Release No. 0587.96 Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623, laura.trivers@usda.gov Maria Bynum (202) 720-5192, maria.bynum@usda.gov CLINTON ADMINISTRATION GIVES $1.1 MILLION TO EXPAND AG COMPUTER NETWORKS WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 1996--As part of the Clinton Administration's ongoing effort to connect Americans to the information superhighway, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced $1.1 million in grants to help 13 universities build or expand telecommunications networks for agricultural information. "The information superhighway and the wonders of modern technology are changing how Americans live, work, learn, and communicate with each other. Such advanced telecommunications are critical to our nation's ability to compete in any market--local, national or global," Glickman said. "These grants will help connect farmers and other rural Americans to advanced telecommunications technology and help ensure that people who live in rural America do not get left behind on the information superhighway." Glickman said, "Land-grant universities play a key role in providing farmers with information; and, these grants will enable the universities to use computer technology to better provide farmers with data and technical materials. With the grants, the universities will focus on developing information packages useful for farmers; reaching out to farmers and letting them know the resources available through computer networks; and training farmers in the use of computers and the applications for their daily work." USDA received 55 proposals for the telecommunications grants, from universities across the country. These are competitive matching grants for projects including formal and non-formal courses, faculty and staff education, program delivery, and community-based access to education. Since the Agricultural Telecommunications Program was established by the 1990 Farm Bill, it has provided funding to over 60 institutions. Land-grant universities receiving the grants are: Cornell University (NY), the University of Idaho, the University of Arizona, Oklahoma State University, the University of Vermont, Mississippi State University, the University of Hawaii, New Mexico State University, the Ohio State University, Fort Valley State University (GA), the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kansas State University, and North Carolina State University. Brief summaries of the projects follow. 1996 AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUNDED PROJECTS Cornell University, University of Idaho ($129,500) Enhancement of Delivery of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry Program by EXTOXNET A consortium of land grant colleges will use the World Wide Web to provide information about the toxicology and environmental chemistry of natural and synthetic chemicals. This nationally accessible information will be useful to chemists, toxicologists, community hazard-reduction teams, and others working with chemicals. Contact: Cornell University, Don Rutz, 607-255-1866; University of Idaho, Bernadene Magneson, 208-885-5961 University of Arizona ($100,000) Enhancing the Arizona AgNIC Model: Agricultural Information on the Web Further development of an agricultural information center on the World Wide Web, which will provide land managers and the public with readily available information on rangeland management and range-evaluation measures. This site will serve as a model for other university-based information centers. Contact: Barbara Hutchenson, 520-621-8578 Oklahoma State University ($81,700) Delivery of Weather-based Management Aids Using the Oklahoma Mesonet and OneNet Integration of a network of Oklahoma weather stations (Mesonet) and a telecommunications network (OneNet), providing weather-based management information via the World Wide Web. This will allow farmers and ranchers to obtain and analyze detailed weather information via the Internet. Contact: J.D. Carlson, 405-744-6353 University of Vermont ($95,085) Rural Community Connectivity Project Communities in rural Vermont will be connected via telecommunications to plan and deliver an established, statewide town-officer training program using the Internet, reducing the amount of travel necessary to obtain the training. The Internet will be used to survey community leaders about their training needs, and to develop information about useful Web sites. Contact: Barry Stryker, 802-223-2389 Mississippi State University ($76,561) Facilitating Access Through Information Pages and Webs Establish World Wide Websites in all state and county offices throughout Mississippi, for public access and use by Mississippi extension personnel. Contact: Danny Gardner, 601-325-2142 University of Hawaii ($38,000) Agricultural Statistics and Marketing Information Server and Internet Site for Hawaii Development and use of an information center on the Internet, carrying agricultural statistics and marketing information for Hawaii. This is a joint project of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agricultural and Human Resources; the Hawaii Department of Agriculture; the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. Contact: James Hollyer, 808-956-8800 New Mexico State University ($110,295) The Seeds of Change Multi cultural Digital Classroom Multi cultural school-age children will be connected, via telecommunications, to the educational and agricultural resources of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History. This will be used to study the cultural, scientific, and historic interaction between native peoples of the American Southwest and Mexico with the European Hispanic culture. Contact: Jeanne Gleason, 505-646-5658 Ohio State University ($77,830) An Internet System That Expands the Outreach Capacity of Extension Agents Development of a horticultural plant information center on the Internet. Contact: Tim Rhodus, 614-292-3871 Fort Valley State University ($125,000) Rural Telecom Network (RTN) Model Program Use of multiple technologies to develop an innovative approach to agricultural-industrial research and product development, education, rural small-business outreach, and resource leveraging in the Central Savannah River Area Enterprise Community. Contact: David Lemacks, 912-825-6345 University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff ($97,050) A Proactive Information, Computer Technology Utilization and Resource Enhancement Project A three-phase project to (1) train university staff in use of the Internet for distance education, (2) connect to the World Wide Web; and (3) use the Internet to access other agricultural networks, educational institutions, and extension programs. Contact: Jacquelyn McCray, 501-543-8529 Kansas State University ($101,410) Great Plains Inter-University Consortium Develop an inter-institutional graduate program in the human sciences at Iowa State University, Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska, North Dakota State University, and Oklahoma State University, to be delivered at a distance. Contact: Virginia Moxley, 913-532-5500 North Carolina State University ($74,369) Building Non-Formal Teaching Capacity Via the World Wide Web Development of interactive World Wide Web-based instruction to teach teachers how to deliver non-formal courses at a distance using the Internet. This project includes faculty from North Carolina State University, Iowa State University, North Dakota State University, Penn State University, Purdue University, and West Virginia University. Contact: Kevin Gamble, 919-515-8447 #