Monday, August 6, 2018

ECOP Supported NC-FAR Seminar on the Hill

The National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NC-FAR), of which ECOP is a member on behalf of the Cooperative Extension Section, sponsors weekly seminars for Congressional staff and NC-FAR partners from September through July. On July 24, Jason Henderson (Associate Dean, Purdue College of Agriculture & Director, Purdue Extension), the ECOP representative to the NC-FAR Board of Directors, presented a seminar titled Ag Workforce Development: The Role of Cooperative Extension. Fifty-two staffers and partners attended the two seminars with several very good questions. Click Here to view/download Jason's PowerPoint. Thank you, Jason!


Unraveling the Mysteries of ECOP and Cooperative Extension Section - On August 3, 2018, ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska, was joined by ECOP Chair-elects Ed Jones, Virginia Tech (2019) and Mark Latimore, Jr., Fort Valley State University (2020), to present the Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders Session. The topic was requested by the participants of the recent CES Capital Quest program. To review or engage here are the details:
  • View/listen to recording below.

Remember that complete archive of the 2018 Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders conversations is available all day, any day, on the ECOP Monday Minute - right-side menu,  "Learning and Initiative Resources."


Two New Opportunities at eXtension Foundation -
  • Innovation Facilitator Manager: eXtension Foundation seeks an expert facilitator and experienced innovator to join our team and help lead innovation capacity-building for our members of the U.S. Cooperative Extension System. You can find more information about this position and the application here. The position will be open until filled and the first review of applications will begin on August 9th, 2018.
  • Fellowship - Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Sandbox: eXtension is funding an opportunity for a Fellow position to lead a process with a national committee and eXtension to explore and document needs and potential solutions for Customer Relationship Management functions in Cooperative Extension across the country. This opportunity is open to all Land-Grant Universities regardless of membership with eXtension as part of our cooperative agreement with USDA-NIFA. More information about this position and the application can be found here. 


National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) 2018 Row Crop Objective Yield Survey - Now that farmers had a successful planting season this spring and the growing season has been favorable in most areas of the country, USDA-NASS is preparing to partner with farm operators to set out objective yield plots. The objective yield surveys for corn, cotton, potatoes, and soybeans will be conducted from August to January. These plots will be visited each month prior to harvest and helps USDA-NASS measure and estimate yields by collecting and counting plants, pods, kernels, bolls, and hills. This information is used by farmers and agribusinesses to evaluate expected prices and help determine when and how to market the crops produced. NASS officials ask Directors and Administrators to inform county educators: if a farmer is approached by a nice field enumerator sent by USDA-NASS, please encourage the farmer to volunteer their sampled crop field for the 2018 Objective Yield Survey program. Thank you.


Countdown to NEDA Early Registration Deadline - 
Pioneering the Best Ideas and Methods for Leadership in Portland, the 2018 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) and Cooperative Extension Section Annual Business Meeting, is scheduled for October 1-3 in Portland, Oregon. Cooperative Extension Section Leaders, together with key partners, will convene for deep conversation and collaboration. The Deadline for early registration and the closing of the hotel room block is only 5 WEEKS FROM TODAY! Go to http://www.cvent.com/d/0gqxkw to learn more and to register.
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