FROM THE DIRECTOR:
The Navajo Nation Extension Partnership (NEP) committee met in Window Rock
last Wednesday. Approximately twenty-eight people representing the six
surrounding counties, Diné College, and the Navajo National Department of
Agriculture discussed common programs and challenges such as Range Land
Monitoring, Africanized Bees, Southwest Indian Livestock Field Days and the
program shift at Diné College. Special thanks to Gerald Moore for setting
up and leading the program.
I am pleased to announce that Linda Houtkooper has accepted the headship of
your department effective January 6, 2003. Fred Wolfe (Ralph Price until
Fred's return) will continue until that date. In the meantime, although
Linda is completing work on her sabbatical leave, she will be calling
meetings to plan for the future, including faculty recruiting and other
important issues. In closing, I know you want to join me in welcoming
Linda to her new responsibilities and also to thank Fred Wolfe for a job
well done.
Arizona Cooperative Extension has expanded its outreach education in forestry
- including fire education, forest health, and urban forestry. We are pleased
to announce that two grant-funded positions have been filled. Congratulations
to Dr. Tom DeGomez, Extension Forest Health Specialist. In cooperation with
the UA School of Renewable Natural Resources, the NAU School of Forestry, and
the USFS, Tom will begin his new position December 2, 2002. Congratulations
also to Kristin Alix Rogstad, Extension Agent, Natural Resources. Alix will
be responsible for fire education programs statewide. She will be based in Pima
County, beginning November 18, 2002. Many faculty and staff have worked to make
these new programs possible. Thanks to Chris Jones, Steve Campbell, Tom DeGomez,
Jeff Schalau, Kim McReynolds, Doug Rautenkrantz, Fred Deneke, Pat Reid, Larry
Howery, and Deborah Young. For more information on the Arizona Forest Health
program, see http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/fh/
At the recent National Extension Association of Family and Consumer
Sciences (NEAFCS) annual meeting in Kansas City, three Arizona members were
elected to national leadership positions: Sharon Hoelscher Day, NEAFCS
president-elect; Patty Merk, Western Regional Director; and Juanita Waits,
Vice President, Member Resources. Eleven Arizona members attended and six
presented workshops.
Announcements and Reminders:
The faculty and students within the Controlled Environment Agriculture Program
at the University of Arizona cordially invite you to the Third Annual Open-Greenhouse
Celebration to be held Tuesday, November 26, 2002, noon to 3:00 pm, at the Campus
Ag Center, 1971 E. Roger Rd/Campbell Ave Hydroponic Greenhouse (East on Roger
Road off Campbell Ave, 1st or 2nd driveways left off Roger Rd). Park only in
designated areas (follow directions of orange-vested helpers). There are 750
fruit-bearing tomato plants, and 250 pepper plants waiting for your visit! Explore
the new state-of-the-art greenhouse! Meet the students in the Plant Science
Greenhouse Class AND the Greenhouse Engineering Class! Meet the graduate students
and learn about their research projects! RSVP by noon Wednesday, November 20
for lunch to Kathleen Crist at ABE (520) 621-3691, kcrist@cals.arizona.edu.
No reservations required for taking a tour.
Grant Proposals: University of Arizona Water, Economic Development, and Sustainability
Program (WEDSP) is accepting proposals for grants under the Technology and Research
Initiative Fund (TRIF) also known as Prop 301 funds administered by the Arizona
Board of Regents (Regents). TRIF funding to the WEDSP is to support UA research,
education and outreach in water-related areas of importance to the state. One
million dollars ($1,000,000) will be available for this grant program in FY
2003. This grant program is open to faculty and staff at the University of Arizona.
The Request for Proposals can be obtained from the Water Resources Research
Center (WRRC) web site, http://www.cals.arizona.edu/AZWATER/pdfs/WEDSP_RFP.pdf.
Pre-proposals are due by December 3, 2002. The WRRC is collaborating with the
Water Quality Center (WQC), the Center for Sustainability of Semi-arid Hydrology
(SAHRA) and the Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor
Manufacturing (ERC) to deliver this program. Links to these centers may be found
on the web site listed above. An information session will be held Thursday November
7 at 3:30 pm in room 230 Marley auditorium. For information contact Jackie Moxley,
(520) 792-9591 x17, jmoxley@cals.arizona.edu
The Annual Desert Crop Workshop will Wednesday, December 4, 2002 at the Yuma
Civic & Convention Center, 1440 W. Desert Hills Drive. The workshop will be
from 8:00-1:00 pm. This event is sponsored by the Western Farm Center. Topics
will include: Water and irrigation technology, weed control, integrated pest
management, soil and plant nutrient management, economical analysis and remote
sensing and precision farming. For more information and registration please
contact Dr. Mohammed Zerkoune at (928) 726-3904, Zerkoune@cals.arizona.edu.
The Extension Faculty/Staff Roster has gone electronic! As of July 2002, the
roster became a downloadable and searchable .PDF file from the "Personnel" section
of the Extension web site. This action saves over $1,500/year in production
and distribution costs. You can access the latest version of the roster anytime
at http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/personnel/roster.pdf
(which requires the Adobe Acrobat program to open the file). The roster is now
updated monthly using the latest PSOS file download, is searchable (use: "Find"
icon or "Control + F"keys), and has numbered and dated pages. With the soon-to-be-loaded
November edition, the roster will include the one-page directory of County Extension
Directors and their contact information. If you have any questions, contact
Steven Crofts (520-621-7145 or scrofts@cals.arizona.edu).