ECOP Releases 2014 Annual Report – As Cooperative Extension wraps up its centennial and launches another century of “extending knowledge, changing lives,” ECOP is pleased to release highlights of this year of national leadership. See the ECOP 2014 Accomplishments Report at http://www.aplu.org/CESannualreport. Jimmy Henning, ECOP immediate past chair, University of Kentucky, particularly emphasizes the release of the National Framework for Health and Wellness www.aplu.org/ducument.doc?id=5134, signing of Memorandums of Understanding related to 4-H youth development https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5187 and USDA climate hubs http://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5315, establishment of the ECOP 4-H National Leadership Committee, launching of www.landgrantimpacts.org, and extensive visibility for Cooperative Extension related to the centennial. Thanks to all who had a part in these efforts.
NC-FAR to Host Cooperative Extension Dialogue – Why Cooperative Extension? A New Century for Food and Ag is a dialogue sponsored by the National Coalition for Food & Agricultural Research (http://www.ncfar.org/) 9:30 -10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2014. Featured are ECOP’s representatives to NC-FAR Tim Cross, University of Tennessee, and Michael Ouart, University of Missouri. The purpose is to engage NC-FAR members and others in a discussion about what agriculture producers, commodity groups, and other stakeholders expect of Cooperative Extension in its second century. You are invited to join via webinar at http://bit.ly/1uTmfrk. Drs. Cross and Quart also will represent ECOP at the NC-FAR board of directors meeting which follows.
Why Should Agricultural Research Be a National Priority? – Today the Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation (RMF) announced the new report
Pursuing a Unifying Message: Elevating Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research as a National Priority will be released on December 5, 2014 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The report documents that the United States is in danger of losing its position of international prominence in the scientific research upon which our food, agriculture and natural resources systems depend. It encourages public and private organizations to work together toward a common goal at a time when global challenges require additional investment in agricultural research. Discussing the report will be former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman; Jo Handelsman, Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and Wendy Wintersteen, Endowed Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University. The report, published by the RMF, was developed by the RMF and Iowa State University, in partnership with Mississippi State University, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Texas Tech University and Colorado State University. Cooperative Extension had opportunity to comment on the report during its development. Registration (space limited) is available at www.rileymemorial.org. For those unable to attend, a live webcast of the program may be viewed on the website at 9:00 a.m. ET on December 5, 2014.
USDA-NIFA and Cooperative Extension Partnership – A two-day retreat last week in Arlington, VA brought together representatives from Cooperative Extension and USDA-NIFA to explore what partnership means for the two groups and what actions can be taken to strengthen work together. A report is expected that will help ECOP and the agency prioritize and implement follow-up actions. Robin Shepard, Executive Director, North Central Cooperative Extension Association, provides key leadership for the effort.
ECOP Proceedings 1985-1989 – During ECOP’s history, bound books with a green cover were provided to each institution in the Cooperative Extension Section. If your institution has a set of these Proceedings of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and are missing Volume VII (1985-1989), let Sandy Ruble sandy.ruble@extension.org know by 12.5.14 and a book will be shipped. Supplies are limited.
PILD 2015 Save the Date – Imagining Extension – Eyes on the Future is the theme of the 2015 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference April 12-15 in Crystal City, VA http://www.jcep.org/images/PILD/2015-PILD/2015_PILD_Flyer.pdf. Sponsored by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals, the conference is focused on building advocacy skills for Cooperative Extension. Registration opens January 12, 2015 at http://www.jcep.org/.
