Progress 03/15/17 to 03/14/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience during the review period include undergraduates and alumni of CSU Stanislaus, CSU Fresno students, local high school and junior college students, teachers, parents and local agribusinesses. Changes/Problems:The late release of award information/fund at the expected beginning of project affected project timeline and resulted in almost a year setback in project activities. However, a one-year no-cost extenstion has been approved and is expected to enable us to complete project activities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Faculty Research Seminar Seriesoffers faculty development opportunities through ongoing research and research ideas presentations and hosting of guest speakers. It (started as Ideas Forum) was established as a professional development platform for faculty to share ideas about ongoing research, sponsored/funded projects and activities to enhance cross-fertilization of ideas, intellectual capital development and enhance research interest among students. Presented topics include: i) Effects of Biochar on Rice Phenology by Dr. Costanza Zavalloni, CSU Stanislaus. ii) Impact of International Remittances on Out-Farm Labor Migration in Developing Countries: A Dynamic Panel Data Analysis by Dr. Ayuba Seidu, CSU Stanislaus. iii) A Study on Trade Liberalization in Environmental Goods by Dr. Qing-Hua Gong, Post-Doc, China iv) Casting Light on the Unknown: Using Optically Stimulated Luminescence to Date Dune Sediments by Dr. Alison McNally, CSU Stanislaus. v) The Lower Niger Delta Flood Plan Geomorphological Studies: An Introduction by Dr. Augustine Avwunudiogba, CSU Stanislaus. vi) Seed production Technologies in Vegetables by Dr. Daniele Trebbi, Guest - Sygenta vii) Majority's Perception of Minority Groups vis-a-vis Median Housing Values within the San Juan MSA: A Local Variation Approach by Dr. Jose Diaz-Garayua, CSU Stanislaus. viii) Precision Agriculture & Geo-spatial Technology for Smart Farming by Dr. Balaji Sethuramasamyraja, Guest - CSU, Fresno (Scheduled for 3/2/18). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Program activities and results were disseminated widely through outreach events in high schools, junior colleges, local and international events (World Ag Expo, Tulare), and through the program webpage on the university website: https://www.csustan.edu/agriculture/grants/nlgca What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue project activities and events as outlined above.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objectives 1 & 2 have been completed. Objective 3) a) Faculty Research Seminar Series (Started last year as "Ideas Forum") continued as part of faculty development initiative, with on campus presentations by invited speakers who presented their research and on going projects to faculty and students. Presented topics include: i) Effects of Biochar on Rice Phenology by Dr. Costanza Zavalloni, CSU Stanislaus ii) Impact of International Remittances on Out-Farm Labor Migration in Developing Countries: A Dynamic Panel Data Analysis by Dr. Ayuba Seidu, CSU Stanislaus iii) A Study on Trade Liberalization in Environmental Goods by Dr. Qing-Hua Gong, Post-Doc, China iv) Casting Light on the Unknown: Using Optically Stimulated Luminescence to Date Dune Sediments by Dr. Alison McNally, CSU Stanislaus v) Seed production Technologies in Vegetables by Dr. Daniele Trebbi, Syngenta, CA vi) Majority's Perception of Minority Groups vis-a-vis Median Housing Values within the San Juan MSA: A Local Variation Approach by Dr. Jose Diaz-Garayua, CSU Stanislaus vii) Precision Agriculture & Geo-spatial Technology for Smart Farming by Dr. Balaji Sethuramasamyraja, CSU Fresno b) Instructional resources were acquired to support faculty development and student learning. Objective 4) a) The second Summer LEADS camp was successfully completed with project partners, USDA agencies, local agribusinesses and teachers, over a two-week period, from June 12-16 and June 19-23, 2017. 17 high school students and 12 Junior college students participated in the camp with Nine (9) undergraduate students from CSU Stanislaus and CSU Fresno who participated as counselors/presenters. Activities conducted include campus tours, presentation on college life, career opportunities at USDA, information and activities on food safety practices and experiential learning activities such as plant identification, amazing race (scavenger plant hunt), use of technology in agriculture with GPS devices, rainfall simulation, farm-to-table, why nutrition matters, resume preparation, mock interviews and soil profile activity. Other activities include three field trips: Modesto Junior College (MJC) and Merced College. At both institutions, participants were introduced to the 2+2 arrangement CSU Stanislaus Agriculture program has with both institutions as an alternative viable option to achieve their baccalaureate degree college education. Participants were also introduced to the use of drones in agriculture, pressure bomb (measuring approximate water potential of plant tissues), animal handling and management, composting and horticultural practices; and Trip to UC Merced MESA lab, Merced, CA. Participants were introduced to building drones and on-going research projects in the use of drones in data collection for agricultural purposes and emerging trends in use of technology in agricultural production. USDA agencies, Modesto. This trip offered participants an opportunity to explore various careers available to them through federal jobs upon completion of their bachelor degree. Participants were also introduced to several programs and activities the agencies conduct annually to support United State agriculture. Overall, through the project's outreach efforts, over 500 high school juniors and seniors, 300 Junior college students at local schools and over 90 CSU Stanislaus undergraduate students were reached during the review period. About 1500 people (students, parents, advisors and teachers) were also reached via our booth at the Feb 13-15, 2018 World Agriculture Expo in Tulare, California, and other local events as part of the Agriculture Program's outreach effort. b) Seven (7) students participated in the STAR program under the mentorship of faculty at CSU Stanislaus (4) and CSU Fresno (3). STAR students were mentored on survey development, administration, data collection, analysis, report writing and established of an experimental aquaponics system. They also administered and analyzed surveys to alumni, graduating students and camp participants. Objective 5) This is on-going. Training module is being developed.

Publications

Progress 03/15/16 to 03/14/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Audience targeted through our program activities during the current review period include California State University, Stanislaus Undergraduate students and alumni, California State University, Fresno students, local high school students and agriculture teachers, and high school and college age students and parents in the surrounding counties. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1) Establishment of the Ideas Forum at CSU Stanislaus: a professional development platform for faculty to share ideas about ongoing research, sponsored/funded projects and activities to enhance cross-fertilization of ideas, intellectual capital development and pedagogy. 2) On-going - Electronic Instructional manual for high teachers on food science and nutrition activities and promoting healthy eating to students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project results have been disseminated through various outreach events, flyers, department controlled social media site and program webpage on the university website: https://www.csustan.edu/agriculture-studies/2017-leads-summer-program What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue all project activities as outlined above.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Below are the major accomplishments during the current project period: Objective 1) Surveys of alumni, employers and graduating students were conducted and valuable results were gathered. A survey of similar and related agriculture programs across the country was also conducted. Objective 2) Results from the surveys were used in revamping/revising the curriculum for the academic major and minor. The new curriculums have been approved by the university authority and adopted into the university catalog Objective 3) a) A new seminar/colloquium series (Ideas Forum) has been established as a professional development platform for faculty to share ideas about ongoing research, sponsored/funded projects and activities to enhance cross-fertilization of ideas, intellectual capital development and pedagogy. b) Instructional resources were acquired to enhance teaching and students learning and support the new curriculum and courses. Objective 4) a) The summer Leadership Experiences in Agricultural Development and Sciences (LEADS) camp was successfully completed with project partners, USDA agencies, local agribusinesses and teachers, over a two-week period, from June 6-10 and June 13-17, 2016. Seven (7) undergraduate students from CSUS and CSU Fresno participated as councelors/presenters, 17 and 3 high school and Junior college students respectively, participated in the camp. Activities conducted include campus tour, presentation on college life, agriculture commodity future (Predicting the future), use of technology in agriculture with GPS devices, rainfall simulation, farm-to-table, why nutrition matters, resume preparation, mock interviews,career opportunities at USDA, and food safety regulations. Other activities include two field trips: 1) Trip to USDA Agricultural Research Station in Parlier, CA where participants were introduced to ongoing research on insect acoustics, water use management and its impact on the environment; and 2) Modesto Junior College (MJC), where participants were introduced to the use of drones in agriculture, pressure bomb (measuring water potential of plant tissues), animal handling and management, composting and horticultural practices. Overall, through the project's outreach efforts, approximately 447 high school juniors and seniors, 153 Junior college students at local schools and over 90 CSU Stanislaus undergraduate students were reached. About 1500 people (students, parents, advisors and teachers) were also reached via our booth at the World Agriculture Expo in Tulare California as part of the program's outreach effort. b) Seven (7) students participated in the STAR program under the mentorship of faculty at CSU Stanislaus (4) and CSU Fresno (3). STAR students were mentored on survey development, administration, data collection, analysis, report writing and established of an experimental aquaponics system. They also administered and analyzed surveys to alumni, graduating students and camp participants. Objective 5) Ongoing - The training program is being developed into electronic format for online delivery for easy access and use by teachers.

Publications

Progress 03/15/15 to 03/14/16

Outputs
Target Audience:California State University, Stanislaus Undergraduate students and alumni. Local high school agriculture teachers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Project Objective 1 (Research) - Ongoing: a) Exit survey of graduating seniors. b) Agriculture industry employer survey Project Objective 2 (Education) - Ongoing: Based on findings from objective 1, a) review and enhancement of academic curriculum and program;b) Development and/or modification of courses in areas of defificencies; and c) Mentoring activities, programs and initiatives to enhance academic program quality. Project Objective 3 (Education): Professional development activitiesfor faculty to enhance teaching effectiveness. Project Objective 4 (Outreach, Education & Research) - Ongoing:a) 2016 Summer camps high school and junior college students, in addition to implementation of the Student Targeted Agricultural Research (STAR) program b)Activities to strengthen the 2+2+2 arrangement with local community colleges and high schools. Project Objective 5 (Outreach): Training program (Train-the-Trainer) for high school agriculture teachersin 2016.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Project Objective 1 (Research) - Ongoing: An exit and alumni surveys were conducted on graduating seniors and alumni, respectively in Spring 2015. A survey of industry employers/agribusinesses is scheduled for 2016. Also, an outreach coordinator (Admin Support Assistant II) was hired on a part-time basis and will the project to assist in strengthening strategic relationship with area high schools and community colleges in preparation for activities in Objectives 4 & 5 Project Objective 2 (Education) - a) Based on findings from objective 1, the Agricultural studies program has been revised in the following areas: i) Modification of Program Mission and Program learning outcomes ii) Modification of three courses (Professional Development in Agriculture, Planning Issues in Agriculture, Agricultural Property Appraisal); iii) Development of seven (7) new courses (Agricultural Commodity Futures, Leadership and labor issues in Agriculture, Strategic Management in Agriculture, Integrated Pest Management, Tree and fruit crop production and management, Agribusiness entrepreneurship, and, Agricultural policy and regulations). b) Establishment of StanFresh (An on-campus farmers market) that offers experiential learning opportunity to students with faculty supervision in three core courses. Project Objective 3 (Education):Planning is underway. Professional development activitiesfor faculty is scheuled to start in 2016. Project Objective 4 (Outreach, Education & Research) - Ongoing: a) Hiring of outreach coordinator is complete b) Planning for 2016 Summer camps high school and junior college students is in progress, in addition to implementation of the Student Targeted Agricultural Research (STAR) program c)Activities to strengthen the 2+2+2 arrangement with local community colleges and high schools are on-going.

Publications