Progress 07/01/07 to 06/30/10
Outputs
June 23, 2010 P. Gregory Smith, National Program Leader Higher Education Programs, CSREES, USDA STOP 2251 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-2251 Dear Dr. Smith, This correspondence represents a summary of Chippewa Valley Technical College activities as a direct result of the UDSA Challenge Grant: "Preparing a Workforce of Nutrient Management Planners" project support. I am choosing to document our Grant activities in summary form with accompanying hours associated with each educational planning effort. CVTC Agriculture Staff development activities in cooperation with UW-River Falls. This includes GPS applications, mapping and utilization of FarmWorks software. (60 hours) Curriculum development activities in cooperation with the CVTC Center for Professional Development. This entails modifying and delivering curriculum in the CVTC Agriscience Technology and Farm Business Production Management instructional programs to incorporate nutrient management and site specific management concepts (120 hours) Two Precision Agriculture Field Days (in conjunction with UW-River Falls - 30 hours) Two Chippewa Valley Farm-City Day Events (included Precision Ag In-Field Demonstrations - 80 hours) Departmental oil seed crop and biomass demonstration plots (40 acres) demonstrating economically viable alternative energy production on marginal crop land (200 hours) Grant Project oversight including project planning, staff communication, grant project review with USDA personnel and CVTC grant account manager, requisition processing (45 hours) As a result of these Grant activities our Agriscience Technology program has increased Associate Degree Agronomy emphasis graduates 200%, all of whom are working in Agribusiness agronomy centers with job descriptions that include nutrient management responsibilities. Our two off-campus Farm Business Production Management instructors have developed curriculum allowing them to assist 15 producers with the documentation of whole farm nutrient management plans in the 2009-2010 academic year. Each participating producer not only improved environmental compliance, but also enhanced their farm business profitability as a result of their class-developed nutrient management plans. Included in this report is the attached financial summary (Fund #213376) from July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2010. Contact me for additional Grant project details as necessary. We are grateful to you for providing the financial assistance that helped us bring these educational offerings to fruition. We are also pleased that this project strengthened our collaborative efforts with UW-River Falls. Thank you for your time, cooperation and assistance. Sincerely, Dwight Swenson Chippewa Valley Technical College Agriscience Technology Instructor/Department Chair PRODUCTS: Agriculture educational programs at Chippewa Valley Technical College were able to update curriculum relecting the latest technology as it relates to nutrient management planning. Enrolled students and field day participants were able experience nutrient management principles and understand how this process not only protects the environment, but also enhances producer profitability. Profitability is improved using "farming by the centimeter" concepts and by crediting grid sampled fields for livestock manure applications and legume nitrogen contributions. Grid soil sampling techniques, crediting legumes and manure applications, equipment calibration and operation are critical educational concepts to avoid over and under application of soil nutrients. OUTCOMES: CVTC agriculture faculty received professional udates and training in the use of GPS and field mapping software. This work created opprotunities for our campus program to develop marginal land into profitable crop production enterprises. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: During the course of this grant, CVTC agriculture staff coordinated two Precision Agriculture Field Days and created Chippewa Valley Farm-City Day, a new and unique vehicle for disseminating nutirent management and precision agriculture concepts to students and general public. Our Farm Business Production Management instructors developed specialized courses to teach producers how to document and implement nutrient management plans for their farms. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Chippewa Valley Technical College Agriculture Department faculty are committed to continuing the whole farm nutrient management planning courses, Farm-City Day event (this year's program is scheduled for Sept. 18, 2010 at the John and Julie Govin farm) along with field days scheduled during the growing season. We also plan to further expand our Department's crop production acreage to continue applied research in nutrient management planning, and marginal farm land development for alternative fuel production purposes.
Impacts
Participation in our Agriscience Technology Agronomy emphasis has increased dramatically as a result of the provided grant opportunities. Our off-campus instructional program (Farm Business Production Management) has implemented on-going whole farm nutrient management instruction. Campus student graduates have greatly improved their desire and skills to successfully work in the agronomy career path. Off-campus Farm Mangement students have been able to apply manure at recommended rates, credit legumes,and reduce purchased commercial fertilizer use. Reduced input costs have improved net profits by $35-$60/acre and has reduced nutrient runoff and the potential to contaminate surface and ground water.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|