The Land-Grant System
Marvin Ensor
West Regional Program Director
-Agriculture and Natural Resources
Prior to 1850:
-Higher education was limited to
classical studies at institutions such
as Yale, Harvard, & William and
Mary.
-Agricultural societies were
instrumental in providing public
lectures on agricultural topics
Morrill Act (1862 & 1890):
-Morrill Act (1862) –federal grants were given
to establish and maintain one institution in
each state to teach agriculture, mechanic arts,
and military tactics
-2nd Morrill Act (1890) –increased federal
support and included grants for land-grant
colleges for African Americans.
Prior to the Morrill Act of 1862, higher
education was widely unavailable to many
agricultural or industrial workers.
The Morrill Act was intended to provide a
broad segment of the population with a
practical education that had direct relevance
to their daily lives.
The Hatch Act (1887):
-Created the agricultural experiment station
program in connection with the Land-Grant
institutions. Federal grant funds were made
available to states to each state to establish
the agricultural experiment stations.
Smith-Lever Act (1914):
–established Extension; providing federal
support for land-grant institutions to offer
educational programs that enhanced the
application of useful and practical information
beyond their campuses.
Land-Grant System
Teaching
Texas A&M University
COALS
Research
Extension
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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Agricultural Economics
Ag Leadership, Education & Communications
Animal Science
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Ecosystem Science & Management
Entomology
Horticultural Sciences
Plath Pathology & Microbiology
Poultry Science
Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
Soil & Crop Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M Research and Extension Center –
San Angelo
Research
Resident Director –Dr. John Walker
Ruminant Nutrition –Dr. Travis Whitney
Animal Breeding & Genetics –Dr. Dan Waldron
Wildlife (Quail Research) –Dr. Dale Rollins
Past Positions: Range, Animal Fiber, & Veterinary
Science
Extension
District Extension Administrator –Scott Durham
Sheep and Goat –Dr. Frank Craddock
Agronomy –Dr. David Drake
Wildlife –Dr. Dale Rollins
Range –Morgan Russell (Jan. 2014)
Agriculture Economics –Bill Thompson
Ag Communications –Steve Byrns
State IPM Coordinator –Dr. Charles Allen
Information Technology –Jeffery SoRelle
4-H and Youth –Garry Branham
Better Living for Texas –Barbara Brown
Regional Program Directors –Judy Gully (FCS/4-H) and Marvin Ensor
(Ag/NR/4-H)
Past Positions: Entomology, Beef Cattle, Risk Management
Examples:
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Rambouillet Ram Test
-Performance Index
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Sore Mouth Vaccine and Proper Application
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Dorper-Rambouillet Ewe Comparison
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A Central Ram Performance
Test began in 1960. The
performance index was
developed by Dr. Maurice
Shelton.
Extension specialists and
agents conducted field days
and workshops to educate
ranchers on the benefits of
ram testing and how it can
improve their flock.
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Research resulted in the
development of a
vaccine against
contagious ecthyma
(soremouth) in lambs
and kids.
Extension specialists
and agents educate
ranchers on the
effectiveness of the
vaccine and proper
application methods.
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Performance differences between Dorper and
Rambouillet ewes will provide producers the information
they need to make an informed choice.
Extension specialists and agents educate producers
using the research results.
Current West Region Issues:
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Water
 Drought management
 Land fragmentation & change in land use
 Ag literacy/Ag policy
 Management of native rangeland (invasive brush
species)
 Predator management
 Risk management
 New technology
Boll Weevil Eradication
• Most costly insect pest of cotton still a threat.
• Extension experts play key role in statewide education
and efforts to avert pest damage and resurgence.
• In 2007, reduced yield losses and control costs gave
producers a raise of $247 million in total net returns.
• Related output with ginning, = $320 million impact,
supporting 2,413 jobs
Cotton Root Rot
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Beginning in 2005, AgriLife Extension collaborated with
Southern Rolling Plains cotton producers to evaluate
fungicides in dedicated fields using several application
methods.
Since 2010, AgriLife Extension has hosted more than
7,300 producers across Texas at 110 educational
meetings.
In 2012, flutriafol was used on an estimated 77,000
acres of irrigated cotton and 153,000 acres of dryland
cotton (230,000 total acres). The total net economic
benefit to growers was estimated at $8.5 million.
Livestock and Land Revitalization Program
May 28, 2013
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64 participants
Manage over 54,000 acres
65 percent of evaluation respondents indicated that
they plan to adopt at least one of practices or
technology presented.
Over 50 percent will implement a stocking plan that
allows for greater flexibility as forage conditions
change.
Respondents anticipate a total economic benefit of
$257,501 from their participation in the program.
Follow-up surveys capture actual impacts.
Questions