Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Agriculture – Natural Resources and the Environment

Goal 1: Consumers, homeowners, agricultural producers, communities, and irrigation districts understand and adopt best management practices to protect water quality and enhance conservation so water supplies will meet future water needs in Texas that are essential for expanding agricultural growth, jobs, and the economy in both rural and urban areas.

 

Statement of Support: Water quality and quantity have emerged as the preeminent issue across the state, as indicated through local input, legislative efforts, and numerous other indicators. Agriculture is the largest water user in the state, and agriculture is under close scrutiny because of the potential for negative environmental (water quality) impacts.

 

Objective 1: Agricultural producers utilize efficient irrigation methods and conservation tillage to conserve water.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop educational programs to promote efficiency and effectiveness of irrigation through improved timing and application of irrigation water on crop and forage land.

2007–2012: Producers increase their knowledge of irrigation technologies and management of these technologies by 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Producers increase their knowledge of water use efficiency in their production system (water use per unit of production) by 2% per year. Specific indicators will be provided by regional program development teams.

 

2007–2012: Producers utilize ET networks and other irrigation decision aids to determine water requirements for crops grown; adoption of these technologies increases 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Producers increase their knowledge of crop management inputs that impact water use efficiency and irrigation scheduling by 2% per year.

Demonstrate conservation tillage strategies to manage and conserve soil water.

2007–2012: Producers increase their knowledge of equipment and best management practices for conservation tillage systems by 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Producers increase their knowledge of alternative production systems by 2% per year.

 

Objective 2: Homeowners, grounds keepers, and other managers reduce water consumption for irrigating home lawns, landscapes, athletic fields, and recreational areas.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop and deliver education programs, such as Sports Athletic Field Education (SAFE), to demonstrate ways water can be conserved in urban settings.

2007–2012: Grounds keepers and greenspace managers increase their knowledge of efficient landscape irrigation by 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Homeowners increase their knowledge of watering system technologies by 2% per year.

 

2007: Homeowners’ usage of recommended landscape plants and turfgrass varieties to reduce water requirements increases by 5% by 2007.

Develop and deliver education program demonstrating use of alternative water resources for landscape irrigation.

2007–2012: Participants in Rainwater Volunteer training programs increase their knowledge regarding rainwater harvesting methods by 10%.

 

2007–2012: Increase usage of reclaimed water sources (wastewater, graywater, etc.) for landscape irrigation in the state by 2% per year.

 

Objective 3: Irrigation districts utilize methods and management strategies to use water efficiently.

Strategy

Measure(s)

Develop and deliver education program demonstrating efficient conveyance and delivery of irrigation water.

2007–2012: Irrigation district personnel increase their knowledge of water conveyance losses and water quantity-monitoring techniques when conveying irrigation water by 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Irrigation district personnel increase their knowledge of aquatic vegetation management methods by 3% per year.

 

Objective 4: Agricultural producers, homeowners, industry, and municipalities reduce contamination of water resources.

Strategy

Measure(s)

Develop and deliver education programs to demonstrate and promote best management practices for stormwater.

2007–2012: Contractors and producers increase their knowledge of stream bank and soil erosion best management practices for reduction of sediment loading to surface water by 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Producers and contractors increase their use of mulches for erosion control by 2% per year.

Develop and deliver education programs to demonstrate and promote best management practices for residential and municipal wastewater treatment and reuse.

2007–2012: Contractors, designers, and homeowners increase knowledge of on-site wastewater treatment technologies and management 5% by 2008.

Develop and deliver education programs to demonstrate and promote best management practices for nutrient management.

2007–2012: Producers increase adoption of soil testing for nutrient management planning by 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Producer knowledge and application of soil test and applied materials nutrient analysis information increases by 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Producers increase utilization of organic materials in their production systems by 2% per year.

Develop and deliver education programs to demonstrate and promote best management practices for agricultural production waste management.

2007–2012: Twenty percent of livestock and poultry producers attending educational events adopt best management practices to manage phosphorous to protect water resources.

 

2007–2012: Where organic composts and waste products are available, producers increase use of nutrient management plans describing their application of materials to forage and row crop production systems by 2% per year.

 

2007–2012: Twenty percent of producers attending educational programs increase their knowledge of appropriate best management practices and technologies to minimize impact of agricultural livestock and poultry production systems on watersheds.

Develop and deliver education programs to demonstrate and promote best management practices for maintaining adequate water quality (e.g. turbidity and eutrophication) for fish and wildlife in private impoundments.

2007–2012: Fifty percent of pond owners participating in programs increase knowledge of management practices to improve water quality and to manage aquatic vegetation.

 

Objective 5: Homeowners, landowners, and managers manage land within a watershed to more effectively use rainfall and runoff.

Strategy

Measure(s)

Develop and deliver education programs on watershed management.

2007–2012: Fifty percent of urban and agricultural program participants increase their knowledge of watershed management.

 

Objective 6: Homeowners, landowners, and communities understand and adopt best management practices regarding their water supply.

Strategy

Measure(s)

Develop and deliver education programs describing water resources.

2007–2012: Clientele increase basic water literacy by 3% per year.

 

2009: Clientele increase their knowledge of state water planning and water management by 5% by 2009.

Develop and deliver education programs, such as Tex-A-Syst, on protection of local groundwater resources. Emphasize drinking water quality protection and appropriate treatments of contaminated water as necessary.  Deliver education on underground water conservation districts.

2007–2012: Homeowners and landowners increase their knowledge of wellhead protection best management practices by 3% per year.

 

2007–2012: Homeowners and landowners increase understanding of water supply risks associated with abandoned wells and best management practices for handling abandoned wells by 3% per year.

 

2007–2012: Homeowners increase understanding of the availability of alternative water supplies for in-home use (e.g., harvested rainwater) by 3% per year.

 

2007–2012: Homeowners and landowners become more knowledgeable of groundwater management via groundwater conservation districts by 2% per year.

 Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Agriculture – Natural Resources and the Environment

Goal 2: Producers, landowners, and consumers effectively evaluate and adapt research-based technologies to enhance wildlife conservation and management, fostering environmental stewardship while capturing economic benefit from the sales of nature-based experiences to customers.

 

Statement of Support: Wildlife management as an enterprise on private lands is an important income source and diversification alternative for landowners. Maintaining the balance among competing enterprises over time is a total management approach. The TCFF process identified this goal in the natural resources and environment area.

 

Objective 1: Land managers meet their goal of enhancing wildlife and fisheries resources.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Conduct educational programming aimed at enhancing wildlife and fisheries resources.

2007–2012: Fifty percent of adult program participants increase knowledge of fisheries and wildlife habitat and appropriate management practices.

Develop, implement, and evaluate adoption of best management practices to enhance wildlife habitat and populations.

2007: Measure for 2007 is to evaluate knowledge retention and adoption rates for best practices for land managers who have attended a Quail Appreciation Day.  Thirty percent of participating landowners will have implemented best practices to enhance quail populations.

 

2007–2012: Participants in dove management and prescribed fire workshops indicate an increase in adoption of best management practices by 5% per year.

Develop timely news releases and magazine articles to enhance stakeholder awareness.

2008, 2010: News articles adopted by 25 local or area newspapers. Articles could be submitted to Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Fish and Game, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, and other wildlife and fisheries related magazines, newspapers, and website outlets.

 

Objective 2: Urban audiences will understand the complexities of addressing the demand for wildlife conservation in the urban/rural interface.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Deliver an absentee landowner education program for managing important wildlife and fisheries resources.

2007–2012: Fifty percent of program participants increase their knowledge of wildlife and fisheries management and appropriate habitat practices.

Support and expand conservation education efforts that appeal to urban audiences, such as leadership programs for urban youth and adult volunteers.

2007–2012: Master Naturalist programs offered each year.

 

2007–2012: Fifty percent of program participants increase their knowledge of wildlife and fisheries management and appropriate habitat practices.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Agriculture – Natural Resources and the Environment

Goal 3: Landowners, professional ecosystem managers, community planners, and other interest groups become more knowledgeable, make informed decisions, and adopt best management practices that insure the proper management of rural and urban natural ecosystem resources (rangeland and forestry etc.) through stewardship education in order to support the biological, sociological, and economic sustainability of those resources.

 

Statement of Support: Although Texas is the second most populated state, its geography includes millions of acres of rangeland in rural settings. The economic sustainability for landowners of rangeland and pastureland depends upon the ability to manage that resource in a way to produce livestock, wildlife, and/or nature-based tourism enterprises. The droughts of the 1990s caused degradation of Texas rangelands, making restoration an important near-term goal.

 

Objective 1: To increase clientele knowledge about the wise use of Texas’ rural and urban natural ecosystems

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Conduct educational programs to support maintenance and restoration of natural ecosystems

2007-2009: Sixty-five percent of urban and agricultural program participants increase their knowledge of ecosystem services and emerging markets

 

2007 - 2009: Sixty-five percent of program participants increase knowledge of vegetation and pest management practices.

 

2007 - 2009: Sixty-five percent of program participants increase knowledge of rural and urban ecosystem management, health, and monitoring techniques

 

2007 -2009: Increase participant knowledge by 10% of ecosystem management practices at the urban wildland interface.

 

Objective 2: Support county Extension agents to extend education in range and forestry management.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Assist county Extension agents with applied research demonstrations, program development, educational events, and professional development to support improved rural and urban ecosystem management.

2007–2012: Install and evaluate 30 new method and/or result demonstrations each year.

 

2007–2012: Assist 30 County Extension Agents with County or Multi-County Extension meetings.

 

2007–2012: Conduct 3 County Extension Agent training programs each year.

 

Objective 3: Provide alternative learning opportunities through online, web-based modules to better meet clientele education needs

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Expand the use of information technology to effectively communicate relevant and timely information to County Extension Agents, producers, associated agribusiness professionals, community planners, and the general public.

2008 - 2009: Develop and implement 2 websites that improve our ability to meet clientele needs.

 

2007 – 2009 Improve user sessions by 15%.

 

2007 – 2009: Two Online training courses (RLEM 101; CFEgroup) will be established and evaluated.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Agriculture – Natural Resources and the Environment

Goal 4: Advance the planning and management of natural resource-based recreation opportunities in Texas.

 

Statement of Support: As the population of Texas increases and our parks, forests and open spaces experience more outdoor activity, resource management agencies will need to plan ahead for sustained use for future generations.

 

Objective 1: Assist natural resource managers in their efforts to understand recreation demand.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Collect primary and secondary data related to recreation participation in Texas.

2007–2012: Examine and analyze secondary data sources that have information about outdoor recreation participation.

Develop publications and resource materials.

2007–2012: Complete five fact sheets annually on aspects of recreation in Texas.

Publish resource materials on Web site.

2007: Publications and resource materials published to existing Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences Web site. Benchmark user sessions determined for 2007.

 

2008: User sessions increase by 10%.

 

Objective 2: Promote diversity within recreation and natural resource agencies.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Conduct biannual statewide workshop.

2007–2012: Conduct three workshops: 2008, 2010, 2012.

 

Evaluation results will reveal increases in knowledge and awareness associated with issues related to diverse populations.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Agriculture – Natural Resources and the Environment

Goal 5:  Alternative Energy – Texas natural resource owners and operators understand and effectively evaluate alternative energy system opportunities within the current political and regulatory environment.

 

Statement of Support:  Bioenergy production and the use of by-products in agriculture is a major emerging issue in Texas.  President Bush’s state of the union address where he outlined a goal of producing 30 million barrel equivalents of gasoline through domestic bioenergy production has created a heightened demand by clientele groups for information on ways they can participate in this rapidly expanding industry -- from ethanol production from grain to cellulosic ethanol production from biomass.  High energy prices also have resource owners looking at non-conventional ways to substitute for traditional energy consumption within the farm or agribusiness enterprise.  Educational response to this emerging need suggests that objectives and strategies be developed. 

 

Objective 1:  Agricultural producers and agribusinesses learn about present and future opportunities to participate effectively in the expanding bioenergy industry.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Conduct applied research and develop educational programs and materials to reach producers and the agricultural industry on production alternatives to meet perceived demand of the Texas bioenergy industry.

2007-2012:  Producers participating in meetings increase their knowledge by 10% of cropping systems that could supply grain or biomass for bioenergy production.

 

2007-2008:  Analysis conducted regarding the economic feasibility of ethanol production from grain and cellulosic conversion potential.  Reports posted on various web sites.

 

2008:  TCE faculty collaborates with Southern Region SERA on Alternative Energy.

 

Objective 2:  Landowners become more knowledgeable of technologies that could support the use of forestry and rangeland biomass from biofuel and bio-based product production.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop a curriculum and conduct workshops for forest landowners on woody bioenergy potential and constraints.

2008-2009:  Forest landowners participating in meetings increase their knowledge by 20% of harvesting, production, and utilization of forest biomass for energy markets.

 

Objective 3:  County and specialist faculty become knowledgeable of subject matter and educational strategies in broad area of alternative energy production and use.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop educational materials and conduct multidisciplinary professional development trainings on alternative energy advantages and disadvantages.

2008:  Deliver four district or region professional development workshops for Extension personnel related to components of alternative energy production or feasibility analysis.

 Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

________________________________

Contact:

Edward G. Smith

Director

Texas Cooperative Extension

112 Jack K. Williams Administration Building

7101 TAMU

College Station, TX 77843-7101

Ph: 979-845-7967

Fax: 979-845-9542

September 2007