Funding Source
Funding provided by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part
of the Strategic Agricultural Initiative Program.
Background
The Lower Rio Grande Valley is one of the fastest growing
regions in the nation and this trend is a blatant reminder of the
crisis facing our agricultural industry as it strives to produce
healthy, low-cost food for our nation while protecting and
conserving our natural resources and environment. Even with this
rapidly growing urban population (more than 10 cities with
populations over 10,000) though, the Lower Rio Grande Valley is
also a leading agricultural area in Texas and produces a cornucopia
of commodities including sugar cane, corn, cotton, grain sorghum,
citrus (orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, lime, tangelo),
cantaloupes, honeydew melons and numerous vegetable crops (cabbage,
onions, carrots, peppers, broccoli). The Arroyo Colorado, which
provides drainage for much of this area, is a primary habitat and
nursery for numerous species of marine fish, shrimp and crab and is
the primary freshwater source for the Lower Laguna Madre, which
supports major fish and bird populations and provide jobs and
recreational opportunities that bring millions of dollars form
tourism and commercial fishing to South Texas. Thus, the
agricultural, economic and environmental health of the Valley is
closely tied to the health of the Arroyo Colorado.
To protect the health of the Arroyo Colorado, the Texas AgriLife
Extension Service proposes to implement an innovative education
program for agricultural producers focusing on integrated farm
management systems (whole system approach). This program,
administered by the Texas Water Resources Institute, will meet
three of the six goals identified by the EPA Region 6 SAI Program.
Extension will host educational meetings and produce educational
materials on the adoption of: proper pesticide application safety
practices; an integrated farm management system approach; and water
quality management plans and cost-share programs to implement
management practices. These programs will be highlighted and
publicized in an IPM newsletter, which will encourage the adoption
of IPM, nutrient, irrigation or production practices. The
agricultural diversity and current water quality issues facing this
area confirms the need for this integrated education program.
Narrative/Workplan
This integrated farm management education program will meet
three of the six goals identified by the Strategic Agricultural
Initiative Program. First, Extension will utilize demonstration
projects, outreach, and education programs to increase the adoption
of reduced risk/IPM practices that provide alternatives to the use
of highly toxic pesticides. Second, through these education
programs, Extension will encourage partnerships between the
producers and local and state government agencies (TSSWCB and local
Soil and Water Conservation Districts) in the implementation of
water quality management plans and best management practices that
utilize reduced risk/IPM practices in the field. Finally,
whole-farm management systems (nutrients, pesticides, water and
production) will be taught and producers will be encouraged to
adopt an integrated farm management approach.
To meet these goals and the specific project objectives,
Extension and the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) will
collaborate on the following tasks (Task 1 and Task 2) over a two
year period.
TWRI will administer the project (subtask 1.1), ensure
responsible use of fiscal resources (subtask 1.2), facilitate
regular communication (subtask 1.3) and maintain an accurate record
of project activities and status and communicate this to EPA Region
6 (subtask 1.4). Extension will utilize its already developed
resources and delivery system to enhance their programs to host
educational meetings and produce educational materials for
producers on the: adoption of proper pesticide application safety
practices (subtask 2.1); adoption of an integrated farm management
system approach including the proper use and implementation of IPM,
nutrient, irrigation and production practices (subtask 2.2); and
adoption of water quality management plans and cost-share programs
to implement management practices (subtask 2.3). Extension will
also produce and distribute an IPM newsletter to encourage the
adoption of practices and educate producers about their integrated
farm management systems (subtask 2.4). Extension will document
project participation at all events and meetings. Selected programs
will have pre and post assessment surveys or knowledge assessment
surveys that will be used to quantify implementation of BMPs or the
intent of the producers to adopt IPM, nutrient, irrigation or
production practices.
Objectives
- Enhance awareness of pesticide related water quality issues
facing the Lower Rio Grande Valley and encourage producers to use
lower risk pesticides in production practices.
- Implement an integrated pest management (IPM) education program
through education programs, newsletters and fact sheets.
- Encourage producers to adopt an integrated farm management
system ('whole system' approach) including pesticide, nutrient,
irrigation and production management practices.
- Develop partnerships between Texas AgriLife Extension and local
Soil and Water Conservation Districts to encourage growers to
implement best management practices and adopt management plans to
protect water quality.
Measures of Success
SAI Program Outcomes to be Achieved:
- Increase the number of growers using reduced risk/IPM tools and
techniques. Estimates of growers impacted by educational
programs will be determined through program surveys.
- Measure qualitative reduction in use of higher risk pesticides
or pesticides in general. Estimates of IPM practices adopted
and thus, reduced use of pesticides, will be determined through
program surveys.
- Encourage partnerships between crop producers, TSSWCB, NRCS and
local Soil and Water Conservation Districts to implement reduced
risk/IPM programs. Success of partnerships will be based on
number of water quality management plans implemented.
- Measure change in level of pest management based on the SAI
Transition Gradient. Extension will provide a post program
estimate of the SAI Transition Gradient within the final
report.
SAI Program Outputs Expected:
- Educational and outreach materials for growers. One fact
sheet and one newsletter will be produced and distributed each
year. Specific details in subtask 2.4.
- Conferences, seminars, and on-site field training. Multiple
education programs addressing benefits and adoption of an
integrated farm management system will be held. Specific details on
programs can be found in subtask 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3.
- Partnerships established between federal and non-federal
programs to provide reduced risk/IPM programs for crop producers.
Success of partnerships will be based on number of water
quality management plans implemented.