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Project Goal- The goal of this planning proposal is to work closely with stakeholders to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of their research and Extension needs, and to enhance their capacity to produce and market high quality, environmentally-friendly organic milk at a sustainable cost.<P> Project Objectives- Objective 1: Develop an in-depth understanding of the research and Extension needs of organic dairy stakeholders from the Northeastern states (i.e., CT, NH, NY, MA, ME, PA, & VT), including the most effective means of communication and outreach, via focus group interviews. Objective 2: Prioritize research and Extension needs identified in the focus groups with a broader population of stakeholders via survey methods. Objective 3: Verify and validate the priorities with team members and stakeholders, and begin a planning process for conducting integrated research and Extension programs via follow-up workshops. Objective 4: Develop integrated proposals to address the prioritized organic research and Extension needs and organize a network of collaborating stakeholders to help conduct the research (Research and Extension Advisory Panel). <P>Expected outputs- Researchers, Extension educators, and stakeholders will: 1) have an increased knowledge of the research and Extension needs of the organic dairy industry in the Northeast; 2) share information about the needs of the organic dairy industry with others across the country via eXtension and eOrganic; and 3) develop high quality, relevant proposals and programming that responds to the identified needs.
Non-Technical Summary: The University of New Hampshire has a vested interest in establishing research and outreach partnerships with other regional institutions, stakeholders, and state agencies to support the Northeast organic dairy industry. However, a comprehensive needs assessment of organic dairy producers in the region has yet to be conducted. The objective of the current planning proposal is to establish a regional consortium of expertise (Research and Extension Advisory Panel) that can address research and Extension needs of organic dairy producers in the Northeast. We will assemble a team of researchers, Extension personnel, and industry stakeholders to first identify these needs by conducting focus groups to obtain an in-depth understanding of the concerns facing organic dairy producers. Higher priority issues emerging from these groups will be developed into a survey to further refine and prioritize these issues with a broader population of stakeholders. The highest priority issues will lead to follow-up communication with farms interested in serving as pilot sites for future research and outreach education. The Research and Extension Advisory Panel will consist of current proposal participants, additional research/Extension expertise as needed, and industry stakeholders. This panel will develop integrated proposal(s) to submit to the National Institute for Food and Agriculture for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI). Toward this end we have already received pilot funding from the Northeast Agricultural Research and Extension directors to leverage with the current USDA planning proposal. <P> Approach: We will assemble a team of researchers, Extension personnel, and industry stakeholders to first identify the research and extension needs by conducting focus groups to obtain an in-depth understanding of the concerns facing organic dairy producers. Higher priority issues emerging from these groups will be developed into a survey to further refine and prioritize these issues with a broader population of stakeholders. The highest priority issues will lead to follow-up communication with farms interested in serving as pilot sites for future research and outreach education. A Research and Extension Advisory Panel consisting of current proposal participants, additional research/Extension expertise as needed, and industry stakeholders will be formed to develop integrated proposal(s) for submission to the National Institute for Food and Agriculture and the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) in the future.