New Web Page Highlights AI Resources and Insights 

The Extension Foundation’s work in technology is supported by a New Technologies in Agriculture (NTAE) Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) (funding opportunity USDA-NIFA-OP-010186, award number 2023-41595-41325), in partnership with the University of New Hampshire. This grant enabled the Foundation to deliver a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) track at the 2024 National Extension Technology Conference (NETC)—an annual event that fosters networking and professional development for Extension technology professionals.

Held this year in State College, Pennsylvania, the conference gathered experts to exchange insights and innovations shaping the future of Extension, with a special focus on AI. Organized by Mark Locklear (Extension Foundation) and David Warren (Extension Foundation and Oklahoma State University), the AI track featured more than a dozen sessions showcasing how AI can enhance Extension’s efficiency, outreach, and impact. Topics included AI-powered tools like ExtensionBot and Ask Extension, strategies for collecting and analyzing data from Land-grant universities, and best practices in AI governance. Additional sessions covered automating routine tasks, expanding outreach through personalized communication and translation, and improving program evaluation through predictive analytics.

A new web page provides access to conference presentations, session recordings, and valuable resources, including guides on AI ethics and prompting techniques, as well as presentations by Locklear and Warren. Visit the webpage to explore these tools and discover how AI can drive innovation and impact throughout the Cooperative Extension system.

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Report – Extension Tourism: Impact and Opportunities of Land- and Sea-Grant Programming Across U.S. Regions

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The Extension Foundation has added a new title to its publications library. “Extension Tourism: Impact and Opportunities of Land- and Sea-Grant Programming Across U.S. Regions” shares findings from a national survey process conducted by the National Extension Tourism design team and Regional Rural Development Centers from 2017-2019. The intent of the survey process was to catalog current tourism and recreation programming being conducted by U.S. Extension professionals. The findings are summarized in this report, which:

  • documents the distribution, depth, and breadth of tourism and outdoor recreation programming offered by the Land- and Sea Grant Extension services;
  • demonstrates the regional impacts of this programming; and,
  • highlights opportunities for expanding this programming nationally.

This work was supported in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA or those of other funders.

This report was published in 2021, and also appears on the National Extension Tourism website.

Related Reading

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New Report Examines Land-Grant University Capacity to Support Outdoor Recreation Economies

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The Extension Foundation has published a new research report titled Land-Grant University Capacity to Support Recreation Economies in National Forest Gateway Communities. This study provides insights into how well Land-Grant Universities (LGUs) are positioned to promote and develop outdoor recreation economies near U.S. national forests. It also identifies specific locations that are best equipped to allocate resources for recreation economy programs.

The report aims to assess the ability of LGUs to align with a 2022 USDA memorandum of understanding (MOU), which emphasizes outdoor recreation economies as a key agency priority. Historically, recreation and tourism have not been focal program areas for Cooperative Extension, raising questions about LGUs’ readiness to engage in this space.

The assessment was conducted earlier this year by Doug Arbogast, Rural Tourism Specialist at West Virginia University, in partnership with the National Extension Outdoor Recreation Working Group (NEORWG) and the Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs), with support from the Extension Foundation. Funding for the project came from the New Technologies in Agricultural Extension (NTAE) program.

“In 2022, the USDA positioned the outdoor recreation economy as a top priority. Yet, LGUs have traditionally not focused their programmatic efforts on recreation and tourism,” said Arbogast. “This national assessment aimed to understand their capacity to engage in this work. Our findings reveal significant opportunities for Cooperative Extension and LGU researchers to partner with communities, fostering sustainable growth in recreation economies.”

Arbogast and his team developed a survey with input from NEORWG and RRDC members, targeting LGUs in states with national forests. They specifically reached out to Extension leaders working in Community Development program areas, gathering responses between May and June 2024. The survey explored Extension’s current and potential capacity to support recreation economy initiatives, identified research opportunities, and assessed how additional funding could expand Extension’s efforts in this sector.

The full report and associated maps are available on the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development website.

Related Reading

Additional Publications from the Extension Foundation

The Extension Foundation continues to expand its library with new titles on topics including:

  • Creating mass media campaigns
  • Game-based education
  • Wellness strategies during challenging times
  • Curriculum innovation
  • Prescribed fire
  • Emergency preparedness and response
  • Understanding food labels
  • Building resilience for farms and farm families

Explore the complete library of Extension Foundation publications here.

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New Technologies for Ag Extension 2023-2024 Yearbook Now Available in the Extension Foundation Library

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The New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) 2023-2024 Yearbook is now available as the latest addition to the Extension Foundation’s publications library. This vibrant publication captures the progress of dozens of projects funded through the New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE)  program—a cooperative initiative between the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), the University of New Hampshire, and the Extension Foundation.

NTAE’s mission is to incubate, accelerate, and expand promising work that enhances the impact of the Cooperative Extension System (CES) in communities nationwide. It also provides scalable models that can be adopted or adapted by Extension teams across the U.S.

Spanning 72 pages and presented in an engaging, magazine-style format, the Yearbook offers a comprehensive look at how NTAE-funded projects are transforming human, environmental, and community well-being. The publication also highlights an NTAE-supported technology initiative focusing on artificial intelligence. Through illustrated feature articles, Q&A interviews, and embedded videos, readers will explore innovative efforts across key themes, including technology, climate resilience, youth development, health, and equity.

Additionally, the Yearbook highlights the critical work of ECOP’s Program Action Teams, showcasing how these teams contribute to advancing the Cooperative Extension System’s priorities.

The Extension Foundation’s library houses an extensive collection of resources, with topics ranging from technology to strengthening the resilience of farms and rural communities. Explore the entire library here and sign up to receive notifications about future publications.

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This website is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.

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