Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Agency Strategic Plan 2007-2012
Index of Goals
Programmatic Goals and Objectives
Agriculture Food, Fiber, and Green Industries
Goal 1 Texas agricultural producers effectively evaluate and adopt research-based technology applications and best management practices for crop and forage systems to enhance their economic competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Goal 2 Texas livestock and poultry product producers and related agribusinesses effectively evaluate and adopt research-based technology applications and best management practices by region for sustainable and profitable livestock and poultry management systems.
Goal 3 Texas producers, agribusiness professionals, and landowners become more knowledgeable on approaches to assess risk and rewards in agriculture and natural resource-related operations, and how to evaluate and implement available risk-management alternatives based on personal and business enterprise goals.
Goal 4 Texas green industry sectors, including nursery, floral, landscape, and turf, will move toward their economic potential through demonstrations and evaluation of research-based technology and best management practices that meet economic and competitiveness criteria for business success.
Goal 5 Through pesticide safety education, licensed and unlicensed pesticide users (including farmers, ranchers, pest control businesses, and the general public) will understand and adopt safer pesticide and nonchemical management methods for managing pests and will be able to continue their pursuit of business enterprises and employment.
Goal 6 Small-scale agricultural operators and commercial producers in rural and suburban areas will become more knowledgeable in effectively identifying and evaluating diversification strategies for risk mitigation and improved economic sustainability based on total management goals and optimal resource-base use.
Goal 7 Gulf fishers and aquaculture enterprise owners become more knowledgeable of technical and financial feasibility for value-added enterprises and of supply chain issues from production/harvesting to the consumer.
Goal 8 Producers, landowners, agribusiness firms, and the organizations that represent them will become more knowledgeable regarding global forces impacting Texas and the agricultural and trade policy alternatives and consequences relative to long-term enterprise profitability and safety net opportunities from federal and state sources.
Goal 9 Agricultural producers, landowners, agribusiness, and county Extension agents become more knowledgeable of best practices to prevent, detect, and respond to potential biosecurity issues, whether naturally occurring or through bioterrorist action.
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.
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.
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 through stewardship education in order to support the biological, sociological, and economic sustainability of those resources.
Goal 4 Advance the planning and management of natural resource-based recreation opportunities in Texas.
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.
Community Economic Development
Goal 1 Texas communities gain knowledge supporting design and implementation of successful development strategies.
Goal 2 Nature Tourism Community officials and businesses will evaluate nature tourism resources, facilities, and programs as part of their operations and development planning.
Goal 3 Texas youth and adults will be prepared to participate fully in the 21st century workforce.
Goal 4 Community Leadership Present and potential leaders will increase knowledge and abilities needed to effectively support the development of their communities.
Goal 5 County Extension agents will increase their ability to support educational programs in community economic development.
Goal 6 Texans and their communities become more resilient by effectively preparing for and recovering from disasters.
Goal 7 To support communities and organizations across Texas who produce events.
Goal 8 Coastal communities are empowered to choose sustainable paths that maximize both community quality of life and quality of the environment.
Goal 1 Increase parenting skills and improve the quality of child and eldercare in Texas communities through training programs directed at parents, grandparents, caregivers, and youth.
Goal 2 Improve family financial security by providing financial literacy education to families, youth, and worksites.
Goal 3 Decrease demand for health care through health, nutrition, and safety education for individuals and families which improves health across the lifespan.
Goal 4 Reduce health care costs by increasing risk-reducing behaviors among adults with Type II Diabetes through diabetes education programs.
Goal 5 Decrease the number of adults and children who are inactive or overweight through nutrition and activity programs delivered to families, schools and communities.
Goal 6 Reduce the risk of food-borne illness though education for consumers and commercial food establishments.
Goal 7 Improve water conservation by promoting understanding and adoption of best management practices among consumers.
Goal 8 Community volunteers will expand the outreach of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) by building competencies in quality program delivery through participation in educational training.
Goal 1 Focus on Youth (Youth Development): The youth of Texas will experience imaginative, motivational learning experiences to build life skills by addressing priorities like character education, literacy, and leadership development.
Goal 2 Focus on Local and County 4-H Programs (4-H Management): Texas youth, parents, and volunteers will develop life skills through involvement in local and county 4-H programs.
Goal 3 Focus on Volunteerism (Volunteerism): Volunteers will develop competencies in experiential learning, ages and stages of youth, subject matter, character education, communication skills, working with others, conflict management, and life skills education.
Goal 4 Focus on Quality Programs (4-H Curriculum): County Extension agents and volunteers (adults and youth) will generate, manage, and evaluate 4-H and youth development programs to identify current and emerging needs.
Goal 5 Focus on Collaboration (Working with Others): County Extension agents and collaborators will build and maintain collaborations to positively impact limited resources, enabling outreach to broader audiences and greater impacts.
Goal 6 Focus on Diversity (4-H Expansion): Youth and volunteers of the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program will represent much more than skin color, cultures, social structures, ethnic lifestyles, norms, history, and language.
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Contact:
Edward G. Smith
Director
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
112 Jack K. Williams Administration Building
7101 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-7101
Ph: 979-845-7967
Fax: 979-845-9542
September 2007