Covid-19 has presented many challenges in the Extension world and has made agents think of creative ways to bring programs to their clientele. CAIP is a program that is conducted every year and heavily involves extension. 2020 was no different for this program.

The typical CAIP program involves extension in various ways across the state. All levels of extension play a role in the program, from specialist to agents, and from state-wide meetings to local level meetings. Some counties administer the whole CAIP program while others provide education for producers.

Marion Co. receives a large amount of money for CAIP to disburse among producers. The program receives approximately $180,000. This amount is determine by a formula based off tobacco money in the county. Marion Co. has been receiving the approximate amount for several year.

Each year the program is able to fund around 80 producers, give or take depending on many variables. Previously each producer that is approved for the program has the ability to spend up to $4,000 and will receive 50% of the $4,000 back in reimbursement. For the 2020 CAIP program year, Marion Co. increased their total match funds to $5,000. This allows the producer to spend more on their project and receive the same percentage in reimbursement. Although this allows producers to have the potential to have a larger project, less producers were funded.

In the CAIP program, one of the requirements in an educational component. Producers turn to their local extension offices to help them fulfil their requirements. Each producer most have an extension agent sign-off on their education form.

For the 2020 CAIP, I was able to meet the needs of each approved producer on a more individual basis. In previous years meetings were held with a large number of producers in attendance to fulfil educational meetings. This year I was able to talk with each producer to determine their needs for their project. A few small group meetings were held for producers. At these small meetings different topics were discussed to cater to specific projects. Producers who did not have internet capabilities to watch a video for their project were allowed to attend small group meetings in person. Each producer could choose the small group meeting that fit their project and operation the best. For producer who had internet capabilities, videos were email to the producer. This allowed the producer to have a specific educational meeting that fit their project and allowed me to talk to each producer on an individual basis.

A qualtrics survey was sent with each video to ensure the producer had viewed the video. This survey had a few short questions asking the producer what they learned. In addition to asking the producer what they learned, the survey asked if they could like additional information on that topic. These surveys will help tremendously in the future with program because I will have a more exact idea of what local producers are interested in for educational meetings.

Overall I was able to work with more than 70 local producers across many different agriculture areas and grow ideas for future programs.