AMARILLO — John M. Sweeten, resident director of research with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station here, and Bill L. Harris, associate director of agricultural sciences with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service at College Station, were recognized recently for developing and leading a statewide Extension Service water quality management and protection initiative.
The award was presented by Epsilon Sigma Phi, the national Extension professional society, during the organization’s annual meeting at Annapolis, Md., in December. Four regions across the nation were recognized with the Distinguished Team awards to groups from Indiana, Idaho, Texas and Utah.
Sweeten is a recognized expert in the field of air and water quality protection. Harris is a soils scientist, who works on nonpoint source or diffused water quality management.
Cited for efforts to develop a comprehensive water quality management education program, their research has led to new technology demonstrations and training materials designed for use by county agents and agricultural specialists in statewide education efforts involving landowners, producers, industry consultants and the general public.
In addition, this team led overall design and development of applied research and field demonstration projects in collaboration with federal and state agencies. They devised new methods for technical assistance and producer training through three primary watersheds in Texas, also known as Hydrologic Unit Areas (HUAs), established by the federal Water Quality Initiative in the 1990 Farm Bill, and administered today by U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Another project conducted by the team at Seco Creek, near Hondo, involved demonstrations of agricultural best management practices to maintain stream integrity and water quality. Research by the team has been showcased at the Upper North Bosque River HUA project, resulting in new technologies now being taught by Extension faculty around the state.
Central to the research by Sweeten and Harris has been the application of livestock waste on farm and pasture lands. Waste material containing nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, are retained and used by pasture and crop vegetation. Water quality and protection of downstream water supply reservoirs has been achieved through reduction of freshwater requirements in handling manure.
USDA also recognized the scientists’ work in environmental protection last September with its top honor for Extension professionals, the Superior Service Award.