October 26, 2021

Edition Topics


  1. Message from Interim Director Ed Martin
  2. Extension Employment Opportunities
  3. Associate Specialist/Specialist Position
  4. Insects, Weather & Climate Webinar
  5. Remote Produce Safety Alliance Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Course 
  6. WRRC Brown Bag Webinar: The Case for Better Planning
  7. Special Event: After the Fire Public Meeting
  8. New Extension Publications
  9. New Publication
  10. Artificial Insemination Clinic  
  11. Growing Season in Review Workshops for Arizona Winegrape Growers
  12.  

Message from the Interim Director of Extension

Last week, someone asked where I was traveling to that week because they enjoyed my stories of the road in past submissions. The truth is, the previous two weeks, I’ve been staying put. I did get to meet with stakeholders at the recent Ag 100 meeting and utilized technology to reach out to others through Zoom and other remote video platforms. But every once in a while, there are items that need attention here in Tucson/Phoenix. These are the internal responsibilities that help keep UA Cooperative Extension running at peak efficiency. Although I genuinely enjoy my road trips and getting out into the communities in Arizona, I must admit it was nice to stay put for a couple of weeks. Looking ahead, I’ll be back on the road soon enough and, hopefully, get back to visiting our county offices.

Extension Employment Opportunities

This position will assist County Extension and the Community Outreach Manager to meet the goals and objectives of the SNAP-Ed program in Apache & Navajo County, specifically working on the Navajo Nation in the Chinle and Ft. Defiance Service Units specifically. This position will provide support in the fields of Policy, Systems, and Environment (PSE) and Direct Education in food systems, school health, active living and early childhood through the use of approved curricula and resources. REQ7336

This position will assist County Extension and the Community Outreach Manager to meet the goals and objectives of the SNAP-Ed program in Navajo County, including the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and White Mountain Apache Tribal Lands. This position will provide support in the fields of Policy, Systems, and Environment (PSE) and Direct Education in food systems, school health, active living and early childhood through the use of approved curricula and resources. REQ6270

Associate Specialist/Specialist Position

The Search and Screen committee for the Associate Specialist/Specialist position in the School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness is seeking applicants for a continuing-track (tenure-track equivalent) Associate Specialist or Specialist (90% Extension/10% Service) to begin in Fall 2022 or sooner. The incumbent will be responsible for leadership, strategic planning, and oversight of statewide nutrition and physical activity programs including, but not limited to, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) delivered statewide through the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
 
We invite our Extension colleagues to help with the search by sharing the link for the position within their networks. Link to full position description:  https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/7254?c=arizona
 
The committee has also prepared a one-page flyer describing the position and the Tucson area, if that would be helpful to send. Please contact Vanessa da Silva if you’d like a pdf of that flyer: 
vdasilva@arizona.edu


Insects, Weather & Climate Webinar

Event Date: October 28, 2021 11:00am12:00pm 

Featured Speaker: Dawn Gouge, Extension Specialist, Urban Entomology, UA Maricopa Agricultural Center. Dawn Gouge directs the State Arizona Children's Environmental Health Coalition efforts which includes implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools and Child Care Facilities. She coordinates the Western Regional IPM in Schools Working Group, U.S. Department of Agriculture, which involves participants in eleven western states. Entomological Society of America, School IPM Network Organizer. She is the director for the Urban IPM Coordinating Committee (developmental). Her research efforts focus on developing biocontrol options and evaluating reduced-risk chemical pesticide options for management of venomous arthropods and disease vectors (scorpions, spiders, ants and mosquitoes). She supports state and government agencies regarding pollution prevention, pest related children's health issues, vector management, and professional education, and supports Arizona law enforcement entities conducting medicocriminal investigations.

Webinar Overview: Dawn will discuss how the 2021 weather patterns influenced insect populations in Arizona. She will also describe how long-term changes in climate is altering the distribution of species, and how this is likely to affect humans living in the desert southwest.

Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/84859046081
Please log in up to 10 minutes prior to the webinar.

Cost: Free 
Registration: Not required



Remote Produce Safety Alliance Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Course 

Due to the current Coronavirus Outbreak, Produce Safety Alliance is allowing for Remote Grower Trainings while we are practicing social distancing. This course will be offered remotely, online via Zoom, during this time to accommodate and once the public health concern is lifted, in-person classroom courses will resume. 

Course Dates and Times: 
November 9-10, 2021    7:45 AM - 1:30 PM 
Sign up HERE   
Password:  NOV9&10 

December 14-15, 2021   7:45 AM - 1:30 PM
Sign up HERE
Password: DEC14&15

The Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Course will take place over 2 Days from 7:45 AM- 1:30 PM, hosted online via Zoom. You must be present for each session on both days to receive your Certificate of Course Completion from AFDO. The Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Course does not offer CEU credit.  

You will need access to a computer with reliable internet access, a webcam, microphone, and speaker OR mobile device (eg. cell phone, for use of the audio portion only, you will still need a computer with internet and webcam abilities). You must be visible to presenters through video and be able to engage in discussion online during the course. 

Course Registration Fee: 
$71.00 

For more information & additional course dates please visit the Arizona Department of Agriculture Plants and Produce FSMA Website: 
https://agriculture.az.gov/plantsproduce/food-safety-modernization-act

For additional information please contact Natalie Brassill, nbrassill1@email.arizona.edu or Dr. Channah Rock, channah@cals.arizona.edu.


WRRC Brown Bag Webinar: The Case for Better Planning

Date: Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021 
Time: 12:00 - 1:15 pm MST 
Location: Webinar Only 
 
Speaker: Richard N. Morrison, Retired Attorney; Co-Founder of the Morrison Institute for Public Policy 

Quite often events described as “Black Swans” are really not quite that. They are more like grey swans—almost black, but not quite. In other words, there are some hugely important events in life that are disproportionate in their effects but not entirely foreseeable.

There are at least three water-related examples that come to mind; events in Arizona that were almost Black Swan events, and the moral to the story in each case seems to be that we can always do a better job of planning and should try to do so.

In this presentation, Richard Morrison will discuss an example from Pinal County in some detail.

Register Here
More Info

Special Event: After the Fire Public Meeting

Date: Oct 29-30, 2021
Time: Oct 29: 1:00 - 5:00 pm Arizona Time, Oct 30: 9 am – 1 pm Arizona Time

In-Person Registration:  Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum – 150 N Plaza Circle, Miami, AZ 85539

Virtual Registration: Zoom

Speaker(s): Various natural resource managers and community leaders, See agenda for more details

This year, the Telegraph and Mescal Fires impacted hundreds of lives and charred over 250,000 acres of land in central Arizona. On October 29 and 30, the public is invited to hear from their natural resource managers and community leaders about the expected short and long-term impacts of the fire on the landscape and watershed. This event will be offered in-person and virtually over Zoom. Please note: In-person attendance is limited to 30 people. The Cobre Valley Watershed Partnership is hosting this meeting in collaboration with Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum, US Forest Service, University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center, and Cooperative Extension.

More Info


Extension Publications

Growing Adeniums in Southern Arizona
Michael Chamberland

Adeniums are popular as ornamental container plants.  They combine a succulent growth habit and a wide selection of colorful flower forms.  The name “desert rose” is often applied to adeniums.  The name of the genus Adenium can double as a common name which avoids confusion with true roses grown in desert gardens.


Turning 4-H Project Experience into Mastery: 4-H Record Books
Jeremy Elliott-Engel

The goal of the Experiential Learning model is to support 4-H youth to achieve Mastery in their project content and in life skills. Intentional reflection is essential for turning activity into learning. Member Project Record and Member’s 4-H Record books are tools to support the Experiential Learning Model (i.e. set goals, document what was accomplished and create intentional reflection).


A Mobile Solar Pv Water Pumping Demonstration System For Public Outreach
Edward A. Franklin

Agricultural producers providing drinking water to livestock in rural areas of Arizona have different options when it comes to the technology for getting water their animals. Utility-supplied electricity is a traditional, practical solution, except when the location of the submersible well is located far from existing power lines. 

Current Research in Environmental Sustainability

On-farm land management strategies and production challenges in United States organic agricultural systems
Isaac Kwadwo Mpanga, Russell Tronstad, Jessica Guo, David Shaner LeBauer, Omololu John Idowu

The need to reduce the negative impacts of agriculture on the environment and the consumer demands for food produced without synthetic chemical inputs have led to organic agriculture production systems. The United States (US) commands about half of the market share of organic products worldwide and is home to half of the world’s organic farmers, but limited information is available on trends of on-farm land-use practices and challenges in organic crop production systems. This study utilizes the agricultural production surveys from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2008 to 2019 to investigate state and national trends in organic farm area, number, and sales, and to evaluate national trends in on-farm land-use practices and challenges facing US organic production. 

AI Clinic Registration is Open

Artificial Insemination (AI) has been shown to improve the genetic quality of a herd, increase consistency and value to a calf crop, eliminate the need to purchase, house, and feed a full bull battery, shorten breeding and calving season, and generally improve the profitability of a livestock production operation.

If you are interested in adding an AI program into your livestock operation, please join us for our 2.5-day AI Clinic at our UA Experimental Ranch, V Bar V, near Camp Verde November 5-7, 2021. Our experienced staff will guide you through the entire AI process and will include hands-on practice including live animals. Cost is $750, first-come basis, non-refundable, and includes a take-home AI kit ($350 value), AI Manual, flash drive with all the presentations, and lunch on Sat. and Sunday. Registration is limited to 12 participants.

For registration, please contact Lydia Watts at the Yavapai County Cooperative Extension Office, (928) 445-6590. For further questions, please contact Andrew Brischke (928) 753-3788 or brischke@cals.arizona.edu 

Growing Season in Review Workshops for Arizona Winegrape Growers

If the 2021 growing season is on your mind, we would like you to attend this event! There will be activities and discussions with other growers that detail growing conditions from this year, including important weather events and other issues like pests and disease, responses to such challenges, comparison to previous growing seasons, and assessment of cultivar performance.

Verde Valley edition (registration)
Date: November 9, 2021
Location: Yavapai College Verde Valley Campus
                Building M, Room M-137
Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Cost: free

Southeastern Arizona edition (registration)
Date: November 16, 2021
Location: Buhl Memorial Vineyard
                 6707 S Wayward Winds Rd
                 Willcox, AZ
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Cost: free
 
For more information, please contact:
Jeremy Weiss
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
jlweiss@arizona.edu
520-626-8063


TMN Submittal Process

Please submit your news by 4:00pm Monday to TMN [tmn@cals.arizona.edu].

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