Lessons from the Amish

Lots of empty offices here at NAL this week. Their regular occupants have traveled a few hundred miles to the northwest to join other ag info professionals at the annual USAIN Conference in Wooster, Ohio.

I got curious about what they might be discussing this week, so I took a few minutes to browse the conference program (PDF | 1.66 MB). Among all the great stuff there on biofuels, GIS data and other technology applications in agriculture, one presentation caught my eye -- this morning's session on sustainable farming titled "Lessons from the Amish."

One of the presenters in that session, Randy James, has written a book, Why Cows Learn Dutch, that packages a few of those lessons in stories mixed with wit, wisdom and colorful portraits of Amish life.

Among the key messages James has taken from the Amish:

• Bigger is not always better. "Economies of scale are real," but the small farm can stay competitive and find success through efficiency, flexibility, adaptability and diversification.
• Low tech can turn a profit. In one detailed example, James found that an Amish farmer can expect to spend $127 per acre of spelt wheat, while a non-Amish farmer's costs will run "well over $200 per acre." That acre might not neccesarily yield more at harvest, but those lower input costs can lead to greater profit.
• Vertical integration is not just for the big guys. Even small farmers can effectively control production, distribution and marketing, and in doing so, can generate income at every step.
• Science and technology are choices. Examine their impact carefully and embrace them cautiously.
• Community matters. Any activity should be evaluated in light of whether it "will add or detract from the strength and continuity of the community."
• Learning never stops. Though most Amish are formally educated only through the eigth grade, they understand that reading opens the door to life-long learning in agriculture, as in anything.

The warmth and intimacy of James' stories also showed how personally involved extension agents can become in the lives of their clientele. James based his book on relationships nurtured over twenty-plus years, working and eating side-by-side with the Amish while helping them get the most out of their fields and livestock. The friendships are geniune, the respect mutual.

Take a journey to Amish country yourself by checking the book out at your local library and giving it a read. You might learn a few lessons about farming, and I'm guessing you'll also learn a few things about life.

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Education on April 29, 2008 EST | Permalink

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One afternoon, I was in the backyard hanging the laundry when an old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home. But when I walked into the house, he followed me, sauntered down the hall and fell asleep in a corner. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back. He resumed his position in the hallway and slept for an hour. This continued for several weeks. Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: "Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap. " The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with ten children - he's trying to catch up on his sleep." I cried from laughter Sorry, if not left a message on Rules.

Submitted by: Melissik on May 2, 2008 04:51 AM

Nature's Wonders on Display

It has been a big week for biological diversity.

Not only did the Svalbard Global Seed Vault open, as mentioned Tuesday, but that same day, the Encylopedia of Life launched its Web site.

I would have mentioned it sooner, but the site proved so popular that it was down quite a bit in the early going -- a good sign, to be sure, but an equally good reason not to send more folks their way.

How popular was the site? A local radio station reported that the site "logged 11.5 million page views in 5 1/2 hours -- and two of those hours were downtime." That's quite impressive for any site, but particularly so for one just catching the light of day.

The Encyclopedia of Life is setting out "to document all species of life on earth." Toward that end, they already have well over a million pages, though all but 30,000 of those provide only minimal descriptions and links.

To really get a sense of what they envision, you're better off touring their exemplar species pages, two dozen pages that have been fully fleshed out and convey the breadth and depth all pages are heading toward. These exemplar pages have been reviewed and endorsed by scientists, so they bear the mark of authority. They also include links to full-text articles from the Biodiversity Heritage Library, and -- a highlight for me -- these pages are sporting some great pics, really amazing, beautiful photos that leave me in awe of both nature and the photographer.

Please check it out. They're seeking feedback and are even eager for your involvement. Starting later this year, the public will be able to contribute text, videos, images, and other information about a species, with the best of this info incorporated into the authenticated pages.

EOL describes itself as "an ambitious, even audacious project." I couldn't agree more. But it's also project worth doing, and one I wager you'll dip into more and more as it grows over the next decade.

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Animals and Education and Plants and Crops on February 29, 2008 EST | Permalink

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Just wanted to say Hello to everyone. Much to read and learn here, I'm sure I will enjoy !

Submitted by: Sensbachtal on March 17, 2008 11:05 AM

Submitted by: SKEETER on March 19, 2008 03:35 PM

Submitted by: Mary Ann on March 20, 2008 01:10 PM

Submitted by: Karl S on March 25, 2008 07:53 AM

Reminder: Riley Lecture and Ag Forum

In case you missed the conference and education entry from earlier this month, I just wanted to remind you that two days from now, Thursday, February 28th, NAL will be co-hosting the Riley Memorial Lecture on "Agriculture: The Fuel for Sustainable Economic Development," as part of the 2008 AIARD Capitol Hill Forum.

The lecture series honors Charles Valentine Riley, a pioneer in the field of entomology who sought to enhance the success of agriculture through new scientific knowledge.

You may still register for this year's lecture. The free event runs from noon til 2:00 and includes a box lunch, guaranteed seating and a copy of the proceedings.

And speaking of proceedings, I also want to mention that you can now catch online the Webcasts, transcripts, and/or PDFs of the plenary sessions, speeches and presentations from last week's Agricultural Outlook Forum. The forum offered a variety of perspectives on "Energizing Rural America in the Global Marketplace."

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Education on February 26, 2008 EST | Permalink

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This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

eXtension Reaches Out

Okay, you've read the headline. Now, I bet you're wondering, "What is 'extension' anyway?"

I'm glad you asked.

Without the capital "X," extension refers to the take-it-to-the-people work going on at the land grant colleges and universities across the country. That is, extension agents exist to get word to farmers, ranchers, consumers, students, families...anyone really...about the latest studies, the newest innovations, the tried-and-true methods that have arisen from the agricultural research at their university and beyond. They are teachers of the practical, instructors of the useful, unbiased evangelizers for making things better.

Need to learn how to trim a horse's hoof? Want to assess your farm's defenses against agroterrorism? What about the warning signs of a stroke?

Extension agents can help with all of these and more.

Like George Washington Carver and the Jesup Wagon, extension agents offer a school on wheels, if not literally anymore, like Carver, at least figuratively, getting the knowledge to where it's needed.

Which brings us nicely to eXtension with the capital "X."

This eXtension is a new Web site that had its official, glorious launch yesterday as part of this year's Agricultural Outlook Forum. The site brings together the knowledgeable with the knowledge-seekers, sharing expertise and solving "real-life problems in real time."

It does so by building "Communities of Practice," virtual spaces on the site that grow thanks to "multi-institutional, multi-state, and multi-disciplinary" input, delivering the "best of the best" information and resources.

So, got an interest in gardens and landscaping, geospatial technologies, fire ants, or dairy cows? They've got a spot for you, along with twelve other topic-specific areas, from personal finance to entrepreneurship in the community, from science for youths to diversity in higher ed.

Those sixteen still missing the mark? Simply contact your local extension agent, or the eXtension Web site folks directly, and let them know. They might just build a resource page just for you -- and two million of your closest friends.

Of course, if those closest friends happen to be avatars, eXtension's got you covered there, too. They're hosting a Virtual State Fair in Second Life today and tomorrow in conjunction with their launch, and after that, you can find them on EduIsland.

And be sure to check back regularly. The eXtension site promises to be a growing, vibrant resource for those who want their DIY work grounded in research. (And who doesn't want that?)

Finally, if you've got a story of how an extension agent helped you, let us know. Think of it as spreading the word and sharing the love.

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Education on February 22, 2008 EST | Permalink

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Computers, Farming and e-Ag

I don't know about you, but I spend a good chunk of my day sitting at a computer. Turns out farmers, ranchers and other producers are doing so more and more as well.

Last month the folks running the extension service at the University of Missouri hosted their twelfth annual conference on computers and farming. Sessions covered topics for experts as well as beginners, addressing subjects as diverse as global positioning systems, digital photography, Web site design, blogs and podcasting, precision agriculture and farm management.

That last topic, an obvious nod to the big business even the smallest farms have become, helps with the numbers, from analyzing the cost of production to calculating profit ratios and estimating the amount of feed needed for a herd. Nothing like a spreadsheet to handle the dollars and cents, right?

Knowing the truth in that, and to make easy work of complex calculations, those same extension folks at Missouri collected around 200 spreadsheets and programs that either they or other farmers developed and set up a Web page to share them. The page comes with the obvious use-at-your-own-risk disclaimers, but even if only 20% of the list proves helpful, it'll deliver tremendous time savings to those whose days are already too short.

Meanwhile, in other corners of the world, a range of organizations are also using the Web to reach farmers and to share improved production methods.

Digital Green has set up an extensive database of agricultural videos in an effort to reach "small and marginal farmers in India." There, with literacy less than 60%, video demonstration works, particularly since their approach emphasizes local relevancy. The recordings "are shown to individuals on laptops, small groups using shared TV and DVD players, and communities through the village cable network."

FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, has long used the Web in its efforts to defeat global hunger, but now, like Digital Green, it is using video to deliver its message. They now have their own channel on YouTube, where, at the moment, you can catch eight different videos detailing their successes and struggles in improving the lives of those living in developing regions.

Also, in an effort to use technology even more effectively, FAO has also established e-agriculture.org, a global project set up to share experiences in using technology to improve agricultural education and farming practices.

And the great thing about e-agriculture? You can contribute. Add to the blog or forum discussions, or just browse their bank of resources.

And be sure to check back often as the site grows. Technology is only going to become more important to farms and farmers everywhere.

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Education and Rural Life on February 05, 2008 EST | Permalink

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More information on precision agriculture can be found through Water Quality Information Center's landing page, Precision Agriculture.

Submitted by: Stuart Gagnon, WQIC on February 6, 2008 09:26 AM

Need Something to Look Forward To?

Struggling with mid-winter doldrums? Feeling professionally stagnant? Looking for a pick-me-up? I have just the thing.

No, I'm not peddling snake oil. And though I believe wholeheartedly in the restorative powers of chocolate, I'm not talking about that either.

The balm I propose challenges the dull mind, lifts the sagging spirit and might even boost a dwindling bank account: attend a conference.

You'll get to network with colleagues, learn new things, travel to exotic locales, and maybe even snag a new job, any of which can get the inspirational juices flowing again.

Later this month, USDA is hosting the two-day Agricultural Outlook Forum, which will be focusing on "Energizing Rural America in the Global Marketplace."

Or if you've got less time to commit, the Riley Memorial Lecture will bring you four compelling speakers (and a boxed lunch) as you spend an afternoon considering the role of agriculture in sustainable economic development.

Of course, since I live and work in the D.C. area -- and both of those are here -- I'm more drawn to Water Down Under in Adelaide, Australia, but since that has nothing to do with my job, I doubt I can convince my boss to pay for it. Instead, I'd better head back to the many lists of conferences my colleagues have pulled together until I find something suitable and inspiring.

We've got plenty to choose from, including events calendars on invasive species, animal welfare, food safety, nutrition, rural issues, and water quality. We've even collected links to events in technology transfer.

I trust you can find something there that'll get you going.

If I've missed anything, please let me know. Or let us all know where you're heading and why. We can all use a little vicarious inspiration. And who knows, maybe some of us will even decide to join you.

Now isn't that something to look forward to?

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Education on February 01, 2008 EST | Permalink

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Cool Stuff for the Agricultural Autodidact

au-to-di-dact (noun):
a self-taught person

Want to be one?

Then head back to school, this time on your own schedule but without papers, tests or even tuition.

Earlier this week the Washington Post carried an enticing piece about colleges and universities making courses and lectures available online. Free. To anyone who wants to tune in.

And we're talking notable schools -- Johns Hopkins, Yale and MIT among them -- not dollar-driven diploma mills.

Many of the courses come by way of the OpenCourseWare Consortium or Connexions, two international efforts to bring high quality educational offerings to the Web. Other universities have teamed up with YouTube or iTunes U to stock lectures within easy reach of their students. Still others are simply reaching out on their own, posting popular courses to their Web sites for students and the public alike.

The best offer full audio or video lectures, in addition to the course outline and links to readings. Such a multimedia approach really takes you into the classroom, even if you're comfortably situated in your recliner six months after the actual class meeting.

Unfortunately, this level of investment remains rare. Instead, most of the semester-long courses give you syllabi, lecture notes and maybe supplementary materials like slides or quizzes. For the internally motivated, these offerings are plentiful, though perhaps a bit challenging to get into. (My suggestion: Find a study buddy or form a group of similarly curious folks. That should go a long way toward simulating the classroom experience.)

Among the best for the agriculturally minded are:

• An array of courses from Tufts University on veterinary topics, nutrition and medicine, and agricultural science and public policy.


• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health courses on a variety of nutrition topics.


• Irrigation engineering from Utah State.


• The University of Washington's Energy, Diet and Weight for those with little or no science background


• Oregon State University's Farming Today for Tomorrow: A Seminar Series Concerning Issues of Sustainable Agriculture


• Five ag courses from the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Or if you can't commit to a semester's worth of classes, check out the following single-serving lectures:

• The Farm Bill: Understanding the Political, Agricultural, and Nutritional Impact, a panel discussion at New York University, November 2007


• Genetic Engineering in Agriculture: Super Plants for the 21st Century, by Robert Goldberg at UCLA


• UC-Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism public lectures, many pertaining to issues of food, farming, nutrition and the environment

(Of course, if you need a grade to feel fulfilled, drop me a line and let me know what you did. I'll be happy to pull out my red pen and score your efforts. Grades generously inflated for your convenience.)

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Education on January 04, 2008 EST | Permalink

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Getting Kids' Hands Dirty

Agricultural education is going uptown.

An Episcopal private school on Manhattan's Upper West Side has added a rooftop greenhouse to its facilities. The garden's fruits, veggies and herbs will yield more than just food though. It will give the students hands-on opportunities to learn where food comes from and the work needed to take something from seed to plate.

This school joins perhaps one of the nation's best known prep schools, Phillips Exeter Academy, in choosing to bring agricultural education to the urban set. And the two are part of a larger trend that seems to be gaining momentum, as elementary and high schools across the country are adding garden plots next to their sports fields.

And why not? In practice agriculture connects so many traditional academic fields -- science, math, economics, nutrition, politics, history -- that it's loaded with educational entry points. It also encourages teamwork and cooperation.

The National FFA Organization has tried to send that message for years, but I'm guessing the explosion of organic grocery stores -- and the green movement behind them -- has done more to get the message across than the FFA's blue-jacketed ambassadors.

Nevertheless, FFA and the rest of Team AgEd have got to be happy. With FFA in less than 19% of U.S. schools, and only 4% of the rest offering some kind of formal ag education, anything that suggests a bump in these numbers must spark optimism. (And when that bump comes from the cities, even better.)

But I guess we'll have to see how things develop. Will school gardens catch on as living labs for a range of subjects? Or will funding issues, teacher shortages or curricular reforms cut short this get-your-hands-dirty, know-where-your-food-comes-from movement?

What are your thoughts? Are we seeing the latest fad or a real, lasting change?

Consider your answer as you learn more about school gardens through the Library of Congress' extensive feature on the subject. Or check out the National Agricultural Library for more on agricultural education in general.

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Education on November 26, 2007 EST | Permalink

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Growing New Farmers and Ag Professionals

Here's an innovative lesson in fundraising with an agricultural twist.

Minnesota West Community and Technical College in the city of Worthington (pop. 11,000, give or take a few) is tucked away in the state's southwest corner, closer to the Iowa and South Dakota borders than its own capital. Surrounded by the fertile prairie of the Great Plains, the area holds tightly to its agricultural roots, and the school has been a part of that, offering multiple programs in agriculture and related fields.

Wanting to support the growing number of students entering their ag and biotech programs, the school looked close by for a solution and found it blowing in the wind.

Their new Grain Exchange program allows farmers to donate grain instead of cash to the school's foundation simply by taking it to their local grain elevator and designating the donation amount. The money gained from the grain's sale will go toward scholarships at the school's five campuses, with the first awards expected to be handed out next fall.

This new program -- a stroke of genius, if you ask me -- gives farmers the opportunity to help the next crop of students, most from their own community, to support and sustain the field of agriculture, and to gain tax advantages along the way, all without detouring from their normal route to market.

Like I said, it's genius.

It also ties in well to the big focus on agricultural education that happens each year at this time at the National FFA Convention. Next week (October 24-27) students, educators and supporters from across the country will gather in Indianapolis to attend workshops, network, browse exhibits and have fun, all within the context of agriculture.

They expect over 50,000 attendees, but if you can't make it, check out the resources the Library has pulled together on agricultural education. We point you to some of the best stuff on the Web, whether for children, collegians, educators or trainers. (If we've missed anything, please let us know. We're always on the lookout for quality educational sites.)

And if you will be at FFA, stop by booth 7066-1 and say "hello" to my NAL colleagues. They'd be thrilled to see you.

Posted by Mary Ann Leonard

Added to Education on October 16, 2007 EST | Permalink

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This is a wonderful blogospher and topic of "Growing New Farmers and Ag Professionals". I was wondering if there are any slides or literature to show the 1930s and 40s dust bowl. How soon we forget when we see the stocks start to tumble and fuel prices raise what this means to us long term. We have a great growing supply-chain starting with our food collection processes in this country – our abundance of Migrant Farm workers. We seem to forget that today, our reliance on "Illegal Migrant Farm Workers"? is paramount to getting our crops out and to our markets. Yet, we are nearing slave owners principals when we are reluctant to pay fairly or provide safety and core work environments and human ethics in the Farming Businesses. A case to review in our modern times will be to watch the news and see if we hear anything concerning the workers who will not leave the crop-fields for fear of loosing the jobs – this due in part to no job security and greed of the establishments telling them to stay if you value the job. These workers are living in the USA under the radar and live in the burned areas with their families and neighbors – Some Thanksgiving for a job well done. How about we (US farmers, gov) help to get them legal, pay them minimum wage and educate them. Do we fear they will not want to work there for free then? Aren’t there a number of workers ready to come here in their place? Couldn’t we do this on a yearly rotation – Someone needs to pay the social services these families are going to use. My thoughts are the government is doing both of the paying jobs and maybe this needs a simple look at a grass-roots level. Workers from the olden days had to move west to find farm work and had a voice as American citizens – These workers do not. I only hope we can train new farmers and professional to conduct the entire business without getting greedy. Sometimes the workers are what makes or breaks the bottom line and loyalty is still real.

Submitted by: Tim on October 26, 2007 04:51 PM

Submitted by: Mary Ann on October 26, 2007 05:27 PM