Because of the length of this e-directions, it has been divided into sections. Click on the section you would like to read.
(Here is the script of a video we prepared to kick off our local government support initiative in March. I want to share it with everyone as we engage our local partners in signing new cooperative agreements with the LSU AgCenter – Cooperative Extension Service)
For nearly 90 years, the LSU AgCenter’s Cooperative Extension Service has served as your parish’s connection to university-based research in agricultural and home economics and so much more. As the director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, I am proud to say we are a leader in providing knowledge at the local level for natural resource management, home gardens and landscapes, economic growth and the development of one our most precious resources, our young people, through the ever-popular 4-H program.
Bringing the university to the people is our mission and results in an improved quality of life for Louisiana citizens. With offices in every parish, The Extension Service provides the latest and most reliable information generated through quality research conducted by AgCenter scientists working both on campus and its 19 research stations. Having university-trained AgCenter faculty living and working in all 64 parishes has been extremely beneficial to all its citizens.
Our community and economic development team helps workers remain competitive in the business and job market while developing strong community-based enterprises crucial to the community’s economic viability. Family and consumer scientists provide the tools necessary to maintain health families and lifestyles. 4-H agents teach leadership, citizenship and life skills to our children. Your parish extension office serves as a direct conduit to new technology and university expertise so vital to long-term parish sustainability.
The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service is a locally focused federal, state and local partnership linking parish citizens to university knowledge. With offices in all 64 Louisiana parishes, and more that 3000 counties nationwide, Extension is supported through Congressional appropriations through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, funded on the state level by the Louisiana legislature, and locally supported by parish governments via police juries, parish councils or school boards. Local government partners provide office facilities, including essential needs such as utilities and maintenance, as well as partial support for operations, salaries, and benefits for faculty and staff located within the parish.
In Louisiana, this relationship is designated as a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU which served us well for many years. The MOUs on record require revision due to program changes and a lack of defined responsibilities, in particularly local financial support that is required in addition to parish-provided facilities. It is the AgCenter’s intent to replace out-of-date MOUs with Cooperative Agreements that explain this partnership and describe what local support will be required to maintain a Cooperative Extension office in your parish.
The new agreements you will soon review or have already reviewed represent the legitimate financial responsibilities that must be considered by your local government to continue an Extension office in your parish.
I understand that many parishes face serious financial challenges and do not have access to funds that may be required to meet the obligations of the partnership with Cooperative Extension’ however, the AgCenter cannot ignore the fact that Louisiana is last among the southern states in providing financial support for Extension programs and this discrepancy must be addressed. Local salary and benefits support for faculty and staff average about 3% in Louisiana with the southern average at 21%. The new cooperative agreements have a target to raise this minimum support to 10% over the next two fiscal years—a figure still less than half of the southern average. Additionally, a commitment to review each cooperative agreement every five years will be included.
Every local funding agency will be contacted to re-establish updated cooperative agreements that specify the financial responsibilities of each cooperating partner supporting a parish-based Extension office. It is both my hope and the AgCenter’s hope that the excellent programs made available to every parish citizen can be sustained through these new agreements. We are looking forward to maintaining the relationship that began in 1914 with our local partners as the AgCenter’s works to maintain its exemplary programs in all 64 parishes.
Through these new Cooperative Agreements we know the viability of our mission of “bringing the university to the people” can be sustained.
Dr. Boris Castro, entomologist for the LSU AgCenter, and other scientists have helped to identify a type of maggot that devastated some late-planted rice fields in Louisiana and Texas last year. The following information is from the Associated Press.
The bug is new to the United States, the Smithsonian Institution has confirmed. It's so new that it doesn't yet have a common U.S. name - something that the Entomological Society of America will have to approve, said Dr. Boris Castro, an entomologist at the LSU AgCenter. Smithsonian entomologist Wayne Mathis identified it as the larva of a tiny fly known to scientists as Hydrellia wirthi, and found in Peru, Costa Rica and Colombia, Castro said.
"We've suggested the name of South American rice miner," he said, since it is known in South America as "the miner of rice." The society is also making scientific drawings of the insect to help farmers recognize it. More information is needed, such as where the fly spends winters, how many eggs it lays each year and how far north it can survive, AgCenter experts said.
Scientists and farmers also need to determine the early signs of infestation. By the time the plant's leaves die, it's too late to use any chemicals. And no insecticides are labeled for use against the pest. Although the insect is known in South America, the move north may have changed its habits, Castro said. "They may behave completely different from those in South America."
Scientists do know one thing: the fly seems to have struck mostly in June and July, with the first maggots found in a field planted in May. "The earlier you plant, the better," Castro said. Farmer Ted Girouard of Kaplan said the fly wiped out 51 acres of rice planted in July. His remaining 130 acres yielded only 12 barrels an acre, he said.
The LSU AgCenter recommends planting rice between March 15 and April 20 in south Louisiana and between April 5 and May 10 in the north. Castro said the U.S. Department of Agriculture's New Pest Advisory Group is preparing a report, and has scheduled surveys to look for the pest in all rice-producing parts of the country. That information will indicate what areas are most at risk and where it is likely to spread. Last year, the maggots attacked fields in Acadia, Vermilion, Jefferson Davis, St. Landry and Concordia parishes, Castro said. Dr. Mo Way, Texas A&M entomologist, has found it in Texas on a smaller scale.
Congratulations to Kenneth Spoto and Beverly Bailey on their contribution to the February issue of the Journal of Extension. The article, Ropes Course Builds Confidence and Teamwork in Teens, showcases the success that the Ropes Course has had and reports that findings from an evaluation of the ropes course weekend indicated the activities built teamwork, confidence in oneself and confidence in the group. The findings also indicated the instructors and the camp staff made the weekend rewarding.
The article can be accessed at:www.joe.org
Dr. Dan Cotton, director of the eXtension initiative, has asked me to share this position announcement with LSU AgCenter faculty.
The eXtension initiative is seeking an interested individual to apply for the position of Communications and Marketing Leader. The Communications and Marketing Leader will be responsible for national leadership in the development and implementation of a strong internal communications program and external marketing effort for eXtension. The basic function and responsibility is to act as a major gift/grant fundraiser for the national Cooperative Extension System’s national eXtension project. One must proactively identify and solicit corporations and foundations whose program guidelines support the eXtension mission and priorities.
This appointment with eXtension is flexible either as an independent contractor relationship or as an employee of a partnering higher education institution. If the position if filled as an institutional employee, the FTE is flexible from .4 to .65 FTE on a limited term basis (minimum 2 years). The person can be located anywhere in the United States; travel will be required. The person is responsible to maintain a business office.
Expectations:
- Identify prospective corporate and foundation donors and initiate appropriate personal cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities.
- Develop and implement goals for the corporate/foundation activities, an annual operating plan with quarterly activity goals, and monetary goals.
- Participate in meetings of the eXtension finance task force.
- Assist in the creation and implementation of national solicitation strategies with partner universities to generate support from private/corporate foundations and corporations.
- Proactively develop and maintain relationships with corporations and foundations that lead to major gifts.
- Work with eXtension faculty, staff and CES employees and volunteers educating them on how to approach foundations and corporations for gifts/grants and develop relationships that will lead to major gifts.
- Write, edit and/or rewrite gift/grant proposals being prepared for submission to foundations and corporations.
- Assist eXtension personnel in identifying programmatic and operational needs and priorities as they relate to foundation and corporate opportunities.
One must provide periodic reports to the Director of eXtension regarding progress and/or status regarding the expectations listed above and all relative activities. Will maintain liaison with relevant eXtension governance/oversight and finance entities.
A bachelor’s degree is necessary. Minimum five years’ experience in securing gifts and grants.
Proven track record of soliciting and closing major gifts and grants. Successful fundraising experience in a national organizational network is preferred.
Self-motivated and energetic. Able to balance and manage multiple projects. Strong organizational skills and ability to work in a team-oriented environment.
Demonstrated excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated competence in writing funding proposals for corporations and foundations. Demonstrated extensive computer skills; thorough familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets and e-mail applications.
Salary and Benefits: Salary or contractual rate will be commensurate with professional experience and demonstrated ability.
A letter of application, resume and contact information of three references should be sent to:
Dan Cotton
Director, eXtension
6 Ag Communications Building
PO Box 830918
Lincoln, NE 68583-0918
Office: (402) 472-2821
Fax: (402) 472-0025
E-mail: dan_cotton@extension.org
Web: intranet.extension.edu
The review of applicants will be conducted until finalists are identified. Application deadline is May 6, 2005.
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LSU AgCenter Nutritionist Wins Award
An LSU AgCenter nutritionist recently received the 2005 Louisiana Dietetic Association Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award. Dr. Beth Reames, a professor and extension specialist in the LSU AgCenter’s School of Human Ecology, received the award at the Association’s annual meeting March 31 in Lafayette. It recognized her education, teaching and leadership activities.
Reames, who has been with the LSU AgCenter for 22 years, is a recognized leader in nutrition education on such topics as obesity, diabetes and food safety. A Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist, Reames has been responsible for leadership in such recent LSU AgCenter statewide educational efforts as its Portions Healthy Weight Program and its Diabetes Education Awareness Recommendations Program.
She has won a number of other awards for her efforts and has served as a leader in a variety of professional organizations. In addition, she recently served as project director for a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded tri-state educational initiative based on the LSU AgCenter’s Serving Food Safely curriculum. Beth Reames can be contacted at (225) 578-3929 or breames@agcenter.lsu.edu.
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Walters Honored as One of Two Top 4-H Volunteers
Joe Walters of Winnsboro and Ellen Doerner of Loomis, Calif., received 2005 National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Awards. Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO for National 4-H Council, and Ronald Bumb, area sales manager for Monsanto Company and a former 4-H member, presented the awards at the 75th National 4-H Conference.
Joe Walters received the 2005 National 4-H Salute to Excellence Lifetime Volunteer Award, given to an individual who has spent 10 or more years volunteering for 4-H. Joe was thankful for his award, but he knows the award is not the reason he works with 4-H young people. “When I reflect on my reason for all these years of youth work, I can say with all truthfulness that it is not the acclaim of others, it is the appreciation from a former 4-H’er whose life has taken a positive turn due to some of my efforts,” Walters said.
IWalters has touched the lives of tens of thousands of young people during his 33 years as a volunteer leader for the Louisiana 4-H program. Walters helped pioneer the 4-H Shooting Sports program in multiple Louisiana parishes, worked with others to found the Wild Woods Wanderings environmental 4-H youth education program for Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, and is now working with other volunteer leaders in Louisiana to pilot the 4-H ATV Safety Program.
Each year, state 4-H programs are invited to nominate two outstanding individual volunteers for the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Awards Recognition Program. Gene and Sharon Swackhamer created the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Award Program to emphasize the important work of 4-H volunteers across America. The awards are made possible through the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Fund and Monsanto Company, the program’s national presenting sponsor.
To nominate a 4-H volunteer for the 2006 Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Awards Program, contact Karen Blaney at (301) 961-2819 or kblaney@fourhcouncil.edu, or visit www.fourhcouncil.edu/STE.aspx.
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Fred Piazza on eXtension Information Technology Advisory Committee
Fred Piazza will represent an important sector of Cooperative Extension on this national initiative. He is being asked to serve on the eXtension Information Technology (IT) Advisory Committee. Some of the initial work of the committee will be evaluating the prototype framework, forming workgroups to further enhance the core technologies and developing the specifications for a hosting request for proposals. In addition, the IT Advisory Committee will review and write specifications for further development of the following eXtension applications: ask an expert, frequently asked questions, event calendars, institutional branding and RSS news aggregation.
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Master Farmer/Master Cattle Producer Memorandum of Understanding
On March 18, 2005, conservation and agricultural leaders from throughout the state signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their relationship and work with the Master Farmer Program and associated Master Cattle Producer Program. The Master Farmer Program and the associated Master Cattle Producer Program certifies farmers and cattle producers who have completed three phases of intensive work—classroom instruction, attendance at model-farm field days, and development and implementation of farm-specific comprehensive soil and water conservation plans.
The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Cattleman’s Association (LCA) will work together to carry out both programs that not only benefit Louisiana’s agricultural producers, but the state’s soil, water and overall environment as well.
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DEQ Agricultural Briefing Scheduled
We have made significant progress in addressing environmental concerns in agriculture and forestry with environmental conservation education and research programs in the AgCenter and other commodity organizations. We would like to showcase these programs at an agriculture briefing April 28 at the Rice Research Station in Crowley. The goal of this meeting is to brief Secretary Mike McDaniel and his executive staff on the importance of agriculture and the proactive steps producers are taking to improve environmental quality. The meeting will include informal discussions from AgCenter specialists as well as agricultural leaders.
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Liu partners with Pennington in $8 million grant
Zhijun Liu, associate professor in the School of Renewable Natural Resources, is the AgCenter partner with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in a nearly $8 million grant to establish a national center of excellence to study the effects of botanical products, or plant extracts, on human health and diseases. The mission of the center will be to evaluate conditions in humans that lead to development of obesity and Type 2 diabetes and to determine whether plant extracts can treat these conditions.
The research team will study the effects of specific botanical compounds and their components and how they may influence molecular and cellular processes associated with metabolic syndrome. Liu’s current work is with a plant called Sinocrassula indica.
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Moody elected IFT Fellow
Michael W. Moody, head of the Department of Food Science, has been elected a Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). This 26,000-member organization is the premier scientific and educational society serving the food science and technology field. Moody is one of 12 members selected as Fellows in 2005. The honor will be bestowed at the annual meeting in New Orleans July 16-20.
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New Assignment
Effective immediately, Dr. Jason Rowntree will serve as overall coordinator of adult beef Extension programming in the AgCenter. Dr. Rowntree will provide leadership to other beef extension faculty (agents and specialists) in the development, execution and evaluation of educational programs in all disciplines of beef cattle production, management and marketing but specifically the Louisiana Calf to Carcass, Louisiana Forage Based Bull Test and Louisiana Beef and Forage Short Course. Dr. Rowntree will continue to coordinate the Beef Programming Team, Louisiana Master Cattle Producer and serve as editor of the CMS Beef Web site. He will continue to maintain a reduced research appointment in the area of beef nutrition and production.
Please congratulate and support Dr. Rowntree as he assumes this expanded assignment.
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Please continue to visit the director’s website at: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/nav/extension/Coreil.asp
If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the director’s website, please contact me at pcoreil@agctr.lsu.edu.
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