Texas Water Resources Institute Integrated Farm Management Strategic Ag Initiative Program EPA Cooperative Agreement No.

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1 Texas Water Resources Institute Integrated Farm Management Strategic Ag Initiative Program EPA Cooperative Agreement No. X Quarter no. From 09//09 Through /3/09 I. Abstract Several individuals participated or attended pesticide applicator training courses and crop production meetings this quarter. Additionally, an EQIP workshop for organic production was very successful (over 0 attendees), as shown in the survey results obtained from this event. FSA updates were also given at two events, Sugarcane Field Day and Soybean Field Day. II. Overall Progress and Results by Task Task. Project Coordination: Subtask.: Project Oversight TWRI will provide technical and fiscal oversight to ensure Tasks and Deliverables are acceptable and completed as scheduled and within budget. The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: a. TWRI drafted a survey for training events as stated within task. Survey has been reviewed by Agrilife Extension and was utilized on September 4, 009 for an EQIP Workshop. b. TWRI worked with District Extension to ensure project deliverables (program surveys) were being addressed. While individual surveys and exams do exist, a consistent program survey that could measure impacts of this project does not exist. Therefore, TWRI agreed to develop a survey during this quarter for implementation. This survey is still being developed and should be completed during this quarter. % Complete Subtask.: Fiscal/invoicing The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will submit reimbursement forms per the schedule established/requested. The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: a. An invoice (R07) for the time period of 0//09 thru 08/3/09 was submitted to EPA for $7,878.7 leaving a balance of $0,.47 or % of the budget to be spent. 3% Complete Subtask.3: Regular Meetings - To facilitate good communication between project participants, a quarterly meeting or teleconference will be scheduled and hosted by TWRI. Page of 8

2 The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: a. TWRI held a meeting with AgriLife Extension in Weslaco on October, 009 to discuss project activities to date and the expectations still to be met including the development of a survey tool following education meetings and the development of a fact sheet. % Complete Subtask.4: Quarterly progress reports - TWRI, with the assistance of the project personnel, will submit progress reports to EPA Region quarterly. The Reports will include the status of deliverables for each Objective and Task and a narrative description of activities for each task outlined in this Scope of Work in Progress Report format The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: a. TWRI will submit year, quarter report on December, 009. % Complete Subtask.: Final Report TWRI, with assistance of project personnel, will provide EPA Region with a comprehensive report on the activities during the course of this project. The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: a. Nothing to report at this time. 0% Complete Task. Conducting Integrated Farm Management Education Programs: Subtask.: A joint county Pesticide Applicator Safety Training and Continuing Education Program will be held on a quarterly basis for growers in Cameron, Willacy and Hidalgo County to educate individuals on the following topics: principles of integrated pest management non-chemical alternatives and pest features ground and surface water protection laws and regulations and record keeping cost benefit of IPM pesticide labels endangered species protection Worker Protection Standards and personal protection maintenance and calibration of application equipment pesticide application safety training Page of 8

3 The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: Date Event County Description Attendance Materials Provided /4/09 Pesticide Safety Training CH Topics included: the principles of integrated pest management, nonchemical alternatives, pest features, ground and surface water protection, laws and regulations, pesticide labels, endangered species protection, Worker Protection Standards, record keeping, personal protection, application equipment, calibration and continuing education units. 4 Appendix A % Complete Subtask.: Educational meetings will be held to educate producers on crop production, proper nutrient and irrigation management, soil testing, and integrated pest management practices including the economic benefits of an integrated management approach. Each of the following meetings will be held on an annual basis. cotton production meetings sorghum production meeting sugar cane production meeting citrus production meeting vegetable production meeting A soil testing campaign to promote proper use of fertilizers and nutrient management The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: Date Event County Description Attendance Materials Provided 9/4/09 EQIP Funding CH Information for producers considering 4 Workshop for transitioning to organic production: EQIP Organic funding, Texas Organic Certificiation Appendix A Production Program, cover crops in South Texas, insects and disease management in 0//09 Sugarcane Field Day organic systems, budgeting CHW Mexican Rice Borer research, sugarcane biotechnology research, Kleentek Program, feasibility of soybean/sugarcane rotation, orange rust update, trash burning and permit requests, TDA laws and regulations, pesticide license reminders, CEU s, FSA update 78 Appendix A Page 3 of 8

4 0/8/09 Soybean Field Day CHW Weed control strategies, soybean insect IPM, beneficial insects in soybeans, research in soybean inoculation, feed grain market outlook, integration of soybean production system into RGV crop rotation, pesticide laws and regulations, FSA update, soybean nutrition % Complete 99 Appendix A Subtask.3: Texas AgriLife Extension Service will hold joint county training events (at least per year) to advertise and educate individuals on related programs addressing water quality. Promote cost share programs (39(h), EQIP, etc.) Educate producers or assist local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (as possible) in development of water quality management plans Educate producers on involvement and implementation of the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan and the potential effects The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: a. An update of FSA programs available to producers was provided during the October, 009 Sugarcane Field Day and the October 8, 009 Soybean Field Day. These events are reported under subtask.. b. An EQIP funding workshop was held on September 4, 009. This event is reported under subtask.. An evaluation was also done for this event and is included in Appendix B 0% Complete Subtask.4: Expand the outreach program to include a fact sheet and IPM newsletter (distributed annually and more frequently if needed) addressing the adoption of an integrated farm management system including implementation of IPM practices, production and best management practices to protect water quality, nutrient and irrigation management practices and participation in cost-share programs. The following actions have been completed during this reporting period: c. A newsletter was developed and distributed by on 9/30/09. See Appendix C. 0% Complete Page 4 of 8

5 III. Related Issues/Current Problems and Favorable of Unusual Developments The following education programs are not directly related to agricultural production, but teach the same principles (nutrient management, environmentally sound practices and water quality aspects) on a residential/garden/home yard level to help protect the Arroyo Colorado watershed. Date Event County Description Attendance 9/9/09 Cameron Master Gardener Training on Composting 9/9/09 Cameron Master Gardener Training on Native Plants 0/0/09 Master Gardener Program for Youth C How to make and utilize compost NA C Use of native plants in the landscape NA C Gardening on raised beds, composting, drip irrigation NA Materials Provided IV. Projected Work for Next Quarter TWRI will continue to work with AgriLife Extension to draft pre/post surveys to assess knowledge gained at meetings. Education activities will continue. A fact sheet that will inform soybean producers on proper growing techniques is still in progress and will be completed in the next quarter. Page of 8

6 Appendix A Supplemental materials for selected education programs (e.g. agendas, letters of invite, topics of discussion, etc.) Page of 8

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44 Appendix B Evaluation Results of EQIP Workshop on 9/4/09 Page 44 of 8

45 EQUIP Program Hidalgo County September 4, 009 County Date of Event 4-Sep-009 Event Title EQIP State Goal Targeted Goal 3 (Economic Competitiveness, Viability & Stability) Type of Event Conducted Group educational event How many individuals attended this event? TExAS Plan Number 8003 Page Page 4 of 8

46 TExAS Task Number Overall satisfaction with this activity. Completely Mostly Not at all a. Satisfaction with the information being what you expected to receive. Completely Mostly Somewhat b. Satisfaction with accuracy of the information. Completely Mostly Somewhat c. Satisfaction with the information being easy to understand. Completely Mostly Somewhat Page Page 4 of 8

47 d. Satisfaction with the completeness of the information. Completely Mostly Somewhat e. Satisfaction with the timeliness of the information. Completely Mostly Somewhat Not at all f. Satisfaction with helpfulness of the information in decision about your own situation. Completely Mostly Somewhat g. Satisfaction with relevance of the examples used. Completely Mostly Somewhat Page 3 Page 47 of 8

48 h. Satisfaction with quality of course materials. Completely Mostly Somewhat i. Satisfaction with the instructor's knowledge level. Completely Mostly j. Satisfaction with the instructor's speaking / presentation abilities. Completely Mostly Somewhat k. Satisfaction with the instructor's organization / preparedness. Completely Mostly Somewhat Page 4 Page 48 of 8

49 l. Satisfaction with the instructor's response to student questions. Completely Mostly m. Satisfaction with physical setting's contribution to ease of listening and participation. Completely Mostly Somewhat Slightly Not at all Would additional information on this subject be useful to you? Yes No Do you plan to take any action or make any changes based on the information from this activity? Yes No Not sure Page Page 49 of 8

50 . Reason for not using the information to take action or make changes. Info not applicable or relevant to my situation Need more info or research further before making a decision Just wanted info - no particular plans to implement Something else Not applicable Does Question 7 (About Economic Benefit) Apply to This Event? Yes 7. Do you anticipate benefitting economically as a direct result of what you learned from this Extension activity? Yes No Page Page 0 of 8

51 q a. If no events in the past months, was this your first time as a participant in an Extension educational activity as an adult? Yes No Not applicable Would you recommend this particular activity to others? Yes Would you attend an activity on another subject offered by Extension or otherwise use Extension as a resource? Yes No Page 7 Page of 8

52 . Overall, how valuable to you is the information and program provided by Extension. Extremely Quite Somewhat You are... Female Male Your age Page 8 Page of 8

53 4A. Reside on a farm or ranch Yes No B. Reside in rural area, not a farm or ranch Yes No C. Reside in town under 0,000 persons Yes No D. Reside in town or city between 0,000 and 0,000 persons Yes No E. Reside in town or city between 0,000 and 0,000 persons Yes No Page 9 Page 3 of 8

54 4F. Reside in city over 0,000 persons Yes No Highest level of education. High school graduate or GED Vocational or technical degree Some college Bachelor degree Post-graduate degree(s) Your age. Under or older Race / Ethnicity. Hispanic White Other Page 0 Page 4 of 8

55 Statistics N Mean 7a. (Before) Understandi ng - Knowledge of EQIP Program for organic producers a. (After) Understandi ng - Knowledge of EQIP Program for organic producers a. (Before- After Change in Understandi ng - Level ) Understandi ng - Knowledge of EQIP Program for organic producers a. (Before) Understanding - Knowledge of EQIP Program for organic producers. Excellent Good Fair Poor a. (After) Understanding - Knowledge of EQIP Program for organic producers. Excellent Good Fair Page Page of 8

56 7a. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of EQIP Program for organic producers. Positive movement No change a. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of EQIP Program for organic producers. Positive movement by 3 levels Positive movement by levels Positive movement by level No change a. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level 3) Understanding - Knowledge of EQIP Program for organic producers. Excellent (unchanged) Good (unchanged) Fair -> Good Poor -> Excellent Poor -> Good Poor -> Fair Page Page of 8

57 Statistics N Mean 7b. (Before) Understandi ng - Knowledge of Texas Organic Certification Program b. (After) Understandi ng - Knowledge of Texas Organic Certification Program b. (Before- After Change in Understandi ng - Level ) Understandi ng - Knowledge of Texas Organic Certification Program. 7. 7b. (Before) Understanding - Knowledge of Texas Organic Certification Program. Excellent Good Fair Poor b. (After) Understanding - Knowledge of Texas Organic Certification Program. Excellent Good Fair Page 3 Page 7 of 8

58 7b. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of Texas Organic Certification Program. Positive movement No change b. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of Texas Organic Certification Program. Positive movement by 3 levels Positive movement by levels Positive movement by level No change b. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level 3) Understanding - Knowledge of Texas Organic Certification Program. Excellent (unchanged) Good -> Excellent Good (unchanged) Fair -> Excellent Fair -> Good Fair (unchanged) Poor -> Excellent Poor -> Good Poor -> Fair Page 4 Page 8 of 8

59 Statistics N Mean 7c. (Before) Understandi ng - Knowledge of suitable cover crops for this area. 8. 7c. (After) Understandi ng - Knowledge of suitable cover crops for this area c. (Before- After Change in Understandi ng - Level ) Understandi ng - Knowledge of suitable cover crops for this area c. (Before) Understanding - Knowledge of suitable cover crops for this area. Excellent Good Fair Poor c. (After) Understanding - Knowledge of suitable cover crops for this area. Excellent Good Fair Page Page 9 of 8

60 7c. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of suitable cover crops for this area. Positive movement No change c. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of suitable cover crops for this area. Positive movement by 3 levels Positive movement by levels Positive movement by level No change c. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level 3) Understanding - Knowledge of suitable cover crops for this area. Excellent (unchanged) Good -> Excellent Good (unchanged) Fair -> Excellent Fair -> Good Fair (unchanged) Poor -> Excellent Poor -> Good Poor -> Fair Page Page 0 of 8

61 Statistics N Mean 7d. (Before) Understandi ng - Knowledge of organic pesticides d. (After) Understandi ng - Knowledge of organic pesticides d. (Before- After Change in Understandi ng - Level ) Understandi ng - Knowledge of organic pesticides d. (Before) Understanding - Knowledge of organic pesticides. Excellent Good Fair Poor d. (After) Understanding - Knowledge of organic pesticides. Excellent Good Fair d. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of organic pesticides. Positive movement No change Page 7 Page of 8

62 7d. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of organic pesticides. Positive movement by levels Positive movement by level No change d. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level 3) Understanding - Knowledge of organic pesticides. Excellent (unchanged) Good -> Excellent Good (unchanged) Fair -> Excellent Fair -> Good Fair (unchanged) Poor -> Good Poor -> Fair Statistics N Mean 7e. (Before) Understandi ng - Knowledge of 008 Farm Bill opportunities for producers e. (After) Understandi ng - Knowledge of 008 Farm Bill opportunities for producers e. (Before- After Change in Understandi ng - Level ) Understandi ng - Knowledge of 008 Farm Bill opportunities for producers Page 8 Page of 8

63 7e. (Before) Understanding - Knowledge of 008 Farm Bill opportunities for producers. Excellent Good Fair Poor e. (After) Understanding - Knowledge of 008 Farm Bill opportunities for producers. Excellent Good Fair Poor e. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of 008 Farm Bill opportunities for producers. Positive movement No change Page 9 Page 3 of 8

64 7e. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level ) Understanding - Knowledge of 008 Farm Bill opportunities for producers. Positive movement by 3 levels Positive movement by levels Positive movement by level No change e. (Before-After Change in Understanding - Level 3) Understanding - Knowledge of 008 Farm Bill opportunities for producers. Excellent (unchanged) Good -> Excellent Good (unchanged) Fair -> Excellent Fair -> Good Fair (unchanged) Poor -> Excellent Poor -> Good Poor -> Fair Poor (unchanged) Page 0 Page 4 of 8

65 (PRE) number of Q7 Items at 'Good' or 'Excellent' (out of possible) (POST) number of Q7 Items at 'Good' or 'Excellent' (out of possible) a. Utilize mulches, composts, and/or manures to improve soils. Definitely will not Undecided Probably will Definitely will Already adopted Page Page of 8

66 8b. Implement Rotation plan w/ hi residue crops. Definitely will not Probably will not Undecided Probably will Definitely will Already adopted Not applicable c. Grow seasonal cover crops. Definitely will not Probably will not Undecided Probably will Definitely will Already adopted Not applicable d. Apply for EQIP incentive funds. Definitely will not Probably will not Undecided Probably will Definitely will Not applicable Page Page of 8

67 Appendix C Newsletter Published on 9/30/09 Page 7 of 8

68 October 009 Pest Cast Bringing Insect News to You The Arroyo Colorado Watershed and You Brought to you by: LeeRoy Rock, Extension Agent-IPM 40 East Hwy 83 Weslaco, Texas 789 Tel: (9) 98-8; Fax:(9) 99-39; The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is familiar with the Arroyo as a recreational area where families and fishermen retreat to have fun. The Arroyo Colorado s headwaters begin southwest of the city of Mission and end at its confluence with the Lower Laguna Madre in the northeast portion of Cameron County, stretching about 90 miles in length and encompassing approximately 4,000 acres of land. Of this area, about 0,000 acres are agricultural lands with 90,000 acres of irrigated land within the watershed. The Arroyo Colorado is an important natural resource to the RGV, not only because of its recreational usage but also because of the habitat it provides and the value of it as a drainage system to agricultural and urban communities. Losses of natural habitat, engineered modifications, and human activities have significantly degraded water quality in the stream. From a natural resource and ecological perspective, the Arroyo Colorado is contaminated with many pollutants from many different sources. Pollution, mostly anthropogenic, comes from indirect and direct sources that enter the waterway. For example, storm and irrigation runoff water can contain nutrients from fertilizers; heavy metals, such as lead and mercury; yard or agricultural chemicals; and oils from illegal dumping. When stormwater or irrigation water runs over the land, it picks up pollutants and carries them into the Arroyo Colorado, negatively affecting the stream s aquatic ecosystems. The most visible evidence of water quality problems in the watershed is the periodic occurrence of fish kills, most commonly in the upstream portion of the Tidal segment. The primary cause of these fish kills is low levels of dissolved oxygen within the water. What causes dissolved oxygen to fluctuate from high to low is a combination of factors. When a storm occurs, rainwater runoff carries nutrients from the land to the Arroyo Colorado. In the same way, irrigation runoff from fields can carry nutrients to the Arroyo Colorado. Plants use these nutrients and sunlight to photosynthesize during the day. When excess nutrients are in the water, plants grow rapidly causing massive algal blooms and high dissolved oxygen levels. The die-off of these algal cells at night cause the water body to become depleted in dissolved oxygen as the dead algae consumes the majority of the dissolved oxygen needed for biological life. One way to remedy the dissolved oxygen fluctuations is to install best management practices (BMPs) on your farm. Practicing BMPs can reduce the amount of water runoff from fields and reduce the amount of nutrients that can enter the Arroyo Colorado in runoff. There are multiple cost-share programs available to agricultural producers to install BMPs on your farm. Technical assistance is also available to assess current production practices and management of your resources including water, nutrients, soil, and pesticides. Participation in a cost-share program or adoption of a water quality management plan for your farm will improve production, likely reduce costs, and at the same time protect local water quality. To learn more about these best management practices and cost share programs, contact your Texas AgriLife County Extension Agent or your local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) or the Regional Texas State Soil and Water Board (TSSWCB) office. See contact information below. To read more about the Arroyo Colorado Watershed, visit AgriLife County Extension Agent Contact: Hidalgo County Brad Cowan 9.38 Cameron County Enrique Perez Willacy County Lucas Garcia TSSWCB Contact: Harlingen Office Ronnie Ramirez NRCS Contact: San Benito Center Edinburg Center Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to Page all people 8 of without 8 regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.