Producer Driven Education to Improve Bio-Diversity in Semi-arid and High-Plains Cropping Systems

Producer Driven Education to Improve Bio-Diversity in Semi-arid and High-Plains Cropping Systems

Summary

First-time producers participated in an incentive program to promote the production of “alternative crops”, with the potential to improve bio-diversity in semi-arid cropping systems in the High Plains region. A primary, program incentive is research/extension based support from university specialists and production/management support from mentor producers. The program has resulted in an increased knowledge base for the production and marketing of “alternative crops” through informational meetings, workshops, field tours, and the development of printed and electronic materials. In 2005, approximately 4,550 acres of program crops were planted.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Short-term: Increase knowledge of sustainable production practices for alternative crops in the High Plains.

Intermediate: 75 producers will have had a successful experience with production of an alternative crop.

Long-term: Increase bio-diversity in the region.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Short-term:

A core group of mentor producers was organized for the second year of the project, each with background experience in the production of an “alternative crop” that has bio-diversity and economic potential in the High Plains. “Alternative crops” selected for the project were brown mustard/canola, sunflower, grain/forage pea, specialty millets, perennial grass seed, and chickpeas.

Outreach of the project resulted in gaining first-time participation by a minority producer and a producer transitioning into an organic cropping system. Mentor and first-time producers were instrumental in enhancing the knowledge base of alternative crops by sharing the pros and cons of their production experiences at informational meetings and field tours. This feedback information, in addition to research updates by university specialists, helped facilitate and empower new producers.

Mentor producers and university specialists highlighted production and/or economic information for “alternative crops” at various research and production meetings, including: a) Sunflower Production Meeting, Scottsbluff, NE, b) Crop Tech Conference, Gering, NE, c) Brown Mustard Production Meeting, Scottsbluff, NE, d) Nebraska Dry Bean Meeting, Mitchell, NE, e) Wheat Technology Conference, Sidney, NE, f) High Plains Ag Lab Advisory Board Meeting, Sidney, NE, g) Regional No-Till Conference, Greeley, CO, h) National Sunflower Association Meeting, Fargo, ND, i) Ag Horizons Conference, Pierre, SD, and j) ASA-CSSA-SSSA Meetings, Salt Lake City, UT.

First-time producers planted approximately 4,550 acres of “alternative crops” during the second year of the project, including: brown mustard/canola (350 acres), sunflowers (2,550 acres), chickpeas (600 acres), forage/grain peas (1,000 acres), and perennial grass seed (50 acres).

Follow-up visitations with participants indicated that their learning curve for the production of an “alternative crop” was advanced by one to two years by participation in the project. Most producers remain optimistic about the potential benefits of an “alternative crop” in their cropping systems, but continue to have economic and marketing concerns.

Intermediate:

Mentor and first-time producers are being identified for participation in the third year of the project (2006 production year), with a goal of an additional twenty-five first-time producers involved in the production of an “alternative crop”.

Project participants completed a Cooperative Extension Circular, “Alternative Crop Budgets and Decision Making”. It is currently available in hard copy and is planned to be available online (www.panhandle.unl.edu) in mid-2006. A grain/forage pea production guide is currently in print, a regional (multi-state) production manual for sunflower was revised, and a regional brown mustard manual and a cool-season grass seed production guide are under development.

A user-friendly, educational website (www.panhandle.unl.edu/biodiesel/index.htm) has been developed to provide general information and educational materials about the manufacture of biodiesel and its potential importance to the production of brown mustard, and other oilseed crops, on the High Plains.

A target of fifty, first-time producers has been realized during the first two years of the project. These producers have planted approximately 6,500 acres of “alternative crops” during this period.

Long term:

The accomplishment of long-term objectives will be a direct reflection of the success achieved in addressing short-term and intermediate objectives. To date, the active participation and positive response by mentor and first-time producers is certainly a measure of success in the advancement of bio-diversity into regional cropping systems. Informational networks and educational materials have now been developed for various “alternative crops”, which allow potential producers to assess the risks and potential benefits of a new crop.

While not likely to occur during this project, the extension of “alternative crops” into the region will be carefully monitored. Regardless of how this extension may evolve, the chances for future producers to have a successful experience in producing an “alternative crop” have been and will be significantly enhanced.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Fifty, first-time producers have participated in an incentive program that provides research, production/management, and limited financial support for the adoption of “alternative crops” into regional cropping systems. Approximately 6500 acres of program crops have been planted during the first two years of the project, including: brown mustard/canola, sunflowers, chickpeas, forage peas, and perennial grass seed.

The visibility and promotion of alternative crops, in regional cropping systems, has significantly increased due to: 1) informational meetings for program crops, 2) producer driven field tours, workshops, and on-site visits, 3) coverage of program events by newspaper, radio, and television, and 4) increased availability of informational materials in hard copy and electronic form.

The ongoing development of a supportive network has provided a unique opportunity for first-time producers to directly communicate with researchers and mentor producers about real-time problems in an effective and timely manner.

As the result of a cooperative effort among project participants, an expanded audience of regional producers and agri-business personnel now has the opportunity to access a developing resource base for “alternative crops”. Currently, extension circulars and production guides are available in hard copy and/or electronic form that detail best management practices, marketing strategies, and budgeting decisions for chickpea, brown mustard, sunflower, and grass seed production.

Project participants are instrumental in providing regional research and production support for the development of “alternative oilseed crops”, including brown mustard, as renewable energy resources for the manufacture of biodiesel. Production of biodiesel has the potential to significantly enhance regional economies, improve air-quality, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Camelina sativa, a crop with both pharmaceutical and biodiesel potential, will be included in the project next year.

To date, the most serious project limitation is that development of the waxy proso market, and its subsequent production demand, has been slower than expected.

Collaborators: