Selecting performance indicators for farms and ranches engaged in collaborative agroecosystem research

Area of Science:

• Agricultural science
• Ecosystem management
• Environmental monitoring

Background:

• Global change challenges agricultural management assessments.
• Producers, researchers, and consumers need reliable data for decision-making.
• The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network (LTAR) is positioned to improve agricultural monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the selection process for LTAR's common agricultural performance indicators.
• To develop indicators applicable across diverse LTAR sites for widespread use.
• To inform decision-making through improved measurement of agricultural management outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized structured conversations from national LTAR meetings to develop initial indicators.
• Implemented an iterative decision-making protocol for systematic consensus-building.
• Focused on a framework integrating production, social outcomes, and networked agricultural science.

Main Results:

• Developed a set of common performance indicators for agricultural management.
• Created the Agricultural Performance Indicator and Context Knowledge System (AgPICKS) for indicator application.
• Established an indicator framework emphasizing both production and social outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The developed indicator framework supports better assessment of agricultural management in a changing environment.
• Future development of AgPICKS web tools will enhance data collection and visualization for management assessment.
• LTAR's approach provides a model for networked agricultural science to address global change challenges.