Educational Curricula and Professional Development Training for Energy Efficient Production Practices.

Educational Curricula and Professional Development Training for Energy Efficient Production Practices.

Summary

This project will develop curricula that can assist educators in long-term one-on-one planning. Curricula will be suitable for self-learning or workshops.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The objectives stated in the proposal are as follows.

o Develop educational materials that explain how:
1) rotations and whole farm management can be used to increase energy efficiency and environmental sustainability; and
2) to determine the cost of production for individual fields and portions of fields;
o Provide step-by-step guidance on forming learning communities, conducting participatory research, and conducting one-on-one educational programs;
o Provide professional development using newly developed training tools to Cooperative Extension Service Extension Educators, NRCS personnel, and professional agronomists.

Outreach activites designed to meet the stated objectives included:

Two field tours, Bookings SD June 30, 2008, and Beresford September 3, 2008. On both tours scientists discussed the importance of energy efficiency and biofuel issues. Approximately 120 producers attended the talks.

American Society of Agronomy National Meeting, Symposium on Meeting the Demand for Food, Feed, Fiber, and Biofuels: Impacts and Production Practices. Five talks by Doug Haefele, Paul Fixen, David Clay, T. Randall, and Gregg Johnson were presented. Approximately 150 scientists attended the meetings.

Producer Farming System Forum. March 6, 2009. This forum will lead with presentations of important issues followed by producers identify key concerns.

In addition, the following reference materials have been completed or are in progress. These materials have been funded by other sources.

Mathematics and Science for Improved Agronomic Decisions. 2009. Clay, D.E., S.A. Clay, C.G. Carlson, and S. Murrell. In review. International Plant Nutrition Institute has agreed to publish.

Soil Science: A Step-by-Step Field Analysis. 2008. Logsdon, S., D.E. Clay, D. Moore, and T. Tsegaye (eds). American Society of Agronomy. Madison, WI.

Reitsma, K., R. Gelderman, P.S. Skiles, K. Alverson, J. Hemenway, H. Woodard, T.E. Schumacher, D.D. Malo, and D.E. Clay. 2008. Nitrogen Best Management Practices for Corn in South Dakota. South Dakota State University Extension, Available on-line at___________.

Pati, E.M., D. Clay, and G. Carlson. 2008. The issues of carbon sequestration. South Dakota State University. Extension, Brookings, SD. http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/FS951.pdf

Clay, D., G. Carlson, T. Schumacher, V. Owens, and F. Mamanti-Pati. Biomass Estimation Approach Impacts on Calculated Soil Organic Carbon Maintenance Requirements and Associated Mineralization Rate Constants. J. Environ. Qual. 2010; 39(3): p. 784-790

Accomplishments/Milestones

During the past year, curricula development occurred.

Two products, "Best Management Practices for Corn Production in SD" and "Calculations, Mathematics, Science, and Reference Information for Agronomists and Soil Scientists" were developed. These products will be published by South Dakota State University and International Plant Nutrition Institute. Final edits on both products are being conducted.

A third book is in the planning stages: "GIS Applications in Agronomy: Nutrient Management for Improved Energy Efficiency." Twenty five chapters have been committed. Initial drafts are due in April. CRC-Press will publish this book. Simplified chapters suitable for distribution through a web-page will be prepared.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Outreach activities have included

Two field tours, Bookings SD June 30, 2008, and Beresford September 3, 2008. On both tours scientists discussed the importance of energy efficiency and biofuel issues. Approximately 120 producers attended the talks.

American Society of Agronomy National Meeting, Symposium on Meeting the Demand for Food, Feed, Fiber, and Biofuels: Impacts and Production Practices. Five talks by Doug Haefele, Paul Fixen, David Clay, T. Randall, and Gregg Johnson were presented. Approximately 150 scientists attended the meetings.

Producer Farming System Forum. March 6, 2009. This forum will lead with presentations of important issues followed by producers identify key concerns.

Short-term outcomes are new curricula and educators trained in how to conduct energy and production assessments.

Intermediate-term outcomes are:
1) increased willingness of educators to create new producer learning groups; and
2) improved ability of educators to problem solve.

Long term outcomes are increased willingness of producers to conduct energy, environment, and production assessments as a component of their long-term planning

Collaborators: