MISSION STATEMENT AND SCOPE OF PROGRAM

Texas Cooperative Extension and 1890 Cooperative Program have developed working partnerships with diverse agency and constituency groups to disseminate information related to agricultural vitality and consumer health. The strength of these partnerships enables Extension to meet societal needs by integrating a broad range of disciplines and interests in the development of programs. Through these new and continuing partnerships Extension will provide leadership for sustainable agriculture education in Texas. The focus of this effort will include:

• croplands, rangelands, and forest lands; crops, livestock, wildlife, timber and other commodities,
• producers with either large or small operations,
• a broad range of production methods
• marketing commodities in a variety of ways,
• producers with horizontally or vertically diversified operations and those with little or no diversification, and
• farming strategies which lead to sustainable production,
• family and consumer issues.

Working together, we will serve the producers and consumers of Texas by providing information and educational programs, leading to the voluntary adoption of sound and sustainable agriculture practices. In keeping with the spirit of the enabling legislation for this program: the Food Agriculture, and Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, Section XVI, Subtitle B, Chapter 3, this program in Texas will result in the development and delivery of information about specific topics and issues, such as:

• selection of appropriate crops and crop-plant varieties
• crop and/or livestock rotation practices
• crop diversification
• reduced off-farm input purchases
• increased on-farm food/commodity processing and energy generation
• bio-controls as alternatives to agrichemical use
• appropriate use of chemicals
• improved environmental quality
• enhanced quality of soil resources
• improved quality of social/cultural life of the constituency of the state
• soil building practices
• tillage systems
• nutrient management
• cropland, pastureland, forestland, and other land management
• integrated pest management practices
• wildlife habitat protection
• insect, weed, disease and other pest management
• livestock management
• soil-water-energy conservation
• agricultural policy and regulations, and
• other appropriate topics

In general terms for purposes of providing focus to this program and to embody the concepts inherent to this strategic plan, "Sustainable Agriculture" is broadly defined to include all agricultural production systems and practices which are economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable, and which contribute to a better quality of life for agricultural producers and their families and the general public.