Profitable and Sustainable Agricultural Systems Plan of Work

Issue Team: Horticulture

2007-2011

Situation: In Wyoming, horticulture involves commercial production of vegetables, fruits, herbaceous and woody ornamentals, turf grass sod and seed.  Wyoming horticulture also involves all of these products in the consumer’s homes, landscapes or businesses.  Demand for consumer based horticulture is a large local, area and state wide need.  The commercial green industry in Wyoming is young, diverse, and widely dispersed.  It is comprised of greenhouses, florists, garden centers, landscape care companies, nurseries, tree care companies, interior plantscapers, etc.  Wyoming’s environment include less than optimal soil conditions, a very harsh climate for many horticultural crops and growing practices, the variation in elevation across the state as well as short to very short growing seasons all contribute to difficult growing conditions.  However, Wyoming consumers spend $100,000,000 on goods and services from the green industry annually contributing a high level to Wyoming’s economy.  There is a tremendous level of potential for green industry growth within the next few years.  Nationally, the green industries are the fastest growing segment of agricultural production today. 

Inputs: University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service Program Associates, Extension Educators and Extension Specialists will individually and cooperatively develop educational programs to address the needs of Wyoming horticultural consumer and producers; providing education in sustainable and environmentally sound horticultural practices as well as fresh produce selection and maintenance of healthy urban and production forests.  Time spent on field staff development, research, program promotion, volunteer recruitment and development as well as clientele visits will be necessary to reach our goals.  Research development should include an increase in horticultural research at the University of Wyoming Research & Extension Centers.  Field staff development will involve an annual Horticulture Train the Trainer series as well as UWCES field staff and specialists attending horticulture seminars and conferences.  Monies generated from outside sources will be used for media, travel, accommodations, publications and postage to reach potential clientele.  Administrative support staff will be involved in promotional publications, newsletter and magazine articles, and program material development.  Other necessary materials include but are not limited to pesticides, water quality interpretation, soil test interpretations, appropriate reference and resource materials, technical accessibility and state forestry consultation.  The use of UWCES and county based technology and equipment, teaching and presentation; guidance and leadership will be provided by educators and specialists to improve traditional management practices.  UWCES specialist will continue to organize and host statewide Horticulture Question & Answer compressed video sessions for UWCES field staff, Master Gardener volunteers and will expand the program to include local and statewide horticultural clientele and program partners.  Partnerships will be formed with local, state and federal agencies, green industry businesses and organizations, financial organizations and other Universities to deliver information to producers and consumers.  These partners include but are not limited to local and state Weed & Pest, and local and federal Conservation Services, the Wyoming State Forestry and local Wildfire Mitigation committees, the Wyoming Groundskeepers & Growers Association and the Wyoming Grape & Wine Association.  Volunteers include but are not limited to Wyoming State Master Gardeners, county based Master Gardeners and 4-H leaders. 

Outputs:          Activities. Any or all channels of the media will be used to familiarize the public with UWCES areas of programming and personnel.  Media releases in the local newspapers, radio spots and television advertisements will inform the public of upcoming Extension programs including contact persons.  From the Ground Up television news segments will continue to be developed by UWCES field staff and aired on local and statewide television stations.  Newsletter articles distributed both electronically and through the mail by County offices, Master Gardener organizations, Area teams, and the University of Wyoming will reach producers, consumers and volunteers locally, area-wide and state-wide.  UWCES specialists will continue to develop Horticultural Train the Trainer events for the benefit of training UWCES field staff and long term Master Gardener volunteers.  Public educational programs and conferences with invited speakers and Extension specialists and educators presenting research-based information will continue to be held in response to local, area, state and national horticultural issues.  Demonstrations of technology and skills training will be included in education curriculum to enhance educational effectiveness.  Field tours will be organized to provide producers, consumers and volunteers with the opportunity to observe industry procedures.  Recruitment of Master Gardener, 4-H leader and youth as well as other volunteers will occur on an ongoing basis.  Over the course of the five years Wyoming will see an overall increase in the number of Master Gardeners.  4-H Vegetable and Forestry Judging programs will provide youth with opportunities to evaluate the value of fresh produce and forest products.  4-H gardening project leaders and youth will receive training in proper gardening practices. 

                        Participation. Participants will include policy makers for County, State and Federal government agencies, horticultural crop producers and consumers, Master Gardener and 4-H volunteers, youth, lenders and potential investors.  An existing secondary audience will be the media, general public, and interested groups not directly involved in the production of horticultural crops or products. 

Outcomes

Short Term: Wyoming crop producers will be aware of the type of crops used by consumers and will have a general understanding of producing horticultural crops in demand by local consumers.  Consumers will understand the best cultural practices to care for the crops once they are placed in a wind break, landscape, production garden or interiorscape.  Homeowners will aspire to maintain landscapes that preserve and even increase local property values.  Citizens will develop an awareness of the availability of plant residue recycling programs for disposal of yard waste at compost and mulch production facilities.  Master Gardener volunteers will be aware of the cultural practices necessary for healthy well kept windbreaks, landscapes, production gardens or interiorscapes and will be able to assist UWCES personnel in educating consumers on these best management practices.  Horticultural producers, 4-H leaders and youth will be aware of the importance and healthy value of fresh produce and land use for forestry production and develop skills in selection and production of quality products. 

Medium Term: Wyoming crop producers will be able to substitute traditional or current crop production with alternative horticultural crops to market if increased profitability may result.  The knowledge gained will be implemented, resulting in traditional practices evaluated for compliance with recent research-based information.  Consumers will be able to select crops well suited for their purpose and commercial products suitable for their purpose and situation, based on proper identification of pest.  Consumers will reuse recycled plant waste materials to improve their soils and decrease their water use in windbreaks, landscapes and production gardens.  Wyoming’s homeowners will be able to maintain their horticultural investment in a sustainable landscape.  4-H youth will be able to assist in healthy family choices in produce selection as young consumers.  Wyoming youth will develop healthier lifestyles through active lives involving gardening practices. 

Long Term: Wyoming producers will be dependable contributors to the economic stability of the Counties, Areas and State.  Plant waste recycling facilities will increase production of reusable products and landfill will decrease the space needed to meet the needs of their communities.  Water conservation will improve the profitability and sustainability of Wyoming’s green industry and municipal water supplies.  Community property values will increase due to sustained landscapes designed with sustainable plant choices.  Wyoming families will increase their use of fresh produce, making healthier choices in food selection.  Youth and their families will choose gardening as a healthy choice for active living. 

Evaluation: Programs will be formally evaluated with written questionnaire feed back by producers and consumers in attendance of Horticultural and 4-H youth programming as well as Master Gardener trainings.  In some cases, follow-up phone calls will be included in the evaluation process. 

Assumptions:

1) Information exists that can improve the profitability and sustainability or Wyoming agriculture and green industry. 

2) UWCES personnel are dedicated to collection and distribution of non-biased, research-based information.

3) Producers will be interested in alternative crop production, and will be motivated to change. 

4) Consumers will be interested in alternative crop availability, and will be motivated to change. 

5) Citizens will continue to participate in Master Gardener trainings and continue to volunteer in their communities. 

6) Increased understanding of green industry production will increase participation by Wyoming’s traditional crop producer and small acreage producers. 

7) Funding will be secure for speaker honorariums, facilitation, travel, accommodations, publications and media. 

External Factors: Financial support of programming is a necessity (see Assumption #7).  Without financial support, program effectiveness will be severely encumbered. 

Duration: Programming duration will be three years.  At the end of three years, programming impacts will be evaluated, an updated issue analysis conducted, and clientele needs reassessed. 

Research Base: Advisory Boards (county, area, and R&E centers) serve as an excellent source to relay producers concerns to UWCES personnel in the field.  On several occasions, various advisory boards have expressed the need for introduction of alternative crops in their corresponding area; therefore, addressing these requests by providing education, leadership, and support in alternative crop production while meeting the needs of may Wyoming producers will be important.  When production alternatives are not feasible or chosen, increased efficiency of current operational management through cost- and economical analyses will increase profitability.  Thirty three years across the country and twenty three years of Master Gardener programs in the state of Wyoming have demonstrated success in expanding CES’s ability to respond to urban horticultural requests.  Accumulations of volunteer hours and volunteer contacts show that communities rely upon Master Gardeners to meet the numbers of requests for information that come in to local CES offices on an annual basis.  Horticultural demonstration gardens allow local CES field staff to test horticultural crops and new varieties through applied research to demonstrate just what will grow in our varying environments across the state. 

Knowledge Areas:

Topic I.  Natural Resources and Environment

            KA 102. Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships                                                15%

            KA 111. Conservation and Efficient Use of Water                                                10%

            KA 124. Urban Forestry                                                                                      10%

Topic II.  Plants and Their Systems

            KA 206. Basic Plant Biology                                                                                20%

            KA 211. Insect, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants                  10%

            KA 212. Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants                                  5%

            KA 213. Weeds Affecting Plants                                                                            5%

            KA 216. Integrated Pest Management Systems                                                     10%

Topic IV.  Agricultural, Natural Resource and Biological Engineering

            KA 403. Waste Disposal, Recycling and Reuse                                                      5%

Topic VIII.  Families, Youth, and Communities