The Importance of Impact Statements and How to

The Importance of Impact Statements and How to Write Them

What’s all the fuss? Cooperative Extension published a guide on how to write useful impact statements in 1971 Fewer and fewer Americans involved in any aspect of agriculture This means that fewer and fewer legislators have constituents in agriculture and food industries This means that public funding, both state and federal, is harder and harder to come by

Victims of our own success Land-grant system is 150 years old – the oldest system of public universities in the world Agricultural colleges are becoming smaller in relation to the whole Americans spend less than 15% of disposable income on food (<10% supermarket)

What is Impact? Impact is the reportable, quantifiable difference, or potential difference, that your program makes in people’s lives. It reports payoffs and benefits to society. The focus is on public – not internal or personal – benefit. It’s the answer to, “What’s in it for ME? Key areas: Economic Environmental Productivity Social Health and well-being

Public Value of Agricultural Science Based on applied economic concepts as articulated by Mark Moore in “Creating Public Value” Impacts occur at community or systems level Incorporate social, economic, civic and environmental factors • Logic model = long-term outcomes Less than 6% of projects report at this level

Public Value of Agricultural Science Public value is created when a service or product benefits society as a whole When significant public value is recognized, citizens who do not benefit directly will endorse public funding

Logic Model Drivers Societal Needs Purpose Project Interventions (Action & Result) Inputs Impact (Change) Activities Outputs Outcomes

PLANNING: start with the end in mind What do you want to know? How will you know it? EVALUATION: check and verify

Constructing logic models Build them from right to left • That way, even if you don’t finish you have the information for impact statements for every project Build them for all your projects, even Hatch/Evans-Allen Build them before the project begins • That way. you get the data you need Re-evaluate over time

Basic facts about impacts statements Impacts arise from outputs Impacts are beyond scientific relevance or importance They are not etched in stone – they should change over time Early in project will be speculative, often call for extrapolation A single project can have multiple impact statements, depending on audience

Write impact statements (versions) for: State and federal decision makers (funding and reporting needs) Local decision makers, supporters Stakeholders, commodity groups Current and potential funders or partners Your parents (i. e. , the people that might not fully grasp what you do) as a surrogate for “taxpayers”

Effective Impact Statements Provide quantifiable evidence of change or difference the program made—money, health, environment, jobs) Give other evidence, e. g. , trends, expectations, anecdotes, logical inference Realistically project potential benefit for work in progress or work whose impact is more long term Provide only enough detail to be easily understood Highlight public benefits, outcomes, payoffs

Make your message obvious Use common units of measure rather than scientific ones • m 3 H 2 O = gallons of water = football stadiums • Hectares = acres = sq. miles = cities = RI Use terms that a non-scientific audience will recognize • Meristem = growing point = branch tip • Phyllosilicate minerals = clay soils Clearly state payoffs to society • Concisely summarizes what you did • Highlight the difference your program is making for the public good

An Impact statement is NOT Numbers of people reached, meetings held, acres served—these provide context, but don’t capture the element of change essential to a good impact A list of grants, honors, recognition for organizers A detailed description of the process or what’s been done A long, detailed report Just more paperwork

Examples

Poor Impact Statement The outputs of this project are expected to provide enhanced pest and disease scouting protocols, more rapid diagnostic confirmation, and more timely pest management strategies for implementation by growers throughout the United States.

Decent impact statement By improving ornamental irrigation efficiency by 50%, we can save more than 42 gallons of water person for each of the 310 million people in the US each year. This will help conserve the nation’s water resources. Improved version This project will save over 13 billion gallons of water per year or enough for the water needs of over a half million people for an entire year.

Decent impact statement String thinner trials to assess optimum operational parameters for varying growing regions and tree forms showed reduced labor costs compared to hand thinned controls and increased crop value due to a larger distribution of fruit in higher market value sizes. Blossom removal ranged from 20 -55%, hand thinning requirement was reduced by 25 -65%, and fruit size distribution improved in all but one trial. Net economic impact at optimum tractor and spindle speeds was $462 -$1490 and $230 -$847 per acre for processing and fresh market peaches, respectively. How could this be improved?

Decent impact statement: Revisited Mechanical thinning of peaches can be optimized for different production areas and systems resulting in higher quality fruit and savings of $900 to $1500 per acre for growers. Properly trained equipment operators increased their income by 150% over manual laborers and the increased return to growers and labor resulted in a 12 -fold economic benefit to the community. The cost of the highest quality peaches was reduced by 10% for consumers.

Good impact statement The goal of this project is to reduce crop water use by 30%. Based on conservative estimates of crop water use, this will save approximately 185 billion gallons of water per year in California alone, or enough water for over 5 million people for an entire year, while saving farmers over $8. 5 million annually. How could this be improved?

1. What is the Issue? (40%) Write a strong “why” or issue/problem statement Do a Google search to quantify the problem Wikipedia, Wolfram. Alpha Use reliable sources – CDC, Do. L, EPA, USDA, Do. A, etc. Find “why” details in grant proposals

2. What Was Done? What Are the Results? (20%) Who helped support/fund the work? Who was involved? Quite simply, what did you do? What are the results? • Key research findings • Program evaluation specifics • Grad employer/employment info

3. What is the Outcome? (40%) Why are those results significant and how do they translate into the real world For difficult impacts – basic research, emerging issues, 4 -H, FCS, academics – try: • • Anecdotes If x theny statements – potential impacts Impact should clearly relate to the issue statement (think, “bookends”)

Good Examples Abound Look at scientific paper abstracts, but use with caution Grant proposal summaries Listen to NPR RSS science news articles Other print and TV reports of science

More Efficient Bio-refineries - Improved conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels is a high priority national research goal that will enhance national security, balance of trade, rural employment opportunities, and the nation’s environmental performance, including net reductions in CO 2 emissions. NIFA-funded scientists in Georgia developed a new chemical reaction that converts waste biomass lignin into high-value chemical components that will make biorefineries more efficient and effective. This new reaction will yield high-value, renewable, chemical components derived from lignin. The new products can be used in a variety of products that are currently dependent on petroleum-based resources, as well as improve modern ethanol conversion programs.

More Efficient Bio-refineries - Improved conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels is a high priority national research goal that will enhance national security, balance of trade, rural employment opportunities, and the nation’s environmental performance, including net reductions in CO 2 emissions. NIFA-funded scientists in Georgia developed a new chemical reaction that converts waste biomass lignin into high-value chemical components that will make biorefineries more efficient and effective. This new reaction will yield high-value, renewable, chemical components derived from lignin. The new products can be used in a variety of products that are currently dependent on petroleum-based resources, as well as improve modern ethanol conversion programs.

More Efficient Bio-refineries - Improved conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels is a high priority national research goal that will enhance national security, balance of trade, rural employment opportunities, and the nation’s environmental performance, including net reductions in CO 2 emissions. NIFA-funded scientists in Georgia developed a new chemical reaction that converts waste biomass lignin into high-value chemical components that will make biorefineries more efficient and effective. This new reaction will yield high-value, renewable, chemical components derived from lignin. The new products can be used in a variety of products that are currently dependent on petroleum-based resources, as well as improve modern ethanol conversion programs.

More Efficient Bio-refineries - Improved conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels is a high priority national research goal that will enhance national security, balance of trade, rural employment opportunities, and the nation’s environmental performance, including net reductions in CO 2 emissions. NIFA funded scientists in Georgia developed a new chemical reaction that converts waste biomass lignin into high-value chemical components that will make biorefineries more efficient and effective. This new reaction will yield high-value, renewable, chemical components derived from lignin. The new products can be used in a variety of products that are currently dependent on petroleum-based resources, as well as improve modern ethanol conversion programs.

Farmers Grow Higher Revenue-Generating Crops – With NIFA funding, scientists in North Dakota developed three barley cultivars which are recommended for malting and brewing by the American Malting Barley Association. The two-rowed malting barley cultivar, Conlon, was grown on 18% of the North Dakota barley acreage or 265, 000 acres. Since Conlon is a malting barley, it commanded on average a $1. 25 premium over feed barley. In 2009, this resulted in Conlon generating an additional $23 million in revenue for North Dakota producers that grew this cultivar.

Farmers Grow Higher Revenue-Generating Crops – With NIFA funding, scientists in North Dakota developed three barley cultivars which are recommended for malting and brewing by the American Malting Barley Association. The two-rowed malting barley cultivar, Conlon, was grown on 18% of the North Dakota barley acreage or 265, 000 acres. Since Conlon is a malting barley, it commanded on average a $1. 25 premium over feed barley. In 2009, this resulted in Conlon generating an additional $23 million in revenue for North Dakota producers that grew this cultivar.

Farmers Grow Higher Revenue-Generating Crops – With NIFA funding, scientists in North Dakota developed three barley cultivars which are recommended for malting and brewing by the American Malting Barley Association. The two-rowed malting barley cultivar, Conlon, was grown on 18% of the North Dakota barley acreage or 265, 000 acres. Since Conlon is a malting barley, it commanded on average a $1. 25 premium over feed barley. In 2009, this resulted in Conlon generating an additional $23 million in revenue for North Dakota producers that grew this cultivar.

Research Aims to Improve Child Nutrition – About 12% of the U. S. population do not consume enough zinc in their diets and are at risk for marginal zinc deficiency. NIFA-funded researchers at Oregon State University found that rats fed even marginally zinc-deficient diets had more DNA damage, increased levels of oxidative stress and decreased ability to repair DNA compared to control animals fed diets containing adequate levels of zinc. Impairment of DNA integrity can adversely impact immune function and increase risk for cancer. This study has important implications for child nutrition because infants and children are more likely to suffer from marginal zinc deficiency than adults.

Research Aims to Improve Child Nutrition – About 12% of the U. S. population do not consume enough zinc in their diets and are at risk for marginal zinc deficiency. NIFA-funded researchers at Oregon State University found that rats fed even marginally zinc-deficient diets had more DNA damage, increased levels of oxidative stress and decreased ability to repair DNA compared to control animals fed diets containing adequate levels of zinc. Impairment of DNA integrity can adversely impact immune function and increase risk for cancer. This study has important implications for child nutrition because infants and children are more likely to suffer from marginal zinc deficiency than adults.

Research Aims to Improve Child Nutrition – About 12% of the U. S. population do not consume enough zinc in their diets and are at risk for marginal zinc deficiency. NIFA-funded researchers at Oregon State University found that rats fed even marginally zinc-deficient diets had more DNA damage, increased levels of oxidative stress and decreased ability to repair DNA compared to control animals fed diets containing adequate levels of zinc. Impairment of DNA integrity can adversely impact immune function and increase risk for cancer. This study has important implications for child nutrition because infants and children are more likely to suffer from marginal zinc deficiency than adults.

Research Aims to Improve Child Nutrition – About 12% of the U. S. population do not consume enough zinc in their diets and are at risk for marginal zinc deficiency. NIFA-funded researchers at Oregon State University found that rats fed even marginally zinc-deficient diets had more DNA damage, increased levels of oxidative stress and decreased ability to repair DNA compared to control animals fed diets containing adequate levels of zinc. Impairment of DNA integrity can adversely impact immune function and increase risk for cancer. This study has important implications for child nutrition because infants and children are more likely to suffer from marginal zinc deficiency than adults.

Return on Investment - The Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Wheat Improvement Work Team provides 18% of the total investment in developing and promoting CSU wheat varieties. Plantings of improved wheat varieties increased Colorado farmers' farm gate income by $12, 840, 000 in 2008. Extension's share (18%) of this impact for the Colorado wheat industry is $2, 311, 000, or about $13. 70 returned for each $1. 00 invested.

Return on Investment - The Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Wheat Improvement Work Team provides 18% of the total investment in developing and promoting CSU wheat varieties. Plantings of improved wheat varieties increased Colorado farmers' farm gate income by $12, 840, 000 in 2008. Extension's share (18%) of this impact for the Colorado wheat industry is $2, 311, 000, or about $13. 70 returned for each $1. 00 invested.

Return on Investment - The Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Wheat Improvement Work Team provides 18% of the total investment in developing and promoting CSU wheat varieties. Plantings of improved wheat varieties increased Colorado farmers' farm gate income by $12, 840, 000 in 2008. Extension's share (18%) of this impact for the Colorado wheat industry is $2, 311, 000, or about $13. 70 returned for each $1. 00 invested.

Public-Private Partnerships - With dwindling resources, Cooperative Extension must innovate to continue to be an effective force in Colorado agriculture. The Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Wheat Improvement Work Team contributed 18% of the total investment in new wheat varieties, which increased Colorado farmers' farm gate income by $12, 840, 000 in 2008 and led to a return of $13. 70 for each $1. 00 invested by Extension. Through an innovative partnership that included growers and industry, CSU Extension was able to leverage taxpayer dollars to increase wheat grower productivity and improve the rural economic base.

How Do I Reuse Impacts? Annual reports, legislative briefings, constituent letters Web sites, searchable databases Speeches, fact sheets, displays, posters, newsletters Media tip sheets, story pitches, PSAs Background for supporters, collaborators, advisory councils, alumni groups Grants and funding applications, federal reports