Strategic Farm/Ranch Business Planning and Marketing is a self-directed course designed to help agricultural professionals work effectively with their clients and develop research and education programs that address agricultural sustainability. This course is the second in a series that is aimed at:

• helping clients critically assess their future
• walking clients through the goal setting process
• finding resources to help clients evaluate new ideas
• providing guidance to clients on developing business and marketing plans
• fostering critical thinking and offer risk management advice
• helping clients prepare to meet with lenders to seek financing alternatives
• advising about farm transfer and retirement options
• promoting an appreciation of sustainable farm business management principles

For more information contact David Chaney, DEC Education Services, at chaneyd@comcast.net; or Kim Kroll, Associate Director USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, at assoc_dir@sare.org.

Sustainable Agriculture: Basic Principles and Concept Overview is a self-directed course designed to help agricultural professionals work effectively with their clients and develop research and education programs that address agricultural sustainability. This course is the first in a series that is aimed at helping you answer these questions:

• What is sustainable agriculture?
• What does it mean for farmers, ranchers and communities?
• How does it relate to my role as an educator or researcher?

For more information contact David Chaney, DEC Education Services, at chaneyd@comcast.net; or Kim Kroll, Associate Director USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, at assoc_dir@sare.org.

The "Integrated Pest Management for Organic Crops" curriculum was developed with support from the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Program (PDP), with Clemson University as the Lead Institution. The project goal is to incorporate of principles and practices of sustainable agriculture in training provided to agricultural professionals in the Southern Region.

Specific objectives are:

1. Create 8-12 high quality, contemporary educational products to deliver state of the art knowledge about sustainable agriculture in the Southern Region
2. Integrate these products into the overall Extension education system in the Southern Region through the Cooperative Extension Curriculum Project (CECP) and Southern SARE

For information contact Dr. Geoff Zehnder - Professor of Entomology and Coordinator IPM and Sustainable Agriculture Programs, Clemson University.

Sustainable Small Farms and Backyards is a blended course for home gardeners and people curious about establishing small farms. The 6-week course will teach participants the basics on how to care for livestock and honey bees and how to grow your own fruits and vegetables.

Sustainable Farming: Helpful Tips for Water Conservation, Preventing Soil Erosion, and Meat Safety is an instructor facilitated course for farm workers an employees at small-scale meat processing facilities. Participant will learn how to build and manage a skidder tire water tank for cattle, the basics of preventing soil erosion in a watering area, and proper health and safety procedures when processing meat from a farm. For more information or to enroll contact Leslie Cordie at Auburn University Distance Education at lak0007@auburn.ed