A Collaborative Model for Delivering Relevant Extension Education: A Case Study on Soil Acidification in the Pacific Northwest.

Declining soil pH accelerated by high inputs of ammoniacal fertilizers, is an issue of growing concern in the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW). Soil pH is known as a “master variable,” meaning that it is linked to most components of the agricultural system. As we explore effective ways to disseminate information on the emerging challenges that accompany this concern, it is difficult to find one person that can speak authoritatively to the effects of pH on all components of the cropping system. Overcoming this obstacle has provided the opportunity to undertake a collaborative approach to extension education on this topic. Our team is made up of specialists in the sub-disciplines of the crop and soil sciences, as well as county educators located throughout the rain-fed regions of eastern Washington. We are combining a collaborative strategy with the use of current “appropriate” technology to deliver an integrated and relevant set of extension resources. Challenges to the collaborative process are predominantly related to time, both for individuals, and the pace that documents move through the publication channels. Outcomes of the project to-date include: completion of three peer-reviewed modules, an article published in Crops and Soils magazine, several collaborative research efforts, and the integrated conversations that are furthering a collective understanding of acidification in the iPNW.