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July/August 2023 Issue #49
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| Urban Horticulture/ Master Gardener Program
Michael Chamberland, Assistant Agent, Urban Horticulture / Master Gardener Program
A group of Maricopa County Master Gardeners joined Master Gardeners from around Arizona for Volapalooza 2023. This three-day event in July brought together UArizona volunteers for a gathering on the Main Campus in Tucson. Tours highlighted the Campus Arboretum, Vascular Plant Herbarium, UArizona Insect Collection, and other campus museums.
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Volunteers participated in workshops and discussion groups for strategic planning, addressing challenges volunteers face in each of our programs. Our recent work to develop a new Plant Help Desk database portal for Maricopa County was a featured example, illustrating how UArizona IT support can develop utilities for program support.
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Agricultural Literacy & STEM Program Program
Taylor La Ravia, Assistant in Extension, Agricultural Literacy & STEM
On June 12th-15th, 18 teachers from 5 of Arizona's 15 counties, who teach over 2,500 students annually, joined the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension's Agricultural Literacy & STEM program for the Arizona Agricultural Institute (AAI) 1.0 in Maricopa and Pinal County, Arizona. Teachers were able to see the vast array of agricultural production, research, and commodities found in Arizona. We started our week off with a half day of virtual farm tours and followed it with three days of packed in-person tours.
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Teachers had the opportunity to network with each other, industry representatives, farmers, researchers, and the Arizona Foundation for Agricultural Literacy and Extension board members and staff. Pre- and post-surveys were conducted to measure the participants' change in knowledge in several areas, including dairy and beef operations, vermicompost, grain production, flour milling, agricultural worker conditions, cotton production, and water conservation. In all areas surveyed, an increase in knowledge occurred.
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Urban Agriculture Production, Small-Scale, and Beginning Farmer Program
Colleen Hanley, Assistant in Extension, Urban Agriculture Production, The Urban Agriculture Production, Small-Scale, and Beginning Farmer Program
The Program’s signature events, Urban Ag Hours are an ongoing series held virtually for urban, small-scale, and beginning farmers to highlight technical expertise and USDA resources for clientele.
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The June’s Urban Ag Hour featured a talk by University of Arizona Area Associate Agent, Livestock Ashley Wright on integrating livestock into small acreage operations, followed by an overview of Whole Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm with Scott Shulin of USDA RMA.
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July’s Urban Ag Hour featured a talk by University of Arizona Agricultural Resource Economist Dr. Russell Tronstad on small farm business planning and business structures, followed by a talk on eligibility and application process for NRCS EQIP Program with USDA NRCS's Paul Cattelino.
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These events saw great participation from the urban and small agriculture community, reaching 96 participants, with robust Q & A sessions related to land access, business structures, poultry regulations, EQIP ranking and more!
Our team travelled to Prescot, Arizona to plan for our field day on September 17. We are connecting with clientele, collaborators and UArizona colleagues for more events, projects, and introduction of USADA services to our urban ag, small-scale, and beginning farmer communities state-wide.
Finally, the program and UArizona Cooperative Extension are planning for establishing a USDA Service Center here at our MCCE department. This addition will make MCCE a one stop for technical opportunities from our Program, as well as all sorts of USDA services to our communities.
Want continual updates? Follow us on Instagram @urbanandsmallagproduction!
Program Team
Ayman Mostafa, Area Agent, Regional Specialist & Program Leader
Colleen Hanley, Assistant in Extension
Trixy Struck, Farm Manager
Jared Williams, Program Coordinator
Sara Hipperson, Program Coordinator
Sharrona Moore, Program Coordinator
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Field Crops Integrated Pest Management Program
Dr. Ayman Mostafa, Area Agent, Regional Specialist & Program Leader
The team collaborated with Yuma Cooperative Extension, and industry partners for an informative, hands-on training about the sweep-net training in Yuma, Arizona.
The event was conducted in-the-field, well attended and received, and discussed topics related to various sweeping and scouting techniques for alfalfa and cotton, as well as updates for management of various pests of these crops in Arizona and the southwest.
The Field Crops IPM team is currently planning for the “Alfalfa and Forage Tent Talks”, a signature Program event in its 13th year. The event will be held on-the-farm, in person, on August 28th. Expertise from UArizona Cooperative Extension will highlight grower specific relevant topics for the low desert region including agronomy, pest management, soil health, irrigation aspects, and quality of alfalfa and forage crops, and much more!
The program continues conducting multiple field pest efficacy trials as well as multiple pest focused bioassays to address a growing concern of insecticide resistances as well as the effect of these pesticides on the natural enemy populations of alfalfa and forage pests. Some of these are annual trials and some are a part of a recently funded project by the USDA-NIFS to better understand the relationship between pest populations, their natural enemy predators, and the decision-making practices of growers on which pesticides offer the most pest protection while also preserving the natural enemy populations.
Program Team
Ayman Mostafa, Area Agent, Regional Specialist & Program Leader
Kyle Harrington, Associate in Extension
Avik Mukherjee, Postdoctoral Associate
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Interim Director CutDr. Ayman Mostafa
While Monsoon didn’t deliver the expected precipitation, our Maricopa County Cooperative Extension delivered a variety of programs and activities that designed to the need of our clientele. The Programs are doing so by providing educational opportunities, applied research, and seeking sources of funding to meet the growing needs of our communities.
The 4-H Youth Development Program hosted several camp activities and conducted many programming for our youth. These events were mostly in northern Arizona and involved significant time and efforts of our team members and volunteers.
Maricopa County Master Gardeners joined Master Gardeners from around Arizona for Volapalooza 2023 in Tucson.
The Ag Literacy & STEM program hosted 18 teachers from 5 of Arizona's 15 counties for the Arizona Agricultural Institute (AAI) 1.0 in Maricopa and Pinal County, Arizona in June. The event included virtual farm tours, a three-day in-person tour.
As we are increasing Our MCCE collaboration with the USDA-NRCS and FSA, we received a visit from USDA-FSA and representatives from the Department of Homeland Security to tour the new service center for USDA-NRCS and FSA here at MCCE. This partnership will significantly increase our outreach, allow us to serve new clientele, engage new collaborators at the federal and state levels, and bring more resources to our department.
On July 26th we received the first official visit of Dr. Ed Martin in his role as UArizona Associate Vice President, and Director of Cooperative Extension. The event was well-attended with over 70 MCCE personnel and stakeholders. The crowd enjoyed delicious food, updates regarding UArizona Cooperative Extension and Q&A with Dr. Martin. We look forward to great opportunities for our Maricopa County Cooperative Extension with the leadership of Dr. Martin.
I invite you to read about what is happening at our MCCE, follow our social media accounts for the office and programs, and as always, please stop by and see what’s new at the office.
Thanks to everyone for their continued support of Maricopa County Cooperative Extension!
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