- enhancing and maintaining the fertility, productivity, and conservation of farmland and ranch soils, ranges, pastures, and wildlife;
- maximizing the efficient and effective use of agricultural inputs;
- protecting or enhancing the quality of water resources; and
- optimizing the use of on-farm and nonrenewable resources"
Through this program, using available staff and resources of Extension in Texas and other partners, of a wide range of learning opportunities will be made available. These will be directed to:
- Provide for the development of sustainable, integrated production systems for agricultural enterprises that enhance profitability and competitiveness, protect the environment, and meet desirable social and cultural demands.
- Contribute to the knowledge base about sustainable agriculture for clientele in agriculture, natural resources, consumer and family sciences, community and economic rural development, and youth development.
- Provide educational and training programs to ensure broad-based understanding between agency personnel and clientelle about sustainable agriculture and associated governmental policies.
- Facilitate forums in cooperation with partners to expand common interests between diverse agricultural producer and consumer constituencies in the State, emphasizing implementation of practices that are both effective and economically feasible.
- Provide a description of the programmatic structure and resources necessary to implement a sustainable agriculture training and education program.
- Strive to maintain a philosophy of being inclusionary, rather than exclusionary, in involving groups and individuals with diverse interests as sustainable agriculture programs are developed.
- Approach sustainable agriculture programs in a multi-disciplinary and multifaceted manner, with inputs from all stakeholders.
- Utilize all appropriate information dissemination techniques, including new distance learning technologies.