I believe that mutual respect, openness, creativity, and innovation—the core values of the 21st century—are the hallmarks of Cooperative Extension work.
I believe that Extension educators are called upon not only to affirm these values but also to ensure that they comprise an integral part of our work.
I believe that Extension educators constitute the most valuable of all infrastructure—human infrastructure—and that this deep reservoir built of trust and collaboration retains an infinite capacity for fostering human achievement.
I believe that we are more than simple purveyors of knowledge—we are knowledge enablers whose charge is to add value to knowledge by demonstrating how practical, meaningful, and lasting use can be derived from it.
I believe that our long-standing experience with and affinity for collaborative learning, reflected in the work of Seaman Knapp and Booker T. Washington, singularly equip us for the immense challenges that await us in the 21st century.
I believe that the collaborative learning embodied in Extension work is enhanced by a generous measure of empathy and compassion.
I believe that in an era of frenetic growth punctuated by rampant scarcity, we are called to be sustainers, securing and enriching the lives and livelihoods of those we serve without eroding the ability of future generations to secure and enrich theirs.
I believe that by acknowledging and celebrating our differences, we enhance opportunities for personal growth and enrichment and secure the personal freedom of and respect for all.
I believe that the prevailing winds of change are summoning us to do what we have always done best: to work, to teach, and to inspire through dialogue and empowerment, demonstrating to our diverse audiences the value of accepting and embracing change as an inevitable facet of life and as an opportunity to formulate new ways of thinking, living, and working.
I believe passionately in these ideals and because they embody the essence of Cooperative Extension work, I proudly proclaim and honor them as my own.
Our Mission
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the primary outreach organization for the land grant mission of Alabama A&M University and Auburn University, delivers research-based educational programs that enable people to improve their quality of life and economic well-being.
Core Values
- Research-based programs, materials, and educational activities
- Positive relationships with clients, communities, partners, and stakeholders
- Relevant programming that addresses current societal challenges and opportunities
Related Topics
Alabama is home to more than 4.7 million people. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System reaches one in three Alabamians, providing research-based educational programs in agriculture; forestry, wildlife, and natural resources; family and consumer sciences; economic and community development; 4-H and youth development; and urban affairs.
Socio-economic data can provide important insights into the residents of the state’s 67 counties. This county data is an important tool of Alabama Extension, which uses it to target and fine tune its programs.
One resource used by Extension can be found at AlabamaPossible.org
Barriers to Prosperity: Data Sheet 2020
Integrated pest management or IPM is the use of multiple pest management tactics when pest populations reach above the action threshold. The action threshold is simply the level of pest populations when control should be implemented to avoid damage to the crop. Action thresholds help determine both the need for control actions and the proper timing of such actions.
Download the Home Garden Vegetable: Insect Control IPM Guide, IPM-1305.
For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, contact Extension Communications and Marketing at 334-844-5696 or extcomm@aces.edu.
Row crop enterprise budgets are updated annually by Extension personnel to reflect recommended management practices for production on a per acre basis. Projected costs are gathered from multiple industry sources and a higher than average projected yield are used to estimate the associated cost for that level of production. Producers should review these budgets and use the values that best reflect the cost on their operation.
Budgeting is an important part of profitable soybean production. The double crop soybean budget is available as both as an Excel spreadsheet and a PDF file.
Download a printable copy of the Double Crop Soybean Enterprise Budget PDF. (2021 enterprise budget PDF download will be available soon.)
Download a working Excel file with the Double Crop Soybean Enterprise Budget.
Other crop enterprise budgets are also available for download.