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Abstract

Smith, R.J., E.G. Rhoden, J.R. Bartlett, V.A. Khan, S. Musser, A. Williams, B. Moore, A. Elliot and J. Waddy. 2009. The importance of collaboration between Tuskegee University (Cooperative Extension Program) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. JEMREST 6:00-00

DOI: 10.4029/2009jemrest6no11

Land Grant Universities (LGU) have a legislatively mandated mission “tied to” their funding to promote agricultural research findings to their stakeholders through the extension service. Tuskegee University (TU) has developed ways to meet these responsibilities by partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource and Conservation Service (USDA–NRCS). A study was conducted in the Black Belt Region of Alabama (BBRA) to evaluate the effects of poultry litter (PL) on the development of a sustainable forage management program for underserved small-scale farmers. Secondly, to develop ways in which 1890 LGU and USDA-NRCS can collaborate on issues common to both institutions. Two field days were held where farmers and agricultural professionals from extension, research and USDA interacted and shared responsibilities for information dissemination. Participants were given an overview of the project which focused on wheat as winter forage and sorghum sudangrass (SSG) as summer forage for livestock, and were asked to rate the field days. Eighty (80) percent of the participants were cattle and/or goat production producers. The results showed that the location was ideal, 89% rated the information as good to ideal, while 92% found the information timely. All (100%) of the participants felt the information helped them to better manage their forages, 29% used PL but needed more information on PL, SSG and irrigation. Overall, the field day showed the importance of PL to increase forage production for small-scale farmers and the promotion of joint programs between the two institutions.