Download Extension Principles to Assist in Rangeland Condition Recovery in

“Sharing Knowledge With
Government Programs”
at Expert Meeting on the Contribution
of Agriculture to the State of Climate
Prepared by:
 Bazil Fritz
 Brant Kirychuk
 Esther Kienholz
 Heather Gale
 Mike Hammer
Presented by: E. G. (Ted) O’Brien
National Agroclimate Information Service
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
September 29, 2004
Agriculture and
Agriculture et
Agri-Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada
History of PFRA
The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) was
established by an Act of Parliament in 1935 in response to the
widespread drought, farm abandonment and land degradation of
the 1930’s. It’s role was to:
“…secure the rehabilitation of the drought and soil drifting areas
in the Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and to
develop and promote within those areas, systems of farm
practice, tree culture, water supply, land utilization and land
settlement that will afford greater economic security…”
History of PFRA (cont’d)
PFRA has since been working
with Rural people to help them
meet the challenges presented
by a demanding climate and
an ever-evolving agriculture
industry.
While our programs and
activities have changed over
time to remain relevant to the
current needs of the agricultural
sector, the focus has been
constant – to ensure the
sustainable use of the Canadian
Prairie’s irreplaceable soil and
water resources.
The Role of Communications
Within PFRA
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Communication with agricultural producers and rural prairie
people has been pivotal to the operation of PFRA since it’s
inception
Research scientists with the Dominion Experimental Farms
needed to disseminate research findings to farmers and
ranchers in practical and meaningful ways
PFRA staff spent a great deal of time traveling the Prairies to
meet with the people they served
While the tools and techniques of communication have changed
over the years, communication between PFRA and its primary
clients has remained fundamental to its operations
Objectives of the Paper
The primary objective of this paper is to illustrate
through case examples some of the approaches
used by PFRA to deliver information to agricultural
producers, particularly as it relates to climate, and
producers adaptation to climate.
Extension Keys
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Know your client
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Understand how adults
learn
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Address their needs
Deliver your message
accordingly
Motivate your client to want
to learn and embrace
change
Activity is matched to
desired outcomes
Producers want the bottom line…
“Yes, this is very interesting…
but show me how to make more money”
Develop a “Communications Plan”
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A “Communications
Plan” is a valuable tool
in helping to make best
use of limited resources
It clarifies your
audience, objectives,
message and approach
The plan also addresses
the evaluation of the
communications
program or activities
Choose Your Tools and Techniques
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As illustrated in the following examples, many
communications tools and techniques are available
Selecting the most appropriate ones for a given
situation will depend on several factors
 Nature of the audience
 Resources available
 Type of information
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Several different approaches may be used in
combination
Demonstrations
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Promoted by peers
Extension agent gets field
experience
Can be costly and time
consuming
May not demonstrate what you
hoped
Require dedicated cooperator
Workshops
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Excellent way to provide
detailed information
Can be held any time of
year
Ensure diversity of
presentations
Producers are willing to pay
for well run workshops
Field Days
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Hands on experience
Field proof of theory
Pre-field day visit is essential
Manageable number of
participants
Provide reference material
High level of activity
Needs to be well planned and
publicized
Publications
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Excellent way to provide
detailed information
Can be provided any time
of year
Ensure diversity of
publications
Individual Consultation
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Due to time constraints it is
impossible to work with
each individual producer
Efficiencies must be found
One-on-one consultation
helps the extension agent
keep their field skills sharp
Media
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Build a rapport with media
Make yourself available for
interviews
Have a list of key phrases
describing your project
prepared before an interview
Deliver your message
Are Extension Techniques in Canada
applicable to other countries of the
world?
Extension techniques used in Canada are applicable but
must be adapted to each of the following
circumstances, which are unique for a given area:
1) Social
2) Economic
3) Climate
4) Landuse
Are Extension Techniques in Canada
applicable to other countries of the
world? (cont’d)
Some of the major challenges associated with
extension techniques are:
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Human resources
$$$
Partners
Literacy
Language and translation
Access to computers
Access to electricity
Climate Change Action Fund –
Agricultural Awareness Partnership
Project (AAPP)
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Purpose: Increase awareness of producers and the public
about GHG and agriculture, the management practices that
are, and can be utilized, to reduce net emissions
Partners: Government, conservation and agricultural
organizations
Primary Strategy: Raise awareness of the economic and
environmental benefits of management practices by
promoting sustainable practices that can reduce GHG’s and
provide benefits like clean water, healthy soils and wildlife
habitat
Delivery: Fact Sheets, radio ads, newspaper articles,
expanded Environmental Farm Plan workshop and Project
evaluation
Climate Change Action Fund (cont’d)
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The objectives were to:
 Improved awareness and understanding of agriculture’s
impact on the GHG budget and climate change
 Create a positive attitude within private and public sectors
using practices that reduce energy consumption, reduce
GHG emissions and sequestor carbon.
Reached about 25,000 producers directly and involved mass
media
Clearly a need for further research, more work on information
materials and outreach to the agriculture sector on climate
change
Project was measured to be successful at raising awareness
levels within the agriculture sector
Climate Change Action Fund (cont’d)
Training the Trainers, Workshop, University of Regina
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provided information to professionals in direct contact with
agricultural producers and the general public to build general
awareness, contact with climate change specialists and sources
of information.
To improve upon success it requires a follow up plan
-Use your trainees
-stay in communication with science updates
-include trainees in outreach activities
-have them on your speakers list ie CC SK
AAFC Shelterbelt Centre
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Grows and researches
over 30 species and
varieties of coniferous
and deciduous trees and
shrubs for use in field and
farmyard shelterbelts and
environmental and
conservation plantings
Promotes and distributes
tree and shrub seedlings
in the Prairies and Peace
River, B.C.
AAFC Shelterbelt Centre (cont’d)
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The program is popular,
effective, affordable and
visible
Shelterbelt plantings
protect soils, crops,
buildings, livestock and
wildlife habitat
Is adaptive and mitigative
in response to climate
change
Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation
Diversification Centre (CSIDC)
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A federal/provincial/industry
centre dedicated to
sustainable irrigated
production
Conducts, funds and facilitates
irrigated research,
demonstration, development
and technology transfer
Clients: Irrigation Project
Associations, producers,
commodity groups, industry,
extension groups, etc.
Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation
Diversification Centre (cont’d)
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Benefits include increases in
crop diversification,
production and water use
efficiencies and
environmentally sustainable
irrigation production
practices
Field days, commodity
events, extension meetings
and farm group tours are
essential education and
outreach tools
Greencover Canada Program
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Three year funding program
(2003-2006) which will
expand the area covered by
perennial forage and trees to
promote sustainable land use
practices on rangeland and
environmentally sensitive
areas
Four components
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Land Conversion
Critical Areas Component
Technical Assistance
Shelterbelt
Greencover Canada Program (cont’d)
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Outreach includes hands on
assistance ie to select and plant
forage species on sensitive
lands or native species
establishment and preparation
of technical materials.
Objective is to maximize
benefits to Canadians by:
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Protecting land from wind and
water erosion
Improving water quality
Enhancing biodiversity
Increasing carbon sequestration in
the soil
Conservation Learning Centre (CLC)
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The Conservation Learning Centre is
located in Prince Albert, SK and began
in 1993
Provides opportunity for children to
view various conservation practices first
hand and attend outdoor education
classes
Promotes beneficial management
practices
12,000 children (grades 3 to 11) have
visited the farm through the CLC school
program
Partners: Saskatchewan Agriculture
Food and Rural Revitalization, Ducks
Unlimited Canada, PFRA, Agriculture
Canada Research Branch, University of
Saskatchewan and private industry
Conservation Learning Centre (cont’d)
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Outcome: Provides children
with the information and
education on conservation
practices related to soil,
water, air and biodiversity
to take back to their homes
so that they may carry this
forward into the future and
become good stewards of
the land
Cow-Calf School – Stocking Rate
Calculations
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PFRA range management staff assisted the Western Beef
Development Centre in delivering their 2004 Cow-Calf School
Delivery partners included staff from Saskatchewan
Agriculture Food and Rural Revitalization
Topics covered in the school included:
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Good pasture management
Stocking rate calculations
Livestock production record keeping
New Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program
135 producers attended the one-day long Cow-Calf School at
five different rural locations in Saskatchewan
Outcome: Producers learned a procedure for setting stocking
rates that will help to manage pastures at an optimal level
Browsings Newsletter
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Annual newsletter since 1992
Who is it intended for?
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Focus of articles is to:
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PFRA staff
Provincial staff
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Share information on range management
activities
Address brush control, riparian management,
biodiversity and livestock grazing and species
at risk
Transfer range management principles and
new science
Enhance the “feeling of working on a team”
amongst staff
Outcome: Increased awareness and
understanding of beneficial
management practices (BMP’s) among
Federal and Provincial staff
Rural Water Quality Program
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Applied research projects for
the protection of water
supplies, enhancement of
the water source and
adaptation of innovative
small-scale water treatment
technologies
Funded under the CanadaSaskatchewan Agri-Food
Innovation Fund (AFIF)
Water quality is critical to
agricultural operations and
all aspects of rural life
Clients: Agricultural
producers and other rural
residents of Saskatchewan
Rural Water Quality Program (cont’d)
The Rural Water Quality
program deliberately integrated
science with technology transfer.
 Scientific staff keep communications
efforts targeted toward
general public audience
 Field demonstrations, trade shows and workshops
-Field of Streams interactive display at Saskatchewan
Science Centre (225,000 visitors yearly)
-”Water is Life” publication in every SK school
-macromedia flash video animation – Robocow
Judged by external project evaluators to be a success.
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Drought Watch Website
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Initially developed by PFRA in
1998
Provides timely information on
impacts of climatic variability
on water supply and
agriculture in the Prairies
Promotes practices to reduce
drought vulnerability
Site includes: Maps, climate
profiles, drought management
information, federal drought
response programs and related
information and links
Products are reproducible
Drought Watch Website (cont’d)
Website address http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/
Livestock Producer
Occupation of Users Breakdown
Grain/Oilseed Producer
Specialty Crops Producer
Student
17%
Professor
37%
11%
Researcher
Federal Government
3%
5%
4%
1%
9%
8%
1%
1%
3%
Provincial/State Government
Local Government
Financial Institution
Media
What Do They Come To Us For?
Other (Incl. Agriculture
industry)
Current Climate Conditions
6%
3%
28%
15%
Climate Forecasts/Outlooks
Historic Climate Information
Climate Profiles
12%
15%
21%
Drought Management
Information
Federal Program Information
Farm Stress Information
Articles for Weekly Newspapers
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Series of drought
management articles
written by PFRA staff for
weekly newspapers in the
Prairie region
Articles are downloadable
and reproducible from
website:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/
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Provides agricultural
industry and producers
with timely and practical
information and advice on
how to best cope with
drought conditions
Drought Management Information
Crops
Alternatives to Summer fallow
Cropping Decisions are Tough in a Year of Drought
Drought increases erosion concerns
How to fertilize in a dry year
Emergency Control of Wind Erosion
Is wheat the best crop to grow in a dry year
Producers pipe up about better watering system
Strip Farming for Wind Erosion Control
Suitable Fallow Management helps Preserve Crop Residue
Trapping Snow can Increase Yields
Livestock
Securing Livestock Water During Drought
Shallow Buried Pipelines for Summer Pasture Livestock Watering
Using Cereals for Feed during a Drought
Water
Emergency Water Supply Options During Drought
Tips on dugout water treatment
Start planning now to trap snow moisture later
Watch for Sulphates and Blue-Green Algae in Cattle Water Supplies
Farm Water Conservation During Times of Drought
Farmers Urged to Choose Water Carefully
Dugouts Showing Effects of Drought
Spring Development
Snow Fences: There's water in that wind
Water Wells During Drought
Wells for rural water supplies in Saskatchewan
Seasonal Climate Prediction
Workshops
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Initiated by interested professional
Sponsored by NAIS
Bring CMC scientists and other long range
forecasts experts together with producers and
other professionals
Science update and user needs presentations
dialogue
Fosters understanding and better targeted
products.
Eco-Detective
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A computer game targeted to
prairie landowners, wildlife
enthusiasts, farmers and youth
Developed by Agriculture and AgriFood Canada and Funded by
Interdepartmental Recovery Fund
(IRF) for Canadian Species at Risk
Promotes the message that
“Agriculture and Species at Risk can
co-exist”
Users learn the features of habitats
for each Species at Risk in southern
Saskatchewan and some of the land
management practices that are
beneficial for these species
Website: www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/hawk
International Projects
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Example: Joint project
between the Governments
of Canada and Egypt whose
goal is to develop an
effective and coordinated
national system for
sustainable water resources
management in Egypt
International Projects (cont’d)
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Education and outreach
includes the following
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Workshops
Scientific forums
Training of trainers
Website and internet
Electronic sharing and
exchange of data between
departments and agencies
Facts sheets, scientific papers,
annual reports, extension
meetings and demonstration
sites
PFRA recognizes the value of working with partners to reach
a broader audience and to extend its resource capabilities