Making the right decision at the right time can make all the difference in farm productivity and profitability. By combining advanced analytics with practical agricultural expertise, land-grant university researchers are helping producers address challenges ranging from labor shortages and weather variability to resource efficiency and food production. This work ensures agricultural innovation responds to producers’ needs while strengthening the food …
Improving Agricultural Productivity Through Soil Research
Healthy soils are the foundation of productive agriculture, supporting crop yields; efficient nutrient use; and long-term farm profitability. However, U.S. working lands lose an estimated 1.7 billion tons of soil each year, costing farmers more than $12 billion annually. Through research and Extension, land-grant universities are helping producers better understand soil health, improve fertilizer management, and adopt science-based practices that …
From Skills to Careers: Building Workforce Pipelines Through Hands-On Training
A new study from Purdue University and USDA/NIFA found that each year, the U.S. has a projected 44,232 more jobs in food, agriculture, and natural resources sciences than there are college graduates in these fields to fill the roles. With employer demand for skilled talent continuing to outpace supply, programs that provide hands‑on training and real‑world experience are more important than ever. Through …
Research, education improve livestock health
Livestock producers are continually searching for the best management strategies to protect animal health, which is essential to productivity and profitability as well as the animal’s well-being. Maintaining healthy animals also protects human health. Here are a few examples of how land-grant universities are contributing: When the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) threatened domestic poultry in Oregon, Extension responded rapidly with …
New manual aids farmers market start-ups and maintenance
Farmers markets are a sales outlet for many South Dakota gardeners, but they can also help strengthen a community by stimulating the local economy and creating local entrepreneurial opportunities. Markets can promote food quality by reducing the distance that food travels from farm to consumer. When shipping is less of a concern, produce can be picked when it is full …
Managing waste
Agricultural wastes, like manure, animal carcasses and wastewater, can pose environmental and human health risks if not handled safely. Some wastes can be reused as fertilizers, but if not properly managed, excess nitrogen, phosphorous, and pathogens can run off or leach into ground and surface waters. Land-grant universities are finding ways to safely dispose of or reuse agricultural wastes. Here …