* 15 educators will provide at * Educators will become * Number of workshops * 2 day face-to-face * 20 educators will * LU mileage
least one training for more knowledgeable and offered on small ruminant training increase their knowledge * LU Carver Farm for training
producers on small ruminant understand the value of production for producers * Trainers provide and understanding on location
production small ruminant production * Number of producers who assistance to educators small ruminant production * LU small ruminant herd
gained knowledge by after training * Training materials and
attending a small ruminant * Follow-up surveys with resource notebook
workshop training participants
* 1 educator will share
information gained on
Centra quarterly meetings
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Intermediate Outcomes** Short-term Outcomes* Outcome Measures Activities/Initiative Output Inputs
(outside funding sources)
Co-coordinator training Co-coordinator training Co-coordinator training Co-coordinator training Co-coordinator training Co-coordinator training
* Increased networking with * Increased knowledge and * Number of collaborative * Co-coordinators attend * NCR pay for 1 night hotel
other coordinators across the understanding of sustainable efforts between MO PDP NSARE Conference and mileage to NSARE
country agriculture co-coordinators and other * Co-coordinators attend Conference
* Enhanced POW writing * Co-coordinators will state PDP coordinators other workshops and
increase their knowledge trainings
and understanding for future * Follow up surveys
POW * Co-coordinators will
* Increased networking with share information gained
other coordinators across on Centra quarterly
the country meetings
Mini grants Mini grants Mini grants Mini grants Mini grants Mini grants
* 75% of educators will * Educators will gain * 5 mini grants will be *5 $1,000 mini grants * 5 mini grants will be * Other funding sources that
provide one-on-one assistance knowledge and awarded to increase * Possible field days or awarded may be needed over the
and/or conduct at least one understanding in different sustainable practices demonstrations from * Educator will gain $1,000 mini grant limit
producer training on the topic areas of sust ag * Mini grant post event grants awarded greater knowledge and
area of sust ag for which the survey * 1 educator will share understanding of sust ag
they attended * Mini grant 6-9 month post information gained on topics
survey Centra quarterly meetings
Travel scholarships Travel scholarships Travel scholarships Travel scholarships Travel scholarships Travel scholarships
* 75% of educators will * Educators will gain * Travel scholarship post *14 travel scholarships * 14 educators will be * Other funding sources that
incorporate knowledge knowledge on sustainable event survey * Educators who received awarded scholarships to may be needed over the $500
learned and understood into ag practices * Travel scholarship 6-9 scholarships will share attend programs, travel scholarship limit
programming month post survey information gained on workshops, trainings,
Centra quarterly meetings conferences that
encourage, promote, teach
sustainable ag practices
* Short Term Outcomes: Learning, Awareness, Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, Opinions, Aspirations, Motivations
** Intermediate Outcomes: Action, Behavior, Practice, Decision-making, Policies, Social Action
(UW Cooperative Extension-Program Development & Evaluation 200)
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Attachment 1 – Advisory Board/Stakeholder Group Membership
Member Name Affiliation
Jordan Bentley Green Hills Farm Project (NGO)
Pat Byers Missouri State University
Ikbal Chowdhury Lincoln University – International Studies
Judy Grundler Missouri Department of Agriculture
Mary Hendrickson University of Missouri Extension – CFSSA Program
Rich Hoorman University of Missouri Extension
University of Missouri Extension
Debi Kelly Missouri of Missouri – SARE Co-coordinator
Rob Myers Jefferson Institute (NGO)
KB Paul Lincoln University – SARE Co-coordinator
Wayne Prewitt University of Missouri Extension
John Turner NRCS
Producer
Nancy Rasmussen Producer (pastured poultry, grassfed beef, veggies)
Dan Kuebler Producer (organic vegetables)
Tentative Meeting Date Purpose of Meeting
1st quarter 2008 Centra meeting – update on PDP activities
2nd quarter 2008 Centra meeting – update on PDP activities
3rd quarter 2008 Centra meeting – update on PDP activities
November 2008 Face-to-face meeting – 1) update on PDP activities, 2)
provide input and prioritize activities for 2008 POW.
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