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Celebrating Success!. Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference December 13-15, 2005. www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/uwforage.htm. Why the site was needed?. Forage production and utilization crosses many disciplines (agronomy, dairy & livestock, ag engineering, ag economics, etc.)
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Celebrating Success! Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference December 13-15, 2005
Why the site was needed? • Forage production and utilization crosses many disciplines (agronomy, dairy & livestock, ag engineering, ag economics, etc.) • Electronic information resources were fragmented and/or non-existent across the university department web sites. • A “hub” was needed to bring it all together in a categorized framework.
What we did about it • Concept was developed in 1998 out of a pilot team work group. • Site was launched in 1999. • Entirely “in house” (house = Team Forage) • Content, development, and updates • Focus on value and need (“Old School”) • “Focus on Forage” fact sheet series (62 to date) • Used to address common questions/concerns • Used to meet needs of immediate issue such as winterkill or drought (visit display). • Does not replace existing sites
Content Includes: • Fact sheets • Topical papers • PowerPoint presentations • Proceedings papers • Research summaries • Variety/hybrid performance results • Decision making tools • Spreadsheets (visit display) • Charts • Software
So, what happened? • The site has grown to something bigger than any of us ever imagined. • Use statistics increase each year • Avg. nearly 400 pageviews per day in 2005 • Cited by many national/state public and private entities in print and electronic information resources (e.g. universities, seed/feed companies, etc.). • Has proved to be a valuable information resource for WI educators, ag professionals, and forage producers.
So, what happened? • Contributors • Virtually every Team Forage member has contributed in some way to the site (ownership) • Many outside the team have requested their material be put on the site. • For agents: • Has offered a venue for national recognition of work. • Has provided an opportunity to add to the knowledge base, not just transfer it.
Some User Comments • “I consider this website to be one of the premier websites for forages. I visit it regularly to get new information. It's valuable to me in my work with dairy producers.“ • “I use this about 5 times per week.” • “The forages website is excellent - great information and great organization.” • “We really enjoy your web site. It is our source for forage information.” • “This website is the greatest site available for specific technical information on forage issues........keep it coming.” • “As a veterinarian this is the place I send farmers to.”