As workforce needs grow more complex, land‑grant universities play a vital role in preparing students for leadership and specialized careers. A new study from Purdue University and USDA/NIFA found that of the ~105,000k projected job openings in the food, agriculture, and natural resources sciences fields each year, 41% are in business and management and 27% are in science and engineering. By strengthening …
Celebrating the Power of Rural
Did you know that nearly 61 million Americans call rural communities home? Since 2011, National Rural Health Day has recognized the “Power of Rural,” highlighting the resilience of rural communities and the partners working to strengthen them. Among the most important of those partners are public and land-grant universities. Through community-based programs, these institutions play a critical role in improving …
Managing nutrients and water quality
Nutrients are essential for crops, but must be managed properly. Nutrients provided by fertilizer, manure, compost, cover crops, and other means are essential for the profitable, sustainable production of crops for food, fiber, and bioenergy. Nutrient management is key to maintaining or increasing plant productivity, ensuring soil health, protecting ground and surface water resources from potential harm, and using farmers’ …
1890 Extension Transforming Lives
From the 2023 1890 Extension Transforming Lives Report: The dynamic work of Cooperative Extension at the 1890 Land-grant Universities is changing lives and connecting people to vital information. Extension professionals have the unique responsibility of translating federal and state dollars into educational outreach that advances the well-being of their states’ diverse audiences, particularly those with limited social and economic resources. …
Community nutrition programs improve healthful outcomes
Community Nutrition Education Programs, a service of the Land-grant University System, use Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) funding to educate and empower low-income individuals, families, school-age youth and pregnant teens. Extension educators across the country deliver research-based, hands-on learning experiences on diet quality, food safety, physical activity, food security and food …
Scaling up skills for success in agriculture
To remain competitive in the agricultural industry, farmers must stay current on the latest techniques and technology. Training new workers is also essential to building necessary skills in the agricultural labor force. Here are a few examples of that work: To improve ornamental horticulture industry profits, Hawaii Extension provides education for nursery and floriculture business owners and workers on crop …
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 …