Networking Opportunies at Fall Conference

by Mike Riese, Linda Tempel and Rick Koelsch, UNL Extension

New to this year's fall conference, Extension professionals have four unique opportunities to grow their networks with other Extension peers.  These opportunities, jointly sponsored by NCEA and UNL Extension, were designed to support the #1 reason faculty have told us they come to Fall Conference.  By signing up we will reserve space (generally a table or floor space) at these networking sessions for you. Learn more below.

 

Issue/Opportunity Breakout Sessions - Sign Up

Do you:

• See an emerging issue in which Extension should consider engaging?
• Have an idea in which you would like to identify other interested faculty?
• Wish to propose an initiative that would engage multiple action teams or work groups?
• Anticipate a need for a new curriculum resource, decision tool, or other educational resource?

This is an opportunity to propose a discussion topic and learn who might be interested in partnering with you on a future proposal, extension initiative, or examining an emerging issue.  We will provide you an opportunity to share your idea and 40 minutes of time to visit others that might share your interest.  Individuals and teams are invited to propose An "Issue/Opportunity Breakout Session" around which you wish to start a discussion.

New Faculty Networking Session - Sign Up
Being new to Extension means we need to get to know you. We would like you to share something about yourself which might include your school, a prop for your favorite hobby, or something such as a YouTube video introducing yourself. The rest of your Extension colleagues would like to learn something about you. We will provide you a table and space at this networking session for you to introduce yourself to your Extension colleagues.
 

Technology Show & Tell Networking Session - Sign Up

All Extension professionals are invited to show off something they are doing with technology in Extension.  Do you have a cool app or decision tool, social media effort engaging clientele, valued tool for collaborating with a team, or educational experience delivered on-line.  Have you applied other (non-electronic) technologies to create a unique educational experience?  We invite all Extension Professionals to share a "Technology Show & Tell" experience with their peers in an informal networking environment.  We will provide space and/or table for your "Technology Show & Tell".

 

Extension Specialist Networking Session - Sign Up

Extension Specialists are invited to share research and extension programs with those attending Fall Conference during a specified networking time. What are your interests?  What cool research are you doing?  What educational products would you like to apply in Nebraska?  You are invited to set-up a poster (including a previously presented research poster), table top display, or short video to help others learn of your program and interests.  The goal of this session is to give Extension Specialists the opportunity to share their work as well as network with others that may be interested in similar topics.

Questions about any of these sessions can be addressed to Linda Tempel at 402-472-2966.

What Is UNL Extension’s Role in “Sustainable” Agriculture?

by Rick Koelsch
 

The term “Sustainability” as it relates to agriculture is in a transition.  The term is taking on a new and broader meaning as the term is applied to both conventional and traditionally defined sustainable agricultural approaches. This blog will focus on a couple of trends related to “sustainable” agriculture and start a discussion about the role of UNL Extension in future education on this topic.

The term “sustainability” is increasingly being applied to all forms of agriculture.  The vast array of writings addressing the challenges of feeding a world with 9 billion people asks difficult questions about our ability to feed a world with a limited natural resource base. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs (co-chaired by Catherine Bertini, former executive director for the UN World Food Program, and Dan Glickman, former Secretary for USDA) discusses this challenge in “Advancing Global Food Security:  The Power of Science, Trade, and Business” (http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/files/About_Us/Press_Releases/FY13_Releases/2013_Symposium_Report_Global_Food_Security.aspx).  The report recommends the need to forge a new science targeting “Sustainable Intensification” of agriculture which would create agricultural systems that utilizes modern scientific strategies to produce foods measured by their ability to 1) improve nutritional qualities, 2) efficiently use land and other inputs, 3) improve human health, 4) adapt to climate change, 5) reduce environmental impact, and 6) reduce food waste.

The 2013 Commodity Classic gathering of the leadership for the major crop commodity associations focused on theme of Sustainability.  The presidents of Corn, Soybeans, Wheat and Grain Sorghum national associations all touted the importance of their industry engaging in a discussion of sustainability and defining systems and practices to improve sustainability. Since then the United Soybean Board has announced the “U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol” which establishes the processes and practices for the U.S. soy industry to ensure international customers of U. S. farmers’ sustainable soybean production (see http://www.unitedsoybean.org/media-center/releases/u-s-soy-organizations-demonstrate-commitment-to-sustainability-with-assurance-protocol/ for more information).

Field to Market (http://www.fieldtomarket.org/), a coalition of commodity groups, industry supply chain businesses, and environmental NGOs, has published a collaboratively developed tool to measure sustainability for major U.S. commodity crops.  The coalitions “Fieldprint Calculator” is designed to measure sustainability using six indicators (five shown in Figure below plus a new water quality indicator). Randy Pryor and a group of about 20 corn producers participated in a pilot of this tool 3 years ago.

 

For better copy of graphic, refer to page 11 of Summary Report in "Field to Market National Report" (http://www.fieldtomarket.org/news/2013/238/).

 

So what is UNL Extension’s role in this effort to apply “Sustainability” to commercial agriculture?  Here are a few thoughts to which I hope others will add their own:

• Should Extension faculty invest professional development time in understanding methods being used to define and measure sustainability of agricultural systems?  The Fieldprint Calculator might be one method worth gaining familiarity.

• Would Extension educators be willing to identify 10 of their top crop farmers to use the Fieldprint Calculator on one field and share that information among the group of 10.  What might be learned of 10 educators each with 10 crop producers gatherer this data in 2014?

• Should we engage these same industry leaders in some challenging discussions around topics such as 1) the value gained from this exercise; 2) what carrots will be needed to engage their peers; 3) how is this exercise viewed in relation to the future of their industry?

• As we discuss the issue of “Feeding a World with 9 Billion People”, is a key role for UNL Extension to introduce Nebraska agricultural producers to the concept of “sustainability intensification” of agricultural systems?

So how would you propose including sustainability in future UNL Extension programs targeting food systems?

Critical Issues Facing Agricultural Extension Professionals

Rick Koelsch

At the 2012 NACAA annual conference, four extension educators from different regions of the US shared their thoughts on critical and emerging issues for agriculture in which extension professionals may consider engaging. Panel included Stephan Komar (NJ), Bill Burbine (MS), Mark Heitstuman (WA), and Scott Gabbard (IN). As you review the list, ask yourself which of these issues are critical to Nebraska? are you actively engaged? planning to engage?

Critical or Emerging Issue	Region of the US Proposing Issue
Natural Resource Topics	NE	NC	South	West
Agriculture impact on water quality	X	X	X	X
Invasive species (plant and animals)		X		X
Drought management/climate change		X	X
Loss of cropping system diversity		X
Water use for irrigated agriculture	X			X
CAFOs and regulatory compliance	X	X
Cropping Systems
Livestock Systems
Farm Management
High land prices	X
Implications of health care laws for agriculture	X
Immigrant worker programs and agency audits			X
Farm bill			X
Public lands management				X
Farm ownership transitions				X
Oil and gas development	X	X
Food Systems
Direct marketed crops - food safety	X		X
Direct marketed crops – traceability			X
Direct marketed crops -  production & risk mgmt.	X	X	X

What surprises did you find in this list among our peers around the U.S.? Here are some of my surprises:

1.      Traditional cropping and livestock systems production topics were not identified as critical issues. Is Extension becoming less engaged in production issues?

2.      Natural resource issues were among the most critical issues identified. Water quality was the only critical issue identified in all four regions.

3.      Farm management topics such as health care law implications for agriculture and immigrant worker programs were not on my radar screen. At least 50% of the 30+ educators in the room indicated they were engaged in educational programs targeteing immigrant workers or employer management of immigrant workers...also not on my radar screen.

4.      The educational need of producers directly marketing products to their customers (consumers, grocery stores, schools) is a mainstream Extension program in many states.

Consider sharing this list with your Extension Board or other agricultural groups with which you interact. What are their reactions? It is good to take a hard look at what we have historically done in Extension and ask if changes are needed.