* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Increasing Sustainability of Local Agriculture and the
Survey
Document related concepts
Hotspot Ecosystem Research and Man's Impact On European Seas wikipedia , lookup
Low-carbon economy wikipedia , lookup
Surveys of scientists' views on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Mitigation of global warming in Australia wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and poverty wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on human health wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on humans wikipedia , lookup
Years of Living Dangerously wikipedia , lookup
Climate change, industry and society wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and agriculture wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on Australia wikipedia , lookup
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report wikipedia , lookup
Transcript
2016 – 2020 Plan of Work Increasing the Sustainability of Local Agriculture and the Environment with Changing Weather Conditions Brief Summary of Program In the past decade, Cornell researchers have focused on identifying and quantifying the level of climatic disruption caused by heat-trapping greenhouse gasses and the early, measurable impact on weather patterns, geographic bioregions, and living creatures. Now, agriculture specialists with the Lake Ontario Fruit Team, Cornell vegetable Program, NWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Teams are partnering with researchers to explore ways to mitigate the looming challenges and investigating strategies to address expected impacts. In addition, new education and the development of new resources to reduce the human impact on the environment, changing weather conditions, length of growing season, including energy usage reduction techniques and recycling and composting methodology, are also being shared with community organizations and individuals. This allows multidisciplinary research, education, and extension – from basic plant biologists to economists to climatologists– all engaged in plant and human adaptation and mitigation to reduce negative impacts on the environment. Situation and Priorities Statement Climate data for the last 50 years show dramatic changes in temperature and precipitation at the global, national, regional, and state levels. In New York and elsewhere, global climate change is believed to be responsible for more erratic weather patterns, warmer temperatures, heavier rainfall, lower snow levels, and altered season length with intensifying impact on humans, wildlife, the economy, and the environment. During the last five years, we have seen a year with extreme drought and a year with extreme wetness in Wayne County. As a result of the first incidence, many farmers added trickle irrigation systems to crops. In the second incidence, farmers have made the decision to not plant crops due to late crop plantings and known unprofitable returns they created. Water resource issues are closely tied to climate change including both quantity and quality issues. Higher variability of surface water flows is expected to exacerbate pollution and require increased management and mitigation efforts. Without action to reduce heat-trapping emissions today, scientists predict that summer in New York will feel like summer in South Carolina by the end of this century. Cornell researchers have been at the forefront in documenting climate change and its impact in the living world. New York farmers rely on Cornell research to make crucial decisions about controlling pests, applying fertilizer and optimal planting and harvesting times. CALS integrated pest management specialists say certain crop pests are arriving weeks earlier than they used to. Scientists and specialist team members are studying the potential overwintering by some pest species that normally die out during the colder months. Local field trials study the productivity of crop plants and how plants respond to changes in temperature. In 2015 Cornell also established the Climate Smart Farming Team, an integrated group of specialists from different commodities, to address needs identified above. These specialists are also part of regional agriculture teams and interact with The Cornell Institute for Climate Change and Agriculture (CICCA). Changing weather also heightens the importance of research and extension on invasive species. Invasives threaten the function and integrity of ecosystems, native species, and agricultural crops. During the past five years, Wayne County has seen the introduction of new pests and diseases, unseen before in WNY. Each of these must have local field research for control and education so that all area farmers can take advantage of results determined by our teams of scientists and extension specialists. Ecologically sound management of invasive species requires significant improvements in our understanding of the ecological impacts of invasives, as well as the effective management of their populations. 1 Goals: A. Increase awareness of residents and farmers on invasive species, pests, and plant diseases and ways to prevent their growth. B. Increase field research in new crops and methodologies for growing crops not previously grown in WNY. C. Help producers and communities adapt to changes in the environment. D. Education on energy reduction, alternative energy solutions, recycling and home composting to improve soil structure, drainage, and water-holding capacity. Goal A: Increase awareness of residents and farmers on invasive species and ways to prevent their growth. Objective 1 Identify one emerging disease/pest in each area of dairy, livestock, field crops, vegetables and fruit to focus on each year. Educational Strategies Participate in specialist team advisory committees and help to identify and educate public on emerging diseases/pests with articles on webpage and newspaper, etc. Evaluation Indicator Team members will evaluate results. Random phone calls to Wayne County growers will identify needs and results of specialist team projects. One “TAg” team type effort in Wayne County each year, carried out by regional specialist teams. Work with teams to summarize research accomplished and communicate to board and public. Coordinate with Cornell faculty and specialist teams to have research done in Wayne County. Objective 2 100 community members will learn about invasive species/pests/plant diseases that can impact Wayne County communities/consumers. Educational Strategies Timely alerts and resources that provide information on a current issue will be e-mailed to client contact list. Master Gardener volunteers will provide workshops/presentations in community settings on one issue each year. 2 Evaluation Indicator Number of people reached through direct contact, presentations/workshops. Calls to randomly selected people who received information to determine results and/or implementation of recommendations. Goal B: Increase field research in new crops and methodologies for growing crops not previously grown in WNY. Goal C: Help producers and communities adapt to changes in the environment. Objective 1 Each year 400 farm owners and employees will learn about farm research in the areas of Dairy, Livestock, Field Crops, Vegetables, and Fruit. Each year 400 farm owners and employees will learn about new technology that is available. Each year 50 growers will implement new technology. Educational Strategies Coordinate with Cornell faculty and regional teams to have research done in Wayne County. Work with teams to summarize data and provide results in team newsletters and local papers. Evaluation Indicator Evaluation Indicators will be determined by each specialist team. Feedback from 20 participant phone calls. Work with teams to coordinate twilight or other meetings to have site visits. Help specialist teams recruit research participants. Each year make 20 random phone calls to program participants to survey about practices learned and implemented. Goal D: Education on energy reduction, alternative energy solutions, recycling and home composting to improve soil structure, drainage, and water-holding capacity. Objective 1 Each year 50 people will learn about ways to implement recycling and composting procedures. Educational Strategies CCE educators work with MG volunteers to provide community workshops/demos and/or presentations at 3 community/school garden sites and information to consumers while working the hotline. Evaluation Indicator Pre and post workshop surveys. Objective 2 Educational Strategies Evaluation Indicator Engage community in general energy action. One article per month in “Inside CCE” regarding energy solutions. Report on number of phone calls to CCE office and use of web page information on energy. 3 Ten random phone calls to participants to evaluate composting success/how compost was used.