A Penn State Cooperative Extension pilot program designed to better serve the educational and informational needs of crop producers and the agronomic industry debuted in a seven-county region this fall. The Capital Region Extension Agronomy Team works with grain and forage crop producers, crop consultants, crop supply and service industries, and others in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York Counties.

"This pilot program is the culmination of more than a year of discussions about how Penn State can best assist this important segment of the state's agricultural industry," says Ted Alter, director of Penn State Cooperative Extension and associate dean of the college. "With the advice and collaboration of our industry partners, we've established a program that could serve as a model for other extension programs around the state."

"With consolidation and other recent changes in the industry, companies no longer have enough personnel in the field to help farmers solve many of today's production problems," says Don Stuff, past president of the Pennsylvania Agronomic Products Council. "That's why it's imperative for cooperative extension and Penn State, with help from industry, to focus their expertise and educational resources on issues affecting growers. We're very pleased with Penn State's response to this critical need."

The regional team consists of four county-based extension agents, each of whom will specialize in certain aspects of agronomy. The team is led by Paul Craig, a Dauphin County-based agent who will focus on forage crops. Del Voight, based in Lebanon County, focuses on integrated pest management and crop protection. John Rowehl, based in Cumberland County, specializes in grain crops. Mark Goodson, based in York County, focuses on soils, nutrient management, and water quality.

"As agricultural technology and the challenges facing producers become more complex, this kind of specialization is needed for extension agents to stay on the cutting edge," says Steven Fales, head of agronomy. "This initiative will strengthen the ties between faculty extension specialists at the University Park campus and the agents in the field, who will participate with faculty on research projects that have practical applications for industry."

Penn State Cooperative Extension's Capital Region was chosen to pilot the program because it encompasses much of the state's most productive agricultural land. The region generates more than $2.5 billion in agricultural receipts annually. "In 1995, the region accounted for 37 percent of Pennsylvania's agricultural production," says Michelle Rodgers, Capital Region director for Penn State Cooperative Extension. "Thirty-eight percent of the state's dairy production and 34 percent of the state's field crop production takes place in these seven counties."

Rodgers says the regional team approach will give producers and the agronomic industry access to more, not less, expertise. "People should not think of this program as taking away their local extension agent," she says. "Rather, they'll be gaining the expertise of three additional agents, who will conduct educational programs and consult on production problems either in person or by using communications technology, such as cellular phones and laptop computers with e-mail, from anywhere in the region. Team members also will have the knowledge to provide specialized training to others who work with growers, such as certified crop advisers, industry sales representatives, and other extension agents."

--Chuck Gill