June 22, 2021
Edition Topics


  1. Message from the Interim Director of Extension
  2. ALVSCE Data Science Incubator Program
  3. Associate in Extension, 4-H Curriculum Development (3 Year Temporary)
  4. Small-scale Farmer’s Colloquium (SFC) guest speaker
  5. 27th Annual Southwestern Noxious, Invasive Plant Short Course
  6. New Extension Publications
  7. Challenges and Opportunities for Managing Invasive Plants in Arizona Webinar

Message from the Interim Director of Extension

With only a single week behind me, I have already been reminded several times not to forget our rural clients, not to get too wrapped up in this Urban Extension concept, and not to forgo those who have supported Cooperative Extension for shiny new clientele.  I can assure you - have no worries.  Our efforts to expand Cooperative Extension into the cities and find new clients in the Arizona countryside does not come at the expense of those we have worked with for so many years.  It is not an either-or; it is not rural or urban; it is rural and urban.  Cooperative Extension is dedicated to all areas of the state, from the dynamic agriculture sectors to the growing urban centers.  As we grow, we will work hard to ensure those engaged in our programs continue to experience the professionalism and unbiased information they have come to expect from the UA Cooperative Extension.  For those who are new to Extension, we will work with them to positively impact their communities and lives.

I appreciate the phone calls and emails voicing concerns about, and appreciation for, our programs.  This clientele interaction is one of the reasons I have worked in Extension for almost 40 years.  It is not always pleasant to hear, but it is always welcomed and greatly appreciated.



ALVSE Data Science Incubator Program

The CCT Data Science Team is excited to announce the ALVSCE Data Science Incubator. This is an ongoing opportunity for researchers in ALVSCE to work with our team to understand and take advantage of research opportunities enabled by new and emerging data resources and computing methods. This opportunity is open to all researchers and staff in ALVSCE.

Our team of domain data scientists and software engineers has expertise in state-of-the-art technologies and methods alongside domain expertise. These include statistics, data synthesis, data management, GIS, simulation modeling, analytics, cloud and cluster computing, software design and engineering, visualization, and more. The ALVSCE Data Science Incubator will provide up to ten full-time days of support for ALVSCE projects spread over three months to work on focused, intensive, collaborative projects.

We invite short proposals (1-2 pages) for a data-intensive research collaboration focusing on a research problem with clearly defined outcomes. This support is funded by USDA Hatch funds, and can be leveraged to develop funding for longer term collaborations. See the ALVSCE Data Science Incubator request for proposals and contact David LeBauer dlebauer@arizona.edu for more information. 


Associate in Extension, 4-H Curriculum Development (3 Year Temporary)

This Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation funded position will support the strategic objective of supporting Arizona 4-H volunteers with research-based educational materials across all Great Eight Pathways to Participation. The position will work to assess, adapt, and develop educational materials. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension community is invited to the final candidate seminars to provide feedback. The final candidates are:

      Dr. Kaila Thorn, Thursday, June 24, 11am-12pm
      Kalee Hunter, Thursday, June 24, 3-4pm


Small-scale Farmer’s Colloquium (SFC) guest speaker for July 5th, 2021, at 4 pm

The SFC is a place for all small- to medium-scale farmers to connect, learn from one another, and extension specialists across the state and nation.

Bio of July 5th SFC guest speaker 
Jean-Martin (JM) Fortier is a farmer, educator, and best-selling author specializing in organic and bio-intensive vegetable production. His award-winning book, The Market Gardener, now published in 10 languages, has inspired hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide to reimagine ecological human-scale food systems. His teachings have been adapted to The Market Gardener’s Masterclass, a comprehensive online program that supports over 2000+ growers in over 60 countries. His message is one of empowerment with the intention to educate, encourage and inspire people to pursue a career and lifestyle focused on growing food with care, by and for people who care. In 2020, JM founded Growers & Co., a farm tool and apparel company that also features a biannual magazine that focuses on celebrating the movement of small-scale organic farming. He is based in Quebec, Canada, where he manages Ferme des Quatre-Temps, a research and training farm that intends to serve as a model for the future of agriculture.

Information about The Market Gardener & Growers & Co.: 

The Market Gardener: The Market Gardener is an impact-driven social enterprise guided by the mission to inspire and empower people to multiply the number of small regenerative farms and promote a global transition to ecological agriculture.

Growers & Co.: Growers & Co. specializes in crafting functional farm and gardening gear, high-quality market gardening tools, and a bi-annual magazine that celebrates the stories of small-scale regenerative growers.

If you want to be part of the SFC monthly online meetings, register once at
https://arizona.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsc-2qrzMqEtVv8o91MJSgvRfv4rmV5bKl

Videos of previous monthly SFC
https://extension.arizona.edu/yavapai-commercial-horticulture-small-acreage

27th Annual Southwestern Noxious, Invasive Plant Short Course

27th Annual Southwestern Noxious, Invasive Plant Short Course -- is being held via ZOOM again this year (July 20, 21, and 22, 2021)!!

Local, regional, and national experts will share their knowledge with YOU. The primary purpose of this regional 3-day Short Course is to explore the ecology and management of noxious, invasive weeds that threaten economic and ecologic interests of the southwestern U.S. The course is broken into 2 tracks – beginning (i.e., Track 1), for those wanting to learn about the various species of interest and basic management options invasive plants, and advanced (i.e., Track 2), for those interested in going beyond plant ID and basic management principles. Although the short course is presented in 2 tracks you will be free to tailor your attendance in a way that best fits your needs.

If you have questions about registering and paying for this event please contact Yessica Garate at ygarate@arizona.edu or 520-621-4189.

New Extension Publications

Amy Nickel and Andrew Brischke

Desert gardening presents a host of challenges including: poor soils, high temperatures, intense sun, low humidity, and frequent winds. All of these factors are compounded by an arid to semi-arid climate with little rainfall, which makes proper irrigation a vital component for any successful gardening endeavor. Drip irrigation is widely accepted as the one of the most efficient systems to irrigate in desert gardens and landscapes because it minimizes water loss from evaporation or run off by delivering measured amounts of water directly to the soil (Schuch, 2016). However, drip irrigation may be ill suited for remote areas with low technology and/or unpressurized and unfiltered water systems. Drip systems can be costly, damaged, and emitters can be easily blocked with sediment, salt, and several insects (Ezekiel et al., 2017). Unreliable or impractical water sources for irrigation may discourage those wanting to develop a garden. For these situations, utilizing the ancient method of olla irrigation may be an option.

Cotton Root Rot
Jiahuai Hu

Cotton root rot is a serious soilborne fungal disease of cotton and numerous dicot plants in the south-western United States and northern Mexico. The disease is also known as Texas root rot, Phymatotrichopsis or Phymatotrichum root rot, and Ozonium root rot.

Beet Curly Top Virus In Industrial Hemp
Jiahuai Hu and Robert Masson
 
Curly top of sugar beet, caused by Beet Curly Top Virus (BCTV), was first reported in Nebraska in 1888. BCTV has since become widespread in the arid and semiarid parts of the Western United States, the Mediterranean Basin and Middle East. It has caused frequent and often very destructive outbreaks on many commercial crops throughout the Western United States.  In Arizona, BCTV is a very serious plant virus affecting hemp and hundreds of ornamental and commercial crops.

Elizabeth W. Sparks, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Amy Parrott, and Michael Hauser

Ban Saber, Natalie Brassill and Channah M. Rock

Challenges and Opportunities for Managing Invasive Plants in Arizona Webinar

Event Date: June 24, 2021 11:00am to 12:00pm, AZ (Pacific Time) 

Featured Speaker: Willie Sommers, Invasive Plant Program Coordinator. Willie is the Invasive Plant Program Coordinator for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. He has a Master’s degree in Range Management from the University of Arizona and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Resources from Arizona State University. He participates in several collaborative groups such as the Lower Gila River Collaborative, Lower San Pedro Collaborative and the Arizona Cross Watershed Network. He also serves on the board of directors for the Southwest Vegetation Management Association. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, hiking, landscaping and volunteering.

Webinar Overview: Nonnative invasive plants have been described as a ‘biological wildfire’ that is out of control and spreading rapidly. The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management has an Invasive Plant Program that includes a grant opportunity and web map for invasive plant treatment prioritization. This presentation will focus on challenges and opportunities for managing invasive plants in Arizona.

Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/86511927971
Please log in up to 10 minutes prior to the webinar.

Cost: Free 
Registration: Not required



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