BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING REPORT:
UA President Robert Shelton introduced me and Cooperative Extension Programs at the recent Board of Regents meeting last week. A new Arizona Delivers publication, Return on Investment, was presented followed by Dr. Dawn Gouges wonderful presentation on IPM programs with public and private schools and day care centers throughout the state. For example, the final evaluation for the Kyrene School District showed that the three Phoenix schools reduced their pesticide applications by 90 percent and kept pest populations below 85 percent of their original levels. In one instance a single small elementary school was spending $6,000-$7,000 per year. This was reduced to $700 in the first year which included the cost of external door sweeps and other structural repair costs. The Arizona IPM program for schools has become a model for developing childrens environmental health programs in schools across the United States.
FOCUS ON FACULTY & STAFF:
Former agent, Larry Tibbs , was recognized by the Arizona Farm Bureau in this months edition of Arizona Agriculture for serving agriculture, the 4-H youth program and especially for bleeding green. The article can be found in the January 2008 edition under New Briefs (page 8).
NEW PUBLICATIONS:
A new CALS publication has been posted: 2007 Vegetable Report with 17 contributors and edited by David Byrne .
UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES:
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is celebrating 20 years of service with their New American Farm Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, March 25-27. The theme for the conference is Advancing the Frontier of Sustainable Agriculture. For those interested in attending, travel scholarships and local funds are available. In addition, the Western Rural Development Center is awarding five travelships each valued at $750 to community development and extension educators in the region to help form new partnerships. The due date for WRDC funds is February 22 . For more information on the conference and possible travel assistance, contact Rick Gibson (520.836.5221).