|
 2007 Stewardship Poster, Essay and
Speech Contest Ideas
Today is the Day to be a Part of
Conservation’s Power
The NACD Stewardship and Education committee selected “Today is the Day to be a part of Conservation’s Power” as the theme for 2007 Stewardship Week. We understand that this title may be too long for your poster, essay and speech contests. We encourage you to use the theme “Conservation’s Power.”
The NACD poster contest is a national contest comprised of winners from state-level contests. Poster Contest rules and entry forms that can also be used at local contests are available at http://nacdnet.org/outreach/awards/poster.htm
Essay and Speech contests are also held at the local level with some states holding statewide contests. There is not a national essay or speech contest.
Activities that correlate with this theme will be available online in the Stewardship Program and Educators Guide by November 15, 2006.
The committee has been working with various partners including the National Energy and Education Development Program (NEED), Project Learning Tree, Project WET and Billy B (natural science song and dance man) on information and activities to complement the student booklet and stewardship materials for 2007.
The 2007 Stewardship student booklets have the following topics:
 |
 STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION BOOKLET FOR KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE 1
Energy and Me—Energy is all around us. Learn what energy is and how it works. Colorful photos! You will find activities in the downloadable Program Booklet/Educators guide that will expand on the information in the booklet. |
 |
 STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION BOOKLET FOR GRADE 2 AND GRADE 3
Where is Energy?—What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy? Learn about our needs and uses for different types of energy and the importance of our natural resources. Colorful photos! You will find activities in the downloadable Program Booklet/Educators guide that will expand on the information in the booklet. |
 |
 STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION BOOKLET FOR GRADE 4 AND GRADE 5
Fuel for the Future—What type of fuel will we be using in the future? Learn about alternative fuels and their importance in our future. Colorful photos! You will find activities in the downloadable Program Booklet/Educators guide that will expand on the information in the booklet. |
The student booklets along with other products will be available for purchase November 30, 2006 from the NACD Stewardship Marketplace.
Other topics to consider for your contests include energy saved by no-till farming practices, solar, wind and alternative fuel sources; renewable versus non-renewable resources; conservation at home; and partnerships with conservation districts, community and families working together.
The following resources will be of assistance as students prepare speeches, write essays and develop posters.
Resources:
Save ENERGY, Save MONEY
Conservation Practices Contribute to Energy Efficiency and Fuel Savings
Additional information on USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/energy/index.html
Fact Sheet
A portion of Release No. 0535.05, USDA Guide To Achieving Energy Efficiency Through Conservation
Conservation practices such as no-till can save farmers 217 million gallons of fuel and up to $480 million per year, while other conservation practices such as irrigation water management can reduce diesel consumption by 80 million gallons and save farmers up to $180 million per year. In addition to energy savings, these practices provide obvious co-benefits to the environment. Key conservation practices include:
- Crop Residue Management--According to the Conservation Technology Information Center, a farmer can save at least 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre by going from conventional tillage methods to no-till, a conservation practice that leaves the soil undisturbed from harvest through planting except for narrow strips that cause minimal soil disturbance. At November 2005 diesel prices, this amounts to $7.70 per acre in production cost savings. On a farm with 1,000 acres of cropland, these savings add up to 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel per year valued at $7,700.
- Nutrient Management--The proper collection, handling, storage and application of manure help to protect our nation's waters and provide a significant nutrient source for crop production. Currently, about 2.7 million tons of manure-based nitrogen are applied on agricultural land. It takes approximately 40,000 cubic feet of natural gas to produce a ton of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Doubling the application of manure-based nitrogen could save agriculture approximately $1.2 billion worth of natural gas each year. Substituting manure for commercial fertilizer can reduce fertilizer costs as much as $85 per acre for a 1,000-acre farm.
- Irrigation Water Management-- The 2003 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey reports approximately 27 million U.S. acres under sprinkler irrigation. About 80 percent of these acres utilize center pivot systems. If the acres under medium pressure were converted to low pressure, the per acre energy savings could be about $9.00 per acre. The conversion of the high-pressure systems to low pressure would result in additional savings of $41 per acre. Diesel powered pumps are used on about 10 million irrigated acres. A 10 percent improvement in water use efficiency could reduce diesel consumption by 8 gallons per acre.
- Precision Agriculture--By reducing overlap in fertilizer and pesticide applications on the 250 million acres of cropland used to produce major crops, petroleum-based fertilizer and pesticide costs could be reduced up to $1 billion annually. A 1,000-acre farm can save up to $13 per acre by using precision agriculture techniques.
- Pesticide Management--Pesticide production depends heavily on energy resources. Integrated Pest Management reduces energy use and environmental risk while maintaining product quality. For example, some cherry producers have abandoned traditional spraying schedules to spray based on in-the-field microclimate information obtained from monitoring equipment and scouting. This can reduce the typical herbicide cost about $40 per acre with a 25 percent reduction of herbicide application.
- Prescribed Grazing Systems-- it takes 40 pounds of nitrogen (high natural gas user) at $0.40 per pound to produce a ton of grass hay; 1.35 gallons of diesel fuel at $2.41 per gallon to raise, harvest, store, and feed the hay; and dry matter losses of about 30 percent for field-stored hay, every month that cows can remain on pasture reduces direct energy costs by about $10.70 per cow.
- Windbreaks and Shelterbelts--Windbreaks and shelterbelts can reduce wind-induced erosion and save heating and cooling costs associated with farmsteads. When properly placed to shield farm buildings from strong winds, windbreaks can lower heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent.
More Information:
National Energy and Education Development Program (NEED), www.NEED.org
NEED Energy Infobooks Available at http://www.need.org/EnergyInfobooks.php
Activities from NEED are correlated to several state standards (see http://www.need.org/correlations.php).
A Primary Science of Energy Teacher Guide is available at http://www.need.org/needpdf/PrimarySofETeacher.pdf (A 40 page, 6.2 MB Acrobat file).
Teaching about Transportation?
Visit http://www.need.org/curriculum.php. Under teaching about transportation you will find several PDF files available for download on the following topics. NEED's The Future is Today helps upper level students research and debate our nation's transportation fuel options. What Car Will You Drive? helps elementary and intermediate students research the choices and challenges in transportation fuels. (Note: These are 6 - 7 MB Acrobat files.)
Due to great demand from teachers wishing to expand their energy and transportation opportunities, NEED created the Transportation Fuels Debate Game, the Transportation Fuels Expo, the Transportation Enigma and the Transportation Fuels Rock Performances - all borrowing from other NEED teacher favorites that focus on energy sources (Note: these are all 1 - 2 MB Acrobat files).
With the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Biodiesel Education Program and the National Biodiesel Board, NEED produced a Teacher Guide for Biodiesel (A 7.7 MB Acrobat file).
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Governors' Ethanol Coalition collaborated with NEED to create a Teacher Guide for Ethanol (A 6.2 MB Acrobat file).
There are several great topics in the newsletters that NEED produces (i.e. Go to http://www.need.org/needpdf/MAR06EnExWEB.pdf and see Page 5 – BioGas – Primary, Page 6 - Energy Pioneers – Elementary, and Page 7 – New Approach to Biomass).
If you have additional questions please contact NACD Stewardship Project Manager Susan Schultz at stewardship@nacdnet.org or 317-326-2952.
|
509 Capitol Ct. NE