Educational Exchanges on the Field: Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities

On September 18, The US Cotton team, Earthworm Foundation (EF), and the USDA acting grant officer Program Management Officer participated in a West Texas workshop and cotton field day with additional partners on the Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities (PCSC) grant. The field day was co-hosted by Quarterway Cotton Growers, ECOM USA, and co-facilitated by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Our research partners from the University of Arkansas -Division of Agriculture Research and Extension (UADA) attended to learn from and share best practices and align on priorities: carbon sequestration and reducing emissions from cotton, regenerative farming practices, improving nutrient cycling, increasing water holding capacity, and stimulating microbial activity to build soil health.

On November 1, the US Cotton team and EF traveled to Arkansas, along with representatives from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, for a second field day focused on regenerative agricultural practices relevant to that region. Texas A&M AgriLife contributed with knowledge sharing and soil test equipment demonstrations to learn about Arkansas Discovery farms with the University of Arkansas -Division of Agriculture Research and Extension. During the farm visits ECOM, EF, and UADA met with growers to discuss UADA’s Discovery Farm model. The Discovery Farm Program has emerged as an essential educational platform that successfully addresses water quality, water use efficiency and improving soil health. 

We are partnering with UADA and EF under ECOM's PCSC grant. Additionally, there is a proposal to extend the Discovery Farm relationships with cotton growers enrolled in our program. These farms will provide opportunities to measure and infrastructure to demonstrate soil and conservation practices that increase resilience to climate change and address agriculture’s impact on climate change. In addition to sharing knowledge, universities also share equipment.

The in-person meetings and time in the field have helped build stronger relationships and more effective collaboration with growers, between the research teams, and grant partners.