The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 13, No. 26  May 8, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Kansas 4-H Foundation Sets Up "Recovery Fund"
...Housing Offered by USDA Rural Development to Tornado Survivors
...Highlights of the New USPS Prices - Shape Matters
...Employee Resources Website
...Reminder: Upcoming Public Issues Facilitation Workshop
...Reminder: Upcoming E-Commerce Workshop
...Extension Machinery Systems Planning Survey
...4-H Afterschool
...Kansas Wheat Commission 50th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration
...Marie's Pick of the Week
...Kansas All Breeds Junior Dairy Show, Judging Contest and Quiz Bowl in July
...Join an eXtension Community of Practice
...eXtension Fights Exotic Pest with Launch of Imported Fire Ants Website
...K-State to Offer Grant Writing Course Through Distance Education
...Master Schedule

                                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
At this time everyone is aware of the devastation that hit Greensburg, and the path of destruction taken by that EF5 tornado, and several others over the course of this past weekend. Losing an entire community over a course of a few minutes is just not conceivable, but it happened. We were pleased to know that the families of Barbara Wingfield, Pamela Muntz, and Carmen Stauth are all okay, but Barbara and Pamela have lost their homes, and Carmen's in-laws lost their home. We are also aware that Glenn Newdigger sustained damage from a tornado to his home and some of his out-buildings. Again, we are blessed that he and his family were okay. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those who did lose their lives in the wrath of the storms.

-- Go to http://www.k-state.edu/farmksu/ . Down the menu on the left side of the page, select "Poster and Brochure." Print out the pdf files and put our poster and brochure in disaster response information centers and encourage your local responders to keep them handy.

K-State's Kansas Rural Family Helpline (KRFH) is available to assist rural families and service providers with the aftermath of the recent storms. In partnership with the Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services (KAMS), staff members are available to provide free confidential assistance, support and referrals to help agricultural producers and rural families with immediate needs. Call our toll-free number at 1-866-327-6578 or e-mail farmksu@humec.ksu.edu .  --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

KANSAS 4-H FOUNDATION SETS UP "RECOVERY FUND"
The Kansas 4-H Foundation has set up a "Greensburg/Kiowa County Recovery Fund." This fund will be directed for use to be determined by the Kiowa County Extension Council in its work to recover from this disaster. Make checks payable to the Kansas 4-H Foundation, and be sure to indicate the gift is directed to the "Greensburg/Kiowa County Recovery Fund." Send your gifts to Greensburg/Kiowa County 4-H Recovery Fund, c/o Kansas 4-H Foundation, 116 Umberger Hall, KSU, Manhattan, KS 66506.

It is anticipated that the greatest needs could be focused towards the 4-H program, and as such this would be a great place for 4-H Clubs around the state to direct any fund raising they might want to do. If you have any questions, please contact the Kansas 4-H Foundation office, 785-532-5881, ghibbard@ksu.edu .

At this time, we are also pursuing the potential of a fund set up for direct assistance to our employees and families directly affected by the storm. We will pass along such information as it develops. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

HOUSING OFFERED BY USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT TO TORNADO SURVIVORS
USDA Rural Development announced today that the Agency will offer housing assistance to eligible Kansans impacted by the recent tornados that have struck the State over the past weekend.  The housing assistance, subject to availability, will utilize USDA-financed rental housing facilities located in rural communities across Kansas.

"USDA Rural Development wishes to assist Kansans who have lost their homes because of these devastating tornados.  I encourage those who have lost their homes to contact USDA Rural Development to see if the Agency can assist them," remarked USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks.

USDA Rural Development is working with the Rural Rental Housing Association of Kansas to place eligible Kansans in housing that will meet their individual and family needs.  The Agency also offers homeownership financing assistance to eligible Kansans.  During Fiscal Year 2006, USDA Rural Development provided $100 million of housing assistance funding for Kansans.

Maximum income limits for USDA Rural Development housing programs in Kiowa County and surrounding counties for a family of two range from $37,400 to $38,900; and for a family of four range from $45,350 to $47,250.

Individuals interested in learning more about USDA Rural Development's housing programs may contact the Agency's Hays office at 785-628-3081, the Iola office at 620-365-2901, or the Manhattan office at 785-776-7582.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs that support increasing economic opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for rural Americans.  As a venture capital entity, USDA Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure in rural America.  Since 2001, USDA Rural Development has delivered over $1 billion for Kansas covering all Agency programs, supporting well over $5 billion in future economic development for the Sunflower State. For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, contact the Agency’s state office in Topeka at 785-271-2700 or visit the Agency’s Kansas website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks . --USDA Rural Development

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEW USPS PRICES - SHAPE MATTERS
The USPS is implementing a rate increase on May 14, 2007. Current prices do not distinguish between some letters, flats, and parcels. Unlike today, where prices are set mostly on the weight of a mailpiece, the USPS is introducing shaped-based pricing. Each shape of mailpiece, a letter, flat, and a parcel has different handling costs and their prices must sufficiently cover those different costs. As shape becomes more important, there is less price emphasis on weight. The USPS wants you to create efficient mailpieces that will be compatible with their processing and sorting systems and use packaging such as a smaller, denser parcel rather than a large, lightweight one. The following are tips to remember when choosing the proper container for your mail. Improving efficiency for the USPS results in lower mailing costs for you.

If your letter is over 3 pages, place it in a 6 x 9 envelope (still a letter size envelope weighing 1 ounce with the cost being $.41) rather than a #10 letter envelope (weighing 1 ounce but over 1/4" thick with the cost moving to an ($.80 flat). Going over in this case has increased your letter to a flat and the price has increased by $.39.

If your parcel contents weighed 1 ounce and could be placed in a flat size envelope and remained under 1/2" thick, you will reduce your rate to a flat ($.80 rather than a parcel ($1.13).

Plan your mailpiece ahead of time. For example, the second ounce of a first-class letter will be less expensive than the first ounce, so combining information from two different mailings into a single mailpiece can save you money. As long as you keep it within the letter shaped regulations, it would cost you $.58. At the very least, you could keep the thickness to 1/2" or a flat, (cost would be $.97 rather than $1.30).

Cleanse your addresses (we offer address list cleansing free of charge to any campus department) and take advantage of discounts offered by CMS (if sending automation compatible letters in the a.m. you will receive a discount on your letters). --Central Mail News

EMPLOYEE RESOURCES WEBSITE
Jeff Davidson, Extension Agent in Greenwood County, is the newest featured employee on the Employee Resources website. Each month the site spotlights a different individual employed by K-State Research and Extension. View the article at www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee_resources . --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

Who uses Public Forums for gathering information? You Could! Right now, through the Center for Engagement and Community Development alone, there are over half a dozen projects or proposals that are utilizing public forums for assessing issues and situations, and to better understand local resources. Topics for these forums include public health, bioenergy production, economic and business development, emergency preparedness, and land-use/community planning. This workshop will help you to involve the right people, develop, and implement the right strategy and/or process for assessing and addressing issues within your county or area. --Dan Kahl dankahl@ksu.edu

REMINDER:  UPCOMING E-COMMERCE WORKSHOP
The Regional Rural Development Centers are sponsoring an e-commerce training for extension educators. E-Commerce Strategies for Small Businesses and Communities will be June 4 - 6, 2007 at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City, NE. The registration deadline was just extended to Friday, May 11th. The response so far has been good but there is space available for more extension educators to attend. Scholarships are available to pay $375 of the $425 conference registration fee. For workshop details and to register, visit http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/07training/index.html . --Dan Kahl dankahl@ksu.edu

EXTENSION MACHINERY SYSTEMS PLANNING SURVEY
Last call for participation in a survey to help plan programming for Extension Machinery Systems outreach activities. All county and district agents who work with agricultural machinery systems programming are invited to participate in a web-based Machinery Systems Survey currently available at https://surveys.ksu.edu/TS?offeringId=68277 .

The survey site is active through May 15, 2007. Results from the survey will help us set priorities for machinery systems program planning. Thank you for your assistance and input. --John Slocombe slocombe@ksu.edu

4-H AFTERSCHOOL
Even though this school year is winding down, those of you providing 4-H learning experiences in the after-school setting will want to get these dates on your calendar. "4-H Afterschool: Realizing the Possibilities" is a pre-conference to the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference will start at noon on October 20 and conclude at noon on October 21. Focus areas will include: funding, collaboration and partnerships, effective programs and curricula. Registration information will be available on the main NAE4-HA conference registration site.

Many of you are doing great work. The 4-H Afterschool Task Force of  the NAE4-HA Programs Committee invites you to submit a proposal for this conference. Proposals are due May 25. For the RFP information, e-mail dmack@ksu.edu  or pvanhorn@ksu.edu .

If you've had an exceptional year with programming, please consider sharing your story on the national 4-H Afterschool website - Success Stories: http://www.4-hafterschool.org/default.aspx . --Diane Mack & Pam Van Horn

KANSAS WHEAT COMMISSION 50TH ANNIVERSARY KICK-OFF CELEBRATION
The Kansas Wheat Commission cordially invites you to their 50th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration on Wednesday, May 30, 2007, at the KSU Ag Research Center, 1232 240th Avenue, Hays, Kansas. The celebration begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and wheat plot tours. Your response is kindly requested by May 21, 2007.

Call 866-759-4328, or e-mail jowens@kswheat.com . --Julie Owens

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