TUESDAY MORNING NOTES - March 7, 2012

Wed Mar 7 08:44:11 MST 2012

TMN submittal:
http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/tuesday/form/submittal_form.html 

Tuesday Morning Notes 

March 6, 2012

FROM THE DIRECTOR:

Many people have noticed and commented on the fact that my title has been
expanded from those of my predecessors to include "Economic Development and
Extension."  Given this new title for me, it is important to note that the
Extension organization is still referred to as "Arizona Cooperative
Extension."   However, this does provide the incentive to explore the
ramifications to Extension in terms of economic development.

In my view, the inclusion of "economic development" is appropriate and
serves to explicitly state what we have often considered implicitly as our
function with Extension programs.  We endeavor to bring science and factual
information to bear on practical and relevant problems encountered in
Arizona and society in general.  We intend to improve the lives of
individuals, families, and communities.  We work to improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of the various industries, agencies, and organizations
that we work with.  As the boundary organization stemming from the College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences, we have that purpose and obligation.
Accordingly, it is reasonable to expect there to be some form of a direct
result in terms of economic development.  

The issue at hand is really twofold.  First, we need to directly identify
the impacts that we expect to see from the programs we provide.  Second, we
need to develop the appropriate means by which we measure and can report or
substantiate the results and impacts of our programs, including that of
economic development.  To this end we will be working in the weeks and
months ahead with all elements our Extension organization to explicitly
address our objectives and intended impacts in terms of economic development
and the proper methods of measurement and reporting that are needed.  Thus,
all elements of the Arizona Cooperative Extension will be called upon for
input regarding these methodologies that need to be incorporated
systematically and in a reasonable fashion.  I will look forward to working
with everyone through this process.

FOCUS ON FACULTY:

On March 29 the University of Arizona will host the 2012 meeting of the
North Central Extension Research Activity-180 (NCERA) at MAC. NCERA-180 is a
multi-state project from the Agricultural Research Station that is focused
on "Precision Agriculture Technologies for Food, Fiber, and Energy
Production."  This project has representatives from 15 Land Grant
institutions, as well as USDA-ARS, private companies and other universities.
UA faculty Kurt Nolte, Randy Norton, Mark Siemens, Pete Waller, Kevin
Fitzsimmons, and Pedro Andrade will be presenting their work during the
event.  For more information, contact Pedro Andrade
<mailto:pandrade at ag.arizona.edu>  (520.381.2278). 

TECH TIP OF THE WEEK:

Proper monitor color and text calibration is helpful, both for minimizing
eye strain and when working with photos or other images.  In Windows 7, two
free utilities are included.  ClearType Text Tuning takes you through a
short series of text blocks, where you pick the best display choice.  Search
for and run cttune from the Start Menu.  Display Color Calibration runs you
through a series of screens that help you adjust the gamma, brightness,
contrast, and color of your monitor, then save this as a color profile.
Search for and run dccw from the Start Menu.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

*	The Western Rangelands Partnership will be hosting their 10th Annual
meeting, March 11-14.  This collaborative includes rangeland specialists,
librarians, and information technologists from 19 western U.S. states.
Recently, the Partnership has expanded and now includes global partners from
Australia, FAO, and Mexico.  Newly redesigned web portals - Global
Rangelands, Rangelands West, and Arizona Rangelands, as well as an
underlying global rangelands database - will be officially launched
following the meeting.  For more information,  contact George Ruyle
<mailto:gruyle at cals.arizona.edu> .  
*	In partnership with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Yuma
County Cooperative Extension has developed a USDA Good Ag Practices/Good
Handling Practices Food Safety Training Program for all Arizona specialty
crop producers within the state.  GAP certification is a USDA Federal-State
Audit Program that verifies on farm practices that minimize microbial
contamination in the production of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts.   GHP
certification is also a USDA audit program verifying compliance within the
packing and storage facility, trace back and transport of fresh vegetables,
fruits and nuts.  Kurt Nolte has been conducting free training sessions
around the state.  Four upcoming training sessions are planned for Yuma
County
<http://www.cals.arizona.edu/fps/sites/cals.arizona.edu.fps/files/GAP/YumaFl
yerMar2012.pdf>  (March 15), Pinal County
<http://www.cals.arizona.edu/fps/sites/cals.arizona.edu.fps/files/GAP/PinalF
lyerMar2012.pdf>  (March 27-28), Maricopa County
<http://www.cals.arizona.edu/fps/sites/cals.arizona.edu.fps/files/GAP/Phoeni
xFlyerApr2012.pdf>  (April 25-25), and Pima County
<http://www.cals.arizona.edu/fps/sites/cals.arizona.edu.fps/files/GAP/Tucson
FlyerMay2012.pdf>  (May 29-30).  Flyers and a registration form
<http://www.cals.arizona.edu/fps/sites/cals.arizona.edu.fps/files/GAP/GAP-GH
P%20Reg%20Form.pdf>  are available at the Fresh Produce Safety class website
<http://www.cals.arizona.edu/fps/Classes> .
*	Agencies are invited to experience the challenges families face when
the needs of Children with Incarcerated Parents are not adequately
addressed, by participating in a CIP workshop which will be held on Tuesday,
March 27 from 8:30am-4:30pm in Flagstaff.  Participants will experience
issues through the eyes of CIPs and their caregivers, learn why CIP families
may be hidden from and hesitate to access services, and discover what
opportunities agencies can take to serve CIPs.  The workshop is $25, space
is limited, and it is open to agencies.  A bonus wrap up speech will be
given by DeeAnn Newell, CIP advocate and Director of the Arkansas Voices of
Children Left Behind program, whose mission is to advocate and reform
policies that have an impact on CIP families. Volunteer facilitators are
needed to guide participants through this simulation workshop.  For more
information, brochures and flyers to distribute to your local agencies,
contact Beth Tucker <mailto:tucker at cals.arizona.edu>  (928.774.1868, ext.
120) or JoAnne Barcellano (at ext 100).  This workshop is co-sponsored by
Coconino Cooperative Extension and the Coconino Children with Incarcerated
Parents Task Force.
*	On Saturday, March 31, from 9:00am-4:00pm, the 11th Annual Real
Gardens For Real People tour takes place in north Scottsdale with
self-guided tours that take participants through six private residential
gardens as well as a newly developed school garden in partnership with the
students of Copper Ridge Elementary School and the Master Gardeners.
Consistent with the primary mission of Master Gardeners, over 27 leading
gardening experts will be on-site to educate and answer questions from tour
participants.  The comprehensive labeling of plants in the gardens on the
tour - both botanical and common names - and the program of educational
experts sets this garden tour apart.  Topics include composting, garden
color, metal art work, rainwater harvesting, citrus and palm care, school
gardening, square foot gardening, cacti and succulents, growing herbs and
wildflowers, drip irrigation and water harvesting, pruning, container
gardening and butterflies, bees and wildlife in gardens.  For more
information, visit the
<http://extension.arizona.edu/events/11th-annual-real-gardens-real-people-to
ur> 11th Annual Real Gardens for Real People Tour website.

Jeffrey C. Silvertooth
Associate Dean

Director for Economic Development & Extension
Arizona Cooperative Extension
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
PO Box 210036
Tucson, AZ  85721-0036
520.621.7205
520.621.1314 (fax)

To submit tips, suggestions, ideas for changes and anything that could help
us be more effective, use  the "Director
<http://extension.arizona.edu/state/directors-suggestion-box> 's Suggestion
Box" - all submissions are anonymous.  

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