TUESDAY MORNING NOTES - SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

Tue Sep 10 16:30:37 MST 2013

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

Tuesday Morning Notes 

September 10, 2013

FROM THE DIRECTOR:

I recently commented on the development of an Extension Agricultural
Advisory Council (EAAC) and the many benefits that were derived from our
first session on 6 August.  It's interesting what you learn when you
actually ask the people you work with out in the state what they think of
your programs.  On that first EAAC session on 6 August, we had approximately
30 leaders representing basically every facet of the agricultural industry
in Arizona.  This is a robust group and they provided some very direct,
colorful, and useful commentary regarding their current relationships with
CALS Cooperative Extension (CE) and the needs they see as being critical in
the future.  

While they all commented on the value of having a good relationship with
CALS through CE, they were generally complimentary of the relationships they
have and have had in the past.  However, one rather consistent concern on
the part of many of the agricultural industries in Arizona is recognition on
their part that CALS CE personnel are not engaging with them in the field as
they used to see in the past.  In fact many of these leaders and
representatives were very clear in communicating that CALS CE faculty and
staff are distinctly less engaged in the fields today than they saw more
commonly perhaps 10 years ago or more.  These comments were expressed during
the course of the meeting with the EAAC and further reinforced and
communicated to me afterwards as well.  These ag industry leaders recognize
the need for technically competent faculty and staff from CALS CE but they
also expect us to provide people that want to get out and work in the field
with them, learn from them as much as we express an eagerness to teach, and
forge true partnerships between our college and these industries through
these critical linkages.  My response to them is that I fully expect this
level of work in the field and the development of relationships of this type
from our CALS CE faculty and staff as well.  Accordingly, I feel it's
important that I not only communicate to you the input received through the
EAAC but also make it clear what our position is with CALS CE
administration. 

Faculty and staff in CALS CE have the challenge of not only being productive
with regard to good scholarship, but they also have to be fundamentally
sound and capable of working in their fields, in a literal sense, and
communicating effectively (both listening and providing good information)
and providing that vital link between our college and the many stakeholders
with whom we work in all facets of CALS CE including the agricultural arena.

We all need to be alert to these recommendations from the EAAC and I can
assure you that I will be following up with not only the members of the
industry with whom we work but also the faculty and staff throughout CALS
CE.  I want to make it clear it is extremely important for CALS CE faculty
and staff to be able to engage effectively in the field, the communities,
and with the stakeholder groups with whom they work and to maintain the
necessary productivity associated with their programs as university faculty
and staff are expected to do.  

FOCUS ON FACULTY & STAFF:

The Northern Arizona Junior Livestock Association (NAJLA), a non-profit
organization that organizes and presents the Coconino County Fair Jr.
Livestock Auction, honored Coconino County 4-H Agent Jan Norquest at its
2013 Auction Dedicatee during the August 31 event.  NAJLA annually honors a
dedicatee and in presenting Jan with a plaque cited her long time support of
the county 4-H program, her dedication to helping members and leaders "Make
the Best Better," and the mentoring she provides to 4-H members as the basis
for the honor.

Cody Sheehy joined the CALS CCT staff in early July as the new Video
Production Coordinator for Educational & Multimedia Technologies (with
Extension funding of 18%).  Cody will be working on an array of specific
videos, but is also deeply interested in developing complex documentary and
collaborative web/multimedia capabilities to harness the full potential of
the CALS community.  Although Cody grew up in rural Eastern Oregon, he has
lived all over the U.S., in Asia, and in Central America.  Eventually, his
travels led to a Masters in Range Ecology from Oregon State and since then
he has applied his passion for science related filmmaking to a wide variety
of projects and audiences.  Cody, a belated welcome to CALS!

MAJOR CHANGES TO CALS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WEB SITE:

The CALS Cooperative Extension web site <https://extension.arizona.edu/>
will be updated to the new look on Sunday, September 29 and may be
unavailable for that day.  The last day to enter content on the current site
is Friday, September 20.  If you have any questions or concerns contact
Kelly Arizmendi <mailto:mblock at cals.arizona.edu> .

EXTENSION IN THE MEDIA:

Farming As Rocket Science:
<http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21584994-why-american-agricultu
re-different-european-variety-farming-rocket-science>   Why American
Agriculture is Different From the European Variety featuring 4-H Ag and
Science programming (The Economist, September 7)

NEW PUBLICATION:

School Garden Food Safety Guidelines
<http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/health/az1604.pdf>  by Monica Kilcullen
Pastor, Ashley Schimke and Diane Eckles (#az1604)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

WRRC Brown Bag Seminar: Western Water Challenges and the Role of Water
Transfers <https://wrrc.arizona.edu/node/12452> , Thursday, September 12,
12:00-1:30pm, WRRC Sol Resnick Conference Room with guest speaker Nathan
Bracken (Legal Counsel, Western States Water Council).  The presentation
will discuss the findings of "Water Transfers in the West
<https://wrrc.arizona.edu/awr/w13/transfers> ."  

National Extension Climate Science Initiative Conference and In-service
Workshop <http://sfec.cfans.umn.edu/Conference/index.htm> , October 28-30,
Cloquet, Minnesota.  Now is the time to register and make your reservations
for the conference and workshop.  Travel reimbursement scholarships are
available for $250 and $500 through NIFA and ANREP funds and you can apply
for more than one scholarship.  Since funds are limited, you need to attend
this matter soon to assure your opportunity.  Scholarship forms are
available at the NIFA and ANREP sites.  Contact Chris Jones
<mailto:ckjones at cals.arizona.edu>  for more information and the application
link.

Jeffrey C. Silvertooth
Associate Dean

Director for Extension & Economic Development 

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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