NEERA1000: Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium
Statement of Issues and Justification
Forage-based livestock systems generate nearly two-thirds of the agricultural income in the states of the Northeastern U.S. Much of the agricultural land in the region is best suited for forage production because of soil, site, and climatic limitations. Sustainability of agriculture in the region depends on keeping forage-based livestock systems competitive and profitable while protecting the environment. Because of the increasing costs relative to income associated with harvested forage-based systems, many livestock producers are using more pasture-based systems as a means of reducing expenses. Yet, the technological base of scientists and resource people to support sustainable forage-based livestock systems has decreased across the region. This necessitates coordination among the remaining researchers and educators, and collaboration with livestock producers to develop and implement the technology that will increase the competitiveness and profitability of pasture-based systems in the region.The Northeast research and extension directors approved the concept of developing a Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium in July 1995. A Planning Committee was formed of researchers, educators, and livestock producers. Its recommendations regarding the Consortiums mission, objectives, long-term and short-term goals, membership, leadership structure, and oversight were approved by the directors in February 1996. Nominations for the Consortium membership were solicited from both the private sector (producers and agri-business suppliers) and the public sector (land-grant university research and extension directors, ARS, and NRCS) in July 1996; members were appointed in September 1996; and the Consortium held its first meeting in January 1997. Meetings have been held annually with the fifth meeting in March 2001. Attendance has ranged from 40 to 60 persons. At the last meeting, the private-sector members were strongly supportive of continuing the Consortium.
The mission of the Consortium, as adopted by the membership, is to link livestock graziers and federal, state, land grant, and private research and extension groups into partnerships that will identify, develop, coordinate, and promote pasture research and extension leading to economically, socially, and environmentally sound and sustainable grazing-based livestock production systems for the Northeastern U.S.
Selected accomplishments of the Consortium to-date are summarized in Attachment 1.
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