|
Increasing productivity and profitability of crop and soil management
systems should be the goal of all of agriculture. The goal of this
proposed project is to provide an improved outreach model to transfer
site-specific soil and crop research information to the end user. The
information management and outreach outlined in this proposal will guide
farmers and their input suppliers and advisers toward successful
implementation and management of site-specific systems. These improved
information tools support technically current, scientifically sound, and
environmentally responsible crop production systems.
The objectives in support of the project goal are:
- provide internal and external
communications for precision research projects
- conduct a needs assessment to define
the content areas of greatest interest to producers and their advisers
- develop a series of case studies that
will describe the integration of site-specific technology into
management strategies
- develop a series of training modules on
precision systems
- expand and update the Site-Specific
Management Guidelines publications
- disseminate and evaluate the developed
outreach materials.
Our existing, ongoing research
projects on site-specific systems will provide the basis for
developing the communication, data management, and education components of
an integrated outreach system that can be used as a model by other
projects (including other IFAFS
projects) for implementing an expanded outreach program. Workshops,
conferences, internet communications, web-based training, classroom and
self-study training materials, publications, field demonstrations,
hands-on training and "virtual tours" represent the types of
outreach efforts planned to further the adoption of site-specific
management.
|
