Unlocking Farmers’ Conservation Potential: Technical Assistance
by Martha Gerig, PhD
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As technology transforms nearly every aspect of modern life, agriculture, rooted as it is in open skies and the most elemental of building blocks, is no exception. Modern farmers and ranchers face a fast-changing landscape shaped by climate variability, rising input costs, shifting regulations, and evolving market demands. To meet these challenges, a growing set of tools and resources, collectively known as “technical assistance”, has emerged, equipping producers with the knowledge and support they need to adapt and thrive.
Technical assistance (TA) bridges the gap between research and on-the-ground land management with a goal of easing the technology transition. In agriculture, TA is often sourced from expert guidance, training, and technology-based support designed specifically for farmers and land managers, with their unique requirements in mind. For example, Waterborne’s scientists have found success providing TA that meets farmers in their own environments, first through web-based applications that can be accessed while working in the field via smartphones, and later through laptop-based tools that simplify crop health and nutrient use and tracking.
No matter how it is accessed, the goal with all agriculture-focused TA is to provide simple support that meets farmers’ needs, be it as one-on-one consultations about soil health to group workshops on pest management, irrigation efficiency, or technology adoption. This advantage has become critical as...
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Why Should We Care About Land Grant Systems?
by Martha Gerig, PhD
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A few weeks ago, Waterborne shared a news alert with you surrounding the National Academies' release of its report, "Fulfilling the Public Mission of the Land-Grant System.” The report was in direct response to recent challenges to higher education’s role within research. It emphasizes that land-grant institutions were originally intended to gain and apply knowledge to support the public good, particularly in agriculture and other “practical lifeways”. The crux of the challenge is whether or not research, teaching, and extension are of the public’s concern.
The challenges to the Land-Grant System hit home. In recent years, Waterborne has secured funding from state and federal sources to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers across the country. Similarly, we have pursued studies that allow our wide body of expertise to serve agricultural communities worldwide. Many of our recent ventures have, in fact, embodied the three-pillared mission of the land-grant system (research, education, and extension) by providing landowners with the resources to re-envision their farms and ranches as areas where they can implement agricultural best management strategies.
Furthermore, our interdisciplinary team has worked diligently to embody the tenets of the land-grant mandate of engaging with and having a physical presence in our communities. Specifically, our outreach specialists serve as a liaison between our technical experts generating the scientific data and the farmers and ranchers that may benefit. This involves creating trusted...
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| | Oktoberfest: Preserving Beer Means Protecting Our Environment | |
Oktoberfest may be the world’s biggest beer festival, but behind the music and steins lies a remarkable story of science and sustainability. Every year, more than 7 million liters of beer are consumed within 16 days at the Theresienwiese Oktoberfest in Germany, which sounds like steins full of fun at first glance. But, as scientists, we’re far more fascinated with the process of how that beer was made in the first place!
Brewing beer may be a centuries-old practice, but it’s also a process that highlights just how connected beer is to our greater environment. Beer’s four classic ingredients (water, malt, hops, and yeast) each depend on healthy ecosystems. Minerals in the brewing water used will influence the beer’s flavor, making clean, healthy water a must for any good beer. The agriculture industry’s barley and hops are crucial to a tasty brew and require fertile soils and stable climates. Yeast thrives only under carefully controlled conditions, something that can be impacted by our climate-changing environments.
The brewing cycle itself is a blend of chemistry and ecology. Enzymes convert grain starches into sugars, hops contribute bitterness and natural preservatives, and yeast ferments it all into alcohol and carbonation. Today, many breweries focus on reducing waste by employing eco-friendly practices such as recycling spent grain into animal feed and capturing carbon dioxide during fermentation. Even the energy used for boiling and cooling is increasingly drawn from renewable sources, making modern brewing as much about environmental science as it is about taste.
With all of this in mind, it’s not hard to grasp that preserving beer’s future means protecting the environment that sustains it. So every stein raised at Oktoberfest isn’t just a toast to Bavarian culture, it’s also a reminder that great beer depends on a healthy planet. Prost!
| | More Waterborne Photo Contest Winners | |
Every summer, our Annual Employee Photo Contest brings out creativity, camaraderie, and plenty of summer spirit. With weekly themes and winners, it’s become a fun way to capture and share the season’s activities—both in the moment and through our monthly newsletter. This month, we’re excited to showcase three standout photos you won’t want to miss.
Our winner for "Enjoying Your Environment", was a two-way tie for Eric Roth! In his first photo, Eric and his dog, Odie, are at their favorite fishing spot. They don’t always catch much, but spending evenings together in the quiet outdoors has become one of their favorite ways to enjoy nature.
Our second photo is a flashback to a prescribed burn Eric helped manage a few years ago. He reflects: “That fire started at noon, and we worked different burn units for the better part of 8 hours. Normally, that’s not what I’d call enjoyable. But now, when I walk my dog past that same spot, I see the most beautiful wildflowers. I enjoy the nature that I had a small hand in creating and providing for the public.”
Our third photo showcases "plant life" theme winner, Amy Ritter. Amy knocked it out of the park with her gorgeous water lily photo taken at a botanical garden in Zagreb, Croatia. Said Amy, "The more I looked closely at the pond with lily pads in the garden, the more frogs I saw." We love it!
Congratulations, Eric and Amy!
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Waterborne Environmental is a renowned consulting firm that has provided innovative solutions to the world’s most complex environmental problems since 1993. Our experienced, unbiased scientists and engineers work across industries to evaluate environmental, ecological, and human risks. Our work spans across industry and regulatory agencies to support the balance in the needs of a growing population with the environmental impact on our valuable natural resources.
Our The Current Newsletter is published monthly. Visit us online to find more articles, videos, and information about our work. Click here to contact us.
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Waterborne Environmental Inc.
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Phone: +1 (703) 777-0005
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