SECC Extension Activities and Status of AgroClimate

1. SECC Extension Activities and Status of AgroClimate Joel O. Paz Department of Biological and Agricultural EngineeringUniversity of Georgia

2. Cast of Contributors • Auburn : Jim Novak • FSU : David Zierden, Melissa Griffin • NCSU : Gail Wilkerson, Ryan Boyles • UAH : John Christy • UF : Clyde Fraisse, Keith Ingram • UGA : Joel Paz, Pam Knox, Carrie Furman, Carla Roncoli, David Stooksbury • UM : Norman Breuer

3. Land Grant Universities Mission: Teaching, Research, and Extension

4. Extension Service • Smith-Lever Act • Established in 1914, Cooperative Extension was designed as a partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the land-grant universities, which were authorized by the Federal Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. • Legislation in the various States has enabled local governments or organized groups in the Nation's counties to become a third legal partner in this education endeavor.

5. Extension Service • Organization • County Coordinator and Extension Agents • Supported by both University (State & Federal) and County funds • Experts in multiple commodities and disciplines, including both crops and livestock • Direct link to growers and producers • District Director • District Program Development Coordinator • Extension Specialist • Commodity or discipline specialists

6. Partnership with Key Extension Personnel • The key to effective dissemination of climate-based information to growers is the partnership of the SECC and the Cooperative Extension Service of Land-Grant Universities.

7. Interaction with Stakeholders Web-based DSSwww.AgroClimate.org

8. Interaction with Stakeholders

9. Extension and Outreach • Winter school • AgroClimate Workshops • Stakeholder meetings • Sunbelt Expo • Press releases

10. Impact Assessment

11. AgClimate AgroClimate

12. First Online Version • AgClimate goes online during the last quarter of 2004 • Most of 2005 was spend developing content for the system: decision support tools and adaptation strategies

13. Centerpieces: Climate tool and Crop yield tool

14. Climate and Agricultural Outlooks • Outlooks are delivered 6 - 12 times a year and have been very successful with stakeholders

15. Ag Outlook Contributors • Research and Extension Faculty • Agronomists (Cotton, Peanut, Corn, Soybean) • Plant Pathologists (Row Crops/Fruits) • Horticulturists • Forage Specialist

16. Application of Climate Outlook

17. SECC Outlooks in the SE Farm Press

18. AgClimate 2007 • Hosting, maintenance, and development responsibilities have been transferred to University of Florida Extension.

19. AgroClimate

20. AgroClimate Tools • Climate • Climate Risk • Freeze Risk • Cooling/Heating Degree Days • Drought • Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) • Lawn & Garden Index • Crop Yield • County Yield Database • Yield Risk • Irrigation Tool • Crop Development • Growing Degree Days • Chill Accumulation • Pests & Diseases (2008-09) • Strawberry • TSWV (peanuts)

21. Recent Developments - Climate • Cooling and heating degree days forecast based on ENSO phase for all counties in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia

22. Recent Developments – Crop Yield • Improved (and simplified) crop yield risk tool incorporates suggestions received from Extension faculty during hands-on workshops. • Peanut, Potato, and Tomato Better chances of high yield if planted earlier during La Nina years

24. AgroClimate – Spanish Version

25. AgroClimate New Mexico State University

26. Development of a disease forecast system for strawberries as a tool on AgroClimate • Main Goal: Develop and deliver a disease forecasting system to predict Anthracnose and Botrytis fruit rot epidemics on strawberries on AgroClimate.org • Funding Agency: USDA-RMA UF-IFAS Climate Extension

27. Reducing Forage Producers Drought Vulnerability in the Southeastern USA • Main Goal: Develop and deliver a drought monitoring and forecasting system designed to help forage producers in the southeastern U.S. adapt and mitigate risks associated with climate variability • Funding Agency: NOAA UF-IFAS Climate Extension

28. Determination of Carbon Footprint Baselines for Florida Strawberry Production and Transportation Systems • Main Goal: To determine emission baselines of strawberry production in Florida and prepare producers to respond to market pressures regarding the potential impact of their production systems on climate • Funding Agency: Florida Strawberry Growers Association UF-IFAS Climate Extension

29. SECC Extension in NC • Bringing NC to AgroClimate.org • Evaluation of historical climate data • Analysis of ENSO phase and crop yield • Crop model simulations • NCSU Team Development • Recruiting extension specialists • Planning for workshops in 2009

30. Climate Change Extension • Interest of Extension Agents in climate change is growing: • IPCC report • Weather extremes in recent years (hurricanes, drought) • Carbon resource management • Concern about sea level rise, invasive species • 2-day In-service training for Extension Agents planned for February 2009 at the University of Florida

31. Opportunities for Climate Extension • Development of climate extension as a core program in every land-grant institution • Better integration with research, extension, and assessment for planning and setting priorities • Increased visibility among various stakeholders • Wider acceptance and use of climate information to lower risk and increase agricultural production

32. Thank you!

34. El Niño Farmer Joe’s Questions La Niña