Montana State University

Awards Issued Prior to January 20, 2025, Were Funded Under Previous Administrations and May Not Reflect the Priorities and Policies of the Current Administration. Over the Past 30+ Years the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agency Has Been Instrumental in the Development and Dissemination of Producer Driven Research and Education Innovations Through Its Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education Program. at Present Nifa Is Asking the Regions to Elevate Usda FY22 Research Outcomes by Addressing One or More of the Usda Fy 2022 Priorities. to Aid This Effort Western Sare Has Initiated a New Work Plan That Will Carry Through 2023. First, Is the Strategic Planning Effort to Identify Programs That Can Be More Impactful, 2) Strengthen the Stewardship of Private Lands Through Research and Education That Advancessustainable Technologiesfor Agriculture and Forestry (usda FY22 Priority #1), 3) to Enhance Education and Funding Opportunities for Food Sovereignty at the Individual and Community Level (usda FY22 Priority #2) and 4) Help All Americans Gain Better Access to a Safe, Nutritious, and Secure Food Supply (usda FY22 Priority #4). a Recently Completed Regional Needs Assessment Will Feed Into the Strategic Planning Effort to Highlight Avenues That Can Be Undertaken to Give Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Processors the Information and Technologies They Need to Overcome Weaknesses in the Food System and Continue Three Decades of Land, Soil, and Water Sustainability Into the Next Decades. New and Reformatted Western Sare Action Programs Will Address Areas Where the New Knowledge, Processes and Methodologies Identified Through the Needs Assessment Will Boost Farmer/rancher Learning and Elevate the Communication Skills of Participating Scientists, Farmers and Ranchers Helping Both Teacher and Student Form a Platform That Enhances Producer Familiesand Communitiesfood Security. Chapter 3 Is an Integral Part of This Effort Through Competitive Grants That Will Incorporate Research Outcomes and Learning Styles Into Transformative Education and Professional Development Activities Geared to Elevate the Adaptive Capacity of Agricultural Producers and Managers Across the Western Us and Throughout the Pacific Islands.the Needs of the Western Region Are Layered With Complexity Because We Serve a Large, Geographicallydiverse Environment Where Multiple Conservation and Production Practices Are Necessary. to Reach This Wide Range of Stakeholders, We Continue Integrating Western SARE'S Chapter 1 (research & Education), Chapter 3 (professional Development), and Communications Programs to Form an Adaptive Outreach Process. to This End We Have Begun a Second Regional Survey in as Many Years. This Survey Is Meant to Identify Teaching and Presentation Methods That Can Be Adapted to the Broad Array of Agriculturists, Natural Resource Managers and Educators in the West. Accordingly, in Fy 2022 We Will Allocate 25% of the Sare Regional Host Institution Budget to Administrative Costs, Including Communications and Outreach, and 75% of the Budget to Support Research, Education, and Professional Development Sub-awards,(a 70/30 Ratio for Chapters 1 and 3, Respectively). to Further Integrate Chapters 1 and 3 During 2022-2023, We Will Expand the Pilot Site Visit Effort Begun This Past Year. These On-the-ground Visits by Staff to Projects Nearing Completion Will Be Used to 1) Highlight Project Outcomes for Quick Publication by Western Sare, 2) Provide Assistance in Final Report Preparation and 3) Learn How CHAP1 and 3 Can Work in a More Cohesive Manner to Augment Disseminate of New Knowledge and Technologies.