Project Overview
Equipping Extension Educators to Address Producer Needs in Energy Education
Annual Reports
Commodities
Practices
- Crop Production: irrigation
- Education and Training: extension, networking
- Energy: bioenergy and biofuels, energy conservation/efficiency, energy use, solar energy, wind power
- Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns, feasibility study, risk management, value added
- Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities
Abstract:
The profitability and sustainability of agricultural operations directly links to the consumption and production of energy. Energy is relevant to sustainability of agricultural lands as energy efficiency impacts production costs profitability, and agricultural producers have the capacity to generate energy through growing biomass, creating biofuels, or from small on-farm generation. Decisions made on energy issues have long-term implications for the sustainability of agricultural production.
This project developed energy education resources targeted at meeting the needs of agricultural producer educators through web-based tools, energy training, and educational tool kits. The resources help educators provide information on energy such that producers can understand and evaluate energy opportunities.
Project objectives:
(Redacted from Original Grant Proposal)
The output objectives for this project fall into two categories: 1) direct educator training and materials and 2) indirect training and materials that can be accessed by agricultural producers, Extension Agents and other agency personnel.
Audience A: Direct Educator Training
Product a: Curriculum
Product b: Intranet Tools
Product c: Training
Audience B: Indirect Educator Training
Product d: Material Development
Product e: Development of Tool Kits
Outcomes
Outcomes for this project are as follows:
1. Educators will increase training and educational outreach to agricultural producers.
2. Educators will establish networks for energy education between Western SARE states.
3. Producers and educators will be able to more easily access unbiased, research-based information.
4. Producers will apply the available information in their decision-making processes.
5. Producers will understand that their local issues may not be they driving factors in their energy development plans.
6. Evaluations will indicate that the materials and resources available are relevant to meeting producer decision-making needs.
