5. ISU Extension
• An essential part of every land-grant university
• A partnership with
– Federal Government
• Smith-Lever funding via the USDA
• U.S. Department of Commerce funding
– State Government
• Annual appropriations to ISU
– Iowa’s 99 counties
• Taxing authority granted to County Extension Councils
– Leadership from ISU
• ISU Extension – a national pacesetter
and a model for change
7. The structure of extension
Programs leadership and funding
The CES provides leadership and partial
funding for programs at state universities
and partner organizations
The sources of funds: state and local
taxes, donations, grants and contracts with
public and private organizations, some
federal funds
8. Extension’s Program Areas
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• 4-H Youth Development
• Families
• Community and Economic Development
• Business and Industry - CIRAS
• Center for Continuing Education and
Professional Development
9. The structure of extension
The system of extension is based on
three-tier partnership:
USDA
State
(state universities)
Local
(country administrations)
10. The functions at the federal and
state level
1. Federal: providing leadership and
coordinating efforts, exchanging
information to prevent the duplication of
efforts in localities
2. Federal level: allocating funds for the target
programs development
3. State level (universities): developing
programs for the county level, developing
farmer education programs
11. The funding of extension
system
35% -- US Congress-appropriated funds
45% -- State-appropriated funds
20% -- Counties-appropriated funds
The federal share
consists of both
proportionate and
fixed amounts
12. The numbers of extension
officers and specialists
Federal level :
200 officers
State level: Local level:
4,000 specialists 12,000 specialists
15. The structure of extension
Global mission of extension
Interacting with partners and clients
to develop research, extension and
higher education in the areas of
food science and agriculture, as well
as in related areas of humanities
and in environmental science to
benefit people and the whole nation
16. The forms of work with the
farmers
The extension specialists:
2. Organize group demonstrations of
modern ag technologies
3. Visit farms with individual
consultations
4. Prepare and distribute the special
publications, the videofilms and the
software on animal husbandry,
management and marketing
20. The structure of extension
Extension strategy
Achieving the substantial and equitable
improvement in the economical,
educational, ecological and social
conditions of people both in separate
states and in the whole US nation, as
well as in the global world through using
the integrated (interdisciplinary) creative
team approach in cooperation with
public and private sector organizations
21. We’ve Changed:
The ‘Iowa Model’ of Extension
Source Trends Funding Sources
Grants
County 24%
18%
State User Fees
26% 12%
Extension
Federal Managed
11% Funds
9%
22. Extension Serves Iowans
FY2008
• 980,888 clients had contact with
Extension programs
• Enrollment in noncredit
educational programming totaled
486,549
• 17,500 volunteers worked with
Extension programs
• Nearly one in four Iowa youth
were involved in 4-H Youth
Development Programs
23. Extension Online
Last year:
• 400,000 visitors accessed
www.extension.iastate.edu
each month
• 26.5 million pages of
information were viewed
• 1.2 million publications and
products distributed through
Extension’s online store
24. Ensuring Relevance
Listening to Iowans:
• County Extension Councils
(900 elected citizens)
• Citizens Advisory Council
(40 members)
• Needs assessment surveys
• Strengthening relationships
with Community Colleges
25. The partners’ interaction:
strengths and weaknesses
1. Real partnership: none of the parties
dictate the conditions to each other
2. Equal partnership: weak ideas are not
making it through
3. Weaknesses: low flexibility etc.
26. What extension does not do
The extension:
2. Does not provide farming supplies
3. Does not provide agricultural credit
4. Does not report to the government on laws’
violations by the farmers (it is not a spy
agency)
5. Does not play the role of the government
6. Does not carry out federal programs for
farmers
27. The peculiarities of American
extension system
2. IT IS PROTECTED AGAINST THE
DIRECT GOVERNMENTAL
INTERFERENCE ON ALL LEVELS
3. IT CONSIDERS THE FARM FAMILY AS
A DEVELOPMENTAL UNIT IN THE
RURAL AREAS
4. IT CARRIES OUT PROGRAMS FOR
FARMERS’ WIVES AND CHILDREN
5. IT PROVIDES A SOURCE OF UNBIASED
SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION
28. Ensuring Relevance:
Iowans are Most Interested In
• Healthy People
• Healthy
Environments
• Healthy Economies
29. Extension’s Center for Industrial
Research and Service (CIRAS)
• CIRAS enhances Iowa industry via
connections with ISU faculty/staff
– Organizes research to solve manufacturing & other
technical problems
– Conducts feasibility studies of business
expansion & modernization
– Delivers educational programs for business
leaders (e.g., Lean Manufacturing)
• Last year Iowa companies reported
that CIRAS helped create $190 million of
economic impact and 1,600 jobs
30. CIRAS Helps
The Schebler Company
Problem: Schebler needed to improve
the performance of their new high-
heat cooling tunnel
Solution: CIRAS analyzed the system
with computer models & redesigned
to improve cooling efficiency
Outcomes:
• Schebler retained $2.5 million in sales
with potential gains of $3 million more per
year
• Schebler invested $50,000 in new
equipment & anticipated adding at least
6 employees
31. Extension Helps Iowa’s Wine &
Grape Industry Expand
Extension’s Midwest Grape & Wine Institute
• Viticulture specialists and world-class enologist
• Workshops, short courses, analytical and
diagnostic services, viticulture and processing
research
• Job training programs with community colleges
• Developing award program to give buyers
quality assurance
Impact
• 390+ commercial vineyards, 900+ acres
• 71 licensed wineries
• 268,000 gallons worth more than $12.7 million
32. Nutrition Education for
Low-Income Families
• USDA funded program administered
through ISU Extension
• Families taught to make informed
choices about food, manage family
finances, become more self-sufficient
• 3,000 families and pregnant teens,
16,500 youth served each year
• Every $1 spent on nutrition education
saves $8.03 in future health care costs
33. Strengthening Communities
Community Visioning Program
• Connects community leaders with
Iowa State’s landscape design faculty
to develop improved streetscapes
• >125 Iowa communities have participated
Community Vitality Center
• Brings together local citizens to stimulate
entrepreneurial initiatives and community
enhancement through networking,
education, mentoring, and business plan
competitions
34. Bioeconomy Leadership
• Leading community discussions
• Organizing statewide meetings
• Coordinating corporate visits and
partnership opportunities
• Assessing business plans and feasibility
of proposed biobased industries
• Educating Iowans about new discoveries
related to biobased products
35. Tri-City Energy Biodiesel
Refinery
ISU Extension provided a technical and
design assessment for the construction of a
biodiesel plant inside an abandoned
building in Keokuk
“The feasibility study provided by Iowa State University
Extension’s Value-Added Agriculture Program was an
integral part in the development of Tri-City Energy.”
— Al Moander
sales and marketing manager
36. Election Officials Training
Praise from Governor Culver:
“Extension … has done an outstanding job of
organizing and administering the State Election
Administrator Training (SEAT) for the past four
years and the Precinct Election Official Training
(PEO) program this past year.… Partnerships
such as this exemplify the value of the land
grant mission of Iowa State University to the
citizens of Iowa.”
December 15, 2006
38. Horizons Program
• 23 Rural Iowa communities
• 750 completed leadership training
• Addressing poverty, economic decline
“The Horizons experience helped me realize
that small solutions, individual efforts can
improve the conditions in a community when
it comes to dealing with the huge issue of
poverty.”
39.
40. Global Extension Issues
• Food availability, accessibility,
affordability
• Application of new technology
• Trust between end users and providers
• Gaps between research and practice,
and in the agricultural value chain
41. Training Needs of Global
Extension Partners
• Practical use of scientific knowledge
• Communication processes
• Adult Learning processes
• Marketing, partnerships and networks
• Processes and resources
• Issues important to community vitality
42. Global Core Competency
Needs
• Subject matter
• Community and social action processes
• Educational programming
• Engagement
• Information and education delivery
• Interpersonal relations
• Knowledge of organization
• Leadership
• Organizational management
• Professionalism
45. Why?
• Education builds hope and
Hopeful people build
Their own future.
46. The peculiarities of American
extension system
2. IT IS A PROACTIVE, RESPONSIVE AND
COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATION
3. IT IS COMMITTED TO THE GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PEOPLE
THROUGH LIFE-LONG LEARNING
4. IT EMPOWERS CLIENTELE TO ACCESS
INFORMATION, SORT THROUGH AND
PROCESS IT
47. Возможные роли экстеншен в России (не только
консалтинговая служба) -- служба поддержки
устойчивого развития
• Устойчивое развитие (в комплексном плане, что включает систему коммуникации
производителей и потребителей с.х. информациии систему доступа к ресурсам)
• Сила – в регионах
• Мобилизация ресурсов
– Новые рынки (в т.ч международные)
– Новые продукты (value-added agriculture)
– Экологически чистая продукция
– Система сертификации
– Привлечение инвесторов на развитие новых отраслей хозяйства
– Система повышения квалификации для работников системы экстеншен
(консалтинговой службы)
48. Общее в системе экстеншен России и
США
• Диверсификация используемых ресурсов (например, чистая окружающая среда –
это тоже ресурс)
• Оптимизация ресурсов, доступных каждому фермеру в зависимости от
индивидуальных возможностей
• Облегчение фермерам доступа к рынкам и финансовой самообеспеченности
сельского хозяйства на уровне регионов
• Обеспечение информационной поддержки в масштабах страны и экспертной
системы (в США – с участием университетов)
49. Возможности системы экстеншен Штата Айова во
взаимодействии с системой консалтинга в России
• Главная цель системы экстеншн – это улучшение
сельскохозяйственного производства с помощью практического
образования и подготовки фермеров и через передачу технологий и
инноваций, ориентированная на максимально эффективное
использование ресурсов и устойчивое развитие.
• Возможно создание совместной системы подготовки
сельскохозяйственных консультантов для развивающихся регионов,
которые способны эффективно работать как с фермерами, так и
оценивать их нужды, находить неформальные решения проблем для
различных звеньев агропромышленного комплекса.
• Система демонстрационных ферм.
• Улучшение роли средств массовой информации.
• Развитие целевых образовательных программ.
29-й по счету штат США , на Среднем Западе в группе штатов Северо-Западного Центра. 26-й по площади и 30-й по населению (почти 3 млн человек). Штат расположен в междуречье крупнейших рек — Миссисипи и Миссури .ВВП штата в 2003 году составил 102 миллиарда долларов США, доход на душу населения составил $30,000. Айова является ведущим сельскохозяйственным штатом (в 1989 на каждых 27 жителей приходилось по одной ферме). В сельском хозяйстве доминируют кукуруза, соя, овёс, мясное животноводство (штат лидирует по производству свинины). Избыточное применение химикатов привело к серьёзным экологическим проблемам, что заставляет многих фермеров переходить на экологически чистое сельское хозяйство. Промышленность ориентирована на обслуживание нужд сельского хозяйства.
Айова находится в самом центре Соединённых Штатах. 80-е шоссе соединяет Сан-Франциско с Нью-Йорком, а 35-е шоссе – трансамериканское, соединяет Канаду с Аргентиной. В месте их скрещивания расположен город Де-Мойн – столица Штата Айова.
Один из трёх государственных университетов. Бюджет – 1 миллиард долларов ежегодно. Фонды федеральные, частные (хозрасчётные договора и пожертвания), и штатные. Обучение платное. 100 000 000 долларов – система экстеншн (сельскохозйственной информации, коммуникации и консалтинга). Губернатор потребовал обратно в бюджет штата 25 процентов. Это привело к сокращениям. Около 30 тысяч студентов. Из них пять тысяч – иностранные.
I appreciate this opportunity to update you on ISU Extension. Extension is a very important part of Iowa State University … one that is at the very core of what it means to be a land-grant university … and an area where we are regarded by our peer land-grant universities as being the very best. Extension has been serving Iowans for more than 100 years. Funding note: U.S. Department of Commerce funding comes through the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
At the federal level, the US extension system has been recently an independent subdivision of the US Department of Agriculture. When it was reorganized in 1994, it got a new name as “Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES)”. Lets not get mistaken about the word “cooperative” being a part of its name. The reason for this word is not because the service has been formed initially as an agricultural cooperative, but because Cooperative Extension Service exists on the basis of partnership with 74 state universities in the every state of the US, as well as with 130 agricultural colleges, 59 experiment stations, 63 schools of forestry, 27 colleges of veterinary medicine, together with 3150 administrative districts (or counties) across the whole territory of the US. The reorganization itself reflected, according to the USD administration, an inseparable connection of extension with science and education. The title and the position of “service” within the USDA system is comparable, say, with the level of chief directorate of Turkish ministry. Americans, by the way, like to stress the fact that the USDA employees do “serve” farmers, and not “direct”, or “administer” them. At the state level, the system of extension includes scientists and specialists of the leading universities of each state within the framework of contracts signed between such university and the USDA. Finally, on the local level (on the level of counties), the direct work with the farmers is being done through the extension offices that are located in nearly all counties of the country.
The Cooperative Extension Service plays a leading role in coordinating and supporting science, higher education and extension at the state, regional and national level in the US. As a federal partner in that system, the Cooperative Extension Service provides leadership and partial funding for the programs in state universities and in other partnering organizations. The financial sources to support the activities of various partnering organizations are, essentially, coming from state and local taxes, donations, grants and contracts with different governmental organizations, private foundations and other groups. Although the CES does not have a direct authority over the partner organizations, it bears certain degree of control over their activities as well as responsibility for distribution of funds to these organizations and to separate individuals. Certain local programs can be either completely or partially funded from the federal budget.
First, ISU extension is organized into 5 program or content areas, with this organization guided by federal requirements: Agriculture and Natural Resources 4-H Youth Development Families Community and Economic Development Business and Industry, which also goes by the name CIRAS -- Center for Industrial Research and Service In many universities this area is called “Manufacturing Extension Partnership” and often is housed separately in Engineering Extension. It is separately funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. In addition, ISU Extension includes the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development. The center focuses on the continuing education and professional development needs of the workforce.
The system of extension is based on a three-tier, or three-level partnership: Federal level (represented by the US Department of Agriculture), state level (represented by the state universities in each state), and local level (represented by the administration of counties, or regions within each state).
At the federal level – in the USDA – nobody develops the concrete extension programs and puts them through realization. The role of feds in providing leadership and in coordinating efforts. There are 200 permanent employees working in the central extension office. They are well aware of what is going on in different locations and they constantly exchange this information. This exchange helps to avoid any kind of duplication the development of concrete programs locally. The USDA also allocates funds for the development of target programs – such programs that have importance beyond a concrete state. For example, a few years ago, USDA gave money to the University of Mississippi so that they can complete the development of automated system of selective irrigation of cotton. After the project was completed and the system demonstrated it success, the additional funds were given to educate specialists from other cotton growing states, as well as to distribute the computer program of farm modeling. The main function of state universities (as parts of extension system) is developing programs which will be realized on the local county level. It is in the universities where the concrete programs of farmer education are being developed. There is about 4,000 specialists working at the university level in the US extension system.
The United States spends up to one and a half billion dollars per year to support the whole extension system. Approximately 35% of this amount is appropriated by the US Congress, however, there is a requirement that these money would become available only when the matching funds would be allocated by the states (usually the states give more than this, i.e. up to 45%). The financial burden of the local administrations of counties reaches from 20% to 30%. The amount allocated by the Federal Government, which is represented by the USDA, comprises of two parts: proportional one and fixed one. The proportional part depends on the state size, its population, a number of farmers and on certain other factors. The fixed part is relatively small in comparison and is being distributed among all states equally.
The number of extension officers on the federal level and the number of extension specialists on the state universities level across the nation, as well as the number of local employees. The realization of the extension programs as well as the delivery of these programs to the farmers are both being made at the county level through the local extension offices that are subordinate to the extension offices at the university level. There is over 3,000 extension offices in the US (the US has 3,230 counties in all states together). There 12,000 specialists working in these offices. There is no permanent number of the extension personnel in the local offices. Such number fluctuates between 3 to 15 thousand people depending on the population, on the income level, on the factors of nature and other conditions. Normally, however, there are always present crop science specialists, home economics specialists, youth development specialists and specialists in some area that is specific for the country. The preparation level for the county specialists is fairly high: they have to hold no less than Master’s degree in the appropriate area. About one quarter of all local level specialists have PhD degrees. The selection of specialists for work at the different levels of extension is being made applying two main criteria: their professional level and their ability to work with clients (farmers). This last quality has number one importance for the director of the local extension office. The resources to organize the local offices are being appropriated by the administration of counties as well as by the universities. The universities usually pay for one or two specialists in the extension office, and the staff expansion is being made at the local budget expense.
The global mission of Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service in the states consists of interacting with its partners and clients in the development of research, extension and higher education in the areas of food science and agriculture, as well as in related areas of humanities and in environmental science to benefit people and the whole nation.
The extension specialists who work with farmers in the counties organize group demonstrations of modern technologies, control of varieties at the farmers’ fields, visit farms with individual consultations, prepare and distribute the special publications on animal husbandry, management and marketing, as well as videofilms, computer programs etc. The whole system of extension is very flexible and adaptable to the changing demands of the farmers.
In the years since 1914, Extension has changed more in it’s methodology than it’s philosophy. Many people’s image of Extension is captured in the famous Norman Rockwell painting, The County Agent. They imagine an Ag Agent making farm visits, home demonstration agents demonstrating the latest canning methods, and a whole family approach to education of family and economic well-being.
But of course it’s the people who work in Extension and who deliver the programs under these content areas that make Extension work. We have an ISU Extension office in every county in Iowa — two in Pottawattamie County — staffed by a county extension education director. (Some counties share a director.) Field specialists are based in county offices and cover multi-county areas. (clockwise from top center): The ISU Extension office in Greene County Barb Sauser, an ISU Extension 4-H field specialist, works with a student 4-H council. Community development field specialist Himar Hernandez teaches a citizenship class. The Washington County Extension Council conducts business. Richard Jauron, ISU Extension horticulture specialist, talks about growing strawberries with home gardeners during the Home Demonstration Garden Field Day at the Northern Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm at Kanawha. Professor Greg Tylka is a tenured member of our Department of Plant Pathology. He also is an ISU Extension nematologist and coordinator of the ISU Corn and Soybean Initiative. He is one of the campus experts who field specialists consult with on problems and issues beyond their immediate expertise.
About two-thirds of ISU Extension’s staff are located across Iowa and about one-third are located in Ames. About 7% are tenured or tenure-eligible faculty with extension appointments. The rest are all P&S staff. Faculty pictured, top to bottom: Antonio Mallarino, professor, agronomy Gail Nonnecke, professor, horticulture Roger McEowen, associate professor, ag education and studies
The strategy of CES lies in achieving the substantial and equitable improvement in the economical, educational, ecological and social conditions of people both in separate states and in the whole US nation, as well as in the global world through using the integrated (interdisciplinary) creative team approach in cooperation with public and private sector organizations.
Last year’s annual budget for Extension was about $100 million (Fiscal Year 2008). The pie chart on the right of this slide shows the expenditures delineated by funding source. About 37% of extension’s budget came from federal and state appropriations ($36.4 million). The rest came from funding that ISU Extension self-generated, mostly from user fees and grants and contracts. * Gifts/earnings account for 0.2% of Extension’s funding sources. ISU Extension is hailed as a national model in imposing modest user fees for many of its services in order to continue its high level of service. We were the first to move aggressively into user fees and most other states are now following our lead. EXPENDITURES BY FUNDING SOURCE Federal $10,497,169 State 25,934,098 County 17,499,394 Grants 23,702,664 User Fees 12,246,599 Gifts/earnings 246,573 Extension Managed Funds 8,975,103
Extension volunteers include Master Gardeners, Community Tree Stewards, EFNEP and families program volunteers, and 4-H Youth and Adult volunteers.
Citizen councils The Iowa Association of County Extension Councils facilitates networking among county extension councils, Iowa State University, and government leaders to promote and strengthen all local and statewide Extension programs. Our 100 County Extension Councils are nine-member locally elected councils and make decisions that guide ISU Extension educational programming in their counties. Our Citizens Advisory Council has been a key and consistent link between Extension Administration and Iowa citizens. CAC members have shared their perspectives and perceptions of ISU Extension, and the Administration has clearly found these views of significant value. Surveys Extension’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) conducted a formal needs assessment with 1,000 manufacturers to identify services that should be developed, improved, expanded, or discontinued. Statewide Future Talk discussions with stakeholders and a web-based citizen survey provided input about local needs and program priorities. These types of needs assessments helped Extension develop our state plan of work for 2007-2011. (Note: In September 2005, 3,125 citizens completed a web-based survey on how training and education in 30 areas would improve their community. Sixty percent were Extension users.) Strengthening Relationships with Community Colleges ISU Extension is working with the university to strengthen the relationships with Iowa's community colleges and better serve transfer students. We now have admission partnership agreements with all 15 community colleges. The agreements make it easier for community college students to transfer to Iowa State for their four-year degrees. And it formalizes Iowa State's relationship with community colleges.
The system of extension represents by itself a real partnership in which none of the parties can dictate conditions to the other. The power of this system lies in the fact that under the equal partnership, any weak idea will not make it through to its realization stage. Naturally, this kind of partnership also has its weaknesses, and primarily a low flexibility. In order to achieve the unity of opinion, one needs time!
In order to better understand the extension functions, it is also important to know what it does not do. The extension does not get involved in providing supplies for farmers, but rather teach the producers how to select the optimal production resources. The extension does not provide agricultural credit, however, it does help the producers to create business-plans and other documents that are necessary in order to obtain credit. The extension does not play the role of government. If the extension workers realize that the farmers break the law with their actions, they does not report them to the government, but try to explain them their mistakes. The extension service does not carry out federal programs for farmers, however it does help farmers to figure out the details of such programs without actually offering these programs to the farmers. The system of extension in the USA is quite different from many countries. The Departments of Agriculture in the states are working directly under the state governors and do not get involved into extension. As I have mentioned earlier, the burden of responsibilities for the extension work organization lies upon the universities which, although being state universities, do not have any tight connections with the departments of agriculture in their home states.
It is very possible that the US system of extension is not the most perfect one. In some countries, the extension services carry out their activities as parts of the ministries of agriculture. In the countries with strong vertical system of central government, the best results are achieved when the extension service is tightly connected with the research and educational base, i.e. with the local university or with the research institute, which are the generators of agricultural knowledge and which can offer the technologies for implementation. The special feature of the American system of extension is in that it is firewalled against the direct interference of the federal or state governments. Another very peculiar feature of the American extension system is that it does different programs for farmer families and for the rural youth. This idea comes back to the 20-ies, when the American family farm was defined as a sort of “developmental unit” for the rural area. Accordingly, the extension service designs and implements different programs that target not only farmers, but their wives and children which generally results in the increase of quality of life in the rural areas. The extension system in the US is totally separate from the US federal or state government interference. It provides a source of unbiased-science based information that ties the generation of knowledge to a system for delivery. It also provides a mechanism to provide input on current problems that can be used as the basis for research to solve them.
The Schebler Company, Bettendorf, which specializes in stainless steel fabrications, introduced a new high-heat cooling tunnel to rapidly cool baked products, such as cookies, snack bars, and candies. The new product was functioning as designed, but the company needed factual analysis data to confirm and document its success. Staff from ISU Extension’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) worked with Schebler to develop a computer model of the Schebler tunnel. A faculty member from ISU’s mechanical engineering department was engaged to provide detailed technical assistance with heat transfer issues. Several computer models were developed to estimate the conduction, convection, evaporation, and radiation of heat from the baked product. This gave Schebler’s designers better information on how heat was removed from the product and what parts of the tunnel could be modified to improve the efficiency of the heat transfer. The computer code that was developed is now being used as a design tool in the development of new products. Schebler continues to develop new tunnel designs and has maintained a partnership with CIRAS engineers so that their design capabilities can continue to be enhanced. Schebler estimates that they have retained sales of $2,500,000 and that they have the potential to gain $3,000,000 per year in additional sales because of the assistance they received from ISU Extension and the College of Engineering. Schebler has also invested in $50,000 of new equipment and anticipates adding at least six employees at the Bettendorf plant.
ISU Extension provides education and leadership to help Iowa’s grape and wine entrepreneurs grow their industry profitably—with field days, grape variety research, and ISU Extension staff assisting vineyard owners locally. Through the Midwest Grape and Wine Institute, Extension is Developing analytical and diagnostic services, workshops, and short courses with the goal of increasing the knowledge level on all aspects of grape production, winemaking, and marketing for grape and wine producers Establishing an extension and outreach program to the industry by training a cadre of specialists to support Iowa’s grape and wine industry Developing a Wine Quality Award program that will provide wine buyers a “quality assurance rating” stamp of approval Conducting research for the development of new cold hardy grape varieties in all the climatic regions of the Midwest; partnering with other land grant universities with similar research interests Conducting research in developing new methods of processing grapes into wine and training wine makers Conducting ongoing research into the methods used to assist in the development of the North Central U.S. grape and wine industry with specific focus on case studies that illustrate successes and failure in both agronomic and economic components Partnering with community colleges in the development of an enology and viticulture jobs training program. Iowa’s grape and wine industry is growing rapidly. Iowa’s 2007 wine production exceeded 268,000 gallons with a value of more than $12.7 million—creating a significant economic effect in the state’s rural communities. Since 2000, the industry has expanded from five wine-grape vineyards to 390+ commercial vineyards and 71 licensed native wineries. Picture – L-R Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari – Extension enologist, Jennie Hansen – lab tech, Sebastian Donner – lab manager.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Family Nutrition Program (FNP) are proven, cost-effective nutrition education programs. These programs help youth and young, low-resource families develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior needed to improve their diet. Iowa State University Extension administers the programs in Iowa. Funding comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Families learn to make informed choices about low-cost, nutritious foods; to better manage family finances; and to become more self-sufficient. Youth receive nutrition education to help them develop healthy eating patterns and skills in preparing nutritious meals and snacks. EFNEP and FNP reach youth primarily through school enrichment and summer day-camp programs. Eighty-two percent of Iowa EFNEP and FNP families have incomes below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guideliness. A study of the costs and benefits of Iowa EFNEP shows that for every $1 spent to deliver nutrition education in Iowa, $8.03 is saved in future health care costs. The $8.03 in health care savings occur because participants learn safe food handling practices, thus having fewer foodborne illnesses; eat better during pregnancy, resulting in fewer low birthweight babies; are more likely to breastfeed their babies, resulting in fewer childhood diseases; and improve their overall diets, resulting in delay or prevention of chronic diseases.
The Community Visioning Program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to assist community leaders and volunteers in making sound and meaningful decisions about the local landscape. The program empowers local leaders through a planning process that results in an enhancement plan reflecting the values and identity of the community. Financed through the Iowa Department of Transportation, the program is administered by Iowa State University Extension, and involves students and faculty of the College of Design, the nonprofit organization Trees Forever, and professional practicing landscape architects. Successful completion of the Visioning Program results in a conceptual community transportation enhancement plan and the development of implementation strategies that empower communities to build meaningful townscapes, step by step, as resources become available. More than 125 rural Iowa communities have participated in the program since its inception in 1996. Evaluations covering the past five years found that of the communities that have participated, 95 percent used design elements derived from changes in their physical built environment (streetscapes, entrance ways, signage, etc.). The program has been honored by the Federal Highway Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, the American Planning Association by the Iowa Chapter and at the national level, and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The Community Vitality Center (CVC) addresses goals in the state’s 2010 strategic plan and uses research knowledge to promote and foster community-based entrepreneurship development in medium and small-sized communities; promotes and fosters increased performance of community-based philanthropy in nonmetro counties and medium and small-sized communities across the state; develops innovative demonstration projects with real impacts in medium and small-sized communities; and disseminates lessons learned to leaders of other communities; conducts analyses of selected federal, state, and local policies to identify consequences and opportunities for enhancing rural vitality; and offers opportunities for public deliberation—locally, regionally, and statewide—on issues of priority as determined by project staff, rural leaders, and the governing board.
Iowa State University (ISU) Extension hosted community discussions in more than 80 counties throughout Iowa in 2007. The information compiled at these sessions, involving community leaders and stakeholders, formed the basis of ISU Extension’s programming as it relates to the emerging Iowa bioeconomy. ISU Extension also helps develop the bioeconomy through Providing educational workshops, conferences, and policy forums to help Iowans understand the opportunities and implications of the bioeconomy. Topics include perspectives on the ethanol industry and alternative crops and policies for developing bioenergy. Coordinating corporate visits and partnership opportunities, such as with BP, Broin, ADM, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips • Conducting feasibility studies and analyzing business plans to help Iowans secure funding for startup businesses. Bringing together Iowans involved in the production and manufacturing of biobased products to learn about new discoveries in bioprocessing, business models, capitalization strategies, and new crops and cropping systems.
Extension’s Value Added Agriculture program led this effort with assistance from CIRAS. CIRAS provided a technical assessment of the technology being considered for the project.
I (Jack Payne) received a letter from Chet Culver as he was ending his two terms as Secretary of State. In the letter, Culver expressed his appreciation for the partnership his office has had with Extension. Extension organizes and administers the State Election Administrator Training and the Precinct Election Official Training programs. Both of these programs have thrust the State of Iowa into a leadership role in the United States in ensuring accurate and fair elections. Iowa is one of only a handful of states that offers training for certification of election administrators at the state and county level. In addition, Iowa is the only state to offer six-hour certification training for front line precinct election officials. More than 2,800 precinct election officials in 72 counties have been trained in election law, new electronic voting equipment operation, ballot security, voter privacy, assisting voters with special needs, and beginning this year, same-day voter registration. Ninety-nine percent of participants said they would recommend the training to other election officials. With a strong demand for this program, Extension staff will be conducting more training sessions throughout 2008. This training has been funded through the Federal Help America Voters Act (HAVA).
29-й по счету штат США , на Среднем Западе в группе штатов Северо-Западного Центра. 26-й по площади и 30-й по населению (почти 3 млн человек). Штат расположен в междуречье крупнейших рек — Миссисипи и Миссури .ВВП штата в 2003 году составил 102 миллиарда долларов США, доход на душу населения составил $30,000. Айова является ведущим сельскохозяйственным штатом (в 1989 на каждых 27 жителей приходилось по одной ферме). В сельском хозяйстве доминируют кукуруза, соя, овёс, мясное животноводство (штат лидирует по производству свинины). Избыточное применение химикатов привело к серьёзным экологическим проблемам, что заставляет многих фермеров переходить на экологически чистое сельское хозяйство. Промышленность ориентирована на обслуживание нужд сельского хозяйства.
Just as it is…
Among the basic purposes of Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service in the states are the following: -- creation of knowledge base that is necessary for solving ongoing and potential problems in agriculture and in environment; -- technologies transfer and knowledge distribution through high quality programs of education and extension in order to teach people how to take management decisions; -- coordination and integration in priority areas of research, higher education and “extension” on the national level; -- creating the dynamic and interactive network of communications which can connect separate individuals, townships, universities, as well as various partners, including federal.
Among the basic purposes of Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service in the states are the following: -- creation of knowledge base that is necessary for solving ongoing and potential problems in agriculture and in environment; -- technologies transfer and knowledge distribution through high quality programs of education and extension in order to teach people how to take management decisions; -- coordination and integration in priority areas of research, higher education and “extension” on the national level; -- creating the dynamic and interactive network of communications which can connect separate individuals, townships, universities, as well as various partners, including federal.
Among the basic purposes of Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service in the states are the following: -- creation of knowledge base that is necessary for solving ongoing and potential problems in agriculture and in environment; -- technologies transfer and knowledge distribution through high quality programs of education and extension in order to teach people how to take management decisions; -- coordination and integration in priority areas of research, higher education and “extension” on the national level; -- creating the dynamic and interactive network of communications which can connect separate individuals, townships, universities, as well as various partners, including federal.
