ECOP Monday Minute 8.19.13

SAVE THE DATE: eXtension External Evaluation Webinar – ECOP will host a webinar on The eXtension External Evaluation: Charting Next Steps 1-2 p.m. ET, Monday, 9.9.13. Connect at https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ecop. This is another opportunity for Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators to engage in a discussion about the future direction of eXtension. The report can be found here. The deadline for responding to the related survey at http://bit.ly/eXtDASurvey is 8.28.13.

New EFNEP Policies Document – USDA-NIFA has updated the USDA Extension Service October 1983 Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Policies (August 2013).  See http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/food/efnep/resources.html.

Help Tell the Agriculture Story – The Smithsonian Institutions is asking the public to help preserve the recent history of farming and ranching by sharing their stories about the technologies and innovations in agriculture in the Agriculture Innovation and Heritage Archive. The archive stories and artifacts will be used for Smithsonian exhibitions like American Enterprise, which will open in May 2015. Submit a story through the link on the home page at http://americanenterprise.si.edu/introduction/agricultural-innovation-and-heritage-archive/.

Women in Agriculture Learning Network – The CHS Foundation, a farmer-owned cooperative, has funded eXtension to develop and implement a new national online Women in Agriculture National Learning Network. The network will help women who operate and manage farms improve their quality of life by providing resources to make better business decisions while maintaining a balance with family and personal obligations.  Women now own about half of all farm land in the U.S. Many focus on organic agriculture and value-added farming and raise small livestock.  The new network will help women operate profitable farming operations and take on leadership roles in agriculture. One of the key resource areas planned is farm financial management. Topics will include beginning farming skills, financial and business planning, time management, government programs, insurance, labor management, legal issues, risk management, transition planning, organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and conservation practices.  The Women in Ag Network is expected to go online by December 2014.