Issue #3
Agronomic Production
Problem, Opportunity Statement
Selecting economically appropriate crop production technologies is dependent on farm size, farm structure, geographic location, production goals, and market volatility. Continued farm sustainability may also mean exploring new market opportunities. Providing state-of-the-art information that addresses these issues and providing methods of making decision in an ever changing world is a major challenge, particularly given the diverse audience of clientele who influence on-farm decision making. The challenge to Cooperative Extension is to help diverse clientele understand when and how new technologies should be used, how to comply with government regulations that are required on their farm, and to educate the general public about stewardship efforts in the agricultural community that meet their concerns about food safety, environmental protection, and food security. Accomplishing these goals will require networking between industry, government agencies, consumer groups, educators, and extension personnel. Continuing financial support for these efforts will depend on how well we reach out to inform the general public, particularly underserved groups, about the impacts of our efforts. Through building larger teams that include industry, government agencies, farmers, farmer organizations, primary and secondary educators, consumer groups, and Cooperative Extension we can build on our past successes and transition Cooperative Extension into the 21st century.
Subject Matter Areas
(Weeds, Insects and other Invertebrates, Disease, Vertebrate)
(Weeds, Insects and other Invertebrates, Disease, Vertebrate)
o Scouting Technology
o Economic thresholds
o Use of Predictive Models
o Tactic selection
o
o Resistance Management/Refuge Implementation
o Impacts on profitability
o Impacts on natural resource quality
o Physiology and crop development principles
o Optimization of crop management practices
o Factors that affect management decisions
o New technologies for Pennsylvania Producers
o Public issues related to Crop production
o Producer education issues for improving nutrient management
o Public education issues related to nutrient management
o Development of informed ag advisors
o Education of policy makers and agency personnel
o Evaluation of production costs of alternative forages
o Improve consistency
o Change traditional management practices
o Evaluate custom harvesting
o Modify harvest and storage practices
o Increase pasture acreages
o Improve profitability
o Enhanced soil and water quality
o Increased opportunities
o Improved collaboration among partners
o Public education on ag issues
o Research based decision making
o Improving the ability of producers to adapt to changing conditions
Resources
o 3 faculty/ staff
o 30 agents
o Agency partnerships – USDA, PDA, Conservation Districts
o Commodity groups
o Agribusiness
o Media
o Various Extension funding sources and grants
o Federal Research/Extension grants
o Gifts and In-kind support
o Contracts and Cooperative agreements
o Local sponsors
o Registration fees
o Curriculum and extension education materials
o County government
o Volunteers
o Research Farm facilities and staff
o University infrastructure for research and extension programs
o Needs assessment results
o Surveys and evaluations
o
o Industry
o Farm organizations
o Federal grants
o State grants
o Agronomy Guide
o
o Government programs
o News media
o PowerPoint presentations
o Videos
o Farmer Organizations
o Research Farm Facilities and Staff
o University Infrastructure of Research and Extension
o Research Faculty
o Volunteers
o On-farm Research Staff (Ron Hoover)
o 30 PSU Faculty and support staff in the Departments of Crop and Soil Science, Dairy and Animal, SciencesEntomology, Plant Pathology, Ag Engineering and Biological Sciences, Veterinary Sciences
o 40 county and regional based extension educators
o Agricultural businesses and suppliers
o Advisory committees
o Volunteers
o County, state, and federal agencies
o Commodity groups
o
o Livestock, Dairy and Horse Owner Associations
o University infrastructure for research and extension programs
o Research farm facilities and staff
o Curriculum and extension education materials
o Farm press
o Needs assessments
o S urveys
o Funding sources
o Federal Research and Extension Grants
o Gifts and in-kind support
o Contracts and cooperative agreements
o Local sponsors
o Registration fees
o 5 faculty/ staff
o 30 agents
o Agency partnerships – USDA, PDA, Conservation Districts
o Commodity groups
o Agribusiness
o Media
o Various Extension funding sources and grants
o Federal Research/Extension grants
o Gifts and In-kind support
o Contracts and Cooperative agreements
o Local sponsors
o Registration fees
o Curriculum and extension education materials
o County government
o Volunteers
o Research Farm facilities and staff
o University infrastructure for research and extension programs
o Needs assessment results
o Surveys and evaluations
o
o 15 faculty/ staff
o 30 agents
o Agency partnerships – USDA, PDA, Conservation Districts
o Commodity groups
o Grower Associations
o Agribusiness
o Media
o Various Extension funding sources and grants
o Federal Research/Extension grants
o Gifts and In-kind support
o Contracts and Cooperative agreements
o Local sponsors
o Registration fees
o Curriculum and extension education materials
o County government
o Volunteers
o Research Farm facilities and staff
o University infrastructure for research and extension programs
o Needs assessment results
o Surveys and evaluations
o 15 faculty/ staff
o 30 agents
o Agency partnerships – USDA, PDA, Conservation Districts
o Commodity groups
o Agribusiness
o Media
o Various Extension funding sources and grants
o Federal Research/Extension grants
o Gifts and In-kind support
o Contracts and Cooperative agreements
o Local sponsors
o Registration fees
o Curriculum and extension education materials
o County government
o Volunteers
o Research Farm facilities and staff
o University infrastructure for research and extension programs
o Needs assessment results
o Surveys and evaluations
o 15 faculty/ staff
o 30 agents
o Agency partnerships – USDA, PDA, Conservation Districts
o Commodity groups
o Agribusiness
o Media
o Various Extension funding sources and grants
o Federal Research/Extension grants
o Gifts and In-kind support
o Contracts and Cooperative agreements
o Local sponsors
o Registration fees
o Curriculum and extension education materials
o County government
o Volunteers
o Research Farm facilities and staff
o University infrastructure for research and extension programs
o Needs assessment results
o Surveys and evaluations
Indicators