Crops Agronomic research and farming methods promoting water conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation
Eastern Region
Washington
County
(Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick)
- Food and Agriculture
- In the field
Primary Topic:
Food and Agriculture
Other Topics:
Natural Resources and Sustainability
Lead Mentor:
Sally Jones-Diamond
Extension Crop Production Specialist/CSU Director Crops Testing
Internship Overview:
The intern will assist the Director, Field Agronomist and Research Associate of CSU’s Crops Testing Program in eastern Colorado with various and multiple duties that will provide the student with training and knowledge of traditional and new farming practices that are being developed to enhance water conservation, carbon sequestering, and crop yield increase, with an emphasis on wheat variety trials and production.
The program will allow the student opportunities to collect field data, participate in many aspects of commercial crop production, learn and research cropping systems that protect our soils on the High Plains, one of the most valuable farming regions in the United States.
Eastern Colorado (Akron) is home to the USDA, Agricultural Research Station where the student will be able to work will water conservation experts, agricultural scientists, and be a part of the valuable research important to our nation’s food supply.
In addition, the student will get hands on experience collecting data in the field, collaborating with farmers, and working with experienced agronomists, and crop production specialists.
The program will allow the student opportunities to collect field data, participate in many aspects of commercial crop production, learn and research cropping systems that protect our soils on the High Plains, one of the most valuable farming regions in the United States.
Eastern Colorado (Akron) is home to the USDA, Agricultural Research Station where the student will be able to work will water conservation experts, agricultural scientists, and be a part of the valuable research important to our nation’s food supply.
In addition, the student will get hands on experience collecting data in the field, collaborating with farmers, and working with experienced agronomists, and crop production specialists.
Goals, Scope and Objectives:
Goals: Gain knowledge of cropping systems in eastern Colorado, with an emphasis on wheat variety trials. Learn agronomic skills such as soil types, tillage practices, crop pests, crop diseases. Learn procedures of field data collection, Teamwork participation and growth. (there will be some independent work as well).
Scope: The wheat variety trials will provide the student with the most field and data collection methods, however, the student will participate in field work for all our crops that we will planting and harvesting, as well as data collection for all the crops. This will increase their knowledge of local farming practices and our research methods and goals. These crops include wheat, dryland and irrigated corn, grain and forage sorghum, cowpeas, dry beans, and sunflowers.
Objective: Provide the intern with measurable and marketable life and work skills.
Scope: The wheat variety trials will provide the student with the most field and data collection methods, however, the student will participate in field work for all our crops that we will planting and harvesting, as well as data collection for all the crops. This will increase their knowledge of local farming practices and our research methods and goals. These crops include wheat, dryland and irrigated corn, grain and forage sorghum, cowpeas, dry beans, and sunflowers.
Objective: Provide the intern with measurable and marketable life and work skills.
With which stakeholder group(s) will the intern work?
CSU Crops Testing staff (director, field agronomist, research associate)
Collaborative farmers
Community members
USDA research personnel, as available
Collaborative farmers
Community members
USDA research personnel, as available
What student learning outcomes do you anticipate and what are the opportunities for professional development?
Learning Outcomes: Research skills and the service their research provides to the community and university. Deeper knowledge of agriculture and the future goals of researchers and farmers, Natural resource conservation and sustainability. Commercial crop production methods and application.
Professional Development: Goal setting and data collection. Attention to detail. Problem solving. Communicating results. Critical thinking. Project management. Organization and planning.
Professional Development: Goal setting and data collection. Attention to detail. Problem solving. Communicating results. Critical thinking. Project management. Organization and planning.
