One-hundred years ago today, Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act, which allocated funding for outreach activities to expand vocational, agricultural, and home demonstration programs in rural America at Land Grant Universities throughout the United States. Today we know this federal, state and county initiative as Extension.
Minnesota was actually ahead of the rest of the country when it started Extension services in 1909, before the Smith-Lever Act was passed. Today, Minnesota corn farmers continue to benefit from a strong partnership with University of Minnesota Extension.
The U of M’s corn production team conducts valuable research and provides information to help corn farmers increase yields, improve efficiency and protect our land and water resources. Corn farmers looking for insight and guidance on anything from seed selection and pest management to crop rotations and planting decisions should check out Extension’s corn production website.
Minnesota’s corn farmers also support an University Extension position that focuses on water quality, nutrient management and agricultural drainage education. Another faculty position supported by Minnesota corn growers has a 40 percent Extension appointment and focuses on nutrient management.
Many of the more than $4 million in new and ongoing research projects supported by Minnesota corn farmers is conducted by faculty with an Extension appointment at the U of M.
Of course, Extension’s reach goes well beyond corn farming. Last year, more than 700,000 people took part in Extension programming. Extension’s science-based approach delivers research-based information to farmers, landowners and other industries. Two-thirds of Extension’s 800 researchers, educators and staff live and work in rural Minnesota.
Minnesota’s corn farmers appreciate everything Minnesota Extension has done, and continues doing, to improve corn farming and agriculture in Minnesota. Here’s to 100 more years of partnership!
In the below video, Bev Durgan, Dean of Extension at the University of Minnesota, shares more about the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act and Minnesota’s Extension program.