e-Directions is an information-sharing newsletter issued at least bi-monthly to help keep you updated on Extension-related issues covering restructuring, programming opportunities, strategic plan initiatives and enhancements and other information.
If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the Director’s Web site, please contact me at pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Senate Passes F.Y. 2007 ContinuingResolution
On Wednesday, February 14, the Senate passed (81-15) a full-yearcontinuing resolution that provides Fiscal Year 2007 funding for most of thefederal government, including the Cooperative State Research, Education andExtension Service (of which cooperative extension and experiment stations are apart). Based on preliminary information, no changes were made in funding levelsfrom what was passed by the House of Representatives in H. J. Resolution20. The bill was signed by the president a few days later and is now law.Refer below to each federal assistance program and its estimated FY 2007 awardamount for Louisiana State University.
|
Federal Assistance Program |
Award Number |
Actual FY 2006 Award Amount |
Estimated FY 2007 Award Amount |
|
|
|
|
|
CSREES Formula Funds |
|
|
|
|
Hatch Act (regular allocation) |
|
2,305,826 |
3,928,284 |
|
Hatch Act (MRF allocation) |
|
662,447 |
1,290,074 |
|
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act |
|
432,823 |
594,224 |
|
Animal Health and Disease Research |
|
72,173 |
72,121 |
|
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3b&c(regular allocation) |
|
4,623,790 |
4,836,478 |
|
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3b&c(special needs allocation) |
|
- |
- |
|
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3b&c(CSRS retirement allocation) |
|
664,620 |
606,115 |
|
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3b&c(FERS retirement allocation) |
|
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Total CSREES Formula Funds |
|
8,761,679 |
11,327,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
Special Research Grants |
|
|
|
|
Aquaculture |
2006-34310-17217 |
304,069 |
- |
|
Human Nutrition |
2005-34323-15741 |
652,499 |
- |
|
Tillage, Silviculture, Waste
Management |
2006-34335-17485 |
462,110 |
- |
|
Wetlands Plants |
2006-34396-17624 |
520,336 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Special Research Grants |
|
1,939,014 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Federal Administration Grants |
|
|
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Federal Administration Grants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL FUNDS |
|
10,700,693 |
11,327,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other Special Research
and Federal Administration
Grants in the State |
|
|
|
|
Louisiana Tech University: |
|
|
|
|
Rural Development Centers(Special Research) |
2005-34511-15695 |
106,285 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL FUNDS |
|
106,285 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRAND TOTAL |
|
10,806,978 |
11,327,296 |
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Literacy Awareness andEducation Partnership
The Louisiana 4-H Youth Development program and the LSU AgCenterare partnering with the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, the Opelousas Daily Worldand Partners in Literacy Project (Newspapers in Education) to present Web-basedliteracy through a national program called Kid Scoop. Thanks to Adrianne Vidrineand Charles Hebert from the Southwest Region for their work to make thishappen. This partnership will be a worthwhile investment given that the DailyAdvertiser reaches a daily readership of 79,966 and Sunday readership of125,152. Its Web traffic is 4.2 million page views per month and 200,000 uniquevisitors. The Daily World reaches an audience of 10,600 through hard copy witha readership of 20,670. Its Web traffic is 852,304 page views with 39,768unique visitors. You can view the page by visiting www.agday.org
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Chemical Weed Control Guide
The Louisiana Suggested Chemical Weed Control Guide has been updated, edited,
approved and posted on the Internet and can be accessed at the following site:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_livestock/crops/rice/Weed+Control
/Louisianas+Suggested+Chemical+Weed+Control+Guide.htm
We hope to again print paper copies and offer them for sale to our clientele at our cost of printing. We will let you know as soon as printed copies are available.
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National Ag Week March 18-24
National Ag Week is set for next week. Everyone can celebrate agriculture by hosting a farm day, starting a school garden or participating in an agriculture-related event in your parish or region. It cannot be denied that our country remains strong due to abundant food and fiber availability – something that many now take for granted.
For more information, visit http://www.agday.org/.
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South Central Sun Grant Initiative Request for Applications
The South Central Sun Grant Initiative announced the release ofits Request for Applications (RFA) for 2007. RFA and application instructionsare available online at http://www.sungrant.okstate.edu/. Thepre-proposal/letter of intent deadline is March 30, 2007, and the full proposalis due April 30, 2007. The Sun Grant Initiative will be providing limitedcompetitive funding to advance bio-based alternative fuels through universityled research and education.
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eXtension Launches Financial Security for All to Public
Americans struggling to make good money management decisions in a complex marketplace now have a new tool at their disposal. eXtension’s Financial Security for All brings the wealth of research-based university information on all aspects of attaining personal financial security. To register to take full advantage of the site, go to: http://www.extension.org/ and choose Personal Finance.
Financial Security for All provides Internet visitors with reliable and up-to-date financial security information through online lessons for self-paced learning and a knowledge base of commonly asked questions with research-based, peer-reviewed answers to help users learn more about specialized areas of personal finance.
“Financial Security for All is like having a personal financial educator, but even better,” said Barb O’Neill, a certified financial planner and a financial resource management specialist at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. Publications and answers to frequently asked questions on a wide variety of financial topics are available to consumers 24/7/365 at no cost.
Financial Security for All features:
- Frequently asked questions: Compiled by financial security experts across the nation, this resource includes simple, clear answers on credit, insurance, investing, retirement, consumer issues, talking about money and more.
- Ask an expert: Financial security experts nationwide provide a timely response to finance-related questions.
- News & upcoming events: Every day something’s happening in the world of personal finance and eXtension’s Financial Security for All keeps the news and calendar of events current at the local, state and national levels.
- Calculation tools: Consumers can use online tools to maximize their payments on credit accounts to achieve debt reduction. Farm and ranch families can use this site to help answer questions about retirement.
“This site also provides timely, unbiased and research-based learning modules to help consumers learn about everything from investing, retirement and estate planning to organizing their household records and teaching young people about money,” said Dr. Debra Pankow, family economics specialist at North Dakota State University.
Financial Security for All has been developed through the collaboration of Community of Practice members – Cooperative Extension Service professionals with expertise in financial planning and family economics. “Quality content developed in a virtual work place by an expert team is the formula for this exemplary, trusted, electronic learning environment.
“Participants will gain the knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence to make their own financial decisions,” said Jane Schuchardt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s family economics program leader.
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Director’s Award to Field Faculty for Smart Bodies
Smart Bodies is one of the newest and most popular programs offered by the LSU AgCenter in response to the startling increase in childhood obesity rates across Louisiana. It was launched in March 2005 as a result of a $1.8 million grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation.
Because of the efforts of extension agents across the state, Smart Bodies’ teams exceeded 2005 program goals by having 56 schools in 21 parishes implement the program, reaching more than 31,000 children. This was in spite of hurricanes Katrina and Rita! In 2006, the program again exceeded goals – 101 schools in 32 parishes, reaching an additional 37,000 children.
Because of extension’s efforts and to reward the spirit of collaboration and teamwork among all agents (including FCS, 4-H and ANR) within a parish, a $100 incentive was offered by the director (from indirect rebate funds) to agents for each school implementing Smart Bodies in their parish for the 2006 program year.
The incentive will be added to each region’s parish budget and will be designated to be used by the lead and contributing agents to enhance programming for Smart Bodies and other healthy lifestyle programs in the parish. This is an ongoing program, and once it has been implemented in the schools, the extension agents should continue to encourage and assist schools offer the program each year, since there is one for each grade level, K-5. The program will end in December, 2009.
Initially, $5,000 was put up for the incentive; however, the popularity of the program caused it to exceed $8,000; therefore, the state FCS office will pay the difference from rebated departmental indirect cost funds. The regions, agents and award amounts designated for each parish may be accessed by clicking here.
Smart Bodies has been implemented in 101 schools in 32 parishes by 60 agents (26 of which are 4-H agents) in all 7 regions. The discrepancy in this grand total from the chart is the fact that the state office team conducted programs in several schools in addition to the parishes listed in the attached summary.
Congratulations to all the agents! You are to be commended for a job well done.
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Leonard, Saichuk Receive National Awards for Research
Several awards were presented to people involved in research and production of crops at the recent 10th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference in Houston, Jan. 29-30.
Presented with the award for the Top Researcher of 2007 was Dr. Roger Leonard, professor of entomology located at the Macon Ridge Research Station. Dr. Johnny Saichuk, professor and rice specialist located at the Southwest Regional Office, was named the 2007 award winner for Rice Research and Extension.
Congratulations to both Dr. Leonard and Dr. Saichuk on these prestigious recognitions!
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New 4-H Coordinator for the SE/Crescent Regions
Dr. Todd Tarifa has been selected to replace Dr. Mark Tassin as SE/Crescent Region 4-H Coordinator. He is now in the process of transitioning to this very important new appointment within the Extension Service. We will immediately take steps to advertise for a new 4-H agent in East Baton Rouge Parish to fill the vacancy created by Todd’s departure from that position.
Please extend to Todd your support and cooperation as he assumes this very important position within the LSU AgCenter.
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Livestock Show Office
Dwayne Nunez will be transferring to a combined position within the Livestock Show Office where he will run the office and remain as the State Livestock Show Leader and State Horse Show Leader. Please extend your full support and cooperation as Dwayne assumes this very important AgCenter position.
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Position Filled in LAES Director's Office
Ms. Danielle Bayham has accepted the position of assistant to the director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station effective March 7, 2007.
Ms. Bayham has 23 years of experience in the LSU System. She is currently serving as administrative coordinator in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Danielle is a charter member of the LSU AgCenter Staff Advisory Council and served as president of the council for two years. She has received the LSU Foundation Outstanding Service Award and the Ganell Bullock Staff Outstanding Service Award.
Please welcome Danielle into her new position!
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New Faculty
Please welcome David Yount to the LSU AgCenter! David is a graduate of La. Tech in Ag Business and has been working on both youth and adult agriculture programs in Red River Parish since the first week of February.
You can reach David at dyount@agctr.lsu.edu or at 318-932-4342.
Other new faculty includes:
- Chad Hagan, assistant extension agent in the Vernon Parish Extension Office in the Central Region, can be reached at (337) 239-3231.
- John Finley will assume the role as the department head in Food Science as well as professor. He can be reached at (225) 578-5205.
- Lou-Ann Jenkins has become the new assistant extension agent at the Cameron Parish Extension Office in the Southwest Region. Lou-Ann can be reached at (337) 562-8900.
- Christopher Borron is the newest extension associate at Callegari Environmental Center. He can be contacted at (225) 578-3153.
- Kathleen Kramer has been hired as the new designer in Communications. Kathleen can be reached by calling (225) 578-6072.
Please wish them all good luck as they assume their roles and responsibilities! Welcome to the AgCenter community!
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Livestock Show Photo Gallery
Congratulations on making this year’s LSU AgCenter Livestock Show a huge success!
We have posted many photos taken at the state show. These include award winners, the parish swine competition, skill-a-thons and candid shots. You are encouraged to download these images and send to your local papers.
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/communications/news/Livestock+Show/Photos/
2007+Livestock+Show+Photo+Galleries.htm.
You also are invited to send in photos you took to be considered for the Web site.
Send your images to Mark Claesgens mclaesgens@agcenter.lsu.edu.
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Please continue to visit the director’s website at:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/administration
/about_us/extension/our+director/index.htm
If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the director’s website, please contact me at pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
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