Sustainable Corn: Insights to Extension's Future?

Corn is essential to American agriculture. It is an economic powerhouse, employing millions and producing food, feed and fuel. However, there is increasing uncertainty about how climate trends are impacting corn-based systems as well as the impact of current management on our environment. The NIFA funded regional Sustainable Corn project is  providing some of those answers.

Please check out the SustainableCorn.org relative the issues being addressed and the approaches being used.  This may provide some unique insights as to some of the critical issues for relevant  future cropping system programs in Extension.

Many of the outcomes of this project will be shared as part of a conference titled "Resilient Agriculture:  Adapting to a Changing Climate". The conference is designed to address 1)Latest science on climate impacts on agriculture; 2) Adaptation strategies for corn/soybean-based systems; and 3) New and emerging technologies for farm management.  The conference occurs August 5-7 and can be attended live by farmers and through technology for the rest of us.  Attendance via technology is free.  This appears to be an excellent professional development opportunity for our Crops and Water faculty.

This project has collaborated with the U2U Climate Change project (UNL's Martha Shulski is key partner) to conduct a survey of 5000 North Central farmers including farmers in the Loup, Middle and Lower Platte, Blue, Elkhorn and other river basins. Results are shared by graphically by river basin.  Before we make judgements about what farmers do and don't believe about climate issues, "Farmer Perspectives on Agriculture and Weather Variability in the Corn Belt" is a must read. Some of the results are expected, but farmer's attitudes related to adapting to climate extremes has some surprises.

Farmers participating in  the Climate Change Survey originated from these river basins.

If you want to follow this project team is talking about on sustainable corn and resilient farming, I might suggest subscribing to this projects BLOG. 

Kudos to Randy Pryor and Charles Shapiro and the 20 educators who invested a day in learning the Field to Farm sustainability metric software!!!  The group plans to engage 60 farmers in measuring 6 indicators of sustainability.  The tool is a nationally recognized tool supported by agribusiness, food industry, and environmental groups. This is an effort worth watching!