July 13, 2021
Edition Topics
- Message from the Interim Director of Extension
- Mike Hauser - Interim Navajo County Extension Director
- ED Talk
- A Celebration of Life - Dr. Ray Weick
- Help us keep our directory updated
- New Extension Publication
- Forecasting Wildfire Smoke and Smoke Management in Arizona Webinar
- Remote Produce Safety Alliance Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Course
| |
|
Message from the Interim Director of Extension
I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe July 4. As the dust settles from the transition of a new Director, we are looking at ways to continue to deliver quality educational programming to the people of Arizona. I am beginning to make arrangements to meet with faculty and staff from across the state to learn more about your needs and look for ways the state office can help on delivering our mission. We are also looking for ways to better engage our Extension employees in strategically planning our path forward. During these visits, I want to meet with the program staff as well as the administrative support staff in each county. As a former County Director myself, I am well aware that the success of Extension programs lies within the collaborations that occur within the office. As the Interim Director, I am looking for ways that the state office can support this critical network.
Finally, it appears that the monsoon season is upon us. These storms can develop quickly, and quite often, visibility becomes extremely limited. Please use extra caution as you travel throughout the state and be safe out there.
| |
| Mike Hauser - Interim Navajo County Extension Director
Mike Hauser is the new Interim Director of Navajo County. This is in addition to being Director of Apache County and 4-H Youth Development/Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent. Thank you Mike for all that you do!
| |
| ED talk
Save the Date for Dr. Edward C. Martin’s first Q&A as interim director of Arizona Cooperative Extension. He will provide a summary of his first 100 days and answer questions about where Extension is headed. Register here and watch for more information as we get closer to the date.
| |
| A Celebration of Life - Dr. Ray Weick
A Celebration of Life will be held for Dr. Ray Weick on Thursday, July 15th at the Lodge on the Desert, 306 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, in the Catalina Room from 10 to Noon.
Dr. Ray Weick started his career in Cooperative Extension with the 4-H program in South Dakota, and two years later (1953) moved to Yuma, AZ to take on the role of 4-H Agent. From 1961-68, Dr. Weick served in the state 4-H Office as 4-H Club Specialist where he also spent one year as Interim State Leader. From 1968-72 he served as a District Supervisor and during this time implemented the first formal personnel evaluation for Extension, was responsible for federal retirement and insurance, and trained the first agents for positions created by the new BIA contracts. From 1972-74 he served as Assistant to the Director continuing his role with fringe benefits, but also providing leadership for civil rights and reporting. From 1974-1980 he served as Assistant Director for Extension responsible for working with County Directors, BIA contract management, and development of a new statewide Extension Advisory Council. From 1980 until his retirement he served as a Regional Director responsible for the western half of the state. While in this role he not only supported the counties in his region, but continued to be responsible for federal retirement, life and health insurance, and serve on the Extension Administrative Team.
| |
| Help us keep our directory updated
As we slowly begin to re-populate offices, it's important we have as much accuracy as possible in our active directory. In addition to community members seeking personnel to get their questions answered, local media tend to use the directory to identify points of contact for stories or other information. The best and easiest way to ensure the directory is accurate is to provide any changes in staffing within your units using the Support Tracker. If you anticipate a change in staffing, it's never too early to submit the request!
| |
| New Extension Publication
Isaac Kwadwo Mpanga, Eric Adjei, Harrison Kwame Dapaah and Kwadwo Gyasi Santo
Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use comes with unsustainable financial and environmental costs, making it not attractive to small-scale and organic farmers. Poultry manure (PM) when available is a primary fertilizer source for small-scale and organic farmers but there is still limited research on its effects of specific crops and soil fertility under specific practices. The study investigated PM effects on garden egg in three seasons in Ghana and PM effects soil fertility in sandy-loam soils of Arizona after three years under flood irrigation and no-till.
| |
| Forecasting Wildfire Smoke and Smoke Management in Arizona Webinar
Event Date: July 15, 2021 11:00am to 12:00pm
Featured Speaker: Matt Pace is meteorologist with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. He has a Ph.D. in Meteorology and Climatology from Arizona State University. Currently, Pace works in the air quality department producing daily forecasts for the state and is the lead forecaster for the smoke management program. Pace also has experience teaching college-level meteorology classes and working in broadcast news.
Webinar Overview: Step into the shoes of air quality meteorologists and learn how ADEQ forecasts smoke impacts for wildfires and prescribed fires around the state. We will also use examples from the Telegraph Fire and other recent wildfires to show how smoke moves during the day vs overnight. This presentation will cover the tools you can use to stay informed about smoke in your local area.
Webinar Facilitator: Chris Jones, Extension Agent, University of Arizona Gila County Cooperative
Extension Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/84649209837 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.
Who Should Attend:
Produce Farms including growers, harvesters, packers, coolers, and those interested in learning about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR), Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Co-management of natural resources and Food Safety. Academic’s and students wanting to learn more about food safety and the Produce Safety Rule would benefit from this course as well as government officials working in food safety.
Course Dates and Times:
August 3-4, 2021
7:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Sign up HERE
Password: AUG3&4
The Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Course will take place over 2 Days from 7:45 AM- 1 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
Benefits of Attending:
Individuals who participate in the course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
• Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm.
• How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing
produce safety practices on the farm.
• Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one.
• Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.
*In order to receive full credit and certificate for the course, registrants must be present for all training modules.
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.
| |
|
