February 25, 2020
Edition Topics
- Message from Dr. Silvertooth
- 2020 Latino Farmer Symposium
- Pima County 4-H Agent Candidate Seminars
- 21st Annual Pima County Master Gardener Home Garden Tour
- Promotion Workshops
- CALS Hosting FFA Students
- No Small Matter
- Methodological Best Practices for Data Management
- New Extension Publications
- Educational Communication - Cooperative Extension YouTube Channel
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Message from the Associate Dean and Extension DirectorPrograms in the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension System (CES) are mission-oriented and directed by the needs and problems being encountered among the communities and industries that we work with across the state.
The mission-oriented programs are associated with a fundamental aspect of the land-grant institution mission. In brief, our basic CES mission is to bring the university to the public and communities across the state and to bring science to bear on practical problems. This is true in terms of both the translational/applied research programs and the Extension education programs that we direct.
This is all central to our basic land-grant mission and the CES. It is important to maintain the direction and integrity of our mission-oriented programs and maintain the necessary dexterity to address relevant issues across the state as they arise.
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| 2020 Latino Farmer Symposium
You are invited to attend the 2020 Latino Farmer Symposium, Wednesday, February 26th
Don’t miss out on the amazing chance to network and learn about the most pressing issues, challenges, and opportunities at the 2020 Latino Farmer Symposium, Wednesday, February 26th from 11:30-5:30 at Arizona Western College. This FREE event is part of the Southwest Ag Summit and includes lunch, field demonstrations, trade show, and evening reception. The program features many exciting topics relevant to aspiring and new farmers as well as current farmers and agribusiness leaders.
The price is right! Registration is FREE and found at the Southwest Ag Summit link
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| Pima County 4-H Agent Candidate Seminars You are invited to attend upcoming seminars presented by our two candidates for the 4-H assistant/associate agent position in Pima County Extension. Their topic is: “Your Vision for Diversifying and Strengthening Pima County’s 4-H Volunteer Base.”
Tuesday, March 3: Theresa “Tess” Duffy. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm and presentation with Q & A at 6:30. Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (1951 E Roger Rd, Tucson). (Online Zoom session link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/916312438 )
Wednesday, March 4: Kalee Hunter. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm and presentation with Q & A at 6:30. Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (1951 E Roger Rd, Tucson). (Online Zoom session link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/174847846)
If you plan to attend in person, please RSVP to the events at https://forms.gle/BoLPsGqQZZX8gAhx7
Curriculum Vita and supporting candidate materials are available upon request. Please contact Dan McDonald for documents (mcdonald@email.arizona.edu).
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| 21st Annual Pima County Master Gardener Home Garden Tour
The Pima County Master Gardener program is pleased to announce our upcoming Annual Home Garden Tour on Saturday April 04, 2020 from 9am to 3pm. This is the 21st year that Master Gardeners have been proudly showcasing their own beautiful gardens for inspiration and education. Each of the four gardens featured is located in the gorgeous area near Saguaro National Park East. Plan to make a day of seeing these delightful spring gardens -and pay a visit to the park while you're in the area! Discussions on a variety of gardening topics will be held at each home garden. The Demonstration Gardens at the Cooperative Extension (4210 N. Campbell Ave) will also be open for touring as well. Tickets go on sale beginning February 21st so mark your calendar now!
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Promotion Workshops
Going up for Full
February 26, 2020 9:30 - 10:50, Old Main, Silver & Sage room
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| 2020 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Arizona FFA Career Development Events On Friday, February 28th and Saturday, February 29th, the University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will be hosting the annual AZ FFA Spring Conference on U of A’s main campus and at the Campus Agricultural Center. CALS has a long-standing tradition of hosting this event with FFA and this year over the course of two days, an expected over 1,600 high school students from around Arizona will be in attendance. The students will be on campus demonstrating their proficiency, knowledge, and skills in twenty-one different career events and have spent hundreds of hours preparing for this event. This campus event is a prime student recruitment event.
Special thanks and appreciation go to the following CALS faculty and associated academic units, as well as hundreds of student and private volunteers.
FFA has over 700,000 members across the US and AZ FFA has a membership over 10, 000 secondary and post-secondary students from 86 chapters. Though rooted in agriculture, FFA has evolved over time to be in sync with the changing bio-economy. FFA is a leading force in what has become known as the 4th Industrial Revolution. FFA provides crucial employability and professional skills for our future workforce.
CALS is extremely proud to partner with the AZ FFA Association and its opportunities which provide leadership in schools, communities, and future workplaces. Please welcome the BLUE and GOLD jackets to campus and commend them on their participation and success in the CDE event.
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| No Small Matter
Please join the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families on March 4, 2020 from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM in McClelland Park Room 105 (650 N. Park Ave. Tucson, AZ) for a free showing of No Small Matter and a panel discussion around early childhood education. This event is co-sponsored with United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona.
No Small Matter is the first feature documentary to explore the most overlooked, underestimated, and powerful force for change in America today: early childhood education. Through poignant stories and surprising humor, the film lays out the overwhelming evidence for the importance of the first five years, and reveals how our failure to act on that evidence has resulted in an everyday crisis for American families, and a slow-motion catastrophe for the country.
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| Methodological Best Practices for Data Management Workshop
The Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families would like to invite you to the Methodological Best Practices for Data Management Workshop on April 6-7, 2020. In this two-day workshop, we will introduce best practices for data management from project inception and proposal development to implementation and dissemination. Day one of the workshop, we will discuss important practical considerations, decision points, and implications for replication and open science. Illustrative examples will be used throughout the workshop and hands on implementation of techniques using Excel and SPSS software. Day two will focus on more in-depth hands on practice and opportunities for consultation with Dr. Lorey Wheeler.
Please use promo code CALS2020 for $50 off!
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New Extension Publications
Sustainable Agriculture Practices as a Driver for Increased Harvested Cropland among Large‐Scale Growers in Arizona: A Paradox for Small‐Scale Growers
Isaac K. Mpanga, Gunter Neumann, Ursula K. Schuch, Jeff Schalau
Extreme climate variability is a major factor threatening crop production in Arizona State. However, limited information exists on how growers are adapting with land‐use practices. Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Agricultural Census (2012 and 2017) of the US Department of Agriculture, this study investigates trends of land‐use practices among small‐ and large‐scale growers and their possible effects on harvested cropland. From 2012 to 2017, there are reductions in total farmlands (−0.5%) and vegetable production lands (−4%) with varying temperatures, precipitation, and drought severity index. However, harvested crop‐ and vegetable land increased by 3% and 11%, respectively, which was mainly influenced by large‐scale growers. This coincided with an increase in sustainable land‐use practices such as conservation agriculture no‐till (103%), reduced tillage (71%), and cover cropping (123%) which are most popular among large‐scale growers. Manure application also increased by 30%. However, there were reductions in other practices such as intensive tillage (−9%), use of commercial fertilizers (−0.2%), nematicides (−63%), and chemical diseases control (−16%). Unfortunately, non‐sustainable practices (irrigation, insecticide, and herbicide application increased by 27%, 39%, and 10%, respectively. This study reveals potential benefits of sustainable agricultural practices in Arizona and a need for increased adoption among small‐acreage growers.
Kathleen P. Anderson, Kate E. Pulec, Christene D. Skelly, Ashley D. Wright, Elizabeth A. Greene
Our multistate group of state horse specialists produced and evaluated impacts from six webinars and online short courses (webinar plus additional content) addressing current industry issues: pasture-associated laminitis, equine herpesvirus-1, disaster preparedness, sales fraud, rescues/rehoming, and manure management. We identified no differences in perceived knowledge gained from webinars or short courses; however, results suggest that participation in short courses versus live webinars may be more useful for making positive management decisions. Short course participants also reported greater potential for cost savings as a result of completing the education. On the basis of the study, we offer recommendations for developing effective online Extension education programs.
Understanding Factors That Support Well-Functioning Community Coalitions
Laurel Jacobs, Kathryn Orzech, Greg Goodman, Theresa LeGros, Stephanie Martinez
Coalitions are central to Extension's community-based programs. To assess characteristics that support well-functioning coalitions and to support coalitions in which Extension stakeholders participate, we used the Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory to assess 10 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education coalitions on the basis of research-tested collaboration success factors. Overall, the 103 coalition members who responded reported strengths related to communication and shared purpose and weaknesses in the areas of resources and process and structure for achieving the coalitions' aims. Our project represents a low-burden method for assessing Extension coalitions to understand the characteristics that are likely to support the achievement of collective goals.
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| Educational Communication: Cooperative Extension YouTube Channel In the "digital age" - with the quest for information, but shorter attention spans - educational organizations are communicating more and more via social media, websites, and using digital communications, like Zoom.
Arizona Cooperative Extension is working to be at the forefront of this trend, in communicating with short, to-the-point videos.
Check out the Arizona Cooperative Extension YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/azcoopextension
Please make sure you're helping us advance the Cooperative Extension message. Please like, share and link through your social media channels, and help us do all we can to share with all stakeholders and communities.
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