Winter 1995 (v7n1)
	SAREP Coordinates Statewide Planning As part of the new Chapter 3 program of the 1990 Farm Bill (authorized in 1994), funding has been made liable for each state to develop a statewide strategic plan for professional training in sustainable agriculture, SAREP Director and State Extension Sustainable Agriculture Leader Bill Liebbardt, and David Chaney, SAREP information analyst, are coordinating this effort in California. As mentioned in the 1990 Farm Bill legislation, the target audiences for this "train the trainers" program are Cooperative Extension advisors, Natural Resources Conservation Service field staff, and others involved in extending sustainable agriculture information to farmers and ranchers. To launch the planning effort in California, three focus groups were held this past November and December in Merced, Riverside and Davis to explore various options for training. Attending the focus groups were representatives from the target groups mentioned above, plus farmers and non-profit organizations involved in sustainable agriculture. A planning committee will be meeting over the next few months to sift through the feedback obtained at these focus group sessions, and to draft a prospectus for professional, in-service training for California. For more information contact Liebhardt at (916) 752-2379   [ Back | Search | Feedback ]