Jill Heemstra

Highlights of the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture project

Through the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project, Land-Grant University specialists from across the U.S. have been collaborating in delivering applied, research-based air quality information to those who work with livestock and poultry producers. The AQEAA project developed Air Quality content on the Animal Manure Management eXtension website in collaboration with the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center (LPELC). The Air Quality web content makes widely accessible the educational resources produced by this project for use in developing the knowledge base and skills of professionals who interact [and pre-professionals who plan to interact] with livestock and poultry producers. The online materials include 18 written publications, 3 videos, and 16 recorded webinars (webcasts). Also made accessible are selected research and technology summaries as well as online content produced by other organizations. The AQEAA project also developed the skills of professionals regarding air quality topics via professional development events. Website usage information, participant polls, and stakeholder surveys provided evidence that the resources developed by this project are being utilized and that delivery of the information via eXtension has been an effective means of communicating information on this topic. Webcasts were especially effective in communicating information and providing continuing professional development. AQEAA-sponsored workshops were effective in providing in-depth air quality information and experiences to more than 300 professionals. Collaboration with the LPELC facilitated having a ready eXtension outlet for project materials and is providing continued, sustainable access to online information from this project.

Highlights of the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture Project

Through the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project, Land-Grant University specialists from across the U.S. have been collaborating in delivering applied, research-based air quality information to those who work with livestock and poultry producers. The AQEAA project developed Air Quality content on the Animal Manure Management eXtension website in collaboration with the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center (LPELC). The Air Quality web content makes widely accessible the educational resources produced by this project for use in developing the knowledge base and skills of professionals who interact [and pre-professionals who plan to interact] with livestock and poultry producers. The online materials include 18 written publications, 3 videos, and 16 recorded webinars (webcasts). Also made accessible are selected research and technology summaries as well as online content produced by other organizations. The AQEAA project also developed the skills of professionals regarding air quality topics via professional development events. Website usage information, participant polls, and stakeholder surveys provided evidence that the resources developed by this project are being utilized and that delivery of the information via eXtension has been an effective means of communicating information on this topic. Webcasts were especially effective in communicating information and providing continuing professional development. AQEAA-sponsored workshops were effective in providing in-depth air quality information and experiences to more than 300 professionals. Collaboration with the LPELC facilitated having a ready eXtension outlet for project materials and is providing continued, sustainable access to online information from this project.

Using Webcasts to Highlight Air Quality Research

Eleven web-based seminars addressing air quality topics in animal agriculture have been broadcast to a national audience over the past two years as part of an ongoing USDA NIFA-funded effort referred to as the Air Quality Education for Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project. AQEAA’s goal is that many people will use the science-based resources developed in the project to make well-informed decisions about air quality matters, especially when considering and implementing new practices or policies. The purpose of the webinars is to expose livestock industry stakeholders and air quality policymakers to research expertise in air quality topics of concern. On average, about 100 ‘attendees’ participate in the live broadcasts, with 3-5 times this number accessing the archived webcasts. Webcast attendees are generally ‘multipliers’ who interact with and influence a number of producers. Feedback from attendees indicates that the webinars suit the target audience’s desire for useful information that is readily accessible and fairly easy to understand.

Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center - Connecting with Clientele Using Web 2.0

The Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center has assembled the collective expertise of more that 100 individuals from land grant institutions, EPA’s Ag Center, USDA NRCS and ARS, US Geological Survey, Environmental Defense and other organizations. As of April 2009, the Learning Center has hosted 30 web cast seminars on animal manure management issues for a national audience. Approximately 133 individuals participate in live webcasts and the archived webcasts are accessed over 1100 times each month. The eXtension web site http://www.extension.org (then click on animal manure management) was launched in March 2008 and more than 267,000 page views have occurred in the first year.

National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center

This paper describes a new national learning center designed to improve the delivery of science-based information to non-research customers. The vision of the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center is to provide individuals involved in public policy issues, animal production, and delivery of technical services for confined animal systems with on-demand access to the nation’s best science-based resources that is responsive to priority and emerging environmental issues associated with animal agriculture. This project will test innovative approaches such as a web cast seminar series to connect national experts with those individuals and organizations that influence animal producer decisions on manure management issues. This paper describes the implementation of the innovative approaches used delivery of research based knowledge by the learning center .