There has been some discussion concerning the CIGNA benefits for state
employees. If you have questions, please call CIGNA directly at 1-800-613-4563.
* Approximately 30 CALS faculty and staff attended a Biotechnology Forum
last Wednesday at the Swede Johnson Building. Thanks to Peter Ellsworth,
Randy Norton and Lynn Joens for their informative presentations. Martin
Lemon, Science Editor from the Monsanto Company also gave an update on his
company.
* Congratulations to Kim Gressley for winning the Individual Periodical
Publications Award from NAE4-HA. Kim will receive her award at the NAE4-HA
Awards Banquet in Bismarck in October at their National Conference.
* The fall County Extension Directors meeting date has been set for
November 28-29 beginning at 11:30am in Tucson. Plans for hotel and program
are being developed. Issues to be considered include 1) Community and
Economic Development Education Initiative, including reports on national,
regional, and local efforts 2) Merit allocation plans, and 3) budget issues.
* The Sabbatic Leave Conference Call is scheduled for Thursday, September
13 at 1:00pm. If you're interested in taking sabbatic leave in 2002, it's
not too late to sign up for the call. Contact Steven Crofts, 621-7145 to
sign up.
* We received word of funding for a new UA Extension Agent position through
the Extension Indian Reservation Program. We will be establishing a
program on the Hualapai and Havasupai reservations, with an office in Peach
Springs. The program will be administered by Rob Grumbles and the Mohave
County office. Our proposal was ranked #1 nationally and will be one of
three new programs including the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes on the Ft.
Peck Reservation, Poplar, Montana and the Coeur d' Alene (Schitsu' Umsh)
Indian Reservation, Plummer, Idaho. Arizona continues to be "out front"
with now 6 EIRP offices on 5 reservations: Navajo Nation at Window Rock
and Shiprock, San Carlos Apache Tribe at San Carlos, the Hopi Nation at
Kykotsmovi, and Colorado River Indian Tribes at Parker (the La Paz county
office is the only one in the US that is located on an Indian
Reservation) Nationally, there are now 28 offices in 14 states.
* The International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) is currently funding
FY2002 Research & Development Projects and FY2002 Demonstration
Projects. It is anticipated that almost $1 million will be
available. Examples of the general program previously funded include: (a)
Land Use & Reclamation; (b) Soil & Water Resources Development &
Conservation; (c) Ecosystem Processes Supporting & Enhancing the Management
of Ecological Systems; and (d) Inventory and Measurement
Techniques. Faculty members may want to consider submitting a
proposal. Visit the IALC Web site for more information and to view the
Request for Proposals (RFPS) in the PDF format. Contact Jim Chamie in
Tucson (520-621-3024) for printed copies of the Request for Proposals &
Guidelines and/or to obtain more information. The deadline is 15 November
2001 for receipt of all proposals.
* The U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory (Glenn Fitzgerald of Phoenix ARS)
and the Geospatial Extension Program (Barron Orr) collaborated with the
Maricopa Agricultural Center (Bob Roth) to host an exploratory meeting
entitled "Precision Agriculture and Geospatial Technologies in
Arizona".This informal meeting brought together 19 researchers and
extension professionals interested in evaluating the potential for
Precision Ag and Variable Rate technologies in Arizona. After sharing
updates on relevant research throughout the state, the participants
determined a statewide "Precision Ag" working group or committee should be
formed to encourage collaborative efforts that encourage integration of
research and extension. Tom Thompson, Kai Umeda, Pat Clay, and Barron Orr
will work to bring structure to the initiative from UA, and involve all
interested from Cooperative Extension. Chris Choi, Bob Roth, and Barron Orr
will evaluate the potential (and sources of funding) for a virtual Maricopa
Farm demonstration project through Internet mapping, web cam, and other
educational tools. Glenn Fitzgerald and Pete Waller will spearhead interest
in collaborative research between UA and Phoenix ARS. For more information,
please contact Barron Orr (barron@cals.arizona.edu) or Glen Fitzgerald
(gfitzgerald@uswcl.ars.ag.gov).
* Mark your calendars now for the Greenhouse Crop Production and
Engineering Design shortcourse, January 20, 21 & 22, 2002 [Sunday --
Tuesday], The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Visit
http://cals.arizona.edu/CEAC for online registration. This course is
sponsored by the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center and Cooperative
Extension.
* Agricultural Production Short Course - "Biotechnology: Plant-based
delivery systems for the future" will be presented by Dr. Charles Arntzen,
Wednesday - September 5, 2001 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at the Maricopa County
Cooperative Extension Office. Details are at
http://cals.arizona.edu/crops/counties/maricopa/veggies/events/8thshortcourse.PDF