The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
(Vol. 16 No. 35)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
I
wish to extend a warm welcome and congratulations to the four (4) new
Extension Districts which have just formed as of July 1! They are as follows:
- Southwind Extension District #10 - Allen and
Neosho
- Frontier Extension
District #11 - Osage and Franklin
- (Soon to be named)
Extension District #12 - Logan and Trego
- Flint Hills Extension
District #13 - Morris and Chase
That now brings K-State Research and Extension to 33 counties across the state now
operating as Extension Districts. In a quick review, it appears another
15 to 20 counties are seriously considering the move to a district structure in
2011. My thanks to the 4-H faculty who recently polled Extension agents
in Districts regarding changes they have experienced with the 4-H program after
becoming a multi-county unit. We are working on that information and plan
to share it early this fall.
In other news, Michigan
State University
has just announced a restructuring of Extension to meet the budgetary
realities they face. The restructuring has moved then from 82 counties to 13 multi-county
districts. They have further focused their areas of programming based
around need and ability to effectively deliver. I know Dr. Coon
personally and have great admiration and respect for his wisdom and
determination. These changes didn't come easily, and were well planned
and thought through as a means of keeping MSU Extension as strong as possible
and still delivering the high impact programs. However, many areas of
programming will no longer be supported as a priority.
You may have already been aware that the University of Illinois Extension is to be undergoing a restructuring process. University of Nebraska, Iowa State University, Ohio State University, and University of Minnesota have recently undergone changes in staffing and/or supported programming areas.
I present this to you because I do not believe we'll be experiencing any increases in our
state budget for higher education and K-State Research and Extension. Many of our county budgets will be in the same shape. We've already had significant positions lost
of our Extension faculty on campus and in our area offices and our research
faculty. We may well be seeing a few positions lost in our counties. Extension Districts will hold their own. Our core values include words like integrity
and scholarship. I translate those into how we describe ourselves as
"research-based." When the research base erodes significantly,
our ability to program in those knowledge areas becomes marginal.
Considering
the long term outlook for state and federal funding, we must seek to find ways
to create new foundational funding to support our most vital positions, from wherever
those funding sources may come. Our
toughest decisions setting forth the future for K-State Research and Extension
are yet to come.
Don't take this as doom and gloom. It is a call to setting priorities and seeking new funding streams whereby KSRE
is relevant, valued, and sustainable for the long haul with the interest of the
people of Kansas first and
foremost. It is not about what we cannot do, but rather what we can
continue to do that is making a difference for our audiences.
Thanks
for all you do to make a difference!
And, have a great week! --Daryl
Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
4-H HEALTHY LIVING UPDATE
Pam Van Horn and Carol Fink will be providing webinars to
update agents on the resources available from National 4-H in the area of
Healthy Living Mission Mandate. A Healthy Living Resource Guide is available that provides support for both
physical (physical fitness, nutrition, safety including ATV & agriculture) and
mental (social and emotional) health. We will also look at health logic models,
curricula, programs and websites. Both webinars will be the same so join when
it is most convenient for you.
The Healthy
Living Resource Guide was developed for agents and volunteers. Feel free to invite master volunteers in the health area to participate. Please join
us a few minutes early as we plan to start on time.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 1:30 p.m.
Monday, July 19, 11:00 a.m.
Please run off the Resource Guide ahead of the webinar http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/about/4h_health.htm.
How To Connect:
Start connecting 5 minutes prior to the start
time. You need a computer with Internet access and speakers. At the meeting
time, copy and paste this URL into your browser to enter the meeting: http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/kansas4h/.
At that URL you will find a login page.
“Enter as a Guest” with your name, and business or institution and click “Enter
Room.” Anytime before the meeting you can visit the
following URL to confirm your ability to connect - http://www.extension.iastate.edu/testconnect/. --Pam Van Horn pvanhorn@ksu.edu and Carol Fink cfink@ksu.edu
KANSAS YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM WORKSHOPS
The 11th
Annual Kansas Youth Leadership Forum will be held in November at Rock
Springs 4-H Center. This conference, designed for youth, ages 14-18,
will include speakers, workshops, consulting groups and the election of
the 2011 Kansas State 4-H Youth Leadership Council.
We are
recruiting
proposals for workshop session instructors/presenters for Saturday,
November 20. Topics should
center on leadership. Some ideas might include, but are not limited to,
community service, leadership in an industry or career, citizenship, communications, conflict management,
ethics, motivation, decision making, leading by example, time
management, international citizenship, multi-cultural studies,
diversity, business etiquette and getting involved after high school.
The Kansas State 4-H Youth Council members hope that you will be interested in sharing your expertise or talent with
this opportunity.
The letter and proposal form are both on the
State 4-H Website, on the KYLF page. Proposals
are due to Beth Hinshaw by July 20. Questions can be directed to Beth
Hinshaw, bhinshaw@ksu.edu. --Beth Hinshaw
UNIQUE NO-TILL TOUR OPPORTUNITY
No-till on the Plains is accepting registrations up through July 21 for its Points South No-till Bus Tour which will be held July 27–29, 2010. The bus tour is a unique opportunity for attendees to travel along with Dr. Ray Ward, owner of Ward Laboratories of Kearney, NE, who shares his vast knowledge of continuous no-tillage, soils, and geology throughout the trip. The air-conditioned motor coach tour features a spectrum of soils, climates, and crops.
Brian Lindley, Executive Director of No-till on the Plains, Inc., shares, "Producers have asked us for a southern tour, and we have delivered! Our tour format allows participants to ask questions of the experts and get immediate, practical answers. The interaction on the bus is just tremendous. Attendees of past tours have told us that these trips have changed their thinking, their farming practices, and their lives."
No-till on the Plains is excited to feature a great slate of several Kansas and Oklahoma producers who have attended past No-till on the Plains events, have taken what they have learned and have applied it on their own farms with a wide diversification of crops.
Excellent farm stops with Tom Cannon at Blackwell, OK and Tony Kodesh at Red Rock, OK will kick off the tour. These two have been frequent speakers for No-till on the Plains and are making the most of their continuous no-till systems. Both producers are highly approachable and will share their experience with a variety of crops and conditions. The next stop will be Oklahoma State University where tour attendees will have the opportunity to visit with OSU professors Dr. Chad Godsey and Dr. Randy Taylor over supper at The Ranchers Club on the OSU campus.
A highlighted stop on day two will be The Noble Foundation at Ardmore, OK which assists farmers and ranchers with research and agricultural programs and will be of special interest to those who raise livestock or are interested in grazing. No-till on the Plains Board of Director Alan Mindemann’s continuous no-till operation is the next farm stop at Apache, OK. No-till producer Jimmy Kinder will also join the group to share with attendees at this stop.
Day three of the tour features two Kansas producers. Ryan Speer of Jacob Farms in Halstead who was featured at the January 2010 No-till on the Plains AIM Symposium will share his knowledge on an assortment of no-till crops. No-till on the Plains Board of Director Joe Swanson at Windom, KS will be the final outstanding producer stop and will relate why he believes 100% no-till is the way to go for a variety of reasons.
Past attendee comments include, "The tour was great! This has to be one of the most impacting agricultural educational experiences available; Touring with Ray Ward is like a college course in soils and geology; Great interaction between presenters and people on tour; As a novice no-tiller I learned a lot of new techniques, active research, and practical applications for my farm; Delightful intellectual stimulation by dedicated professionals and progressive forward-thinking no-tillers; Great one-on-one learning and sharing; This is my sixth No-till on the Plains Tour -- I will be back!"
Sightseeing on the bus tour will include Bricktown in the heart of Oklahoma City, a magnificently restored warehouse neighborhood now home to many restaurants, nightclubs, sporting facilities, shops, attractions, condos, and a spectacular canal. Attendees will also have the opportunity to walk through the impressive OKC Bombing Memorial at the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Registration for the tour is $580 ($290 for spouses) which includes travel and double-occupancy lodging. Attendees are responsible for meal costs. Pick-up/drop-off locations are available at Manhattan and McPherson, Kansas. For more information on the Points South No-till Bus Tour or to register by July 21, contact No-till on the Plains, Inc. at 888-330-5142 or www.notill.org. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu
AGENT UPDATE REGISTRATIONS DUE AUGUST 6TH
The August
Agent Update will be held August 23-25, 2010 at
the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan. Please return the registration
form and check by August 6th to receive the early bird discount.
A block of rooms has
been held at the Holiday Inn Campus for August 23-25, 2010. Their number
is 785-539-7531. Please mention K-State Research
and Extension to get the $89 room rate. The cutoff for making
reservations is
July 24. --Linda Lamb llamb@ksu.edu
APPLICATIONS FOR ESP RECOGNITION DUE AUGUST 15
Now is the time to prepare an application for yourself or a nomination for someone else for Epsilon Sigma Phi recognition. There are twelve categories of awards to recognize members for outstanding accomplishments. Recipients will be honored at the Epsilon Sigma Phi annual recognition event at KSRE Annual Conference in October.
To be eligible for recognition by Epsilon Sigma Phi, individuals must hold current ESP membership and meet the guidelines for the recognition category. Applications and nominations must be received by August 15.
The process is easy! There is no special form required, just submit a brief (no more than 2-page) description of why the person or team should be considered for recognition and submit to Linda Beech, ESP Award Committee Chair, lbeech@ksu.edu by the deadline.
Full details and recognition descriptions are available on the ESP website at www.ksre.ksu.edu/esp-AlphaRho. Start preparing your application or nomination now!
ESP RECOGNITION CATEGORIES
Administrative Leadership
Horizon- County/District (2), Area (1), State (1)
Early Career
Mid-Career
Visionary Leadership
Meritorious Service- County/District (2), Area (1), State (1)
Distinguished Service
Distinguished Team
International Service
Diversity/Multicultural- Individual, Team
Retiree Service
Friend of Extension
--Linda Beech
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE - 2010 MULTICULTURAL SUMMER PROGRAM
The summer is a very exciting time for the Diversity Programs Office (DPO). We have just begun several of our summer programs that we are proud to host. The month of June kicked off the start of our 2010 KSRE Multicultural Fellows Internship. Our four KRSE Multicultural Fellows working throughout the College of Agriculture/KSRE this summer are: Brielle Wright (North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University), Gabrielle Washington (Prairie View A&M University), Daja Menefee (Fort Valley State University), and Candace Rodgers (University of Arkansas Pine Bluff).
Brielle Wright, a senior in Agricultural Business, will be working in the DPO with Dr. Zelia Wiley assisting in the planning and coordination of the Nicodemus Summer Camp Program. She will be also work with Dr. Charlie Barden and Dr. Cheryl Boyer in the Horticulture Department on a project involving the Red Elm Tree. Gabrielle Washington, a senior in Agricultural Economics, will be working with Dr. Ted Schroeder on a project involving the evolution of meat quality grading. Candace Rodgers, a 2010 honors graduate with a BA in Fisheries Biology from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, will be working with Dr. Randy Phebus on a project screening RTE grain based snack bars for salmonella. Daja Menefee, a senior Agricultural Economics major, will be working with Dr. David Lambert investigating the effect of mandated levels of ethanol in motor fuel mixtures on U.S. motor fuel prices.
Also in June, the Diversity Programs Office welcomed our 2010 Project IMPACT/MAPS program. The Multicultural Academic Program Success (MAPS) involves incoming K-State students from the Colleges of Agriculture, Business and Engineering. Of the 40 students, 14 are in the various College of Agriculture departments. All of the students involved with the program arrived on campus Friday, June 11. We have high expectations for each student and expect prosperous futures for our rising wildcats.
On June 21, we were pleased to welcome the students attending the 2010 Nicademus Camp. Students involved in this summer camp received two fun filled days of the total K-State Agriculture experience. They toured the campus farm, met Coach Bill Snyder, took a tour of the Grain Science and Industry Facilities, and learned about the careers and opportunities that Agriculture has to offer.
We hope that you can get involved in all of our summer activities and please join the DPO as we welcome our rising Wildcats and our KSRE Multicultural Fellows. Dr. Zelia Wiley and her staff at the DPO hope you enjoyed the 4 of July and enjoy the rest of the summer. --Zelia Wiley zwiley@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
My picks (outcomes, impact, and success stories) this week are from Mike Hanson, Seward County; and Mike Tokach, submitted for the Swine Team: Joel DeRouchey, Steve Dritz, Bob Goodband, Jim Nelssen, and Mike.
Seward County established a Community Agro-Security Planning team after 31 area community members participated in a two-day Strengthening Community Agro-Security Planning. The workshop was presented by the Extension Disaster Emergency Network. Participants included Extension agents; personnel from USDA, County Emergency Management, First Responders, Health Department; as well as local producers and business leaders. This training identified potential for agricultural disasters, assets available to minimize loss, responsibilities of personnel/organizations and continuance of planning through Community Agro-Security Planning (CAP) teams. Our goal is to continue to strengthen local teams and identify persons in the communities who can take responsibility on County Emergency Response Teams (CERTs). Also, members should know the responsibilities of other organizations and departments. This team is now identifying assets that may be needed in the event of an agricultural disaster. We are also identifying potential members for CERT. This team has made a commitment to meet, identify needs, and recruit positive team members. This item conveys current progress so stay tuned for long-term outcomes/impact!
Despite two years of record losses, most Kansas swine producers weathered the storm and are still in business. This has been a result of opportunities to lower input costs or increase revenue aided by our applied and practical research and extension efforts. As an example of diet formulation efforts, one farrow-to-wean producer in western Kansas was able to lower gestation and lactation feed cost by more than $14 per ton of feed. This lowered per pig cost by $0.60 or an annual savings of $42,000. –Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
KSRE GRANT WRITING TRAINING: SEPTEMBER 21, SEPTEMBER 27 IN SALINA
The current economy, budget concerns and calls for expanded services are creating demand for local grant writing skills.
To meet this demand, attend the Grant Writing training built exclusively for K-State Extension professionals and stake-holders. The one- day (9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) training will be offered twice at K-State Salina on SEPTEMBER 21 (Tuesday), and SEPTEMBER 27 (Monday).
For $35 you will receive instruction, materials, refreshments, lunch and a copy of the Grantsmanship Center's Program Planning & Proposal Writing- Expanded Version guide (what a deal!).
In response to whether participants of the 2009 training would recommend the session to KSRE colleagues, agents said, "Absolutely! It's a good time to focus and learn about writing grants." "Yes, now that I have been in the system for a few years I think that every Extension Professional should be exposed to some sort of basic grant writing professional development."
Training objectives include:
* Increase awareness and knowledge of grant resources for youth-family- community programs.
* Learn grant writing techniques.
* Increase understanding of the fit between grants, program planning and program management.
* Build a K-State Extension team that supports each other in grant writing and management!
Registration is available through the Kansas PRIDE website. Scroll down to "State Funding," complete the registration form and send it by September 6 to Paula Seele, pseele@ksu.edu.
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu, 785-532-7720; or Paula Seele, pseele@ksu.edu, 785- 523-5773.
JUNE EXTENSION AGENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Nadine Sigle, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Post Rock District #1, is serving in a temporary position with the Kansas PRIDE Program effective June 1, 2010.
Rebecca Reid, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Cowley County, began employment on June 6, 2010. Her e-mail address is bkreid@ksu.edu.
James Hartshorn, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Leavenworth County, began employment on June 6, 2010. His e-mail address is jharts@ksu.edu.
Anna Schremmer, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Phillips-Rooks District #5, Phillipsburg Office, began employment on June 6, 2010. Her e-mail address is acschrem@ksu.edu.
Carla Morrical-Frederking, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Ellis County, retired effective June 30, 2010.
--Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
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