Terry Baker is the CEO of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). He oversees all of SAF’s programs and collaborates with his Board of Directors to establish a strategic vision committed to the scientific sustainable management of America’s forests. Prior to his selection as SAF CEO in September 2018, Baker served in various roles within the USDA Forest Service. His almost 20-year federal career started in …
Managing water resources
Managing our water resources is essential. Clean water is essential for drinking, agriculture, energy, recreation, aquatic habitats, and other uses, but America’s water resources face complex issues such as climate change, pollution, and increasing demand. Many farmers, communities, and leaders are concerned about water scarcity and quality. Research guides effective solutions. Researchers at land-grant universities and partners across the U.S. are working …
Migrant farmworkers receive much needed health screens
Programs that help anyone improve or maintain their health are key. This is especially true for migrant farmworkers, an underserved community across the country. Screening for chronic health problems such as hypertension and diabetes and providing important information about healthy lifestyles improves farmworkers’ ability to continue to work and make a living. Here are examples of that work: Florida is …
Land-grant universities improve local food security
Food security impacts individuals, as well as the health of entire communities. Through creation of food pantries, community gardens, food drives, farmers markets and more, land-grant universities and local community initiatives collaborate to keep food on the table for many. Successful examples include: An effort begun during Covid-19 is still providing high-quality shrimp to food banks in Louisiana. With help …
Sustainable solutions to bee health
Bees provide essential pollination for many of the nut, berry, fruit, vegetable, and seed crops grown in the U.S. To supplement wild bee pollination, farmers often rent managed honey bee colonies. Demand is skyrocketing, but catastrophic die-offs are threatening the supply of healthy honey bee colonies. Parasitic mites, pathogens, pesticide chemicals, nutritional deficits, and environmental conditions have contributed to the …
Mitigating the impacts of agrochemicals
Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other agrochemicals are used on farms to protect crop yield and quality and in urban and residential settings to control pests and weeds. Despite important uses, agrochemicals can leach into soil and groundwater or flow into surface waters, where the chemicals can adversely affect human and environmental health. Agrochemicals can also accumulate in edible organisms, creating …
Beekeeper education and training is critical to Florida’s large honey industry
Honey bees contribute nearly $20 billion to the crop industry by providing pollination services all over the United States. There are nearly 5,000 registered beekeepers in the state of Florida, managing approximately 650,000 colonies. Florida’s honey industry is ranked among the top five in the nation, producing more than 10 million pounds in 2018. Nearly 85% of these are considered …
Managing controlled environments efficiently
In controlled environmental agriculture, plants are grown inside a greenhouse or other type of enclosure where growers can maintain optimal growing conditions, such as light, temperature, humidity, water, and nutrients. In the northeastern climate, controlled environments play a vital role in year-round production, but growers need more information about how to fine-tune their environments to achieve optimal plant growth and …
Exploring commercial hemp production
Producer interest in industrial hemp is gaining traction. Hemp is a Cannabis sativa plant that was cultivated for 10,000 years as a fiber and grain crop used in textiles, building materials, seed oil, essential oils and much more. Land-grant university researchers and educators are helping producers learn about its viability, nutrient requirements and management practices as interest grows following the …