November 13, 2007 Extension Update
Dear Extension Faculty and Staff:
The first annual statewide Small Farms Conference was held this past weekend in Moriarty. Attending were a mix of industry and farming people from across the state. Del Jimenez and crew did an outstanding job organizing the event. Three workshop tracks included business, farming, and livestock totaling over 30 workshops and 40 displays and posters. The creation and funding of a new position - Sustainable Ag Specialist, was announced by Dean Catlett and PES Dept Head, Greg Mullins at the conference. Attending city officials invited conference planners to hold the event in Moriarty in 2008.
The College’s Ag Econ & Ag Business Dept. (AEAB) recently completed a week long CSREES Review. Even though these reviews require a lot of preparation and scheduling, they often are valuable as a tool for refocusing efforts. In the coming weeks, the AEAB will also be taking a leadership role, with specialist direction coming from Dr. Michael Patrick, to expand county college. Terry Canup, Kim Hand, Mary DeLorenzo and Dora Dominguez are teaming together to develop a business plan with Michael and Anil Rapasingha, our newest Extension Community Economic Development Specialist.
Looking for a quick way to search through Extension Service information in other states? A new Google search tool recently became available. http://search.extension.org/ which currently searches 775 cooperative extension web sites. You may find this useful, especially when searching for curriculum and program materials.
In recognition of his outstanding programs and leadership, Patrick Torres, county extension director and agriculture agent in Santa Fe County, was recently presented the 2007 County-Based Water Programming Award by the Southern Regional Water Program. The Santa Fe County Extension water programs demonstrate the effectiveness that local programs can have for a community when planned proactively. Torres' programs include xeriscaping, small farm irrigation, turf management, water re-use and more. As co-principal investigator on a grant with Christina Turner, Santa Fe 4-H agriculture agent, Patrick recently received a $15,000 grant for development of youth water education materials. The Southern Region Water Program is administered by the 13 state land grant universities of USEPA Regions 4 and 6. With over 1700 counties in the regional project, the award is a distinction of county Extension programs.
At a recent EERE (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) meeting in Washington DC, I was given an "emerging technologies manual" that you might find useful for background information in developing programs. The manual can be viewed, printed, and shared at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/office_eere/vc.html
Two “Provost” tours were recently completed in Eastern and Northern, NM. The tours were designed to provide NMSU’s new Provost, Waded Cruzado, an orientation of Extension programs and people statewide. I want to thank faculty and staff who helped with arrangements, transportation, stakeholder involvement, presentations, and otherwise made time to provide the Provost with an excellent view of work at the ground level. Impressions included her amazement at the networks and connections we have around the state; her appreciation for our breathe in family programming; our problem solving capacity with clientele networks that advise on targeted applied and basic agricultural research; examples of how 4-H builds youth character and leadership; and the important contributions campus-wide faculty can make with CAHE for New Mexicans. One more tour is planned for April 17th & 18th to showcase Southern NM CES programs.
Everyone in agriculture knows someone whose life has changed because of a farm-related injury or death. That is why NM Extension is on a farm safety crusade. At the heart of this effort is Stan Jones, Curry Co Ag Agent. He and his colleagues have partnered with ENMR Plateau to sponsor the Farm Safety Day program. Founded by The Progressive Farmer magazine in 1995, the national program began with one camp in Clovis, NM in 1996. Extension now sponsors seven days throughout eastern New Mexico in Artesia, Clayton, Clovis, Roswell and Santa Rosa reaching over 4,000 third grade students. NM Farm Safety Days have become some of the largest and best organized in the country. Students, in small groups rotate among stations where safety and awareness programs are taught on ATVs, animals, 911, electricity, farm equipment, grain, lawn equipment, chemicals, and first aid. At the recent Artesia Farm Safety Day, Provost Cruzado was able to participate with students, and enjoyed lunch with the 650 attending students.
Have a great week.
Paul