The Land-Grant System

Marvin Ensor

West Regional Program Director

-Agriculture and Natural Resources

Prior to 1850:-Higher education was limited to classical studies at institutions such as Yale, Harvard, & William and Mary.-Agricultural societies were instrumental in providing public lectures on agricultural topics

Morrill Act (1862 & 1890):-Morrill Act (1862) –federal grants were given to establish and maintain one institution in each state to teach agriculture, mechanic arts, and military tactics-2nd Morrill Act (1890) –increased federal support and included grants for land-grant colleges for African Americans.

Prior to the Morrill Act of 1862, higher education was widely unavailable to many agricultural or industrial workers.

The Morrill Act was intended to provide a broad segment of the population with a practical education that had direct relevance to their daily lives.

The Hatch Act (1887):-Created the agricultural experiment station program in connection with the Land-Grant institutions. Federal grant funds were made available to states to each state to establish the agricultural experiment stations.

Smith-Lever Act (1914):–established Extension; providing federal support for land-grant institutions to offer educational programs that enhanced the application of useful and practical information beyond their campuses.

Land-Grant System

Teaching Texas A&M University

COALS

Research Extension

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Agricultural EconomicsAg Leadership, Education & CommunicationsAnimal ScienceBiological & Agricultural EngineeringEcosystem Science & ManagementEntomologyHorticultural SciencesPlath Pathology & MicrobiologyPoultry ScienceRecreation, Park & Tourism Sciences Soil & Crop SciencesVeterinary MedicineWildlife & Fisheries Sciences

Texas A&M University System

Texas A&M Research and Extension Center –San Angelo

Research

Resident Director –Dr. John Walker

Ruminant Nutrition –Dr. Travis Whitney

Animal Breeding & Genetics –Dr. Dan Waldron

Wildlife (Quail Research) –Dr. Dale Rollins

Past Positions: Range, Animal Fiber, & Veterinary Science

ExtensionDistrict Extension Administrator –Scott Durham

Sheep and Goat –Dr. Frank Craddock

Agronomy –Dr. David Drake

Wildlife –Dr. Dale Rollins

Range –Morgan Russell (Jan. 2014)

Agriculture Economics –Bill Thompson

Ag Communications –Steve Byrns

State IPM Coordinator –Dr. Charles Allen

Information Technology –Jeffery SoRelle

4-H and Youth –Garry Branham

Better Living for Texas –Barbara Brown

Regional Program Directors –Judy Gully (FCS/4-H) and Marvin Ensor (Ag/NR/4-H)

Past Positions: Entomology, Beef Cattle, Risk Management

Examples:Rambouillet Ram Test

-Performance Index

Sore Mouth Vaccine and Proper Application

Dorper-Rambouillet Ewe Comparison

A Central Ram Performance Test began in 1960. The performance index was developed by Dr. Maurice Shelton.

Extension specialists and agents conducted field days and workshops to educate ranchers on the benefits of ram testing and how it can improve their flock.

Research resulted in the development of a vaccine against contagious ecthyma (soremouth) in lambs and kids.

Extension specialists and agents educate ranchers on the effectiveness of the vaccine and proper application methods.

Performance differences between Dorper and Rambouillet ewes will provide producers the information they need to make an informed choice.

Extension specialists and agents educate producers using the research results.

Current West Region Issues:WaterDrought managementLand fragmentation & change in land useAg literacy/Ag policyManagement of native rangeland (invasive brush species)Predator managementRisk managementNew technology

Boll Weevil Eradication• Most costly insect pest of cotton still a threat.

• Extension experts play key role in statewide education and efforts to avert pest damage and resurgence.

• In 2007, reduced yield losses and control costs gave producers a raise of $247 million in total net returns.

• Related output with ginning, = $320 million impact, supporting 2,413 jobs

Cotton Root Rot•Beginning in 2005, AgriLife Extension collaborated with Southern Rolling Plains cotton producers to evaluate fungicides in dedicated fields using several application methods. •Since 2010, AgriLife Extension has hosted more than 7,300 producers across Texas at 110 educational meetings. •In 2012, flutriafol was used on an estimated 77,000 acres of irrigated cotton and 153,000 acres of dryland cotton (230,000 total acres). The total net economic benefit to growers was estimated at $8.5 million.

Livestock and Land Revitalization Program

May 28, 2013•64 participants •Manage over 54,000 acres•65 percent of evaluation respondents indicated that they plan to adopt at least one of practices or technology presented.•Over 50 percent will implement a stocking plan that allows for greater flexibility as forage conditions change.•Respondents anticipate a total economic benefit of $257,501 from their participation in the program.•Follow-up surveys capture actual impacts.

Questions