April 20, 2021
Edition Topics
- Message from Dr. Silvertooth
- Unity Garden in Pinal County
- Maricopa County 2020 Annual Report
- Next Gen Leaders - 20 Rising Stars
- DIAG Workshop Wednesday: Fitting leaf-level gas exchange curves
- ALIRT Webinars
- New Extension Publication
- The International Arid Lands Consortium Virtual Conference
- Transforming Needs into Assets Webinar
- AZ 4H Ag at Home
- Horticulture Agent - Pinal County
- Beginner Farmer's Apprenticeship Program (BFAP)
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Message from the Associate Dean and Extension Director
Consistent with any group or organization, there is a unique culture that exists within the University of Arizona (UA) Cooperative Extension System (CES). Policies and procedures certainly have an important role, but these structural features do not adequately describe an organization’s culture.
Organizations can establish standards and policies, but within every organization there are informal networks and unwritten rules that will never be found in any employee handbook. Despite all the talk regarding the policies and rules of an organization, we know that whatever is tolerated becomes the standard of operation.
The culture of the UA CES has certainly come into play and it has been clearly revealed during the past year of the pandemic. One of cultural features that has been clearly exposed is the capacity of the CES to transition and adapt to rapidly changing conditions. That is not written into a handbook of policies and rules, but it is an important part of how we operate and function in the CES.
We have moved and transitioned to new modes of operation as an organization, and we have allowed the local cultures at the unit level to influence the specifics of implementation. We are fortunate that we have that level of flexibility in the CES and yet we maintain continuity across the organization.
We still need to utilize the organizational continuity and local flexibility as we move forward in our phase transitions for the UA CES. Accordingly, please work with unit heads across the CES to manage this process appropriately.
For reference to the status of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Phased Operational Plan and brief phase management descriptions, please refer to the following link:
https://extension.arizona.edu/phased-operational-plan
For information on Vehicles and Transportation during COVID-19, please refer to the UA COVID-19 website, including the Returning to Workspaces information.
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| Eloy residents plant garden to help veterans
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| Maricopa County 2020 Annual Report
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| BizTucson - Tucson's Next Generation of Leaders
Ashley Hullinger
Research Analyst
Water Resources Research Center
2020 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Ashley Hullinger is a 2020 Flinn-Brown Fellow and research analyst at the UArizona Water Resources Research Center. She manages the Water Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems program, which includes several counties in Arizona.
Hullinger’s work involves developing accessible tools and approaches to understand complex water resource issues and to promote sustainable water management throughout Arizona, especially in rural watersheds. As part of the Arizona Cooperative Extension, she works in communities facing issues that consider the people and history that have contributed to current conditions. Her work has been based primarily in Graham, Greenlee and Gila counties, where she has led scenario planning, geospatial analysis, water supply and demand studies, and process design for effective stakeholder engagement. She holds a UArizona master’s degree in urban planning with a concentration in water resources and bachelor of arts degrees in history and geography from the University of Kansas.
Hullinger noted that as difficult as COVID-19 has been, something positive can come from it. “Especially in challenging times, public awareness about the value and interdependence of social, economic and natural systems can grow,” she said. “I seek to innovate the platforms and virtual tools that engage Arizonans to learn about water and participate in decisions that impact sustainable natural resources for future generations.”
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| DIAG Workshop Wednesday: Fitting leaf-level gas exchange curves
The DIAG group, part of the Data Science Institute in CALS, is offering monthly workshops on topics of interest to anyone at the University. The prospective audience for this workshop includes those who use Licor leaf gas exchange instruments or are generally interested in measuring or modeling photosynthesis.
In order to utilize gas exchange data in biophysical models of plant growth, certain key parameters need to be estimated, such as Vcmax and stomatal sensitivity. This workshop will introduce two R packages that can be used for estimating photosynthetic and stomatal parameters. In the first hour, participants will learn how to clean data and fit parameters using 'plantecophys' and 'PEcAn.photosynthesis'. Participants are encouraged to bring or borrow their own data for the last half hour, where there will be time for Q&A and hands-on practice.
The workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 10:00am - 11:30am AZ time.
If you have questions, feel free to email us at jessicaguo@email.arizona.edu. Also reach out if there is a topic of particular interest you’d like to see taught in the near future!
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| ALIRT Webinars
As a part of our Arizona Livestock Incident Response Team grant activities Dr. Betsy Greene and I have organized this 3-webinar series with an in-person training to follow later this summer. If you work with livestock or range, consider attending to learn more about the ALIRT program, how you can participate, and how this program could benefit producers in your area. The information provided will be relevant for both new and continuing ALIRT First Responders as well as ALIRT committee members and other supporting consultants and organizations. You will need to register separately for each session you plan to attend to receive the Zoom meeting link. The sessions will be recorded.
First Session This Week!
April 21 6:00pm -7:30pm MST
Register https://arizona.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xZKm7p4VRZqk0NH4xztflw
For the first webinar we will cover:
•What is ALIRT
The Anatomy of an ALIRT Response including the different roles of ALIRT First Responders
An informal meet & greet (not recorded) will follow the conclusion of the training session
May 19 6:00pm - 7:30pm MST
Register https://arizona.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_owx1sdsdS0ewzoTaiE-X_g
Jun 23 6:00pm - 7:30pm MST
Register https://arizona.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u6fTdQ17Rq2jZzH5OflL3Q
For questions or more information contact Debbie Reed dlreed@arizona.edu
More information on ALIRT https://extension.arizona.edu/alirt
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New Extension Publication
Guide for Arizona 4-H Meetings by Project Area: COVID-19 Mitigation
Kalee Hunter and Ashley J.S. Menges
As a 4-H volunteer, you are responsible for the health and safety of youth in your care, custody, and control. The novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 is highly infectious and can cause serious illness. This guidance strives to help Arizona 4-H volunteers get youth to “doing" in all of our projects.
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| The International Arid Lands Consortium Virtual Conference
Addressing the Environmental Challenges of Arid Lands
24-26 May 2021
Daily schedule:
8:00-11:00 PDT, 11:00-14:00 EDT, 18:00-21:00 Israel/Jordan
To commemorate 30 years of collaboration on arid lands issues, the International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) is hosting a three-day international conference on arid lands. A key goal of the conference is to underscore the value of the IALC mission: promoting peace through collaborative research and demonstration projects in the arid lands of the world. Keynote presentations and panel discussions will emphasize the broader value of collaborative-multinational research and problem-solving to address issues that confront the sustainable use and management of arid lands globally.
Day 1:
Water and Agriculture
Management of water for sustainable use in the agriculture, municipal and industrial sectors and
by nature.
Day 2:
Land & Natural Environment
Management of land for sustainable use and conservation.
Day 3:
Forests & Fire
Management of forests for sustainable use and conservation.
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| Transforming Needs into Assets Webinar
April 22, 2021 11:00am to 12:00pm
Transforming Needs into Assets: Establishing a Watershed Partnership to Address Environmental and Economic Challenges
Featured Speaker: Ashley Hullinger is a 2020 Flinn-Brown Fellow and Research Analyst at the WRRC. She manages the Water RAPIDS Program (Water Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems), which extends through several counties in Arizona. Much of Ashley’s work revolves around developing accessible tools and approaches to understand complex water resources situations and promote sustainable water management throughout Arizona, especially in rural watersheds. As part of the Cooperative Extension, she works directly with communities looking at issues that span beyond physical water resources to consider the people and history that have contributed to current conditions. Her work with the program has been based primarily in Graham, Greenlee, and Gila Counties, leading watershed planning efforts that include scenario planning, geospatial analysis, water supply and demand studies, process design for effective stakeholder engagement, and other related research. Ashley holds a M.S. in Urban Planning, with a concentration in Water Resources, from the University of Arizona and B.A. degrees in History and Geography from the University of Kansas.
Webinar Overview: Since 2017, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) have collaborated with community partners to establish a watershed partnership in the Globe-Miami area, also known as Cobre Valley, in central Arizona. Through a stakeholder-driven needs assessment of the region, the creation of a watershed partnership was identified as a constructive step toward uniting environmental stewardship, community health, and economic benefits under a single umbrella. With broad support from stakeholders and local government, Cobre Valley communities applied for funding from the US Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART program. Two years later, the Cobre Valley Watershed Partnership (CVWP) is getting off the ground and determining collaborative approaches to unique and persistent challenges, such as groundwater dependence and environmental quality. Bridging various jurisdictions and interests in the region, the CVWP has a greater capacity to accomplish innovative solutions (e.g. waterway and habitat restoration, green infrastructure installation, water quality improvement, public outreach and education, and research initiatives). The WRRC and Gila County Cooperative Extension will assist the CVWP in creating the structure for the new watershed partnership with the goal of enabling a network of local community members to implement their vision for environmental stewardship while increasing the livability and economic opportunities in the region. This presentation will highlight key ingredients for success to generate interest, achieve consensus, and engage diverse stakeholder groups in the establishment of a watershed partnership.
Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/87084311068 Please log in up to 10 minutes prior to the webinar.
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| Arizona 4H Ag at Home
Join us for our upcoming AZ 4-H Ag at Home Animal Projects webinars! This webinar series (created by Dr. Betsy Greene and Ashley Wright with support from Ashley Menges) focuses on providing solid, educational information on a variety of animals used in AZ 4-H Animal Projects. Topics include health, nutrition, well-being, disease prevention and more. These webinars are appropriate for anyone with interests in animals.
April 22, 2021 6:00 pm MST AZ 4-H Ag at Home: Animal Projects - Carcass Judging
Dr. Sam Garcia, Associate Professor of Practice and Manager of the Food Product and Safety Laboratory at the University of Arizona, will talk about the basics of carcass judging and what standards and grading are used to evaluate beef, sheep, and swine carcasses. Carcass data can be used by 4-H members and breeders to evaluate and improve their feeding, exercise, and breeding programs. If you’re interested in learning more about the science behind carcass judging join us for this webinar! We finish with a brief discussion about the 4-H Carcass Contest.
May 6, 2021 6:00 pm MST AZ 4-H Ag at Home: Animal Projects - Dairy
June 3, 2021 6:00 pm MST AZ 4-H Ag at Home: Animal Projects - Horse Judging
July 1, 2021 6:00 pm MST AZ 4-H Ag at Home: Animal Projects - Beef Cattle (EPDs)
August 5, 2021 6:00 pm MST AZ 4-H Ag at Home: Animal Projects - Working Dogs (Special Edition!)
To register and for more information on AZ 4-H Ag at Home
https://extension.arizona.edu/az-4-h-ag-home
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| Horticulture Agent - Pinal County
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension invites applicants for a Horticulture Assistant/Associate Agent position for Pinal County Cooperative Extension. The position will develop and deliver educational information, structured programs, and technical support to the consumer/commercial horticulture sectors and urban food systems in Pinal County, Arizona.
Minimum qualifications for the position include a Master’s degree in horticulture or related scientific discipline.
Find the posting online at https://talent.arizona.edu/, choose appropriate selection from dropdown menu at top right of screen then search req4703.
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| Beginner Farmer's Apprenticeship Program (BFAP)
The Beginning Farmer's Apprenticeship Program (Yavapai and Coconino Counties) will provide the next generation of small and urban farmers the opportunity to learn from experienced local farmers with hands-on experience. This will be complimented with on-farm scientific discussions and regular visits by Extension faculty.
Please submit an application if you are interested.
• May 11th - Introductory class to meet your host farmer (on-line/in person)
• June 1st to October 30th - Work with host farmer, learn about their operations and
fine tune your business plan
• October 30th - Present your project and business plan to the class
Non-refundable Cost - $100
Space limited.
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