The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
(Vol. 16 No. 30)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Following is a video on the thought-provoking issue of social media as a means of reaching, teaching, co-learning, and changing our clientele. Charlotte Shoup Olsen, Extension Specialist in Family Studies, pointed me to it.
Social Media Revolution 2 is a refresh of the original video with new and
updated social media & mobile statistics that are hard to ignore. Based on
the book Socialnomics by Erik Qualman.
JUNE 3 WALNUT COUNCIL FIELD DAY AT DR. PHIL EASTEP TREE FARM
The name Dr. Phil Eastep is well known in the Cherryvale area of Kansas. Dr. Eastep has been a dentist for over 33 years. What many people do not know about Dr. Eastep is that he has planted over 50,000 trees on over 100 acres since 1979 and has improved the forest health on his 400-acre tree farm.
“I started planting trees for long-term timber investment for my grandchildren, along with the additional benefits of conservation and wildlife habitat,” Eastep said. “We began by planting windbreaks and in 1991 started planting black walnut plantations.”
Located a few miles northwest of Cherryvale, Kansas, Eastep’s Tree Farm is in the Verdigris River Basin. Dr. Eastep has received financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Riparian Forest Buffer program and Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) to plant trees and CRP Bobwhite Quail border program to plant native grasses.
“The June 3 field day will feature a variety of sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Eastep’s Tree Farm,” said Ryan Neises, president of the Walnut Council’s Kansas chapter.
“Field day planners have directed the session topics toward landowners and natural resource professionals who want to know more about the management of black walnut and other fine quality hardwood trees.”
According to Neises, many of the session leaders will be specialists from the Kansas Forest Service (KFS), Kansas State University (KSU) Research and Extension, or other Kansas natural resource professionals.
The council itself is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the culture of fine quality hardwoods by working to help “transfer” science and technology into actual field applications. The Kansas chapter has 64 members.Their field day program will include a catered lunch that is covered in the event’s $12 registration fee. Registration information and driving directions are available on the Website at http://www.kansasforests.org/calendar/index.shtml. Field day hosts are asking interested attendees to preregister for the event now.
The day’s practical and often hands-on session topics will be:
* Overview of Tree Farm – Dr. Phil Eastep, Owner and Kim Hooper, Tree Farm Manager
* Managing and Pruning Black Walnut Plantations – Dennis Carlson, Southcentral KFS District Forester
* Thousand Canker Disease of Black Walnut – Jon Appel, Kansas Department of Agriculture Plant Pathologist
* Grafting Black Walnut for Nut Production – Bill Reid, Associate Professor of Nut Crops, KSU
* Wildlife Management and Damage Control – Charlie Lee, KSU Research and Extension Wildlife Specialist
* Soils and Sites for Black Walnut – Don Gastineau, Soil Scientist, Natural Resource Conservation Service
* Quail Borders and Habitat – Allen Reed, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Bio-Technician
* Portable Sawmill and Solar Kiln – Dave Bruton, Northeast KFS District Forester and Kim Hooper, Tree Farm manager
Ryan Neises said the field day site will provide “an excellent example of good forestry practices associated with the production and management of black walnut.”
For more information contact Ryan Neises is at 785-242-2073 or ryan.neises@ks.usda.gov. --Steven Graham
KSRE MULTICULTURAL SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
The 2010 KSRE Multicultural Summer Research Fellowship will start on June 7, and end on July 30, 2010. During these eight weeks, four students will have the opportunity to work on research projects with a supportive faculty mentor. The student fellows will learn about new career opportunities in food, agriculture and related sciences; work in modern facilities; and interact with industry professionals. This year our office received 14 excellent applications. Of the applicants, four were selected to be a part of the program. The selected students are as follows.
Candace Rodgers, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, mentored by Dr. Randy Phebus;
Brielle Wright, North Carolina A&T State University, mentored by Dr. Zelia Wiley and Dr. Dwayne Barber;
Daja Menefee, Fort Valley State University, mentored by Dr. David Lambert;
Gabrielle Washington, Prairie View A&M, mentored by Dr. Ted Schroeder.
I hope you will all welcome these students onto our campus! --Zelia Wiley zwiley@ksu.edu
KANSAS NRCS ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR INNOVATION GRANTS
State Conservationist Eric B. Banks with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced $200,000 available funding for new technology or approaches under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Through innovation, CIG is an effort to address some of the state's most pressing natural resource conservation needs. CIG is a component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"In today’s rapidly changing world for NRCS to continue to effectively and efficiently get conservation on the ground, we need to continue to seek out new and innovative ideas,” Banks said. “CIG helps us do just that.”
CIG is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. The program enables NRCS to work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the Nation's most pressing natural resource concerns. CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations.
State, tribal, and local governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, and individuals may apply. Project proposals should demonstrate the use of innovative technologies or approaches to address a natural resource concern. Project results are expected to improve and create the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS technical manuals or guides or to the private sector.
Applications are due in the Kansas NRCS state office by June 25, 2010. Project proposals will be evaluated with the assistance of the Kansas Technical Committee based on the criteria identified in the announcement of Fiscal Year 2010 program funding.
Selected applicants may receive grants up to 50 percent of the total project cost, not exceeding $50,000. Applicants must provide non-federal matching funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost. Of the non-federal matching funds, 50 percent may be from in-kind contributions. Projects may be single or multi-year, not to exceed three years.
Additional information, the request for proposals, and related forms are located at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/index.html and at Grants.gov. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu
KANSAS 4-H & FFA STATE WHEAT SHOW AND 4-H WHEAT VARIETY PLOT INFORMATION
The 2010 Kansas 4-H & FFA State Wheat Show will be in Larned. This exciting free educational event will be Friday, August 6, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the J. A. Haas Building on the Pawnee County Fairgrounds. The wheat show is open to all 4-H and FFA members, family members, 4-H leaders, Extension staff and Vocational Agriculture staff.
Pre-registration is required for an accurate meal count and for tour divisions by July 31, on the Kansas 4-H website registration system, www.kansas4-h.org. Register by clicking on “4-H Events Registration,” and then “4-H Wheat Show.” For those with no computer connections, contact Rod Wallace at Pawnee County Extension for a food count by July 30, at 620-285-6901. Visit http://www.kansas4-h.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=226 for full details about the wheat show.
The 2011 Kansas 4-H Wheat Variety Plot enrollment deadline is nearing. As wheat harvest approaches it is time to remind members to re-enroll or ask new members to enroll for the 2011 Kansas 4-H and FFA Wheat Variety Plot program. The program begins fall of 2010 and goes through September 2011. Visit http://www.kansas4-h.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=297 to download a copy of the enrollment form. Members are asked to contact their local Extension Office by July 9 for information with enrollments due to the Northwest Area Extension Office by July 9, 2010. Registration is required, so we can have enough seed and metal signs available for Extension agents and leaders to pick up at the Kansas State Fair on Friday, September 10. New participants will receive a large plot sign, and five individual variety signs. Returning members will get peel-off wheat variety signs to update their metal signs. Resource information for the wheat variety project includes:
(1) Wheat Variety Plot Brochure, 4-H 565 Rev., April 2000;
(2) Wheat Variety Plot--Youth Participant Handbook, 4-H 566, Aug. 1996; and
(3) 4-H Wheat Variety Plot Record, P1099, downloadable from the above site.
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 4-H & FFA Showcase Building. For more information about these wheat programs, contact Deryl Waldren at 785-462-6281 or e-mail dwaldren@ksu.edu. --Deryl Waldren
MAY EXTENSION AGENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Andrea Schmidt, 4-H Youth Development Agent in Riley County, changed her name to Andrea Feldkamp on May 1, 2010.
Debra Wood, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Geary County, transferred from Ft. Riley Extension Military Agent effective May 2, 2010.
Jennifer Tiemeyer, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Reno County, changed her name to Jennifer Schroeder on May 8, 2010. Her e-mail address remains the same.
Jennifer Schoenfeld, Director in Gove County, began employment effective May 16, 2010. Her e-mail address is jens@ksu.edu.
Julie Niehage, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Logan County, began employment effective May 16, 2010. Her e-mail address is julienie@ksu.edu.
Leann Spinden, 4-H Youth Development Agent in Reno County, began employment effective May 30, 2010. Her e-mail address is lspinden@ksu.edu.
Robin Slattery, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in River Valley Extension District, began employment effective May 30, 2010. Her e-mail address is rslat@ksu.edu.
--Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
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