TOOLKITS
OCTOBER 2023 TOOLKIT
PROTECTING ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH
Land-grant university researchers, educators, and Cooperative Extension professionals are essential to protect animal and plant health. The three pillars of the land-grant university mission (research, education, and Extension) are exemplified by critical scientific exploration; collaborative, expansive education; and actionable, valuable information for communities. By strengthening the health of plants and animals, the land-grant system is safeguarding our national and global food supply.
RESEARCH
Through their cutting-edge innovation and discovery at Agricultural Experiment Stations across the county, animal scientists are reducing the impacts of existing and emerging diseases, preparing for future zoonotic pandemics, and advancing preventative strategies to help ensure the well-being of animals. This includes work on genetics, vaccines, nutrition, antibiotic resistance, and mitigating heat and other environmental stressors.
Plant scientists are exploring various strategies to safeguard plants from pests and pathogens, diseases, droughts, and other environmental stressors. They are improving precision agriculture, developing plant varieties with increased resistance, leveraging Integrated Pest Management techniques, and expanding soil management.
EDUCATION
Land-grant university educators spark their students’ curiosity and passion that creates collaborative opportunities to increase knowledge over time. They have the vital responsibility to prepare the emerging workforce of agricultural professionals: future animal and plant scientists, veterinarians, teachers, Extension agents, public health professionals, and others who protect animals and plants.
Through their expertise and dedication, educators ensure that their students have a solid understanding of an expansive ranges of subjects in plant science (e.g., Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil & Crop Science, Horticulture, Climate-Smart Agriculture) and animal sciences (e.g., Health & Disease Prevention, Reproductive Physiology, Genetics, Nutrition & Feeding, Growth & Development). By preparing their students to work on current and future national and global challenges, educators’ impacts on our collective well-being are far-reaching and immense.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
By recommending practical solutions to farmers and ranchers, Cooperative Extension professionals safeguard animal and plant health. In the field, Extension agents help farmers diagnose plant diseases and identify pests. They offer workshops and field days to share information on best practices in plant health management, disease prevention, and sustainable farming practices.
When animal disease emergencies emerge and explode, Extension agents provide timely guidance to help producers and communities respond effectively. In addition, veterinary laboratories based at land-grant universities work in cooperation with Extension to provide state-of-the-art services to veterinarians, livestock producers, and others to improve animal health.
Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), a collaborative multi-state effort by Cooperative Extension, provides research-based education to reduce the impact of disasters. EDEN has an extensive dashboard for Agricultural and Zoonotic “hazard resources” that includes subjects such as swine influenza, avian influenza, plant, and crop security.
Examples from Land-grant Impacts:
Improving crops key to food security
Research at land-grant institutions keeps the U.S. food production on the cutting edge when it comes to quality, nutrition, disease resistance and other factors that help keep our food system safe and contribute to national security.
Staying a step ahead of pests
Researchers at the nation’s land-grant universities are helping protect food crops from direct insect damage and diseases spread by insect pests. Their work helps improve crop quality, crop yield and farm profitability.
Improving the health of livestock animals
Livestock producers are continually searching for new management strategies that will help them be both innovative and better animal stewards. Maintaining healthy animals may also protect human health.
Land-grant expertise make specialty crops viable
Specialty crops range from fruits and vegetables to cut flowers. These plants are cultivated for food, medicine, or pleasure. Specialty crops face the same pressures as traditional row crops. Land-grant university research and outreach address these issues, making specialty crops a viable, profitable market.
Safer, more sustainable pest management
Managing pests is essential to healthy, safe, and productive agricultural, urban, residential, and natural areas. However, chemical pesticides can cause air and water pollution and unintended harm to nontarget organisms. Exposure to pesticides has also been linked to human health problems. In addition, many pests eventually develop resistance to commonly used chemicals, rendering them ineffective. Researchers at land-grant universities across the United States are developing alternative and integrated pest control methods that are safer and more sustainable.
SOCIAL MEDIA
SAMPLE POSTS
RESEARCH
Land-grant university researchers like [NAME] safeguard [animal and/or plant] health. [Their] research helps protect the global food supply by [EXPLANATION OF PROJECT].
EDUCATION
Educators at #LandGrantUniversities are preparing the next generation of agricultural professionals to tackle national and global challenges in [animal and/or plant] health. In [@SCHOOL] course [COURSE NAME], our students gain hands-on experience in [SUBJECT].
EXTENSION
Cooperative Extension professionals provide science-based solutions to producers’ problems in crop and livestock health. From diagnosing diseases to battling pests, [@SCHOOL/EXT] can help: LINK TO EXT RESOURCE PAGE
Feel free to reach out to us with specific posts that you would like @AgIsAmerica to share. Please email your request to Kim Scotto at agcomms@aplu.org or use #AgIsAmerica.
HASHTAGS AND HANDLES
HASHTAGS
#LandGrantUniversities
#AgIsAmerica
HANDLES
|
Ag is America |
@AgIsAmerica |
|
APLU Ag |
@APLU_Ag |
|
Sec. Vilsack (Secretary of Agriculture) |
@SecVilsack |
|
USDA |
@USDA |
|
USDA National Institute of Food & Ag |
@USDA_NIFA |
|
APLU |
@APLU_News |
|
Cooperative Extension |
@Ext100Years |
CALENDAR
OCTOBER HOLIDAYS
MONTHS
National Apple Month, #NationalAppleMonth
National Hispanic Heritage Month, #HispanicHeritageMonth (September 15 – October 15)
National Pasta Month, #NationalPastaMonth
National Pizza Month, #NationalPizzaMonth
National Pork Month, #NationalPorkMonth
National Sausage Month, #NationalSausageMonth
National Seafood Month, #NationalSeafoodMonth
Vegetarian Month, #VegetarianMonth
DAYS
October 1 – International Coffee Day, #InternationalCoffeeDay
October 1 – World Vegetarian Day, #WorldVegetarianDay
October 4 – National Taco Day, #NationalTacoDay
October 9 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day, #IndigenousPeoplesDay
October 12 – National Farmer’s Day, #NationalFarmersDay
October 13 – World Egg Day, #WorldEggDay
October 15 – International Day of Rural Women, #RuralWomen
October 16 – World Food Day, #WorldFoodDay
October 17 – National Pasta Day, #NationalPastaDay
October 20 – Anniversary of Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
October 22 – National Nut Day, #NationalNutDay
October 24 – National Food Day, #NationalFood Day
October 26 – National Pumpkin Day, #NationalPumpkinDay
October 28 – National Chocolate Day, #NationalChocolateDay
