Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems

Technical Assistance Provider Training and Agricultural Management Systems Learning Collaborative

students in a workshop in a field with worms

CRARS, in collaboration with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) and other project partners, has received funding for the Agricultural Management Systems Learning Collaborative ('The Collaborative') through a grant from the USDA National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) program. The Collaborative is developing a comprehensive approach to train and support producers, agricultural professionals (Technical Service Providers and others), and students to become leaders in systems-based agricultural management using peer-mentorship as its base.

Funded Training Opportunity Available!

Applications for this period's funded training opportunity are now open(opens in new window).

As part of the project’s activities, CARCD is accepting applications from regional technical service providers and other agricultural professionals to train in systems-based agricultural management. Full tuition (equivalent to $2600 per person) will be provided to 20 agricultural professionals for Fall 2022-Spring 2023 (Cohort 2).   

Please note:

Originally, ag professionals needed to pair with a producer partner to enroll in this program—this is no longer true. However, you will need to work with a farm, ranch or other producer to complete the Holistic Farm & Ranch Planning piece of the training. If you have not identified a producer to work with, Chico State’s team may be able to help match you with one. 

Please learn more about our Technical Service Provider Training Program and Learning Collaborative (PDF) before enrolling in the Professional Course Series classes this tuition covers. You will need to be approved for the grant money before you can enroll unless you plan to pay for courses yourself. Also, please learn about the Professional Course Series(opens in new window) if you have not already. 

Apply now.

Project Background

Rationale: California is the nation’s leading agricultural producer by total receipts, generating over $50 billion in 2019, far exceeding the number two leading state of Iowa ($27.5 billion) and representing 13.5% of U.S. total receipts. By sheer size and productivity, California has significant potential to contribute to working lands conservation efforts; however, there are several barriers to producer adoption of conservation practices, which can be addressed through systems-based approaches. These barriers include cultural stigma; lack of producer-driven knowledge sharing of the transition process and risk management; number of context-specific field demonstrations; and lack of knowledge and/or access to information, training and assistance with systems-based agricultural management. It is equally important that agricultural professionals providing assistance to producers (e.g., extension, RCD and NRCS staff) have access to the latest information and training. Currently, producers and agricultural professionals must piece together various workshops and online materials.

Purpose and Approach: This opportunity addresses these barriers through a comprehensive approach to outreach and training of producers, agricultural professionals, and students. The project design attends to the identified need for information and assistance to improve productivity through sustainable resource management strategies, and the need for strong community building and support to address real and perceived practical, cultural and economic barriers. Flexibility in the activities and delivery system provides access to multiple audiences, in which the interactions of these audiences are mutually beneficial. The approach is designed to foster conversation and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, creating conditions that support innovative and collaborative strategies to address current and future threats and opportunities for California agricultural production.