August 18, 2020
Edition Topics
- Message from Dr. Silvertooth
- Furlough and Furlough-Based Salary Reductions
- 100 Years Ago Today
- Congratulations Francine Correll
- Congratulations Michele Walsh
- In Memory of Dr. Michael Matheron
- Welcome Ethan Orr, ANR Associate Director
- Part 2 - CALS Webinar: Distance & Digital Tools for Extension
- Small-scale farmers colloquium, 2020
- Lavender Agritourism in Arizona: Bringing New Life To A Pioneer Farm Webinar
- New Publications
- 25th Arizona Pecan Growers Conference
- Greenstripping and Grazing for Cheatgrass
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Message from the Associate Dean and Extension Director
As described previously, we submitted a request in late-April to Provost Folks and the University of Arizona (UA) Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Lisa Rulney, for an exemption of all the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension System (CES) employees paid on federal & state funding from the furlough and furlough-based salary reduction program. Additionally, we concurrently requested an exemption from the budget reductions.
The basis of this request is that the CES budget is not associated with tuition-based funding at the UA. The core CES budget is derived entirely from federal Smith-Lever funding and a separate and distinct line of funding allocated specifically to the UA CES in the State of Arizona Budget, which is subject to renewal annually by the Arizona Legislature, and subject to review by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee before being signed by the Governor.
In addition, the CES is included in the UA Responsibility Centered Management (RCM) system that provides funding to academic units based on performance metrics. Through this RCM system, the CES pays all subvention costs, or “taxes,” to the UA every year. However, the CES has no access to revenues through RCM since the principal revenues are based on tuition and research.
Therefore, the CES honors the responsibility of paying the UA taxes without access to additional revenues from the UA. The only reasonable way we can increase the core CES allocation and revenue is through an increase in the allocation from the State of Arizona legislature.
We have presented, what I believe, is a good case to the UA Provost and CFO and we have confirmed last week that the CES has been exempted from the projected 20% budget reductions.
However, the current budgets still include the furlough and furlough-based salary reduction program which results in approximately $750,000 in salary savings. After subtracting the approximately $290,000 in additional costs to the CES in RCM, the UA calculates the CES has an approximate $456,000 or 3% gain in the F21 budget. In the CES, we know in fact that this is not a budget increase and we are continuing with the furlough exemption request.
Last week, the Provost indicated that the UA senior leadership team has our request for furlough exemption under review and we are waiting for their response. Again, the current statuses are:
• 20% Budget Reduction – CES is officially Exempted
• University Furlough Program – CES is awaiting word
Thank you for your continued support and patience.
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| Furlough and Furlough-Based Salary Reductions
The UA furlough and furlough-based salary program began on August 10, 2020. As a reminder, a “snapshot” will be taken of all salary information on August 20 (Thursday) to determine which side of the program each employee will fall into. The individual furlough tiles on the Employee Self Service page will be updated and accurate for use by August 24. Business officers, please review the distributions for your unit’s employees and make sure changes have been submitted by Thursday, August 20. Please contact azcebus@email.arizona.edu with any questions or concerns you have.
Examples of the tiles you might see:
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| 100 years ago today
Nineteenth Amendment ratified
On this day in 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified after Tennessee—by just one vote—became the 36th state to approve it, capping the 72-year fight to win women the right to vote in the United States.
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| Congratulations Francine Correll
Please join us in wishing Francine Correll, a hearty and heart-felt "Congratulations!" Francine is retiring from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension- and the administrative helm of the Pima County Master Gardener program- after 36 years to the date! Since joining UA-CE Francine has served under eight University of Arizona presidents, every "Hort Agent" Pima county has had since 1983, and has supported hundreds of Cooperative Extension faculty, staff and Master Gardener program volunteers, over the years. She has kept our program running smoothly and has served countless members of the public with a friendly smile, generosity and kindness, and connected them with our office's and volunteers’ high quality resources, information and recommendations. Francine’s presence in the office and her stalwart support of our people is a loss to the whole office, however I am sure we’ll continue to see her in the gardens and, eventually, at future MG events and activities- as we’re able. We appreciate you, Francine all you have done for the Master Gardener program, your many meaningful impacts and contributions- and your example of outstanding service. Congratulations!
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| Congratulations Michele Walsh
Faculty and staff members making an impact on the campus community in areas including professional development, work-life balance and strengthening the voices of underrepresented communities are being honored by the Commission on the Status of Women.
Emerging Visionary
Michele Walsh
Associate Specialist in Evaluation and Associate Professor in Family Studies and Human Development
John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Walsh, who joined the University in 2002, leads the Community Research, Evaluation and Development team in the Norton School. The team consists of students, scholars and professionals who conduct research on the health and well-being of children, families and others throughout Arizona and the Southwest. "Michele promotes a work-life balance in the workplace in words and deeds and has created an environment of shared respect, friendship and collegiality," one nominator wrote. Another lauded her efforts to help team members participate in national conferences, writing that Walsh has "advocated for designated Norton travel funds for our team on par with those of traditional faculty."
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| In Memory of Dr. Michael Matheron
It gives me great sadness to share with everyone the passing of Dr. Michael Matheron this past Friday.
Dr. Michael Matheron will be greatly missed by everyone. His compassion and always welcoming attention to everyone, no matter who, will remain in our hearts and memories. May the Lord stand by him and may our hearts fill with joy knowing he is now walking in his new life.
Funeral arrangements are pending, once Mike’s family shares information I will share with everyone.
-- Humberto Hernandez
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| Welcome ANR Associate Director - Ethan Orr
Ethan Orr has accepted the ANR Associate Director position and will be starting August 24th. We look forward to Ethan joining the Extension Administration Team and working with our ANR personnel and programs.
Thank you Search and Screen Committee. Your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated.
Trent Teegerstrom - Chair
Hattie Braun
Andrew Brischke
Jeremy Elliott-Engel
Blase Evancho
Elise Gornish
Ed Martin
Kim McReynolds
Dominic Rodriguez
Jim Walworth
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| Part 2 - CALS Webinar: Distance & Digital Tools for Extension
Last week’s webinar on tools for remote delivery of Extension programs was a success! Please join us for Part 2, where Arin Haverland will go over more specifics of tools such as D2L Community, and be available to answer any questions. This webinar is meant for everyone in Extension, from all program areas.
When: Friday, August 21st, 2020 01:00 PM Arizona
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://arizona.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMqd-msrzkpGtUg40m6Xh2blKVRjrHWu3qU
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Last week’s webinar was recorded and will be shared, together with the slide set, by the presenters.
Please contact Vanessa da Silva (vdasilva@arizona.edu) or the presenters (arin@arizona.edu and kayleskorupski@arizona.edu) with any questions.
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| Small-scale farmers colloquium, 2020
This is a monthly meeting for commercial horticulture and small-scale farmers to share science-based information on diverse topics (soil, water, pests, diseases, weeds, farm management, marketing, food safety, etc.) that will help improve farm productivity, profitability, sustainability, food safety and food security.
Dates of monthly sessions: July 20th, August 17th, September 14th, October 19th, and November 16th.
All sessions are 4:00pm to 5:00pm.
Location: Zoom
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
To register, email your name, gender (optional), and location (county) to
yavapaipres@cals.arizona.edu
To view the agenda and list of speakers for this series, visit our website at https://extension.arizona.edu/events/2020-07-20/small-scale-farmers-colloquium-2020
Contact:
Dr. Isaac Mpanga
Area Associate Extension Agent Comm. Hort. and Small Acreage
Email: mpangai@arizona.edu
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| Lavender Agritourism in Arizona: Bringing New Life To A Pioneer Farm Webinar
Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm
August 20, 2020 11:00am to 12:00pm
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Gila County presents: Garden and Country Extension Webinar Series. A Zoom webinar (60-minutes or less) featuring a variety of horticultural and natural resource topics relevant to the environmental conditions and residential concerns of Gila County, Arizona.
Featured Topic: Lavender Agritourism in Arizona: Bringing New Life To A Pioneer Farm
Featured Speaker: Terry Gorton (Vesci) is the former Assistant Resources Secretary for the State of California and past USA General Counsel for Wirsol International, a leading worldwide solar developer. Terry has served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Sustainability, California State and Regional Community Economic Revitalization Teams, the Tahoe Conservancy and Chair of the California Fire Strategy Commission. Ms. Gorton is a practicing California attorney, and served as Governor Pete Wilson’s legal and campaign counsel and as the first and only woman to Chairman of the California Board of Forestry, the nation’s oldest environmental board. Former board member of LEAN Energy US, she has received numerous awards, including the National Performance Review Award, presented by the Office of the Vice President of the United States, and the US Rural Economic Development Award. She has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine, Arizona Highways Magazine, Good Morning Arizona, Travel and Leisure Magazine, San Diego Magazine as a “woman to watch” and the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal.
Webinar Overview: From the early 1880s when Almay Moroni and Rosetta Hunt passed through Pine, Arizona, this area has attracted visitors. Rosetta saw her native Italy in the beautiful mountains and begged Almay to stay. They did, acquiring most all the land nearby, including our farm. They raised a huge family, farmed corn, and cattle and left a wonderful legacy. In 2015, we purchased the farm from the Hunt Family and began the restoration of the old farmhouse as true as we could to John and Annie Belle (including our Lavender Kitchen where we use Annie Belles old kitchen to teach heritage food techniques and food preservation classes along with our culinary Lavender classes). With historic water rights, we asked, “What won’t Elk eat?” we came to the realization that lavender was the answer. We didn’t know much about lavender back then but, now, here we are in love with Lavender or as Olivia calls it, “Lovender” and the Elk pretty much stay away. The lavender grows higher every season and we get to meet you all: our fellow “Lovender” friends enjoying this beautiful mountain valley that Rosetta first called home more than a century ago.
Webinar Facilitator: Chris Jones, Extension Agent, University of Arizona Gila County Cooperative Extension
Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/98681332967
Please log in up to 10 minutes prior to the webinar.
Cost: Free
Registration: Not required
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| New Publications
Isaac K. Mpanga and John Idowu Omololu
Irrigation water is crucial for farm operations in the world, with irrigated lands contributing about 40% to food and fiber production. In semi-arid regions such as the Southwestern United States, the demand for irrigation water has increased due to population growth, rising temperatures, and severe drought events in the region. Irrigation plays a vital role in the economies of southwestern states and requires comparative studies to understand the current situation and propose possible improvement strategies. This study investigated the trend of irrigated cropland, the quantity of irrigation water use, irrigation technology, scheduling decisions, and irrigation outreach using data from 2007 and 2017 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) census.
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Poisonous, or toxic, plants contain compounds that may cause death, reproductive problems, birth defects, neurological, digestive, or physiological disorders in livestock.
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| 2020 Arizona Pecan Growers Conference
25th Arizona Pecan Growers Conference – Virtual and Live August 27th & 28th – Get your tickets today!
This year’s pecanference has gone digital by unanimous decision of the Arizona Pecan Growers Association Board of Directors.
So, for a ‘nutty’ experience registration is open and available at www.arizonapecan.com
Tickets available include a ‘General Admission’ this year given the need to extend educational reach through this new online delivery method. See ticket pricing categories.
The educational line-up organized by Educational Chair, Joshua Sherman, includes an engaging experience with both University of Arizona and New Mexico State University specialists in various disciplines, and other primary stakeholders in the pecan industry, including Jim Walworth, Jeremy Weiss, Dari Duval, Alex Hu, Richard Heerema, and Jennifer Randall.
Topics include:
Environmental Stress and Effects on Development
Diseases & Pests
Measuring Water Stress
Climate Outlook
AZ Industry Economic Report
Phosphorus Nutrition
Genetic Tools Emerging for Producers
American Pecan Council Update, and more.
See the line-up at the website above.
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Greenstripping and Grazing for Cheatgrass
Dr Lauren Porensky
August 27, 2020 11:00am to 12:00pm
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Gila County presents: Garden and Country Extension Webinar Series. A Zoom webinar (60-minutes or less) featuring a variety of horticultural and natural resource topics relevant to the environmental conditions and residential concerns of Gila County, Arizona.
Featured Topic: Greenstripping and Grazing for Cheatgrass
Featured Speaker: Dr Lauren M. Porensky, Research Ecologist, Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, CO. Dr. Porensky is an ecologist interested in plant communities, herbivores, and spatial complexity. Her research focuses on balancing livestock production with conservation and restoration in semi-arid rangelands. Porensky got her PhD at UC Davis working on livestock management and wildlife conservation in central Kenya. She currently investigates the interactive effects of grazing, fire, prairie dogs, and variable weather on plants, livestock, and humans in the northern Great Plains.
Webinar Overview: Millions of hectares in western North America have been negatively impacted by cheatgrass invasion. Post-wildfire restoration generally involves spreading limited resources over extensive areas, and this approach often fails to meet restoration objectives. We investigated an alternative approach that may be able to weaken cheatgrass-fire feedbacks, protect remnant and restored sites, and reduce further invasion by focusing restoration resources in small, spatially strategic locations. We tested multiple methods for creating native greenstrips (fuelbreaks made of native plants), subjected experimental greenstrips to targeted grazing treatments, and monitored seedling densities over two years. At a highly invaded Great Basin site, we found that planting and grazing treatments had strong effects on seedling densities. Plots planted with a doubled seed rate had 50% more seedlings than those planted with an average seed rate. Ungrazed plots had 40% and 90% more seedlings than spring- and fall-grazed plots, respectively. However, results were primarily driven by one planted species (Elymus trachycaulus) which was both highly successful and susceptible to grazing. At a minimally invaded Colorado Plateau site, planted seedling densities were much lower (1-2 per m2) and planting techniques had weaker effects, though seed rate was still an important driver of results. At this site, targeted spring grazing tended to enhance seeded species densities and reduce cheatgrass biomass. Early results suggest that high rate native grass seedings and short-duration spring grazing should be further evaluated as potential tools for addressing cheatgrass invasion, though results may strongly depend on ecosystem context.
Webinar Facilitator: Chris Jones, Extension Agent, University of Arizona Gila County Cooperative Extension
Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/94812511241
Please log in up to 10 minutes prior to the webinar.
Cost: Free
Registration: Not required
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