Congratulations to Kim McReynolds, area agent in natural resources, for receiving the first ever fellowship sponsored
by Arizona Cooperative Extension and the USDA-ARS Southwest Watershed Research Center. Kim and Dr. Mary Nichols will develop a research
project, a peer reviewed publication, and a field day on the use of rock check dams as a rangeland conservation treatment.
We are pleased to welcome Cathy Martinez as a new Associate Agent for 4-H Youth Development in Pinal County. She will begin working
October 24. Cathy is not new to Cooperative Extension. She previously served as an assistant 4-HYD agent in Yuma County. Most
recently, she has served as a consultant with the CenterPoint Institute. Welcome back, Cathy!
More information on eXtension is available from http://intranet.extension.org/ or the
eXtension brochure which is being sent to every Arizona Cooperative Extension faculty and staff member this week. If you do not
receive your brochure, ask your county director for one. Extension faculty and staff on campus and at Experiment Stations should
also receive a brochure. If you do not receive one, contact Steven Crofts.
A new publication, telling how the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences reaches Arizonans statewide, will be delivered to the
county offices this month. To see a copy, go to the Extension website, click on "about", then click on the left navigation bar
"Reaching Arizonans Statewide". You can also click on this link: http://ag.arizona.edu/extension/about/index.html.
In recognition of National 4-H Week, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESR) has announced it will offer a software grant program
for U.S. 4-H clubs in 2006. Proposals will be accepted from 4-H groups to conduct community mapping projects using GIS (Geographic
Information Systems) and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) technologies. Many traditional 4-H programs are beginning to integrate
geospatial knowledge, building a strong foundation for future learning. ESRI will award grants of GIS club software and learning
resources to U.S. 4-H groups whose community mapping project proposals are approved. More about 4-H GIS/GPS projects can be found
on the web at http://www.4-h.org/tech/gisgps and
http://www.tnstate.edu/iager/gisgps/main.htm. Proposals will be accepted from
January 1-March 30, 2006. Applicants will describe their existing GIS/GPS programs and efforts, if any, and their plan for using
GIS in their local program for 2006. To register for notification of the 4-H Grant application and selection guidelines, you must
register to receive an e-mail notification from ESRI on 4-H grant opportunities at www.esri.com/grants. If you have a question
about the ESRI GIS Grants for 4-H, email 4-HGIS or go to www.esri.com/4-H. To learn more about 4-H GIS/GPS
Integration Projects, contact CSREES national program leader Tom Tate (202-720-2727).
The Arizona Grain Research and Promotion Council (AGRPC) has granted nearly $40,000 for new and continued grain research projects
conducted throughout Arizona. These funds will take a closer look at such subjects as rainfall in rural areas and a survey of
durum production practices. Each of these projects was approved as the AGRPC works to better meet the needs of the industry it
represents. A list of awards presented to the UA are: Survey of Durum Production Practices ($7,500), Fluctuation in Lower Stem
Nitrate Concentration in Small Grains ($4,000), Small Grain Advisory ($4,500), Small Grains Variety Testing ($4,000), Variety
Mixtures for Reduced Input Barley ($4,000), The Use of Small Grains in Reduced Tillage Cotton Systems ($5,000), Cooperative
Extension - The Evaluation of Herbicides for the Control of Littleseed Canarygrass (Phalaris minor) in Wheat ($2,500), Yuma
Cooperative Extension - Evaluating the Plant Growth Regulator, Trinexapac-ethyl, for Lodging Resistance in Spring Wheat ($3,000),
and Labor Assistance for the Arizona Meteorology Network ($5,000). For more information, contact Lisa Pendrick, AGRPC
Administrator (602-542-3262) or Allan B. Simons, Executive Director(520-318-7271).