Annual Plan of Work and Report Summary
2012 Report Summary
The greatest successes for SARE PDP in North Dakota have been with educators working for NGOs and for NDSU and Tribal College Extension programs. We have had several successful projects over the years with Soil Conservation Districts and the Resource Conservation and Development programs.
Extension in North Dakota continues to be county-based and Extension activities at the six Tribal Colleges that serve North Dakota are expanding and adding new educators to the mix. NDSU continues to be a strong supporter of the SARE program, although the state has yet to put up funds for sustainable agriculture education and outreach. There should be an expectation of eventual involvement of the 1994 Land Grant colleges in directing and coordinating the SARE PDP activities in North Dakota, although their funding also has its roadblocks.
There has been a slight transition in the ND program with the appointment of Co-Coordinators to lead the project. However, the goals and objectives of the program are not changing. ND SARE will continue to enhance sustainable agriculture education in the state and develop the knowledge base of educators and clientele.
The three initiatives proposed in this plan include the regional Carbon, Energy, and Climate training initiative and others that build on previous PDP efforts from which we have had some success. Within each initiative there is an objective to further involve and build our relationship with the ND tribal colleges. The broad objective for SARE PDP in North Dakota remains supporting sustainable agriculture via well trained agricultural educators.
2013 Plan of Work
The North Dakota SARE program will continue to bring SARE to the public via the www.NDSARE.info website, email notices, interviews, displays at meetings, speaker sponsorship at meetings, the 4H Soil Health Activity Box, professional development activities, and news releases.
The State Coordinator(s) will also promote SARE grant and information opportunities and provide assistance to grant writers, usually via the telephone or email. SARE Advisors in North Dakota continue to push for greater support of youth, so continued outreach to youth, youth educator, and graduate student grant writers will remain a significant activity in 2013. Advisors also continue to promote greater inclusion of 1994 Land Grant programs and staff.
2013 Initiatives
- Focus on soil health
- Scaling up local foods
- Carbon, energy, and climate
State Advisory Committee
To share the load of planning responsibility, state coordinators are expected to assemble and work with a state sustainable agriculture advisory committee to plan training activities in each state. Often included are members representing sustainable agriculture farmers, commercial farmers, agribusiness, NRCS, non-profits, lenders, and rural community leaders. Some committees include individuals from farmers markets, environmental groups and farm organizations.
The advisory committee will assist the SARE state coordinators in identifying training needs in the state and help design programs to meet their needs.
