I. Current Status

As part of the Agriculture Program 21 (AP21) process, Agriculture Program units prepared a 'unit vision' that described the current status of the unit and identified new initiatives. This vision for Blackland, developed with input from Blackland faculty and staff and from selected cooperators, is a compliment to the "Agriculture Program 21: Identifying Directions for the Future" report of the AP21 Leaders Panel (and the associated "A Framework for Action" document). Other background material used for this plan included the 1998 Goals/Actions for TAES and for Blackland Research Center, the Texas Community Futures Forum, and the TAMUS "Integrative Plan: Promise for a New Century" plan.

A. Program Overview

Blackland staff is divided into the following functional groups:

• Administrative. Support for administrative functions (4.5 FTE).
• Computer. Support for laboratory computer needs (2 FTE).
• Maintenance. Facility maintenance and farming operations (5 FTE).
• BellNET. Development and operation of distant education efforts (3 FTE).
• Scientists. Leaders for research programs. Operating under the guise of Hatch and Regional research projects, 12 scientists direct independent, but integrated, research programs and supervise support staff (ca. 34 FTEs).

Current Blackland research programs focus on crop, hydrologic, and farming system simulation modeling; analyzing the economic and environmental effects of management practices; field cropping systems research; development and application of Geographic Information System (GIS) software; the use of the World Wide Web (WWW) for dissemination of data and information on vegetation health, environmental conditions, demographics and health; and water quality monitoring. Extension programs are directed toward water quality education and applications of simulation models and GIS tools to assess current conditions and reduce production risks. Finally, we develop and deliver distance educational opportunities to our local citizens.

International research applications are a significant part of our program. Examples include development and applications of user-friendly GIS packages for disaster relief and planning in Africa and Latin America by the U.S. Government and international agricultural research centers; the use of simulation models and GIS tools to develop an early-warning livestock system (in cooperation with J. Stuth) in East Africa and to estimate crop yields in China; and, in conjunction with the TAMU Impact Assessment Group, development of tools for evaluating the impact of research, technology, and policies for US AID.

In the fall of 1999, we moved into a new 12,000 square feet office building. Approximately 40% of Blackland staff is located in this facility; the remainder is housed within on-site USDA/ARS facilities. The close, long-term relationship with USDA/ARS, with whom we share space, personnel, land, equipment, and supplies, is a critical aspect of Blackland research and extension programs. We share with USDA/ARS the use of about 500 ac. for field research in Temple.

We are actively involved with students. Over the past five years, we have employed 83 and 41 undergraduate and graduate students, respectively, at Blackland, and Blackland faculty has served on more than 15 graduate committees at TAMU and other universities.

Grant and contract funding averaged about $2.3M per year over the past three years, while hard funding was approximately $1.1M per year. Approximately two-thirds of Blackland employees are fully or partially paid from grant and contract funds. A similar percentage of operating expenses, especially computer hardware, is supplied by grant funds.

B. Nature of Disciplines

Blackland scientists and support staff have training in the disciplines of agricultural economics, agricultural and civil engineering, agronomy, computer science (hardware and software), ecology, environmental physics, geography, plant physiology, soil science, telecommunications, and weed science.

C. Unique Features of the Unit

Blackland is a unique off campus research and extension center for the following reasons:

• We have exceptionally strong linkages/partnerships with numerous external and internal entities, including USDA/ARS, USDA/NRCS, and Texas State Soil Water Conservation Board staff who are co-located at this joint USDA/Agriculture Program facility; a variety of environmental regulatory and action agencies for addressing soil and water quality issues; TAMUS School of Rural Public Health to implement a medical informatics program; research entities at other universities (e.g. TIAER at Tarleton, CARD at Iowa State, and FAPRI at Univ. of Missouri); Spatial Sciences Lab in the Forest Science Dept. at TAMU for cooperative research on remote sensing and spatial analyses; local community colleges, independent school districts, government entities, and a local Texas Education Agency Service Center for distance education opportunities; several other Agriculture Program units (e.g. Amarillo, El Paso, Lubbock, etc.); and the Department of Defense for environmental work at Ft. Hood and for worldwide applications of digital soils data.
• We have research tools that have been used extensively for state, national, and international natural resource and soil conservation analyses.
• We are heavily dependent upon grant and contract funds for salaries and operations and maintenance.

II. Statement of Purpose

A. Vision

The vision of the Blackland faculty and staff is to develop and apply research products and information that improve the lives of Central Texans and citizens in other parts of the state and world.

B. Mission

The mission of Blackland is to be a preeminent agricultural research and extension center in Texas. To achieve this, we will:

• Be responsive to the needs of the citizens of Texas, especially those of Central Texas.
• Produce consistently high quality research products.
• Work synergistically with other parts of the Texas A&M University System, and other government and private agencies.
• Develop and apply technologies that are economically viable, enhance environmental quality, and preserve natural resources.
• Provide for personal and professional development of our employees.

C. Major Visionary Goals (5-10 years)

The major goals of our laboratory over the next 10 years are as follows:

• Maintain the current level of grant and contract funding (ca. $2.3M per year) and increase the level of continuing 'hard' funding to the laboratory to an equal level.
• Increase the number of staff obtaining advanced degrees.
• Increase the number of agencies co-located at Blackland.
• Increase the number of faculty and staff with joint appointments with COALS, TAES, and TAEX.
• Increase the visibility of use of our research products by Extension, state and federal agencies, and private industry.
• Continue to develop cooperative research activities with our co-located partners and with private industry, with special emphasis on Agriculture Program units with whom we have been closely cooperating (e.g. TAMU departments of Agricultural Engineering, Forest Science, Rangeland Ecology and Management, and Soil and Crop Sciences; and off campus centers at Amarillo, El Paso, and San Angelo).

III. Priority Objectives for the Future

A. Teaching

We have an active program utilizing distance education technology. Our teaching objectives support the following visionary goal identified in the "Framework" document:

Education for Tomorrow's Needs. Our teaching objectives include increasing the involvement of Blackland faculty in teaching academic and short courses on the TAMU campus, at local TAMUS universities, and using distance education technology; increasing the number of graduate and undergraduate courses offered in our facility; and increasing the continuing and non-traditional education opportunities for local clientele.

B. Research

Our research objectives build upon our strengths in simulation modeling, database management, field research and monitoring programs, and spatial analyses. Our efforts will support the following goals identified in the "Framework" document:

Realize the Benefits of Science and Technology. As suggested by the AP21 leaders panel, information technologies have great potential for collecting, managing, and analyzing vast amounts of data and for transforming this data into information and organizing it for use in decision making. Blackland faculty has been conducting research to use information technology for applications to remote sensing, weather data systems, genetic databases, health systems, and precision agriculture.

Our expertise in this area has been demonstrated by the following:

• Use of national soils and climate databases in conjunction with a cropping systems simulation model to develop national screening indices for nutrient and pesticide movement from the landscape and to conduct national analyses evaluating economic and environmental effects of farm policies.
• Development of a web-based medical informatics program in conjunction with the TAMUS School of Rural Public Health.
• Copyrighting of a PC-based GIS software package.
• Development and application of national, geo-referenced databases to address national water policy issues.
• Development of improved automated methods for watershed delineation and for soil delineation and definition.

Our future priorities will center on continuing to develop user-friendly model interfaces to allow this technology to be used (e.g. development of software for a web-based, early-warning drought management system, precision agriculture, applications of data mining, etc.), and to develop linkages with external entities for application of our database and spatial analytical expertise.

Enable Texas Agriculture to Thrive in a Global Market. Blackland scientists are leading the development of production system and computer simulation technologies to enhance the competitiveness of Texas agriculture. We have focused on crop and rangeland management, natural resource conservation, and water quality. This combined systems approach helps us better understand how the individual parts of a production system interact and helps farmers and ranchers better manage their resources, in particular water and money, to minimize production risks.

Our expertise in this area has been demonstrated by the following:

• We developed software, using funding from a private agribusiness firm, that enables farm managers and consultants to use a complicated and sophisticated computer model to answer 'what if' questions that assist them in optimizing practices to minimize production risk and maximize profits.
• We developed dryland production practices (e.g. ultra-narrow row, high population cotton and corn) that increase productivity and profits and more efficiently use rainfall.
• We conducted national analyses examining the economic and environmental impacts of farm policy (e.g. conservation programs).

Our future efforts in these areas will focus on:

• Increasing the accuracy and user-friendliness of research tools for use by Agriculture Program staff and external clientele, expanding our analyses of implications of national policy (e.g. land management practices on soil erosion and carbon sequestration, forest clearing impacts on greenhouse gases, etc.), and developing tools that allow on-farm use of data and models (e.g. over the WWW) to facilitate individuals making complicated decisions regarding the rapidly changing and spatially variable conditions affecting their operations and/or program at the regional, state, and national level.
• Through empirical and modeling approaches, identify better practices and strategies that minimize risk and increase profitability of agriculture.
• Fully utilize commercial and TAEX resources to adapt and demonstrate computer decision aids and new production technologies.

Sustain and Enhance Texas' Natural and Environmental Resources. Blackland scientists have been instrumental in conducting research on water and land issues. We have developed and applied science-based information to encourage sound approaches to environmental management. A sample of our activities includes:

Protecting Water Quality. Blackland staff has:

• Conducted simulation modeling to evaluate the effect of management practices on sediment, nutrient, and pesticide loading for rivers and water bodies in Texas and the U.S.
• Collected and analyzed water samples from local water bodies and from field plot experiments.
• Developed a water quality education program.

Regional Focus on Environmental Issues. Blackland faculty has conducted water quality research on the Texas-Mexico border region. This has included simulation of the surface hydrology for the Rio Grande Basin; in conjunction with TAES scientists in El Paso, deelopment of algorithms for modeling water flow and salinity in the Rio Grande; and conducting cooperative research with Mexican scientists to use models and data from Blackland for sorghum and maize yield predictions in Mexico.

Science-Based Information for Environmental Management. Blackland scientists have been instrumental in developing information and delivery systems to assist with environmental management. Examples of this include:

• Cooperating with TAMU faculty in the development of the Global Livestock CRSP-Early Warning System project for Africa and Texas that provides insight to impending droughts and the effects on livestock.
• Modifying a cropping simulation model to quantify the effects of management practices on carbon sequestration in soils and plants.
• Developing significant components of and training on an EPA-approved software package used by state regulatory agencies in the development of water quality improvement plans (TMDLs).
• Conducting field research and simulation modeling studies quantifying water yield increases associated with brush control.
• Cooperating with others to develop a management plan for dairies and municipalities in the Bosque River watershed.

Our future efforts in this area of enhancing environmental and natural resources will focus on:

• Continued improvement of the accuracy and utility of our modeling tools for managing the environment and natural resources.
• Providing assistance to state and federal action agencies as they continue to use these tools to improve and maintain soil and water quality and to sequester carbon in soils through implementation of best management practices.
• Increasing our efforts to apply our data and models to develop quantitative answers for the environmental and economic effects of selected, site-specific management practices on soil and water quality. This will involve the use of modern information technologies to integrate all aspects on a watershed scale.
• Continue to work with A&M and Mexican colleagues to apply our tools for water resource management along the Texas-Mexico border and for model and remote sensing applications in Mexico and Texas.

C. Extension/Service

Our extension activities are directed toward application of our research products (especially simulation models and GIS tools). Our extension objectives will support these goals defined in the "Framework" document:

Realize the Benefits of Science and Technology. Our expertise in this area has been demonstrated by development of a user-friendly, CD-based tool for mapping and querying of spatial data. Future extension efforts in this area will be focused on training TAEX personnel on the use of this tool, developing a WWW-based version of this tool, and supplementing data and analytical capabilities of the tool.

Enable Texas Agriculture to Thrive in a Global Market. We will work closely with TAEX and clientele-user groups to further develop, test, adopt, and implement a production risk management system, capitalizing on developmental work that has been completed.

Educate for Tomorrow's Needs. (see Teaching above).

Build Communities and Strengthen Families.

Emphasizing Community Leadership. Blackland staff has led several workshops, involving numerous segments of the community, that brought about a consensus on various aspects of community needs, including applications of information technology and work force development. Our future extension efforts in this area will be focused on increasing the number of these workshops, while expanding the diversity of participants and topics.

Access to Information Technology. Blackland staff has made great strides to increase the access to information technology by local citizens. We have worked closely with Bell County government to connect local educational entities (school districts, Ft. Hood, Tarleton-Central Texas, community colleges, etc.) to an electronic hub at Blackland and a county-installed fiber optic line that provides them access to videoconferencing and Internet. Our future extension efforts in this area will focus on increasing the number of entities connected to us and others, increasing our interaction with local TAEX County Agents, and increasing the quality and quantity of content available through these technologies.

IV. Quality Criteria and Benchmarks

A. Teaching

Teaching quality will be evaluated by the number of courses offered, number of degrees obtained via distance educational technology by local clientele, and number of courses/lectures offered by our faculty.

B. Research

Research quality will be evaluated by publication/documentation of research results in an appropriate venue, utilization of research products by action agencies and others involved in natural resource management, and acquisition of external funds.

C. Extension/Service

Extension quality will be evaluated by the use of research products by TAEX personnel as reflected by requests for information, demonstration of research products, and number of participants in workshops. The quality of our service will be evaluated by the impacts we have on individuals who utilize our facilities for various activities, and by offices and leadership positions held by our faculty and staff in professional and honor societies.

V. Resource Needs

A. Personnel

Our first objective is to retain and fully support our existing personnel and to ensure they are adequately rewarded for their efforts and are efficient in their work. For new positions, we have assumed existing personnel will remain employed at the lab and assumed ARS staff at Temple will remain at their approximate current level. Our immediate needs for new personnel include:

Faculty.

Modeler. Our first priority is a new Assistant/Associate Professor with a joint TAES/TAEX appointment to serve as Project Leader and be responsible for developing simulation models for quantifying the effects of management practices on agricultural production systems and natural resource systems, with special emphases on developing systems and practices for improving water and soil quality by evaluating nutrient and land management options. This person will provide science-based information to state and federal regulators involved in environmental management, and will work closely with other TAEX staff to provide prescriptive choices to Texas agriculture that will allow them to make better decisions.

GIS. Our next priority is a faculty member that can provide support to the spatial analytical research needs of the laboratory. This new faculty member, working closely with the Spatial Science Laboratory at TAMU, will focus on applications of GIS tools and models to address natural resource issues. This position would be primarily funded by TAES and possibly be joint with other units or agencies.

Extension Specialist/Information Technology. This TAEX specialist will have statewide responsibilities for a program applying modern informatics techniques to agricultural and natural resource issues, and to family and consumer sciences.

Support Staff. To provide support for new laboratory initiatives we will need a core team of support staff that is supported by hard funds in the areas of information technology, computer programming, and database management.

B. Equipment

Additional required equipment includes a new computer server ($20,000); computers, furniture, and accessories for software training ($50,000); upgrades on videoconferencing equipment (monitors, hubs, etc.) to meet research and extension needs ($100,000); and DGPS/GPS crop production equipment for site-specific management research and extension activities ($100,000).

C. Finances

To allow for a stable fiscal environment for these expanded programs, additional hard funds are required to support the increased level of operating expenses and to serve as seed money for multi-disciplinary efforts to apply new technologies. We desire to have a 1:1 match of hard to soft funds.

VI. Opportunities for Collaboration and Partnering

Blackland staff will pursue the following opportunity for partnering:

• Continue and expand joint appointments of faculty with other Agriculture Program units (e.g. selected COALS departments and Agricultural Research and Extension Centers, Crop Biotechnology Center, etc.) and other TAMUS entities (e.g. School of Rural Public Health and Tarleton-Central Texas)
• Expand the number of permanently co-located employees from other state and federal agencies (e.g. USDA/ARS, USDA/NRCS, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board) and pursue additional short- and long-term deployment of personnel from other agencies (e.g. TNRCC, TWDB, EPA, etc.). We also will pursue partnering with these and other entities for sharing salaries of new faculty.
• Actively involve TAEX staff from other units in relevant Blackland extension-related activities at Blackland.
• Continue aggressive efforts to use Agriculture Program facilities (e.g. space, video conferencing equipment, etc.) to 'partner' with local community.
• Continue partnering with local TAMUS entities (e.g. Stephenville and Dallas Research and Extension Centers, Stiles Farm, Tarleton State University, and Tarleton-Central Texas) to provide more efficient and effective services to our local constituents.