Identifying Priorities for Iowa's Future November 2003

Research Support, Administration and Communication $403,000 in FY02 expenditures The Questions Experiment Station researchers work in areas that are both practical and fundamental, short-term and far-reaching. What key questions are researchers addressing for Iowans? How can telecommunications contribute to rural development? $74,000 How can innovative experimental design and statistical methods improve analysis and interpretation of agricultural research data? $157,000 Can the development of new economic analyses better capture the costs and benefits of agricultural research and new technologies? $172,000 Selected Impacts & Extension Research results often improve understanding, help solve practical problems and build to greater discoveries. Here are selected examples of Experiment Station research results and Extension and outreach activities that have impacted Iowans. Education programs and staff training have been developed and delivered to assist entrepreneurship and business management in southwest Iowa. Telecommunications were applied in programs that helped Iowans write business plans as part of entrepreneurial training. Community colleges and other organizations collaborated. Consumer training was developed and put in use by extension specialists and businesses to help rural consumers use the Internet in decision-making. New statistical models provide a better understanding of environmental factors that limit the growth of organisms or populations. The models have proven useful in analyzing data on water quality, wildlife and air pollution. A statistical tool was developed as a guide for fertilizer application rates, to be used with or without information from soil tests. Researchers believe similar approaches can be used to assess the efficiency of using other production inputs. Newly refined statistical methods may provide a clearer picture f data emerging from animal genome research, enhancing the power to detect and evaluate genes of economic importance o the livestock industry. A set of laboratory “auction” experiments was designed to evaluate consumers’ acceptance of genetically modified foods. Research results have provided new insights into public willingness to pay or these foods, the importance of verifiable information in making decisions, opinions on labeling policies and recommendations on tolerance levels for food containing genetic modifications. Economic analyses have advanced understanding of the importance of publicly funded agricultural research to society. Training programs, exhibits and educational programs have been delivered on consumer behaviors and practices. Results on consumer acceptance of genetically modified foods have been used in USDA deliberations on food policy, and discussed at international agricultural biotechnology meetings and national agricultural economics meetings. Results on benefits of publicly funded agricultural research have been made available to federal officials for national agricultural science policy discussions, and to directors of state agricultural experiment stations for use in setting research policy. Partners Many individuals and groups support Experiment Station research and education in ways that go beyond dollars. Here are some samples. Contributors to the student-managed Ag 450 Farm have included Heartland Co-op, Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Garst Seed Co. (seed), Nevada Seed & Feed (feed), Ryerson Implement (farm equipment), and Harvest Partners (classroom equipment). In addition, Pearl Edna Rathman provided support for a computer laboratory. Instructional materials for students have been provided by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa FFA Foundation, Iowa Agricultural Awareness Coalition, Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Governor’s Council on Agricultural Education, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators; and others.

Previous Section Contents Page