Logic Model Overview:

Cheryl Smith's individual plan of work, administrative time, and interdisciplinary team efforts, and professional development plans. (PENDING REVIEW)

Situation:

Plant Health

Healthy plants are important to everyone, either directly or indirectly. There are few areas where plants do not play an important role, either as a food source, environmental buffer, or as a component of the aesthetic environment. For New Hampshire citizens involved in production agriculture and its support industries, healthy plants are critical to their financial well being. Plant Health is also critical to recreational-based industries such as golf courses and park and recreation areas, as well as to NH tourism. In addition, healthy plants also provide food and shelter for wildlife and help maintain a healthy environment by improving air quality and preventing soil erosion.

Societal expectations and standards demand high quality plants for food consumption and for use in ornamental plantings. Plants that are healthy not only look more appealing; they produce greater yields and have greater nutritional value. The management of plant health problems first requires the proper identification of the problem. Plant health problems, once correctly identified can be managed through the use of cultural methods aimed at prevention or a combination of cultural methods and pesticides when necessary. The effectiveness and safe application of pesticides relies first on the proper identification of the problem and causal agent, then on the selection and proper application of the appropriate pesticide. Thus, the production and maintenance of healthy plants requires knowledge about the diseases, disorders and pests that may adversely affect plant health and the skills to correctly identify and manage the causes of plant health problems.

Ornamental Horticulture

Ornamental horticulture contributes to the economy and environmental quality of the state, where quality of life is of utmost importance to residents and tourists. Horticulture keeps 21,000 acres in agriculture, over 14,000 of which is open space, helping to preserve the state's rural character. The ornamental horticulture industry includes at least 935 businesses in New Hampshire that generate $438 million or more annually in sales and services, according to a recent New England survey. Greenhouse and nursery crops are the fastest growing component of agriculture in this state, having increased by 87% between 1992 and 1997 (USDA Agricultural Census, 1997). Over half the firms identified landscape and tree services as an important part of their business. Over 80% of the income comes from sales and services within the state, making horticulture an integral and important part of the state's economy.

New products, technologies, and growing systems are continually needed in order to sustain the growth and profitability of the industry. Management of nutrients, water, and pests are key components to profitability; as plant size, quality, and time to saleable product are dependent on appropriate nutrition, irrigation and pest control.

Fruit and Vegetable Production

The commercial vegetable industry in New Hampshire is made up of about 313 farms with approximately 3,400 acres of mixed vegetables. The top grossing vegetable commodities are sweet corn, pumpkins, and tomatoes, with many others grown in smaller amounts. The NH commercial small fruit industry is made up of about 203 growers that harvest approximately 543 acres of small fruit. The top grossing small fruit commodities are strawberries, blueberries (highbush and lowbush), and raspberries. The NH commercial tree fruit industry comprises approximately 204 growers that farm approximately 2,650 acres of orchards. The majority of these are apple orchards, but peaches and pears are produced in small amounts. The farm gate value of all commercial vegetable, small fruits, and tree fruits in NH is approximately $23 million dollars. Roughly 95% of the total sales are through pick-your-own, roadside stands and farmers' markets, thus direct marketing is a major focus of educational efforts.

Both ecological and economic sustainability are needed to ensure long-term viability of New Hampshire farms. A short growing season, along with high labor costs and land values make fruit and vegetable production far more costly in NH than in other parts of the U.S. and world. Further, an extremely variable and humid climate means that disease and insect pests are a constant threat to the profitability of NH farms. To compete with west coast and international food producers, NH vegetable and fruit growers must produce unique and high-value products.

To attain ecological and economic sustainability, NH fruit and vegetable growers must 1) make judicious use of farm inputs, 2) minimize crop production costs, 3) maintain high crop quality and yields, and 4) have reliable and consistent markets for their products. UNHCE will provide research-based information on technologies, production practices, and pest management strategies that will increase profitability and minimize ecological impact of fruit and vegetable production. UNHCE will undertake collaborative applied research to develop the needed information where it does not already exist.

Home Horticulture

New Hampshire's population now exceeds 1,288,000. Each year UNHCE receives thousands of requests from New Hampshire citizens for education on a wide range of topics including home gardening (& pest amanagement), wildlife, water quality, household pests, backyard livestock, food preparation and food safety, urban forestry and many other topics. UNHCE has developed a variety of methods to simultaneously meet this need and reduce the burden on staff. Each contact with the general public, homeowners, gardeners and municipalities provides the opportunity to teach people how to make changes to their surroundings that optimize the safe use of their properties while protecting the environment.

From UNHCE state plan:

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension provides New Hampshire residents with research-based information, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions that strengthen youth, families and communities, sustain natural resources, and improve the economy. As a University outreach program, the network of professional Extension staff resides in all 10 New Hampshire counties. County staff work with local volunteers and specialists on the University of New Hampshire (UNH) campus to design and conduct educational programs that meet societal, environmental, and economic needs. While many of our programs are conducted locally, we also use current communication technologies including computer networking, computer-based courseware, phone, web, and interactive video conferencing. As part of the national land-grant university system, we also access the knowledge and expertise of other state land-grant universities throughout the . Cooperative Extension derives its name from the partnership structure that combines federal, state and county funding. This "cooperative" effort ensures all people have local access to a public university and its knowledge and resources to address needs and problems. The University of New Hampshire serves the state as the principle land-grant university charged by Congress to conduct resident instruction, research, and outreach to people beyond the formal classroom. With a total state population 1.3 million people, Extension reaches a quarter of these individuals through educational programs.

National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) and Agricultural Biosecurity

The NPDN is a national network of scientists and professionals from land grant universities, federal agencies, state departments of agriculture, and several plant industries.

The NPDN was established in 2002 to facilitate the rapid detection and accurate diagnosis of pathogens and pests introduced to the United States as a consequence of global trade, natural weather occurrences, or intentional introductions (bioterrorism). The Network is comprised of five regions, Western, Northeast, Great Plains, North Central, and Southern and a National Repository of diagnostics data at Purdue University.  Diagnostic laboratories at Land Grant Universities (LGUs), and at some Agricultural Experiment Stations make up the laboratory membership in each region of the NPDN.

In plant diagnostics, experience is crucial, yet there are hundreds of hosts with thousands of pathogens. No one person can be an expert with all of them. Through the NPDN, diagnosticians are plugged into a network of experience. They are provided with a place to get help as well as a network of people to rely on. This comprehensive network of knowledge and diagnosticians will enhance national agricultural security by facilitating rapid detection and accurate diagnosis of introduced pests and pathogens.

NH people need UNHCE to be ready, willing and able to respond to their needs in critical times. This includes sudden and fast paced events and long term needs. The UNHCE strategic plan states the organization will “develop and implement a plan for rapid response to urgent needs” as a way to advance its responsiveness to the significant critical and emerging issues in a changing society. To develop and implement this plan, each staff member is responsible to prepare for Extension’s role in prevention, preparation, response and recovery for disruptive events. The UNH PLant Diagnostic Lab's membership in the National Pest Diagnostic Network Ideally positions UNHCE in a readiness position to deal with Plant Biosecurity issues.

Stakeholder Input

Personal communication with individuals, associations, firms, county educators and specialists; program evaluations; national biosecurity needs

From UNHCE state plan:
UNH Cooperative Extension’s program plan of work addresses high priority needs in New Hampshire identified through comprehensive statewide needs assessment conducted in 2003 and 2004. Extension advisory councils and stakeholders systematically analyzed data collected and identified the highest priority needs. Select UNH faculty were also actively involved in development of UNH Cooperative Extension’s program plan of work. In 2003 and 2004 over 300 council members, faculty, and other citizens identified local issues, Extension’s role in addressing these issues, and ways to deliver educational programs through listening sessions held in each county by the Associate Director of Extension, on line surveys, and a statewide face-to-face caucus. Listening session and caucus participants received a final report from the Associate Director on issues to be addressed by the plan of work. Staff developed logic models for programs based on stakeholder feedback (see: http://extension.unh.edu/AboutUs/UNHCEPOW.htm).

Assumptions

From Agricultural Resources:

The sustainability of agriculture in NH requires a holistic approach that interfaces production, human resource, economic, and environmental issues, and civic policies. All must be addressed at some level.

County Extension Agricultural Educators will be conversant and responsible for conducing programs in all aspects of agriculture in their respective counties. They will be encouraged and supported to develop one or more specialty areas for state-wide programming, i.e. fruits & vegetables, agronomic crops, holistic farm management, nutrient management, greenhouse production.

Specialists will continue to provide leadership and support in their specialties to county staff. They will provide leadership to both "commodity" and "issue" programming teams.

Growers are interested in learning and implementing plant health management techniques. They want to produce the high quality and healthy plants through practices that have the least impact on the environment.

NPDN:

Risks to agricultural & plant biosecurity from introduced pathogens and pests will continue to be potential threats.

External Factors

From Agricultural Resources:
Funding sources are requesting or requiring the following: an articulated strategic plan/vision, documented impacts and achievements, an understanding of the interconnectedness of the elements in a long term program, and illustrations of grass roots participation in the development and implementation of Cooperative Extension programs.

Plant pathogens & disorders can cause crop losses. Crop loss has a direct negative impact on the profitability of agricultural enterprises. In addition, consumer demands for high quality, blemish free products; increasing public concern over the use of agro-chemcials and potential environmental degradation; potential pesticide resistance and introduction of new pathogens and pests all are concerns relating maintaining plant health. In addition, pesticide applicators need training to receive pesticide recertification credits.

 

NPDN:

UNHCE has legal and moral responsibilities to the people of the state to assist with disruptive events based on our mission

The NPDN's comprehensive network of knowledge and diagnosticians will enhance national agricultural security by facilitating rapid detection and accurate diagnosis of introduced pests and pathogens.  The continued efficacy of the network and it's member labs is contingent upon continued financial and political support.

   Outputs

      Attend Staff Meetings    (Show details)

      Planning and Reporting    (Show details)

      Miscellaneous administrative work    (Show details)

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   Outputs

      Farm/Site Visits - includes kitchen table meetings and private consultations    (Show details)

      Publications & News:fact sheets, news releases, newsletters,web page,TV & Radio Spots    (Show details)

      Research - on farm and university-based    (Show details)

      Twilight Meetings    (Show details)

      Phone Consultations    (Show details)

      Plant Diagnostic Lab    (Show details)

      Pesticide Applicator Training    (Show details)

      Grants - Development and Administration    (Show details)

      Master Gardener Program    (Show details)

      

Educational Workshops

• Single & multi-day educational events such as grower schools, state-wide grazing events, etc.

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Conferences:

• Farm & Forest
• Producer Association Meetings

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   Outputs

      Preparing and Teaching courses    (Show details)

      Department or college administrative functions    (Show details)

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   Outputs

      Professional development    (Show details)

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