George Ruyle has recently been appointed to serve on the GOVERNOR'S
RANGELAND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL. The Council has been charged with
reviewing the United States Forest Service rangeland planning and
management models used in Arizona. The review will concentrate on
analyzing methods used by the Forest Service to determine and set stocking
rates on grazing allotments as well as analysis of alternative models for
evaluating the impact of federal regulatory compliance on grazing permits.
The committee is an expansion of the "Chino Five" analysis done on the
Prescott National Forest last year. Jeff Schalau, Larry Howery, Stephen
Williams, Phil Ogden, Lamar Smith and George Ruyle were involved in that
analysis, done on five allotments on the Chino Valley Ranger District. The
current effort will begin in March on the Coronado National Forest, and
include an additional forest each month until completion. Only one or two
selected allotments on each Forest will be reviewed. The council has 14
members including another UA Faculty member, Paul Krausman and Council
Chair, Joe Lane.
* Congratulations to the Little Colorado Spinedace Strategy Team on
receiving the American Fisheries Society Conservation Award at the Wildlife
Society Annual Meeting. The team members were Cathy Taylor, Mark Whitney,
Dick Fleishman, Jerry Gonzales, Bruce Palmer, Roger Steed, Rick Miller,
Chuck Benedict, Jim Sprinkle, and Phil Knight. Thanks for all your good work!
* Kai Umeda and Rick Gibson hosted another successful vegetable field day
at Maricopa Ag Center. Dr. Judith Brown, Associate Professor, Plant
Sciences, told the audience of growers and pest control operators
everything they wanted to know about plant viruses, especially gemini
viruses. Dr. John Palumbo, Associate Research Scientist, Entomology,
highlighted his research studying integrated pest management and organic
techniques in the production of vegetable crops. Presentations from
scientists in Arizona and California provided an informative session.
* Peggy Lazarus is retiring! Peggy has worked in SFCR since 1986 and has
worked overall with the UA for 21 and a half years. There will be a party
for Peggy on Friday, March 24th from 3-5 on the SFCR patio. A monetary gift
is being collected by Mary Miller in SFCR Rm. 205. Please call Mary at
621-7147 if you have any questions and here's hoping you will join us on
the 24th in honoring Peggy.
* Dr. Dawn Gouge, our new Urban Entomologist to be stationed at MAC, will
begin her appointment as an Assistant Specialist in Entomology on April 6,
2000. Please join me in welcoming her and helping to make her transition
as smooth as possible. Her current e-mail address is: D-Gouge@TAMU.Edu,
telephone: 409-458-1126.
* County Searches currently in progress:
1. Yavapai County, Assistant/Associate Agent, 4-H Youth Development.
Review of applications began February 15, 2000.
2. La Paz County, Assistant/Associate Agent, 4-H Youth Development
Review of applications begins March 18, 2000.
3. Graham County, Assistant /Associate Agent, Agriculture.
Review of applications begins March 20, 2000.
If you have any question, please contact Glenda Thompson, (520) 621-7205.
REMINDERS:
- Monsanto Biotech Forum, Wednesday, March 1, 2000, 8:15 - 11:45 P.M at the
Water Resources Research Center (350 N. Campbell [correct address]). RSVPs
requested to Jack Roberts (jroberts@cals.arizona.edu) if you plan to attend.
- Direct Farm Marketing Conference, March 9, 2000, Heritage & Science
Park,105 N. 5th St., Phoenix. The agenda and registration information is
on the web at: http://cals.arizona.edu/arec/ext/dmkt2000.html, or contact
Russ Tronstad at 621-2425.
- COA Spring Awards Reception and Banquet, UofA Student Union, March 17,
2000. Contact Carol Knowles at 621-7190 for more information.
- Learn more about Character Education at three informational meetings
(different sites across Arizona) in March for faculty and staff. For more
information and to register for lunch:
http://cals.arizona.edu/4-h/character2.htm.