AAES- Supporting AAES- Supporting Agriculture and Forestry Agriculture and Forestry

Land Use and ConservationLand Use and Conservation

Dr. Jim BannonDr. Jim Bannon

November 4, 2003November 4, 2003

Survey of Rural Land IssuesSurvey of Rural Land Issues

Respondents want AAES/ACES to do Respondents want AAES/ACES to do more…more…

Promoting conservation of rural landPromoting conservation of rural land Assisting with rural planning projectsAssisting with rural planning projects Improving conventional row-crop agricultureImproving conventional row-crop agriculture

What Motivates the Purchase of What Motivates the Purchase of Rural Land?Rural Land?

Immediate place to live – 73%Immediate place to live – 73% Land Ownership – 62%Land Ownership – 62% Future Retirement Property – 48%Future Retirement Property – 48% Investment for Resale – 43%Investment for Resale – 43% Farming and Livestock – 23%Farming and Livestock – 23% Hunting or other Recreational Purpose – 21%Hunting or other Recreational Purpose – 21% Rental Property – 18%Rental Property – 18% Timber Production – 17%Timber Production – 17%

Similar reasons are given when Similar reasons are given when asked about future rural land asked about future rural land

purchases.purchases.

Should AAES and ACES be doing Should AAES and ACES be doing more, less, or the same work in…more, less, or the same work in…

“Promoting the Conservation of “Promoting the Conservation of Rural Land?”Rural Land?”

65.7% said MORE!65.7% said MORE!

Should ACES & AAES be doing more, less, or the same work in . . .(all respondents)

MoreMore SameSame

promoting the conservation of rural land?promoting the conservation of rural land? 65.7%65.7% 18.3%18.3%

assisting with rural planning projects?assisting with rural planning projects? 63.0%63.0% 18.3%18.3%

improving conventional row-crop agriculture?improving conventional row-crop agriculture? 62.6%62.6% 18.7%18.7%

developing alternative uses for rural land?developing alternative uses for rural land? 55.0%55.0% 16.7%16.7%

assistance with the problems of non-farm, rural assistance with the problems of non-farm, rural residents?residents? 49.6%49.6% 19.1%19.1%

rural economic development?rural economic development? 48.9%48.9% 22.0%22.0%

improving animal production?improving animal production? 45.4%45.4% 31.3%31.3%

Should ACES & AAES be doing more, less, or the same work in . . . (Ratings of Respondents who Earn or Supplement Their Incomes Through Farming or Other Agricultural Activities)

MoreMore SameSame

promoting the conservation of rural land?promoting the conservation of rural land? 53.1%53.1% 24.5%24.5%

assisting with rural planning projects?assisting with rural planning projects? 49.0%49.0% 22.4%22.4%

improving conventional row-crop agriculture?improving conventional row-crop agriculture? 71.4%71.4% 14.3%14.3%

developing alternative uses for rural land?developing alternative uses for rural land? 38.8%38.8% 16.3%16.3%

assistance with the problems of non-farm, rural assistance with the problems of non-farm, rural residents?residents? 34.7%34.7% 20.4%20.4%

rural economic development?rural economic development? 38.8%38.8% 22.4%22.4%

improving animal production?improving animal production? 44.9%44.9% 26.5%26.5%

Is This Sustainable Agriculture?Is This Sustainable Agriculture?

Assisting with Rural Planning? Role of Assisting with Rural Planning? Role of AAES/ACES; Research & Extension AAES/ACES; Research & Extension CentersCenters

Improving Conventional Row-Crop Improving Conventional Row-Crop Agriculture? Conservation tillageAgriculture? Conservation tillage

Developing Alternative Uses for Rural Developing Alternative Uses for Rural Land? Recreational/Agri-tourismLand? Recreational/Agri-tourism

2005? 2010?

Current AAES ResearchCurrent AAES Research

TodayToday Environmental projects have doubledEnvironmental projects have doubled Value added projects have increasedValue added projects have increased Overall, projects have decreasedOverall, projects have decreased

10 years ago10 years ago

Sustainable Education InitiativeSustainable Education Initiative

Planning for AAES FuturePlanning for AAES Future

Strategic PlanStrategic Plan Legislative InitiativesLegislative Initiatives Reinventing E.V. Smith Research Center, Reinventing E.V. Smith Research Center,

Lower Coastal Plains Research Center, Lower Coastal Plains Research Center, and Piedmont Research Unitand Piedmont Research Unit

Marketing Value Added ProductsMarketing Value Added Products

Center for 21Center for 21stst Century Agriculture Century Agriculture

Location: Location: E. V. Smith Research CenterE. V. Smith Research Center Organizations: Organizations: AALGA and ADAIAALGA and ADAI Mission: Mission: Research/Outreach in agricultural Research/Outreach in agricultural

production, processing/marketing systemsproduction, processing/marketing systems Goals: Goals:

High quality, high return productsHigh quality, high return products Local varieties/local freshnessLocal varieties/local freshness Consumer awareness/educationConsumer awareness/education Environmental/Sustainable/Social issuesEnvironmental/Sustainable/Social issues

Wildlife Management for the 21Wildlife Management for the 21stst CenturyCentury

Facility:Facility: Captive Deer Research Center Captive Deer Research Center Location: Location: Piedmont Substation, Camp HillPiedmont Substation, Camp Hill Goals:Goals:

Reproductive successReproductive success Parasites and diseaseParasites and disease Deer herbivoryDeer herbivory GeneticsGenetics Quality Management Quality Management

Milstead Farm Group Milstead Farm Group Cotton GinCotton Gin

Agricultural Waste ManagementAgricultural Waste ManagementResearch UnitResearch Unit

Cotton Gin Trash WindrowsCotton Gin Trash Windrows

Screener/BaggerScreener/Bagger

Lower Coastal Plain SubstationLower Coastal Plain Substation

LCPS DevelopmentLCPS Development

LCPSS DevelopmentLCPSS Development

Question Continues To Be…Question Continues To Be…

““What are the comparative What are the comparative advantages in Alabama?”advantages in Alabama?”

What are Alabama’s comparative What are Alabama’s comparative advantages?advantages?

PoultryPoultry ForestryForestry CatfishCatfish Cotton/PeanutsCotton/Peanuts Turf/OrnamentalsTurf/Ornamentals Beef CattleBeef Cattle Fruit/Nuts/VegetablesFruit/Nuts/Vegetables

Effect of:Effect of: Bioterrorism eventBioterrorism event Strength of dollarStrength of dollar Water resourcesWater resources Crop failureCrop failure Distribution systemDistribution system Local vs. ImportLocal vs. Import Consumer habitsConsumer habits

Alternative Land Uses (Summary)Alternative Land Uses (Summary)

Sustainable Model Sustainable Model Green energy productionGreen energy production Value-added enterprisesValue-added enterprises Recreational land usesRecreational land uses Eco/Agri-TourismEco/Agri-Tourism ““Green” housingGreen” housing NutraceuticalsNutraceuticals Nutrient ManagementNutrient Management