AMES, Iowa – Agriculture is important to Iowa. Iowans grow crops and raise livestock that feed our state, nation and global community.
Celebrating the efforts of American agriculture and reminding citizens that agriculture is part of all of us is the focus of 2018 National Ag Day. This year’s theme is “Agriculture: Food For Life” and the day will be celebrated across the country.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is committed to helping farmers grow more sustainable and profitable enterprises through objective, scientific solutions to the issues and opportunities unique to agriculture in Iowa.
“Research that is conducted on campus and by our field specialists helps improve the lives of farmers across the state,” said Jay Harmon, interim director of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach at Iowa State. “This research reaches Iowans through programming conducted by extension specialists and county staff.”
ISU Extension and Outreach saw its impact felt through a variety of avenues in 2017:
- Over 6.7 million people visited ISU Extension and Outreach webpages.
- Specialists made 1,900 presentations at agriculture and natural resources meetings, workshops and field days, coming in contact with more than 195,900 people.
- 68,000 people subscribed to 39 ISU Extension and Outreach agriculture-related newsletters.
- ISU Extension and Outreach Agriculture and Natural Resources specialists wrote 1,200 articles, with more than 1.9 million print publications being distributed and downloaded. Specialists also were interviewed more than 2,900 times for popular press articles.
- Face-to-face connections remained popular, with 7,931 meetings between agriculture and natural resources extension specialists and their clients.
“ISU Extension and Outreach specialists serve their communities and Iowa agriculture by providing timely, relevant information that impacts the lives of those they come in contact with,” Harmon said. “This has always been our mission, and it is what we will continually strive to do.”
ISU Extension and Outreach has resources available for those who work in agriculture or want to learn more about the industry that influences so much of Iowa’s economy and resources. Contact an ISU Extension and Outreach specialist or visit the ISU Extension Store for more information.