Sharon Megdal has accepted the position of Associate Director of the Water
Resources Research Center and Specialist and will start working February 14.
* Cooperative Extension, the School of Renewable Natural Resources, and
U.S. Forest Service have reached an agreement to develop an educational
program on forest health. This is a 5-year $750,000 contract. This program
will address insects, diseases, and invasive plant species on private and
state owned lands. For more information contact Pat Reid or Deborah Young.
* I am pleased to announce that Jeff Schalau is our new state contact for
the Natural Resources and Environmental Management Program. The NREM
Flagship nominations deadline is extended to February 15. The Selection
Team is seeking four of each state's newer and most effective programs,
including county level. One state, two county and one "special" honoree
will be nationally recognized with Flagship status. For information or to
submit nominations electronically, see http://www.nrem.net. If you have
questions regarding the submission procedure, contact J.B. Jordin at
jbjordin@soforext.net.
* On 26 January the UA Soil Judging Team had an outstanding performance in
the Southwest Regional Soils Contest in Mohave Valley. As a result, they
have qualified for the 2002 National Collegiate Soil Contest being held in
Redwing, MN on April 25-26. Sanjai Parikh, an SWES graduate student, has
taken the initiative in serving as the coach for our Soil Judging Team,
working with Don Post. He is to be commended for an excellent job and wish
them well as they prepare for the National Contest representing the UA and
SWES.
EVENTS COMING SOON.
- February 13, Cotton Outlook and Farm Policy Considerations for 2002, 8:30
- 12:30 at MAC. Contact Pat Clay, pclay@cals.arizona.edu.
- Alfalfa Production Workshop, February 19 in Mohave Valley and Parker
Valley. This meeting has been structured to provide information regarding
several facets of alfalfa production including pest control, quality
issues, and marketing options. Contact Eric Norton, enorton@cals.arizona.edu.
- The Direct Farm Marketing Conference will be February 20 at the Maricopa
County Extension office. Registration information is at:
http://cals.arizona.edu/arec/dept/dirfarmmark&tourconf2002.html .
- 3rd Annual Cooperative Extension County Highlight Day: FCS/4-H Youth
Development. SFCS 219, noon - 2:15. Contact Soyeon Shim, shim@cals.arizona.edu.
- The 7th Annual Vegetable Crops Field Day will be February 27 at the UA
Maricopa Ag Center. Topics will include soil and nutrient management,
whitefly survival in crops, herbicide application technology, farm policy
issues, and information about internet resources on "ACIS" and funding
opportunities as well as chemical product updates. For details, see
http://cals.arizona.edu/crops/counties/all/events.html#vegs .
- A program on cow-calf health will be held February 27 at the Cliff Castle
Casino in Camp Verde. Speakers include Dr. Bob Glock (Arizona Veterinary
Diagnostic Lab), Dr. Peder Cuneo (Veterinary Extension Specialist), Dr.
Glen Duff (Department of Animal Sciences), and Dr. Bob Kattnig (Beef
Extension Specialist). For more information, contact Rob Grumbles or Jim
Sprinkle.
- The annual Desert Agricultural Conference will be May 7-9 in Yuma and a
very diverse program addressing issues in vegetable crops and field crops
is being planned. kumeda@cals.arizona.edu
- May 17, 2002. 11th Annual Desert Horticulture Conference. Tucson
Convention Center, Tucson, AZ. For more information contact: E. Davison,
Dept. of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona. ph. 520-621-1582. website:
http://cals.arizona.edu/deserthort/