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<div class="">This is my final issue of the Desert Divots to say farewell as I move into retirement after 28+ years with the UArizona Cooperative Extension.</div>
<div class="">I’m grateful to have been able to work with so many golf superintendents, sports field managers, municipal and schools facilities managers, commercial landscapers, vegetable growers, crop consultants, ag chemical industry representatives that
cooperated on so many practical research projects to improve turfgrass and crop management practices. Along with my academic colleagues, I hope that we were able to transfer new technologies that helped change your business of growing better grass and veggies. </div>
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<div class="">Going forward, I’m being optimistic that someone will eventually fill an extension turf position but in the meantime, there are some very capable young and new colleagues for Turf and Ornamentals Extension Entomology -<a href="mailto:nairs@arizona.edu" class="">
Dr. Shaku Nair</a>; Extension Weed Specialist - <a href="mailto:joseluizdias@arizona.edu" class="">Dr. Jose Dias</a>; Extension Soil Health Specialist - <a href="mailto:dsanyal@email.arizona.edu" class="">Dr. Debankur Sanyal</a> Extension Plant Pathologist
- <a href="mailto:epp@email.arizona.edu" class="">Dr. Alex Hu</a> ; Pesticide Safety - <a href="mailto:jennyweber@arizona.edu" class="">Jennifer Weber</a>. </div>
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<div class="">Thx for all the opportunities that made my Extension jobs the best that anyone could do in a lifetime.</div>
<div class="">kai</div>
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<div>Kai Umeda<br class="">
Interim County Extension Director<br class="">
Area Extension Agent, Turfgrass Science<br class="">
The University of Arizona<br class="">
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension<br class="">
4341 East Broadway Road<br class="">
Phoenix, AZ 85040<br class="">
602-827-8214 (office)<br class="">
602-377-8292 (fax)<br class="">
602-377-5042 (cell)<br class="">
<a href="https://turf.arizona.edu" class="">https://turf.arizona.edu</a><br class="">
https://extension.arizona.edu/maricopa<br class="">
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