Welcome to the new Director’s Notes. As the new executive director of CTIC, I will use this column to tell Partners readers about our organization’s activities and accomplishments, discuss issues that are facing our members and share good news from our membership.
For my first column, I’d like to take you back so that we can look forward to CTIC’s future. In 1982, leaders from agribusiness, federal agencies and the National Association of Conservation Districts formed the Conservation Tillage Information Center to improve communication about the then new practice of no-till. In those early days, there were many questions about why, how and when to successfully use this innovative conservation method. CTIC quickly became the source for information about conservation tillage. All across the country, producers and their advisors were turning to CTIC for information to help them make conservation more effective and more profitable.
Now, CTIC is, in a sense, returning to its roots. With a renewed focus on our core strengths and values, CTIC is THE credible, reliable source for information and technology for agricultural conservation. Today, we’re talking about more than just conservation tillage. America’s producers now face complex decisions about how to integrate, or maintain, conservation systems within their farming operations. Add to that myriad pressing questions about how to minimize fuel costs and maximize energy usage, design better nutrient management or integrate precision farming all while looking for other ways to add value to their farming operation.
Conservation in agriculture is so much more than one practice – and more than any one person or organization - can do alone. That’s why CTIC relies on our membership. Through our members, we have access to the best advances in research, technology and equipment for making conservation successful and profitable. With partners in every level of government, educational institutions and research entities across the country we keep current and have access to quality information.
Producers today need answers about how to make conservation work. We trust that, given the best information, producers will make good decisions for their land. And, we believe that producers deserve to get trustworthy information, in a timely manner, from a dependable source.
CTIC provides credible, reliable information to support environmentally responsible and economically viable decision making in agriculture. And, by accessing our network of agribusiness, associations, researchers, scientists, media, educators and ag advisors, we will get that information where it needs to be quickly and reliably.
Let’s dig deeper at CTIC and work together to seek, compile and disseminate accurate, objective, timely information about conservation in agriculture. If you’re a CTIC member, make the most of your membership dues and let us help you reach your goals. To our partners, I extend an open invitation to send us your conservation information and work with us to disseminate it to producers across the country. Help us keep America’s agriculture informed about conservation.
Check out this column in the next issue of Partners for more details about upcoming projects to assess producer information needs and distribute quality information. In the meantime, give me a call (765-494-2238) or send me an email (scanlon@ctic.purdue.edu) to let me know how CTIC can help you achieve your conservation goals.
