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CSU Climate Smart Agriculture
Initiatives
Ron Meyer, CSU Extension, Golden Plains Area
Lou Swanson, Vice President for Engagement and
Director of CSU Extension
Kim’s Title:
Climate Smart Agriculture -- haven’t we always
been smart about the climate?
Yes, you have been!
Climate Smart Ag—-haven’t we always been smart
about the climate?
Colorado Wheat Growers and CSU have been working together
for at least half a century.
Together, the Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension
have co-created programs with Wheat Growers that address
drought, plant and insect pests, productivity, soil health,
farming systems, and shifting demands by consumers.
Scott Haley’s research -- But also, Ron Meyer, Raj Khosla, Pete
Peterson, Jerry Johnson, Frank Peairs, Phil Westra and many
others
Office of Engagement Initiative
Colorado Water Institute: Reagan Waskom and Brad
Udall
College of Agriculture Extension Faculty: Raj Khosla
CSU Extension Peaks and Plains Agents and Front
Range Agents
CSU Online: Mike Macklin
 Office of Engagement Initiative in partnership
with:
 Office of the Vice President for Research
 College of Agricultural Sciences
 Scott College of Engineering and the Department of
Atmospheric Sciences
 Warner College of Natural Resources
 Offices of the Provost and President
Some Guiding Principles for CSA Programs:
 Farmers and ranchers lead program development.
 Professional development training for CSU Extension agents
on the science of climate and weather variability
 Farmers and ranchers already are responding to changing
weather patterns
 Farmers and ranchers are long-term stewards of their land
and resources.
 Continuation of collaboration among farmers-ranchers, CSU
Agricultural Experiment Station, and CSU Extension
Quick review of CSU’s Climate Smart
Agriculture initiatives to date.
Extension Listening Sessions
• 4 Listening Sessions
– Pueblo, Akron, Adams County
– Adobe Connect session with Western Region agents
– Total of ~ 30 Agents
• Findings
– Producers and Agents aware of climatic changes
– Great reluctance to tie these changes to human
actions
– Support for CSU Climate-Smart Ag Initiative
– Agents want more information on the science of
weather and climate
Climate-Smart Ag Newsletter
Climate-Smart Ag Conference – May 5
Developing Online CSA Relevant Courses
• Developing Online Climate Change,
weather variability and Ag Courses
• Target: Extension Agents and
Producers
• Format: Short Mini-courses
• Likely Topics
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Climate Change Basics
Climate Change and the Water Cycle
What is Climate Smart Agriculture?
Agricultural GHG Mitigation
Climate Change Myths
Soil Health
Range Management and Climate
Change
– Livestock Health and Climate Change
– Agriculture Risk and Resilience
Other Activities
• CSA Web Page on Engagement
homepage
• Jay Arbuckle (Iowa State) Visit
– Faculty, Extension, State
Government Meetings
• Tom Vilsack Visit to Campus
• Interface with Governor’s Staff
• Participation with USDA Northern
Plains Climate Hub Activities
• Presentations to Western Dairy,
Farm Bureau, Colorado Cattlemen’s
Association, Farm Show, Colorado
Wheat, and others
Online Training for CSU Extension Agents and Public
 CSU Online is a division of the Office of Engagement
 Blending program initiatives within the Office of
Engagement
 Certified Gardner Program – Badging format
 24/7 Asynchronous program delivery for easy access
 CSU Online is a CSU enterprise, receives no funding
from CSU but creates revenue for the colleges by
delivering their degrees and non-credit programs.
Deliver
Delivery - Online Training
Basics of Climate Smart Agriculture
Colorado State University
Climate Smart Agriculture
Digital Badge Program
Reward
The power behind the digital badge…
META DATA
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Recipient | Business Owner
Evidence | Instructor Assessment
Expires | November 30, 2019
Issued Date | November 30, 2016
Version | 1.0
Badge Specific
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Name | Basic of Climate Smart Agriculture
Description | Core Climate Functions
Criteria | Learning Objectives
Issuer
• Origin | Colorado State University Online
• Name | Colorado Water Institute
Reward
Badge Hierarchy Development
• Trek Badges – Building blocks for
Quest badges, and are the most
granular level of badge. They can be
earned individually, or grouped
together to earn a Quest badge.
• Quest Badges – Building blocks for
Mastery badges. They can be earned
individually, or grouped together to
earn a Mastery badge.
• Mastery Badge – Earned upon
completion of all Quest badges
within a program, indicating by
default, completion of all Trek
badges within a program. The
Mastery badge is earned when the
entire program’s curriculum has
been completed
Climate Smart Agriculture
• CSU Online in partnership with the Colorado Water Institute and
CSU Extension is working to develop a non-credit program designed
to serve Extension, state and federal agencies, farmers and the
public on the topic of climate smart agriculture.
Proposed Course Topics
• Climate Change Basics
• Agricultural Findings of 2014 National
Assessment
• What is Climate Smart Agriculture?
• Agricultural Risk and Resiliency
• Implementing Climate Smart Agriculture
• Climate Change and the Water Cycle
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Soil Health
Ecosystem Impacts
Climate Change and Human Health
Range Management and Climate Change
Livestock Health and Climate
US Climate Change Adaptation
State of Colorado Climate Change
Initiative
CSU Extension blends its programs with the other Office of
Engagement Divisions
 CSU Online – Certified Gardner Program is online
in a ‘Badging’ format.
 CSU Extension’s water programs are integrated
with and managed by the Colorado Water Institute
 Climate Smart Agriculture certification programs
CSU Extension
104 years of Engagement and
Outreach to Colorado
Thank You