Chair: Marion Simon, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky

Moderator: Marc Teffeau, University of Maryland- Eastern Shore

University of Idaho

Cooperative Extension Program

An environmental group, Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI), is interested in agricultural and environmental issues and has been actively participating in the agricultural agenda in north-central Idaho for the last decade. The group's interest is sustainable agriculture and its benefit to the citizens and crop producers of north central Idaho.

To foster a better working relationship with growers by addressing sustainable agriculture issues, PCEI formed an agriculture options network funded by grants from the W.W. Kellogg foundation. With the agriculture option's network, PCEI has provided a project called "Farm Improvement Clubs" that has brought growers from northern Idaho together to address sustainable farming practices. An advantage of the program is the ability to bring a nonfarm consumer component into the project. This is important because many consumers lack the knowledge of commercial agriculture and are interested in the production of wholesome food, environmental issues, agriculture sustainability, and solutions which they can support.

The University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System in north-central Idaho, working with a grant provided by the "STEEP" program (Solutions to Environmental and Economic Problems, a federally funded program) and in conjunction with PCEI, has been working with a very successful committee of 15-20 crop producers to address on-farm testing projects. The committee is coordinated and facilitated by the University of Idaho Extension System. The committee is farmer driven, with an elected president, and all activities are approved in a democratic manner. A team approach was utilized by the University of Idaho Extension educators and specialists to train committee members on the importance and use of scientific, randomized, replicated on-farm trials. Statistical analysis has been very successful in helping the committee to reach scientific, measurable objectives.

The on-farm test information has been unbiased and of value to the committee members and others.

Due to their mutual interests, PCEI invited the committee to seek a Farm Improvement Club grant to help with carrying out the on-farm test program. As a result, the On-Farm Test Committee was faced with the dilemma of whether or not to work with an environmental group that was considered by many to be nonsupportive of commercial farm operators in north-central Idaho and eastern Washington. After a lengthy and heated debate among the members, the committee decided to apply for the Farm Improvement Club grant and has received the grant for the past 2 years.

The University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System facilitation and coordination becomes very interesting, exciting, and challenging. Cooperative Extension faculty had to possess and exhibit tenacity along with good organizational and subject matter skills. The most beneficial asset for the UI/Cooperative Extension System to be successful was their knowledge of both groups--this groups' mutual goals, differences, and how both groups could benefit from cooperation.

After several committee meetings, the growers democratically agreed to cooperate with the environmental group. Most of the on-farm tests had interest that paralleled those of the environmental community. For example, many of the on-farm tests were designed to reduce inputs while increasing profit margins and demonstrated environmental enhancing factors that reduce pesticide use.

• Examples of on-farm tests conducted and demonstrated were:

• Production of spring barley without the use of herbicides for weed control.

• Using citric acid to reduce spray tank water pH and herbicide rates.

• Night tillage for weed control, no herbicide used.

• Tillage practices that retain surface crop residue for soil erosion prevention.

• Demonstrating disease resistant cereal and pulse crop varieties that thrive without fungicide sprays.

• Using systemic seed treatments to limit later-season foliar pesticide application.

Another beneficial outcome from the Farm Improvement Club grant:

Funding was used to help with a bus tour of on-farm tests. Participants, including members of the environmental community, city residents, growers, andlegislators, could readily view the growers' on-farm tests. As a result, attempts to successfully implement sustainable farming practices, including reduced pesticide use and soil-saving tillage practices, were demonstrated to a wide variety of groups. Growers and University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System faculty presented on-farm test results that supported reduced pesticide use and reflected the positive possibilities of better profits, environmental stewardship, and the sustainability of the family farm.

Working with the environmental group gave area farmers a new and useful marketing opportunity. This unique opportunity provided an avenue for crop producers to demonstrate innovative, sustainable farming practices that were both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. This work proved to be challenging to the University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System--however, it was worthwhile, satisfying, and an excellent educational forum for all who were involved.

Summary

In recent years researchers have asserted that the U.S. research system has tended to produce technologies which have the effect of moving economic activity off farms, thereby causing or reinforcing the trend toward large farm size. It is argued that farmers have adopted technologies which were available and profitable, and that the aggregate result is a structure of agriculture consisting of fewer, but larger farms. Furthermore, issues relating to structure of agriculture, the environment and sustainable development have emerged as important contemporary areas of debate within and outside of the agricultural professions. These issues are likely to receive increasing attention by agriculture and natural resource related professions, well into the 21st century.

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