FY03 - NDSU Extension Service
PROGRAM #207 - NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Program Planning Team: Bruce Seelig (co-chair), Kevin Sedivec (co-chair),  Joe Courneya, Dan Driessen,  Scott Hochhaulter, Aung Hla, Karl Hoppe, Charles Linderman, Marcia McMullen, Dale Naze, Kendall Nichols, John Nowatski, Jim Richardson, Tom Scherer,  Jim Walla

Overall Situation

Soil, water, air, plants, and animals are intricately interwoven as essential elements of our lives. They provide for our very existence and afford aesthetic values and recreational opportunities which directly impact the quality of our lives. These resources contribute to the livelihoods of residents and nonresidents employed in agriculture, industry, eco-tourism, and other occupations. Natural resources are finite and must be protected and wisely used if we are to continue to garner income, recreation, aesthetic pleasure, and good health from them.

Competing interests for natural resources will continue to create controversial issues based on need and philosophy of use. Research-based information must be used to educate the general public, agricultural producers, industry, and others of the consequences of actions, or inactions, affecting natural resources.


Key Theme(s):   Forestry Resource Management

Development and delivery of this educational program will be contingent upon the arrival of new Extension Forestry Specialist.


Key Theme(s):   Rangeland/Pasture Management


Key Theme(s):   Agricultural Waste Management

SITUATION

All animal feeding operations (AFOs) are expected to comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. AFOs with more than 200 animal units require an "approval to operate" from the North Dakota Department of Health.  Smaller AFOs  may also come under regulatory requirements if they have a potential to pollute. Thus, all AFOs, regardless of size, should adopt waste management practices to minimize impacts on water and air quality. AFOs can reduce water pollution through structural and/or management changes. Changes in  livestock production to larger and more intensive operations increase the potential for surface and ground water pollution unless facilities are well constructed and managed.  Increasing concentration of livestock numbers also increases the concentration of manure nutrients. Proper utilization of manure nutrients  in crop production programs will minimize their impact on water quality.

INPUTS

     Livestock Waste Specialists:

Provide leadership for the development, delivery and assessment of an educational program for agricultural producers on livestock facilities, waste handling and utilization. The educational program will facilitate the proper handling, storage, management and utilization of livestock waste and the use of appropriate technologies to protect water quality and the environment in North Dakota conditions.

     Extension Specialists:

NDSU Extension Service Specialists who provide program development and delivery in animal science, soils and fertility, and Ag and Biosystems Engineering. The animal science specialists contribution to the project will focus on animal dietary strategies that focus on waste management. The soils and fertility specialist will incorporate livestock manure utilization into on-going crop fertility programming. And the Ag and Biosystems Engineering specialist will provide direction and oversight on the utilization of Midwest Plan Service education materials that deal with livestock waste systems. The two extension livestock waste management specialists will also collaborate with these Extension Service Specialists on educational needs assessment, program development and delivery.

     Research Scientists:

North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Scientists who work with animal research programs at both the Dickinson and Carrington Research/Extension Centers. Applied research and demonstration projects will be the main focus of this collaboration.

     Extension Agents:

County Extension Agents who will organize local educational efforts and help provide educational program delivery that is focused on the specific needs of producers in their region. Specific contributions to the project will include organizing and facilitating regional educational events such as workshops, tours and demonstration projects. These extension agents will also receive additional training on animal dietary strategies, manure utilization and mortality management and incorporate this information into their livestock/crops educational programs along with providing leadership to this program effort within their multicounty program unit (MPU).

     Partners:

     Educational Curriculums:  

     Resources:

OUTPUTS

     Program Activities:

     Audience:

Livestock producers, extension agents, USDA-NRCS and Soil Conservation District personnel, custom applicators, consultants and contractors.

OUTCOMES

     Short Term:

     Medium Term:

     Long Term:

Key Theme(s):   Pesticide Application


Key Theme(s):  Water and Soil Quality

Persons Responsible:  Bruce Seelig and Scott Hochhalter

Partner(s): ND State Soil Conservation Committee, ND Dept. of  Agriculture, ND Health Dept., ND Water Commission,  NRCS

Situation

Maintenance and protection of the quality of water resources is a goal shared by the majority of North Dakotans. Data show that water resources vary with respect to the type and intensity of impacts. Results from water monitoring programs conducted by EPA and ND Dept. of Health indicate that most water contamination originates as non-point source. Delivery of nonpoint source contaminants to water resources is related to the soil processes of runoff and leaching. Maintenance of healthy soils is necessary to adequately control these processes for both water and soil protection. Although urban areas contribute to the problem, the shear magnitude of land under agricultural production dictates programmatic emphasis on this sector of human activity. Management of agriculture should include consideration of erosion, soil quality, air quality, surface water and groundwater quality and the impacts of agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. Successful control of nonpoint source pollution requires a balance of regulatory and voluntary actions implemented by an informed society. Educational programs that empower individuals to critically address the relevance of water and soil quality to their local communities are needed. Food production must be maintained to support both human nutrition and economic vitality in North Dakota and the nation. However, food production systems should be managed to minimize adverse effects to our environment and sustainability. 

Inputs

Input from professionals with expertise in agronomy, soil science, engineering, economics, food and nutrition, animal science, range science, hydrology, and geology is needed to design and deliver educational programs that effectively address water and soil quality at the watershed level.  .State, regional, and county extension staff along with the teaching and research faculty at NDSU should form the core of this professional group. The Departments of Soil Science, Plant Sciences, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at NDSU actively participate in resource issues. However, water and soil quality education extends well beyond the capacity of a single institution such as NDSU. In order for NDSU to expend its inputs most effectively for water and soil quality education, it must integrate its efforts with other agencies and organizations such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Services Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, ND Department of Health, ND Department of Agriculture, ND Water Commission, ND Geological Survey, ND State Game and Fish, ND Forest Service, ND Association of Conservation Districts, ND Farm Bureau, ND Farmers Union with similar interests. Regular and dependable exchange of information between these organizations is essential to the delivery of an effective water and soil quality educational program. Water and soil quality education is effective only if a well balanced approach is used that incorporates the knowledge and expertise of many individuals from many organizations

NDSU Extension receives Federal grant money to support individuals to work specifically on three areas of water quality education. The Regional Water Quality Coordination project supports the development of a water quality information system for the 6 states in EPA Region 8 and facilitation of water quality education by NDSU faculty. The Remote Sensing/ Landuse project provides digital maps of landuse in North Dakota on an annual interval and supports the use of this information in estimating land management impacts to water resources. The Pesticide Strategy for Groundwater Protection project supports the construction of digital groundwater sensitivity maps for each county and management recommendations to reduce the potential for pesticide contamination.

NDSU Extension recieves state money to support the administrative functions of the State Soil Conservation Committee. The Committee's goal is to protect the states water and soil resources by enhancing technical and educational programs related to soil conservation. 

Outputs

Output from the Water and Soil Quality are intended to reach a broad audience through the development of a website with water quality resources and links. Another output from this program will be a coordinated working group composed of NDSU faculty dedicated to integration of water quality issues into teaching, research, and extension programs. The final output is increased leveraged efforts between NDSU and other organizations that relate to water quality issues (A prime example of this output is the Landuse Determination Using Satellite Imagery project. NDSU Extension was able to leverage its water quality program to partner with ND Agricultural Statistics (NDASS) to secure resources for additional water quality activities). Output from the Landuse Determination Using Satellite Imagery Program is intended to reach of broad audience through the development of a website and delivery of computer and software training related to the use of LandSat images. Workshops and training of different levels will be done at different sites during the year. The other output that will be managed by the NDASS is a digital landuse map for North Dakota each year. Output from the Pesticide Strategy for Groundwater Protection project is directed toward individuals involved in pesticide applications. Output includes digital county pesticide sensitivity maps displayed in on an interactive website. Six counties will be added to the site this year. Output also includes pesticide sensitivity training at 10 pesticide applicator certification meeting during the year.

Anticipated Outcomes

Key Theme(s):   Water Quality Protection


Key Theme(s):   Wildlife Management


Key Theme(s):   Geospatial (Geographic Information Systems - GIS, Global Positioning Systems GPS, Imagery Program)

Situation

This program component will encourage extension personnel to cooperate with North Dakota agricultural producers and natural resource managers as well as other end-users willing to apply and demonstrate geospatial technology.  Extension personnel and cooperating end-users will be trained to become proficient in basic geospatial computer software and datasets required in using remote sensing products. The expected outcomes will be county extension agents proficient in using geospatial technology who can provide on-going technical advice to end-users who choose to implement this technology in their management schemes.
Inputs

Staff

Time Frame Partners Equipment Technology Outputs

Output (Activities)

a. Intermediate GIS Skills
b. GPS Applications to Ag and Natural Resources
c. Using Satellite Imagery and Aerial Photography in GIS Programs.
Output (Participation) Learning Outcomes Action Outcomes Evaluation
Evaluate end-user reactions to implementing geospatial data sets, procedures and technology into their
agricultural or natural resource management applications. Evaluations will focus on: Evaluate participating NDSU extension and research personnel prior to and annually throughout the project to
monitor understandings and use of geospatial technology in their work.