Purdue University

Activities, Deliverables, and Beneficiaries Extension's Mission Is to Deliver Practical, Research-based Information by Providing High-impact Educational Programs That Transform Lives and Livelihoods of Individuals and Communities. We Strive to Be an Educational Partner for Life-long Learning From Youth to Adults. Indiana 4-H Enhances Youth and Leadership Development. Programs and Activities Are for Youth, Adult Volunteers, Families, Farmers and Ranchers, Landowners, Businesses and Organizations, Government Officials, and Communities Across Indiana. Two Strategic Priorities, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (dei), and Commercialization, Guide Extension Activities. Extension Will Cultivate Stakeholder Engagement to Promote a Culture of Dei; Foster a Climate of Belonging Where Individuals Fully Participate, Contribute, and Thrive; and Enhance Innovations, Collaborations, and Synergies Across All Stakeholders. Navigating Difference Is a Cultural Competency Program Providing a Half-day Awareness Workshop and a Three-day Training for Connecting Across Diverse Cultures With Clientele, Co-workers and Community Members. for Commercialization, Extension Will Promote Entrepreneurship and New Business by Strengthening Knowledge, Practices, Products and Markets, and Engaging Partnerships and Collaborations. an Agribusiness Initiative Was Launched With the Indiana Small Business Development Center, Purdue Center for Regional Development, and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) to Provide Business Advising, Training, Referrals, Tools and Resources to Help Businesses Succeed From Startup to Sale or Retirement. Seven New Critical Issues Were Identified to Set Priorities for Extension Programs Across Indiana. in a Statewide Survey, Over 4,000 Stakeholders Shared Input on the Importance of the Critical Issues for Their Communities. Here Are Short-, Intermediate, and Long-term Goals for Each of the Critical Issues and a Selection of Extension Program Examples. Critical Issues With Outcomes 1 - Climate Change, Natural Resources <(>&<)> the Environment, <(>&<)> Sustainable Energy Outcomes: Short-term - Develop Adaptation and Mitigation for Erratic and Extreme Weather. Intermediate - Determine Crop Varieties, Climate-smart Practices and Animal Systems to Conserve Natural Resources and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Long-term - Increase Bioenergy and Biofuels Research and Adoption, and Conservation Practices for Soil, Water, and Natural Resources. Extension Is Collaborating With the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative and Indiana Soybean Alliance to Support Three Joint Agronomist Positions to Help Farmers Adopt Practical Applications to Improve Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture Production. Extension's Conservation Through Community Leadership (CCL) Trains Local Leaders, Government Officials and Staff, Representatives of Ngos, and Residents About Decision-making for Natural Resource Conservation. 2 - Workforce Development Outcomes: Short-term- Support Workers to Obtain Certifications for Agriculture Jobs. Intermediate - Develop Stem Skills and Agricultural Technologies. Long-term - Train Aspiring or Beginning Farmers/ranchers to Ensure Viability of Developing Operations, and Raise Interest in Stem Careers. Purdue Is Partnering With In-mac (indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center) for Resources, Expertise and Networking to Strengthen Workforce Education, Technology Adoption and Manufacturing Research. Extension's Work Ready Trains Youth and Adults About Goal Setting, Responsibility, Accountability, Resumes, Interviewing Skills, Money Management, Marketable Skills, Career Opportunities and Responsible Social Media Usage to Prepare Them for Work. 3 - Positive Youth Development <(>&<)> 4-H Opportunities Outcomes: Short-term - Build Positive Life and Social-emotional Skills for the Next Century. Intermediate - Develop New Skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (stem). Long-term - Encourage Youth to Become Producers of Tomorrow, Develop Skills, Attitudes, and Behaviors Enabling Them to Thrive as Positive, Contributing Members of the Community. Extension's Spark and 4-H Club Programs, Trainings, and Camps Provide Opportunities for Youth, Reaching New Audiences and Communities for Expanded Participation in Positive Youth Development Activities. 4 - Big Data, Internet of Things, Broadband Access, Digital Literacy, Inclusion, <(>&<)> Innovation Outcomes: Short-term - Develop Digital Agriculture Data Science Tools for More Efficient Operations. Intermediate - Advance Agricultural Technologies (e.g., Uavs, Modeling, Sensors, Robotics, Automation, Autonomous). Long-term - Develop and Ensure Digital Parity, Inclusion, and Equity of All Indiana Families, Farms, Rural Households, Businesses and Communities. Extension's Digital Ready Business Advances Small Business Capacity to Strengthen Knowledge and Application of Broadband Strategies, and Digital Ready Community Empowers Communities to Increase Civic Engagement, Trust and Local Government Responsiveness by Leveraging Digital Platforms. 5 - Human, Family, <(>&<)> Community Health Outcomes: Short-term - Support Farmers Dealing With Stress, Encourage Adoption of Positive Health and Quality of Life Behaviors and Practices (strengthen Relationships, Eat Smart, Improve Health, and Achieve Financial Wellness). Intermediate - Help Build Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Communities, Enhance Food Access and Active Living. Long-term - Ensure Policies, Systems, and Environments Support an Enhanced Quality of Life. in Collaboration With Isda and the North Central Region, Extension's Farm Stress Team Offers Resources/programs, Develops Training for Mental Health Providers and Suicide Prevention Call Centers, and Supports Women in Agriculture. Extension's Creating Healthy Communities Is a Multidisciplinary Program for Decision-makers and Local Leaders With Oversight and Management of Community Public Spaces (e.g., Parks Board, Planning Commissioners, Public Officials) and Includes Public Deliberation to Design Action Plans Toward Sustainable Improvements. 6 - Food Production, Security, <(>&<)> Safety Outcomes: Short-term - Address Invasive Species and Integrated Pest, Weed, and Disease Management. Intermediate - Support Agricultural Management, Multidisciplinary Farm Decision Making, Sustainable Pre-harvest and Post-harvest Practices, and Efficient On-farm Production and Off-farm Post-production. Long-term - Strengthen Whole Value Chain, Markets. Integrated Research and Extension Activities on Tar Spot in Corn Help Identify, Monitor and Contain the Emerging Disease. to Combat a Salmonella Outbreak, Extension Is Promoting Food Safety Practices in Vegetable Production. Extension Programs Address Risk Assessments, Commodity Marketing Strategies, Land Leases, Effective Business Ventures, Marketing Strategies, and Business and Succession Plans. 7 - Urban Agriculture <(>&<)> Urban Extension Outcomes: Short-term - Build Skills for Crop/produce and Animal Production and for Preparation of Urban Sites. Intermediate - Strengthen Communities Through Urban Gardens and Farmers Markets. Long-term - Encourage Policy, Systems, and Environmental Changes to Support Collective Impact. in a Recent Needs Assessment Survey of Urban Agriculture Stakeholders, Over 200 Individuals Across Indiana Shared Challenges and Successes, and Extension Is Using Their Input to Build Programs and Resources. Extension's Grass to Garden Brings Residents, Volunteers, Non-profits, Local Officials, and Garden Enthusiasts Together to Learn How to Start a Community-based Garden to Improve Access to Local Food.