MWPS: Research and Extension Educational Materials

<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:<br/> The mission of NCCC-009 is to enhance the outreach, research, and teaching programs of the Land-Grant universities by facilitating a learning community that provides a collaborative mechanism for engineers and scientists to exchange knowledge and to cooperate in the development of multi-state/regional educational projects related to food, fiber and energy production systems. The Land-Grant system continues to be called upon to positively impact communities by delivering timely and effective Extension programs and producing high-quality educational / informational materials to support these programs. The need to share engineering and science-based knowledge about food, fiber and energy production systems is as great as it is ever been. While far fewer people are involved in production agriculture than when NCR-9 (predecessor to NCCC-009) was
formed in 1929, the need for credible information and educational programs keeps growing. More attention is being directed toward topic areas such as: Natural resource utilization and conservation Environmental quality Food safety and public health Rural communities and sustainability Non-farm rural residents and the rural-urban interface Extension engineers, working with their research partners and in collaboration with scientists, are addressing critical technical needs of these topical issues. Most usually do so while also addressing more conventional agricultural needs, which have evolved over the years, but have not really diminished. While the needs to be addressed have not subsided, the human and financial resources available to individual state educational institutions for meeting these needs continue to decline. This means that, in addition to working in multidisciplinary teams,
Extension engineers generally need to work with colleagues in other states to effectively leverage the knowledge and resources necessary to develop quality educational materials and implement effective Extension programs. NCCC-009 participants benefit from the professional dialogue that occurs with those having research appointments and those from other regions of the country. All participants benefit from the sharing of expertise that translates research-based knowledge into practice. NCCC-009 will continue to advise and collaborate with MWPS publication staff to maintain this primary outlet for educational products that provides educational materials to a wide variety of disciplines in the region, the U.S., and the world. In addition to providing information about issues related to agricultural engineering, MWPS products include material about dairy science, beef cattle production,
farm business management, and agricultural economics. MWPS publications provide a vehicle to publish research findings and facilitate technology transfer in formats useful to public and semi-technical audiences.
<p>APPROACH:<br/> NCCC-009 will meet annually as a full committee to discuss program and publication priorities, establish annual goals, investigate funding opportunities, explore cooperative agreements, and plan program and publication development to meet prioritized needs. During the year, working groups will use conference calls, e-mail, electronic document exchange, other Internet media, and face-to-face meetings as needed to develop programs and products. A portion of the annual meeting will be dedicated to obtaining updates from MWPS publishing staff regarding product development, marketing and sales. NCCC-009 will provide general feedback and guidance. The Executive Committee will communicate on a quarterly basis. This communication (e.g. conference call) will facilitate follow-up on priority committee actions and include a progress report from MWPS publishing staff.
The prototype procedure for addressing an educational need is as follows: 1) Participants will identify and communicate to NCCC-009 educational needs and emerging issues as they arise throughout the year. If the needs demand immediate or a short-term response, participants will focus on providing coordinated, consistent information. 2) Longer-term needs that deserve greater attention and development as educational programs will be discussed and prioritized at the annual meeting. Participants will also discuss and clarify target audiences for proposed educational programs. Attention will be given to advocating efforts for new, nontraditional audiences. 3) Working groups will be formed at the annual meeting to develop educational programs and materials for high priority needs, based upon expertise and interest for the program. When expertise from outside NCCC-009 is desirable to achieve
success in developing a program or product, this will be identified early and efforts will be made to involve such experts in the development process. 4) The working groups will function independently to develop Extension programs and educational materials, corresponding as needed with the Executive Committee or MWPS publishing staff. Working groups will be encouraged to seek support, and develop and deliver their respective educational programs in the most effective, expedient and efficient manner. Upon request, NCCC-009 will provide letters of support, advice and technical assistance. 5) NCCC-009 will provide a forum for peer review of materials, especially those to be published and/or marketed through MWPS. Materials will acknowledge NCCC-009 support/review. 6) Working group leaders will be encouraged to utilize MWPS for publication and distribution of Extension educational materials
to the extent that this is feasible. Publication and marketing activities will be coordinated with MWPS staff. 7) Brief summaries of program evaluation information and measures of impact will be shared annually with NCCC-009. Participants will discuss suitability for expanded delivery or adaptation of the program for delivery within other participating states.
<p>PROGRESS: 2012/10 TO 2013/09<br/>Target Audience: Public concerns about odor and air quality from animal farms can affect the viability and growth of the livestock and poultry industry in Ohio. Management of air emissions is a growing challenge facing Ohio�s food animal producers. Effective mitigation technologies are emerging, such as covers and digesters, however many of these technologies are cost prohibitive. Global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) have resulted in carbon credit cap and trade programs. Through the carbon credit trading program, food animal producers can receive payment for capturing and destroying methane from their manure storage structures. This is an opportunity for animal producers to install manure storage covers at no or reduced costs and receive payments for maintaining the covers. The Manure Storage Covers Workshop
is organized for animal production professionals and producers to explore this new opportunity, obtain first-hand resource information for decision making, understand all the benefits of manure storage covers and connect to the organization offering the manure storage covers. The targeted audiences are: � Animal Producers, � Allied Industry, � Agriculture Agency Professionals, and � Regulators. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Through annual meeting and seminar sessions, extension program needs of different states are communicated. Various emerging extension education and publication methods were communicated through the NCCC-09 project interaction as well. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The workshops and handout materials had been offered to
about 100 stakehoders and the workshops, teaching materials, and demonstratoin picturea and videos had been digitized and published as online workshop and eduacational mateirals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue to (1) Foster science-based, multidisciplinary activities for the protection of air quality through appropriate technology transfer. 2. Develop science-based information on sustainable animal production for ensure the environment is protected. 3. Identify, conceptualize and communicate emerging issues for food, fiber and energy production systems that necessitate basic and/or applied research to maintain the viability and competitive marketing advantage of U.S. food production. 4. Enlarge and preserve the knowledge base made available through NCCC-009 activities and transform this knowledge for use by clientele-based media.