Sustainable Agriculture Education and Outreach

Published: 2019
By Shelley Mills

In March of 2018, Extension Educator, Shelley Mills was selected to become the coordinator for Montana for the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) Professional Development Program (PDP). Montana’s program is committed to funding opportunities for agricultural professionals to improve their knowledge base and understanding of relevant and current techniques to help farmers/ranchers maintain their economic viability while conserving fragile ecosystems, improving biodiversity, and reducing reliance on agrichemicals for pest management. Funding of mini-grants and travel scholarships of up to $2500, that align with WSARE's goals for promotion of good stewardship, enhanced quality of life, food safety, improved health, farm and community financial resiliency, crop diversification and adoption of sustainable practices form the foundation of Montana's project. Proposals are accepted from entities such as MSU Extension, Montana Agriculture Experiment Stations (MAES), Federally Recognized Tribal Program Agents, NRCS, and non-profit organizations such as AERO, Rancher's Stewardship Alliance, and the Montana Organic Association. Project proposals submitted to the Montana program are reviewed by an advisory committee for relevance to sustainable agriculture; capacity for professional development; impact (based on number of people reached); potential for acquisition of new knowledge and skills; potential for changes in professionals' behavior and action; evaluation procedures and protocols; and potential for advancing Montana's capacity in ecological, social and/or economical sustainability. Over $45,500 has been awarded in the two years since Mills became the coordinator, and an additional $23,000 is poised to be disbursed in 2020. Projects that have been funded have included increasing capacity of small fruit production in Montana, on-farm demonstration of low sugar potato varieties on the Fort Belknap Reservation, supply chain feasibility analyses training, high tunnel education and outreach, soil health workshops, organic crop production, alternative energy resources, heirloom variety trials, professional improvement tours, livestock production education, technology for precision agriculture, and community gardens.