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The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

Vol. 13, No. 34 July 3, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...'Empowering Community Leadership' Conference to be Held for South-Central Kansas Community Leaders
...Kansas 4-H/FFA Wheat Variety Plot Enrollment
...Diversity Programs Office Update
...CSREES Grant Writing Workshop
...4-H Camp Season Has Just Completed!
...K-State IPM 2007 Mini-Grant Call for Proposals Announced
...Publications/Production Services Update
...Professional Development Opportunities are Beginning to Appear on the Professional Development System Catalog
...Items Available on the Web in Preparation for Kansas State Fair Exhibits
...Workshops Needed for the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum
...Marie's Pick of the Week
...Marketing Minute: Using County Publication Allocation Funds for Marketing Items
...4-H FCS State Contest
...Employee Resources Website
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Disasters just keep striking in Kansas. As most of you are aware through the news, the southeast part of Kansas has been devastated with flooding. We are working to gather information from agents and office staff in the counties that have been hit hard by flooding to determine first their status and well-being, and then to follow-up with some sense of the situation for their offices, and the community response and recovery. As with any type of natural disaster, clean up will be a huge undertaking. Making certain any educational resources and support information you can provide to the flood victims in clean up is sorely needed.

Envision flood waters that have been the highest on record in your community and the damage such a situation would create. That is precisely what has been delivered to many communities throughout the southeastern part of our state. We will be sending out status reports on our offices and the faculty and staff from time to time. Keep those persons and all the victims of this disaster in your prayers for the coming weeks as well. - Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

'EMPOWERING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP' CONFERENCE TO BE HELD FOR SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS COMMUNITY LEADERS
USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks announced the annual 'Community Development Academy: Empowering Community Leadership' training program will be offered for south-central Kansas community leaders in July. The community development training opportunity, a joint effort of USDA Rural Development, FHLBank Topeka, K-State Research and Extension, Kansas Rural Development Foundation, and Kansas Department of Commerce, will consist of training for local leaders covering a variety of community development tools and techniques to help meet the opportunities presented in south-central Kansas and their impact on the region's communities.

The 2007 'Community Development Academy' will be offered in three, day-long sessions on July 11, 18 and 25 at the McKinley Administrative Center, 308 E 1st Street, in Newton. Communities wishing to participate in the Academy are encouraged to form teams of not less than three local leaders and will be expected to participate in all three sessions. There will be a charge of $65/participant. To make a reservation for the Community Development Academy, please register online at http://www.regonline.com/cda and complete the registration form and return it to FHLBank Topeka at One Security Benefit Pl., Suite 100, Box 176, Topeka, Kansas 66601-0176 by July 6.

If you have any questions regarding this program, please feel free to contact the FHLBank Topeka at 1-866-571-8155 or USDA Rural Development at 785-271-2718. --Steven M. Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

KANSAS 4-H/FFA WHEAT VARIETY PLOT ENROLLMENT
Many Kansans are in the middle of wheat harvest right now. Current 4-H members still have time to re-enroll, and new members may now enroll for the 2008 Kansas 4-H/FFA Wheat Variety Plot program. The program begins fall of 2007 and goes through September 2008.

The enrollment form is currently available on the Kansas State 4-H Website, www.kansas4-H.org , under "What's Hot" rather than the Northwest Research Extension site. Members are asked to contact their local Extension Office by July 10 for information with enrollments due to the Northwest Area Extension Office by July 25, 2007. It is very important that we know the number of participants early, so we can have enough seed and metal signs available for Extension agents and leaders to pick up at the Kansas State Fair.

New participants will receive a large plot sign, and five individual variety signs. Returning members will receive updated variety signs if the varieties change. These will be distributed on the first weekend of the 2007 Kansas State Fair. This year's participants who are getting ready to harvest their plots should be planning their county fair display for possible qualifying for the Kansas State Fair entry in the Pride of Kansas Building.

Resource information for the wheat variety project includes:

(1) Wheat Variety Plot Brochure, 4-H 565 Rev., April 2000, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/4h_y2/samplers/4H565.asp ;

(2) Wheat Variety Plot- -Youth Participant Handbook, 4-H 566, Aug. 1996, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/4h_y2/samplers/4H566.asp ; and

(3) 4-H Wheat Variety Plot Record, P1099, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/4h_y2/samplers/P1099.asp .

For more information, contact Deryl Waldren at 785-462-6281, or e-mail dwaldren@ksu.edu . --Deryl Waldren

DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
With the summer half way over, we have been reflecting on the success that the Diversity Programs Office and MANRRS had last year, which was filled with many exciting activities. We hosted schools from Region IV for the 2006 Regional MANRRS Conference in November, which was a huge success. We then took 15 students to the MANRRS National Conference in Birmingham, AL in March, 2007, where students had the opportunity to network with professionals from around the country and learn important job search skills. A few weeks later Cargill, Inc. hosted eight K-State students in Minneapolis, MN for their annual Backpack to Briefcase program, where students got a chance to network, learn about high-performance companies, and gain leadership and professional skills. At the end of June, Elanco Animal Health hosted a Diversity Workshop for faculty and their students. Dr. Zelia Wiley and Janelle Franklin, Junior in Animal Science/Pre- Vet attended this informative session at the Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN. We also had opportunities to work with various elementary and high schools, in our Jr. MANRRS program throughout the year to make them aware of the opportunities available to them in Agriculture.

We are pleased to announce the second annual KSRE Multicultural Student Summer Research Program is well under way. The program started June 4 and will end July 27, 2007. This year we have four students on campus, they are:

Khadine Haye, Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Randy Phebus, Mentor.
Alexander McGowan, Alabama A&M University, Dr. Randy Phebus, Mentor.
Ian Smith, Purdue University, Dr. Jim Nechols, Mentor.
M. Antonio Silas, Tennessee State University, Dr. John Crespi, Mentor.

Over the summer we are working with several College of Agriculture recruitment programs trying to promote the College to several diverse backgrounds. We have talked with students who were on campus for new student enrollment and are hoping that some will take advantage of the Diversity Programs Office this fall. We will also be represented at the Kauffman Scholars Program, American Royal and First Tee Program, to promote the College’s exciting academic programs to multicultural students.

After the success we had with the last year’s activities, we look forward to all the new and exciting things that we have planned for the 2007-2008 school year. As usual, if you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to use YOUR Diversity Programs Office as a resource. Have a great summer! --Zelia Wiley zwh@ksu.edu

CSREES GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
The Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station, The University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), and the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors are pleased to host a two-day grant writing workshop October 2-3, 2007 at the Holiday Inn Denver International Airport, Denver CO.

The October 2nd Grantsmanship Workshop on CSREES-USDA Funding Opportunities will include emphasis on the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRICGP), Higher Education, Multicultural Alliances and International Programs, Integrated Research, Education and Extension Programs, Social Sciences Programs, Microbial Programs, Natural Resources and Environment Programs, Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards, and Small Business Innovation Research Programs (SBIR). Please see the website for a complete listing.

The Writing Winning Grants Workshop on October 3rd will provide participants with the tools needed to be successful in the grant writing process. The workshop will emphasize the process of developing a successful grant submission including developing a personal strategic plan, participating in the review process, proposal organization, development of integrated team proposals, and avoiding common proposal writing errors.

Both workshops are designed for an audience of researchers, extension specialists, educators and administrators. Participants should expect to gain a complete understanding of the grant writing process.

Travel grants will be awarded to faculty from minority-serving institutions to partially offset the cost of attending these workshops. Travel grant application information is available on the Workshop websites at the links below.

Complete registration, lodging, workshop schedules, travel grant applications, and other details are available at http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/AES/csrees/ . --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

4-H CAMP SEASON HAS JUST COMPLETED!
Here’s a quick reminder...if extension units are exploring the option of joining another camp group. According to 4-H Handbook, extension units have from the end of their camp session until September 30 to change groups. Furthermore, each Extension Executive Board within a camp group must be signatories to a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that acknowledges that shared accountability and liability for said camping group. This MOA then needs to be forwarded to State 4-H Office before September 30. --Pam Van Horn pvanhorn@ksu.edu

K-STATE IPM 2007 MINI-GRANT CALL FOR PROPOSALS ANNOUNCED
The K-State IPM Mini-Grant Call for Proposals is now available at
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/pesticides-ipm/mini_grants_2007.htm .

Since this program began in 2002, 27 proposals to date have received over $138,000 in funding. 57% of all proposals received during this time have been funded.

These are small grant awards for small research projects, IPM implementation ideas or other IPM related work. There is a maximum of $8,000 which can be applied for on any one grant project. All applicants must have a tie to a K-State Primary Investigator contact.

If you have any questions regarding this grant program, please contact Sharon Dobesh at 785-532-4748 or sdobesh@ksu.edu . --Sharon Dobesh

PUBLICATIONS/PRODUCTION SERVICES UPDATE

Grant Funds New Publication
The publication, "Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Information," MF-2775, was inadvertently listed with a price on the August order form. It is a grant-funded publication and does not have a charge associated with it. Clients who ordered this publication will not be charged for it. --Mark Stadtlander mark@ksu.edu

Pollinator Garden Wheel
A sample "Pollinator Garden Wheel" is being sent to each county office in the weekly mail packet. The wheel, intended to raise awareness of insect pollinators, is a colorful educational tool funded by the Bureau of Land Management, CSREES and the Aveda Corporation. Although the wheels are free from Pollinator Partnership, a shipping charge of $5 each applies.

Please note that our office received only one wheel per county, and these wheels will NOT be available through the Department of Communications Distribution Center. For more information, or to order additional wheels, visit http://pollinator.org/Garden_Wheel.htm .

Postal Changes
As your office orders envelopes, newsletters and other materials intended to be mailed, remember to consider the new shape-based mailing standards. (See http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/senditwithintheus/firstclassletters.htm for more information about 1^st class letters.)

A few quick notes about 1^st class letters:

Because the size (including thickness) of envelopes is now more important than weight for letters at 3.5 ounces or less, postage may be less expensive with a 6 x 9 envelope – contents folded in half – rather than a standard #10 business envelope with contents trifolded. Experiment and check with your post office.

Letters may be no larger than 6 1/8 inches high x 11 1/2 inches long x 1/4 inch thick. Check with your post office for a template to measure before you send – especially for large mailings.

Letters that don’t meet the requirements are considered nonmachinable and are subject to a surcharge. For example, if you have an envelope 6 1/4 x 9 x 1/4 inch, it is consider 1/8 inch too high. Even if it meets weight requirements, instead of 41 cents, it will cost 80 cents in postage because of the envelope size.

(Thanks to Glenda Keller of River Valley District for suggesting this reminder.)

Already have too-big envelopes you need to use? If the contents won’t be too thick, consider tightly folding and taping the bottom of the envelope to make it smaller and meet the size requirement. (Postal Service representatives suggested this!) Then, next time you order, remember to ask for envelopes that meet size requirements.

To order envelopes or other stationery items, contact Deb McClain-Willliams, debmw@ksu.edu --Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEGINNING TO APPEAR ON THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM CATALOG
If you’d like to become familiar with the Professional Development System, go to the K-State Research and Extension web page, www.oznet.ksu.edu :

1. Select Employee Resources link from lower right of web page.
2. Select Professional Development from the left column.
3. Select Proposal Entry/Catalog of Offerings from upper middle column.
4. Remember that we must now add “ad\” before your eID. Use your regular password. (The big challenge for first users seems to be to get the correct slash; it’s the backslash - on the same row of the keyboard as the letter P).
5. Select catalog and review the offerings. Try searching by Program focus; click on a "Focus Area" from the drop down list then click the search button.

* You may select an offering by clicking in the box to the left of an offering.
* Be sure to click on the “Update/Add to my Selections” button at the bottom of the list.
* This will place your selections on “My Home” which is unique to you.
* By selecting an offering you will be adding your name to a list of individuals who plan to participate.
* This is *NOT* a registration for the offering.
* Look for registration information within each proposal.
* It may not be there at first so check from time to time on those offerings you have selected.

Thanks to everyone who has begun contributing to this process! --Margaret Phillips margaret@ksu.edu

ITEMS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB IN PREPARATION FOR KANSAS STATE FAIR EXHIBITS
The following items are available on the web in preparation for the 4-H exhibits at the Kansas State Fair:

- 4-H State Fair Packet: Includes letters with exhibit/volunteering details and contact information; downloadable instructions, forms and score sheets; and links to information needed to enter and prepare 4-H members’ exhibits for the state fair.

- KSFAIR Entry System: The intranet site where Extension personnel enter 4-H members’ exhibits for the State Fair. With the recent security upgrades installed by IET, users must enter “AD\” before their user name (EID) to be able to access the KSFAIR system. Entries are due August 15 with exception for fairs after that date.

- On-line Registration: All teens, adult volunteers, and Extension staff who will be helping with the various 4-H exhibit areas need to register through this site to receive gate passes, meal tickets, and information regarding the exhibit area for which they volunteer.

You may access all this information via http://www.Kansas4-H.org/Events/KSF/KSFPacket.htm .

You may also go to the Kansas 4-H home page at http://www.Kansas4-H.org and click on “Kansas State Fair Packet” under “What’s Hot.” --Justin Wiebers jwiebers@ksu.edu

WORKSHOPS NEEDED FOR THE KANSAS YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM
Planning is underway for the 8th Annual Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, to be held November 16-18, 2007, at Rock Springs 4-H Center. This event, designed for youth ages 14-18, will include: speakers, workshops, consulting groups and the election of the State 4-H Youth Leadership Council.

We are recruiting proposals for workshops. Workshops will be offered on Saturday, November 17, 8:30- 9:30 a.m. (session #1); 9:45-10:45 a.m. (session #2); and 1:00-2:00 p.m. (session #3). Topics should center on leadership. Some ideas might include, but are not limited to citizenship, character, communication, conflict management, ethics, motivation, initiatives, decision making, leading by example, time management, using your resources, leadership after high school, getting involved, international citizenship, diversity, multi cultural studies and business etiquette.

Proposal forms are available on the web and are due July 10:
http://4-h.k-state.edu/Events/KYLF/2007/KYLF%20Presenters%20for%20the%20web.pdf . --Beth A. Hinshaw bhinshaw@ksu.edu

MARIE'S PICK OF THE WEEK
While continuing to review the database for items especially effective at helping us understand how our work can be highlighted to share outcomes, impacts, and success stories, this week’s selection is an Impact Report from Jay Ham.

Jay is part of a team engaged in new research focused on ammonia emissions from cattle feedlots. Thus, science based information is being provided that can help protect the environment and formulate fair, equitable regulations that do not overburden industry.

New EPA regulations on ammonia emissions from cattle feedlots are almost certain to be finalized and implemented in the next few years. Currently there are multiple lawsuits arguing that feedlots should be regulated by EPCRA (Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act) guidelines, which state that any facility that emits over 100 lbs/d per day of ammonia is subject to monitoring and reporting. All but the smallest feedlots in Kansas would exceed this limit. Feedlots could potentially incur a host of new costs associated with these regulations. Therefore, it is critical that we have accurate information on current ammonia losses from Kansas feedlots so advocates for Kansas agriculture and those writing the regulations have good information to develop fair and feasible regulatory guidelines. Furthermore, we need good methods to measure ammonia losses that can be used to verify compliance with guidelines or verify that emissions have been reduced by best management practices.

A new measurement technique called Time- Averaged Relaxed Eddy Accumulation (TA REA) was developed both theoretically and experimentally. This technique is a viable long term approach, an important capability when studying ammonia losses where diurnal and seasons variations are expected. A tool is now available to measure NH3 losses from feedlots over extended periods and get a good measure of long term losses.

Research also was conducted to measure carbon dioxide and water vapor losses from cattle feedlots using eddy covariance. Developing models for evaporation from pens will improve water balance models and help predict the water status at the surface. Many air quality issues at feedlots (ammonia, dust) are strongly affected by the moisture content of the pen. Carbon dioxide measurements will help quantify the emissions of greenhouse gases (Carbon Dioxide, Methane) from feedlots.

New research is underway to develop an overnight test for measuring seepage from lagoons. Results from this study could make seepage measurements much more cost effective and routine. Once this technique is finalized, it will be transferred to the engineering community in Kansas and become readily available to producers.

Thus, research from this project will benefit the environmental and economic sustainability of livestock production in Kansas. Any research that helps keep the feedlot industry thriving in Kansas could have vast economic impact. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

MARKETING MINUTE: USING COUNTY PUBLICATION ALLOCATION FUNDS FOR MARKETING ITEMS
The county publication allocation is an annual dollar amount distributed by the Associate Director of Extension and Applied Research, and maintained by K-State Research and Extension's Department of Communications.

The allocation provides funds to purchase publications and other materials needed for programs or for general distribution. In 2005, the allocation was expanded to cover all items and services provided and billed to county/district offices by the Department of Communications, including numbered publications, newsletter design, printing and mailing, editing, video tapes, CDs and DVDs, teleconferencing; marketing items, and more.

Allocations can not be used for publications and items that are printed or sold by other departments. Items such as pins, ear tags and other 4-H project materials are billed through the 4-H Foundation and are not eligible for allocation purchases. Items that are printed or manufactured by a non-university facility, such as banners or building signs, are ineligible - although staff in the Department of Communications can assist you with design and ordering.

For a complete list of marketing items available through the Department of Communications, go to http://www.communications.ksu.edu/marketing and click on Marketing Items.

If you have questions about how to use your county's publication allocation, please send an e-mail to Gina Nixon at gnixon@ksu.edu .

Please contact Pat Melgares, melgares@ksu.edu; or Lisa Heller, lheller@ksu.edu ; for questions regarding the marketing items in inventory. --Pat Melgares

4-H FCS STATE CONTEST
The 4-H FCS State Fair Contest will be on Saturday, September 15, 2007. You can find topics that will be covered on the 4-H website. This year they include an intermediate and senior contest. If you do not have enough members for a team, individuals may participate.

Volunteers are needed to run this event. Please sign up a volunteer from your county on the 4-H Registration site this year, due by August 1, http://www.kansas4-h.org/ActionTeams/FCS/Events/default.htm . --Carol Fink cfink@ksu.edu

EMPLOYEE RESOURCES WEBSITE
Greg LeValley, Print Shop Supervisor in the Department of Communications, is featured in the "Do You Know...." section of the Employee Resources website for July. The article can be viewed at www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee_resources . --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

Submit corrections to previously submitted items to jzarger@ksu.edu .

DATES TAKEN FROM THE MASTER SCHEDULE FOR JULY 11, 2007, THROUGH JULY 17, 2007:

Wednesday, July 11
.... Community Development Academy - Session 1 of 3, Newton/HV, Statewide, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Dan Kahl dkahl@oznet.ksu.edu
.... NC District Horse Show, Salina, NC District, Sharon Breiner glaenzer@ksu.edu
.... NE District Horse Show, Lawrence/DG, NE District, Sharon Breiner glaenzer@ksu.edu

Wednesday, July 11, through Saturday, July 14
.... Sedgwick County Fair, Cheney, SE

Wednesday, July 11, through Sunday, July 15
.... Barton County Fair, Great Bend, NW

Thursday, July 12, through Saturday, July 14
.... Tri-County Free Fair, Herington/DK and surrounding area, NE

Saturday, July 14, through Monday, July 16
.... Howard-Elk County Fair, Howard, SE

Saturday, July 14, through Saturday, July 21
.... Grant County Free Fair, Ulysses, SW

Sunday, July 15, through Thursday, July 19
.... NACAA AM/PIC, Grand Rapids, MI, Billy Wood bdwood@oznet.ksu.edu
.... Hodgeman County Fair, Jetmore, SW

Sunday, July 15, through Saturday, July 21
.... Bourbon County Fair, Fort Scott, SE
.... Ellis County Fair, Hays, NW

Monday, July 16, through Wednesday, July 18
.... Osage County Fair, Osage City, SE
.... New Extension Agent Orientation, KSU-Manhattan, Statewide, 12:30 p.m., Stacey Warner swarner@oznet.ksu.edu

Tuesday, July 17, through Friday, July 20
.... Brown County Free Fair, Horton, NE

Tuesday, July 17, through Saturday, July 21
.... Cloud County Fair, Concordia, NE
.... Logan County Fair, Oakley, NW

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Please Submit Items no later than Noon on Monday to include in the following Tuesday Letter to:
tuesday@oznet.ksu.edu . Put the word "Tuesday" in the subject line.

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