ECOP Continues Work with USDA on Ag Act Funding – ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, together with Cooperative Extension and Cornerstone Government Affairs colleagues, continues work with a team from USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) to distribute $3 million to Cooperative Extension as indicated here http://www.usda.gov/documents/StateExtensionServicesFunding.pdf. As outlined in the Agriculture Act of 2014, the one-time funding will be used to educate producers about key farm programs, specifically those authorized in Title I. As details emerge, Cooperative Extension Directors/Administrators will be kept informed. An additional $3 million has been distributed competitively to the University of Illinois, along with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri and Texas A&M University. The purpose of this funding is to develop new online tools and train state-based Extension agents who can educate farmers.
SAVE THE DATE: NEDA 2015 – Directors/Administrators are asked to mark October 12-15, 2015 on your calendars for the National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) and Cooperative Extension Section Meeting. Efforts are underway to identify a location in the Chicago area. The NEDA meeting is being changed from March to October in expectation of a joint meeting with the Experiment Station Section in the same time frame in 2016.
WEBINAR: Cooperative Extension Framework for Health and Wellness – ECOP National Task Force on Health Chair, Michelle Rodgers, will lead an eXtension Creating Healthy Communities Community of Practice (CoP) webinar at 11 a.m., ET, Thursday, 6.26.14. Connect at https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/communities. The webinar will be based on the Task Force report https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5134. Participants will learn how to use the framework presented in the report to plan and evaluate health and wellness programming. The primary purpose of the Creating Healthy Communities CoP is to provide resource support to professionals and community leaders working to improve community health.
Extension Centennial News – While celebrating 100 years of Cooperative Extension, Louisiana recognizes one of its leaders, Leodrey Williams, who has worked in a variety of roles at Southern University and in national leadership positions for 50 years. Williams is chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. See his story at http://www.lsuagcenter.com/news_archive/2014/June/headline_news/SU-official-has-been-with-Cooperative-Extension-50-of-its-100-years.htm.
Order Extension Centennial Convocation Booklets – A limited number of program booklets remain from the Convocation. This booklet https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5220 includes a history of Cooperative Extension, a list of ECOP chairs over the 100 years, and a welcome letter from ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning. The keepsake may be ordered in lots of 25 copies while supplies last. To order, contact Sandy Ruble, sandy.ruble@extension.org.
Best Practices Guide – Under an interagency agreement between USDA-NIFA and USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Colorado State University has developed a Best Practices Guide in Nutrition Education for Low-Income Audiences http://snap.nal.usda.gov/snap/CSUBestPractices.pdf.
About ECOP Monday Minute – This weekly communication is a quick summary of actions and announcements for Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators. In addition to the direct mailing to your e-box, the Monday Minute is posted to a searchable blog at http://ecopmondayminute.blogspot.com/. For comments, questions, or submissions, contact Jane Schuchardt, Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director, jane.schuchardt@extension.org.
