A professor in cooperative extension service has recently accepted a position with the United States Department of Agriculture.

Jerry DeWitt was named the interim national program leader of sustainable agriculture for the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, a division of the USDA. DeWitt will hold his position with Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, a branch of the division, until Aug. 31.

“He is one of the key people that helped to move Iowa State where it is today in sustainable agriculture,” said Wendy Wintersteen, senior associate dean of extension to agriculture.

“He shows tremendous leadership,” Wintersteen said. “It’s a great opportunity for him and the university.”

DeWitt’s new job in Washington, D.C., brings with it a host of new responsibilities, adding to the duties he already holds at Iowa State in the entomology and extension departments. He oversees four regional centers, located at the University of Nebraska, the University of Vermont, the University of Georgia and Utah State University.

The USDA’S Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service “provides program direction and support to land grant systems across the Unites States in research and extension programs,” DeWitt said.

He said this support is achieved through competitive grants, which can then be used to fund research, education or training in sustainable agriculture. DeWitt said they will send the money where it will best help them meet their objectives.

“Our mandate by Congress is to educate all individuals interested in sustainable agriculture,” DeWitt said. “The program is not exclusively for farmers and ranchers.”

Although it isn’t exclusive to farmers, Sustainable Agriculture Research does emphasize helping small- to medium-sized farms that are interested in practicing sustainable agriculture.

“The hallmark of our program is farmer involvement,” DeWitt said.

The program holds many benefits for Iowa farmers and producers, DeWitt said. Much of the research conducted with grants provided by the program is published and made accessible.

“We also sponsor a number of on-farm meetings and field days, as well as national and regional workshops,” DeWitt said.

Those workshops help to educate the community on topics such as farming practices, livestock-raising methods and marketing strategies. DeWitt said the program also serves a networking function.

“We take great efforts to develop long-lasting networks of farmers with similar interests that can work together and support each other for their benefit,” he said.

While serving as Interim National Program Leader, DeWitt said he will work to increase electronic communication within the program.

“Already what we’ve started is an increased communication with the land grants,” DeWitt said. “We’re looking at a way to keep farmers and citizens more informed.”

Another importance of the program, DeWitt said, is to follow up on and study the impacts of the education and extension programs implemented by the SARE program. “Just doing it isn’t enough; you have to make sure you have an impact,” DeWitt said.