Contact RDC for more information (831)758-1469
-----Original Message-----
From: Selene Jaramillo [mailto:voces@igc.org]
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 6:53 PM
Subject: Position announcement-please post and distribute
Program Representative
Rural Development Center: Farmer Training and Technical Assistance
Program
The Rural Development Center (RDC) seeks a self-motivated, innovative
individual to help promote the development of a new Farmer Training
Center and Technical Assistance Program. Over the past 13 years, the
RDC has built a solid record of training family farmers in sustainable
farming systems, and has provided limited technical assistance and
outreach to Latino farmers throughout the Monterey Bay Area. The goal
of the new program is to expand and adapt RDC's training program to the
specific needs of hillside farmers in and around the Elkhorn Slough
Watershed, to coordinate outreach activities with other technical
assistance partners and collaborators, and to secure adequate support
for the development and staffing of a training facility in the area.
The proposed Farmer Training Center is part of a collaborative project
to promote appropriate land management, natural resource conservation,
and sustainable farming practices among farmers and rural residents
around the Central Monterey Bay Wetlands. The project targets three
types of actions to achieve this goal: Watershed Communication and
Education, Farmer Training and Technical Assistance, and Land Management
Incentives. These activities will be achieved through the combined
efforts of public and private organizations including the USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service, local Resource Conservation Districts,
UC Cooperative Extension, and the Community Alliance with Family
Farmers.
The RDC is the lead partner in the Farmer Training and Technical
Assistance component of this collaborative effort. The Program
Representative will initially be based at the RDC (south of Salinas) to
benefit from the resources and experience of the RDC and to learn the
training approach used there. The focus of the work, however, will be on
establishing a comprehensive research, demonstration and training
program on alternative crops, production methods, and marketing
appropriate to hillside farmers who tend to be of Mexican ancestry with
limited financial resources. The program goal is to establish permanent
systems of support, reduce the personal risk to farmers who agree to try
alternative production systems, and encourage collaboration within the
farming community to reduce environmental impacts of current farming
practices.
The primary tasks for the first year are to:
· Conduct a survey of farmers and landowners that will participate in
and benefit from the project;
· Coordinate discussions and organize meetings among the various
partners to explore and delineate expectations, issues and concerns
related to the project, define and specify partner roles and
responsibilities, secure commitments, and formalize agreements;
· Develop specific implementation plans and projected budget;
· Secure adequate multi-year support for full project implementation;
· Survey potential sites for the demonstration farm and work with
funders to secure land;
· Explore the range of possible practical incentives for farmer and
landowner participation in training and technical assistance programs.
In the second year of the project, assuming that the project will by
then be fully funded, the tasks may be expanded to fully implement the
training program including:
· Establish a demonstration farm (50-100 acres) on representative
farmland within the Watershed. A range of crop experiments and
conservation farming practices will be demonstrated. Local farmers will
be invited to try new farming systems on 5 acre parcels, and will be
provided incentives to participate, such as reduced rent, on-site
consultations and access to equipment.
· Organize regular meetings for participating farmers to compare results
and discuss applicability to other farms.
· Sponsor field days, farmer meetings, farm visits, and provide on site
technical assistance to disseminate and promote the adoption of best
management practices developed on the demonstration farm.
· Coordinate technical assistance from participating agricultural
advisors.
· Offer a training program for outside farmers to teach about new crops,
technologies and conservation practices.
Depending on performance and the availability of resources, this will be
a two-year position with an excellent benefits package. Salary is
commensurate with experience and qualifications within the range of
comparable positions in community-based organizations.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, in March or
April, 1999. A detailed resume and related information and material
should be sent to the Rural Development Center, P. O. Box 5415, Salinas,
CA 93915
Contact RDC for more information (831)758-1469
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