NFREC Quincy Marianna Suwannee Valley

NFREC Listening Sessions Center Advisory Committees 1. What NFREC is known for 2. NFREC’s clientele 3. Major issues/programs over the next 5 to 10 years 4. Do less of what? 5. Internal factors affecting delivery 6. External factors affecting delivery 7. Measuring success

Advisory Committees Vegetables Environmental Horticulture Beef Cattle/Forages Row Crops Forestry/Natural Resources

What NFREC is Known For Pest management/IPM Vegetable work Crop breeding Beef cattle work Bull test Variety testing Field days/outreach to commodities TSWV work Diagnostic clinic Agronomic crops work

NFREC’s clientele DIRECT County faculty Producers Gov’t agencies Industry reps Consultants INDIRECT Producers Youth Homeowners

Issues/Programs 5 to 10 Years HIGH Water quality/quantity Nutrient BMPs Beef cattle production efficiency Crop breeding Weed Science Pest mgt. (insect and diseases) Economics/marketing/sustainability Systems approaches Forages Land use policies Vegetables Small farms, alternative crops, etc. Row Crops Horticulture RCD-keeping the rural lifestyle MEDIUM TO LOW Some row crops Small grain breeding Swine Industrial forestry Wildflowers/native plants

Do Less of What ? Swine production Small grain breeding-substitute small grain forages Some row crops Industrial forestry Aquaculture

Internal Factors Affecting Delivery Budget Lack of faculty and staff-retirements Slow to adapt to change Lack of marketing Quality of staff (pay issue) Reassigning resources Need critical mass

External Factors Affecting Delivery Legislature/politics US economy Growth and urbanization Demographics of state Lack of well-trained scientists Lack of clientele financial support Salary competition with private sector Special interests Grants sic “mission creep”

Measuring Success Profitability of farms, value of agriculture Viability of rural communities Numbers of farms remaining Adoption of practices Participation in programs, e.g. field days Water and air quality measurements Numbers of start-ups in agriculture-related businesses Number of young people coming into agriculture Strength of rural lifestyle and natural resources Health and happiness of clientele

NFREC – Center Faculty Input Mission To develop and deliver technologies and information to sustain and enhance agriculture, natural resources, and the quality of life in northern Florida, the state, and the region

Major Issues in next 5 to 10 years Center faculty input Changes in land use Water issues Regulation Human health Agriculture and natural resource policy changes Environment Sophistication of producers Shift away from some row crops New technologies (bio and info) Consolidation of markets Conservation biology

Priority Issues in Panhandle Region-Regional REC Subcommittee Coastal areas-fisheries, water quality, dunes, tourists Rural and urban community development-growth, financial, other FYS issues, e.g. health Eco and agri tourism Water issues Management of military lands Viable agricultural industries Fewer, larger farms More diversification Agroforestry Production agriculture still strong-many sub-issues listed here Multistate work Teaching programs Staffing Communications