News From ECOP Program Action Teams

Last Friday, March 1, 2024, members of the Cooperative Extension Section from as far away as American Samoa discovered who to contact for more information about each of the ECOP Program Action Teams (PATs), including the new Food Systems and Food Waste PAT. Check out the video recording for insights from recent visits to Washington, DC by ECOP Chair Damona Doye, Oklahoma State University, and interesting activities from the Climate Mitigation, Resiliency, and Adaptation PAT. ECOP's First Friday events are for the benefit of new and seasoned land-grant university (1862, 1890, 1994) Extension Director and Administrators and are archived on ECOP's YouTube Channel. Topics of these regular meetings are searchable here on the ECOP Monday Minute. 

2022 Census of Agriculture Released - On February 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The full Census of Agriculture report as well as publication dates for additional ag census data products can be found at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Ag census data can also be found in NASS’s searchable online database, Quick Stats.

Economic Development Administration Technology Hubs - Last year, the U. S. Economic Development Administration, a bureau of the U. S. Department of Commerce, designated 31 inaugural Tech Hubs, as well as awarded 29 Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grants. The 31 Tech Hubs found here focus on developing and growing innovative industries in regions across the country, including semiconductors, clean energy, critical minerals, biotechnology, precision medicine, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and more. Tech Hubs bring together private industry, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, labor unions, Tribal communities and nonprofit organizations to compete for up to $75 million implementation grants to further develop these fields and make transformative investments in innovation, supply chain resilience, and job creation.



Still Time to Submit Ideas to NSF Through CASA-Bio - Catalyzing Across Sectors to Advance the Bioeconomy (CASA-Bio) was inspired by the Executive Order (EO) on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy. Released by the White House in September of 2022, the EO laid out a grand vision to advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing through foundational and use-inspired research and development in five thematic areas (Bioeconomy EO Themes): climate change, food and agriculture, supply chain resilience, human health, and cross cutting areas to advance all these areas. While their four February listening sessions are done, their written feedback forms are still working.



Kenya: March 8 Zoom Meeting Reminder - Remember that this Friday, March 8, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET, APLU and Executive Director Bill Hoffman will host an information sharing Zoom meeting regarding Extension and related activities in Kenya. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture recently held a trade mission to that country and there is a very positive US agricultural benefit proposition to cooperation in Kenya. Please register here for this meeting. Also, contact Dr. Hoffman at whoffman@aplu.org to request the opportunity to share an institution’s work in Kenya during the session.



About Contacting the USDA Foreign Ag Service - Extension leaders and professionals who are conducting Extension work in countries and regions around the world, are encouraged to contact the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) which serves as a great connection to a particular country’s American embassy. Contacting FAS by email is easy to do using Ag(name of country's capital)@usda.gov. Examples include aglondon@usda.gov, agtokyo@usda.gov, or agbeijing@usda.gov. FAS is interested and supportive of the work of Extension. 

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus until January 22, 2024, to honor the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good Virtual Event - A special presentation on Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good: An Action Framework for Public Research Universities has been organized by ECOP for Friday, January 19, 2024, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Elyse Aurbach, Director of Public Engaged and Research Impacts, University of Michigan, the leader of the APLU project, will present. The framework includes helpful ways to manage organizational change.

Public research universities have over 150 years of history of spearheading scholarship that advances the public interest. Founded to serve the public through their education, research, and engagement work, they provide life-changing education to students, advance society-shaping innovations, and engage communities to tackle our most stubborn challenges. The abstract and full report are available here.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://aplu-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMscOmprDMqHt38xL5efL7Irw507p37HFBm and receive a confirmation email containing connection details.

NIFA Grants Development & Management Networking Sessions - NIFA will pilot four networking sessions to help enhance grants development and grants management. The first session on January 30, 2024, will be on allowable and unallowable costs. NIFA experts on grants management, our OGFM staff will be answering questions as a Panel. We are requesting you to share the link with your grantees. The sessions are designed to answer questions asked by attendees. Pre-submitted questions will be answered first, which can be submitted during registration. Please encourage your applicants and grantees to attend as these sessions will not be recorded.




Build and Strengthen Leadership at the JCEP Extension Leadership Conference - The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) invites and encourages Extension Deans/Directors/Administrators to support Extension personnel to attend the 2024 Extension Leadership Conference (ELC). This event gives attendees opportunities to connect with others across Extension Associations and the U.S. Karl Bradley, Extension Foundation, will be the keynote and capstone speaker to excite and equip attendees to strengthen and grow their leadership.

Participation in ELC greatly depends on Extension Director support. Dr. Barbara Petty (pictured left), Associate Dean and Director of the University of Idaho Extension and ECOP Liaison to JCEP, shares the value of ELC. “The Extension Leadership Conference is an outstanding opportunity for field staff to learn how to be more effective in their roles as Extension Professionals. In addition to the dynamic speakers, a great benefit is the networking that occurs across the disciplines with colleagues from all over the nation. Idaho personnel have identified this conference as one of the most impactful in their professional development. I highly recommend this conference for your field staff and encourage you to support their attendance.”

ELC is February 14-15, 2024, at the Saddlebrook Resort Tampa. Registration and details are here: https://www.jcep.org/elc.



New Issue of the Journal of Extension Published - The newest issue of the flagship journal for Extension professionals, Volume 61, Number 3 of the Journal of Extension, is now available.

2022 Census of Agriculture Data Coming Soon - The 2022 Census of Agriculture data will be released February 13, 2024. NASS recently shared information about data release, preliminary return rate, and upcoming special studies. NASS Public Affairs Office states that with the census data that was collected in 2022, over 400 reports about agricultural commodities were produced. NASS reminders and updates for Extension Directors and Administrators appear regularly in ECOP Monday Minute to help track the schedule of data collection and promote the value of the census.  

SARE Coordinator Sought - In 2024, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program will initiate a $10 million national food loss and food waste grants program to support projects that align with USDA activities aimed at reducing food loss and reducing food waste, getting surplus wholesome food to individuals, and developing linkages between food producers, providers, and food recovery organizations.

To accomplish the goals of the grant program, SARE is seeking a Program Manager/Coordinator to assist in the organization, coordination, and implementation of selected grant projects. The Program Manager/Coordinator is a national seat, open to qualified applicants in the contiguous U.S.; Alaska; Hawaii; the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, and Northern Mariana Islands; and sovereign nations Republic of Palau and Marshall Islands. Institutions, such as colleges and universities; and organizations such as non-governmental organizations meeting qualifications are invited to apply.



2023 Extension Foundation Professional Development Needs Assessment Report Available - The purpose of the Extension Foundation Professional Development Needs Assessment study was to identify professional development needs for Extension professionals at 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant universities in the US and US territories. The Extension Foundation issued a request for applications for a Fellowship to complete this needs assessment. Dr. Karen Vines, Assistant Professor, Continuing Professional Education Specialist, Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech was selected as the Fellow and researcher for this project. Read the summary and access the full report at this link.

ECOP Welcomes New Members

Please welcome Carolyn Williams, Executive Associate Director, Prairie View A&M University, and Raymon Shange, Associate Dean and 1890 Extension Administrator, Tuskegee University, to the 15-member working board ECOP. The role of ECOP voting members is explained in full on page 2 of the ECOP operating guidelines. Dr. Williams, who previously served a term 2017-2022, is fulfilling an unexpired 4-Year term until the fall of 2024 and will devote additional time and effort to the ECOP Executive Committee Plan of Work. Dr. Shange, serving his first term ending the fall of 2026 will devote time and effort to the ECOP Professional Development Committee Plan of Work. Click the 2 national leaders' portraits to learn more. Thank you Carolyn and Raymon for your national leadership!

Carolyn Williams

  

Raymon Shange

 

Black History in the Making for Extension - One way to keep a pulse on growth and impact of 1890s Cooperative Extension programming all year long is to sign up to receive Extension Today, a monthly newsletter that highlights Cooperative Extension and provides updates across the 1890 land-grant system. Extension Today http://1890aea.org/extension-today-newsletter is published by the Association of Extension Administrators and the Marketing and Communications Committee. Contact communications@1890aea.org for more information or to join the mailing list. 

Still Time to Complete Census of Agriculture -The USDA National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) has extended data collection for the 2022 Census of Agriculture through the spring of 2023 to ensure all farmers and ranchers take advantage of the opportunity to be represented in the widely used data. Everyone who received the 2022 Census of Agriculture and has not yet responded should be made aware it is not too late to be counted. The Partner Tools web page has materials to help with outreach, including social media tools, ads, brochures and more. NASS is grateful for the support and partnership with Cooperative Extension to share this information widely.

FREE Webinar Series on Food Insecurity & Military Families - Nearly 24 percent of America’s active-duty service members and their families are food insecure. Extension educators and other service providers have the ability to expand food security in the communities they support. OneOp’s Food Security in Focus collection offers free webinars listed at https://oneop.org/food-security-in-focus exploring the impact of food insecurity on military families. The webinars discuss how providers can best support the communities they serve. All webinars are virtual and free. Recordings will be available on demand. Programming topics include:
· Increasing children’s fruit and vegetable exposure
· Reducing food waste
· Helping clients inflation-proof their budget
· Connections between Medicaid, food security, and well-being
In addition to webinars, the collection offers engagement opportunities through a LinkedIn group and free continuing education credits from multiple credentialing agencies.

Executive Director Search Update

On behalf of ECOP's Executive Director Search and Screen Committee, APLU has posted the latest position announcement here. The position and office operations have been headquartered in DC at APLU (formerly NASULGC) since November 1982. Section Members listed here who pay for 100% of the position and office operations are urged to recruit qualified candidates to apply by February 24, 2023. ECOP Chair Bev Durgan, University of Minnesota, the ECOP Executive Committee, and the EDA Team are temporarily working in close coordination to perform only the most essential responsibilities of the Executive Director until time of hire and principal leadership onboarding is complete.

USDA NASS Requests Reminder for Census of Agriculture - If the nation's agriculture producers are not represented in the data collected by February 6, they risk being underserved. As a reminder, NASS’s Partner Tools site has resources for outreach, including ads, banners for web pages and email signatures, videos, flyers, FAQs and more. Contact Jodi Halvorson at (916) 738-6609, jodi.halvorson@usda.gov for customization of any of the tools. NASS is also in the midst of collecting Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) data depicting the economic well-being of America’s farms and ranches. For producers who received ARMS, they can respond to this survey instead of the ag census.

Calendar Check Up - The Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP Calendar and so much more is available on the ECOP landing page at www.extension.org/ecop. Please pardon "page not found," missing, or out-of-date links on the APLU website. The issue is temporary and being addressed by APLU Public Affairs. In the meantime, to promptly obtain missing items pertaining to Cooperative Extension System/ECOP business, please contact Sandy Ruble at sandyruble@extension.org. Thank you.

ECOP & ESCOP Chairs Build Relationships Together in DC

This week, ECOP Chair Bev Durgan, University of Minnesota (pictured left), joined ESCOP Chair Matt Wilson, West Virginia University (pictured right) to bolster relationships with several partners in Washington D.C. The Chairs were accompanied by Rick Rhodes, NERA, and  EDA Team members Robin Shepard, NCCEA, and Sandy Ruble, National Office. This team met with a number of people and organizations including:

• Doug Steele, APLU VP, Food Ag & Natural Resources (FANR) and Lewis-Burke Associates
• Sanah Baig, Brand New Deputy Undersecretary of USDA-REE
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Breakfast
• National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NCFAR) – Laura Wood Peterson, Executive Director
• Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) – Saharah Moon Chapotin, Executive Director

Update: Health Framework Lightning Sessions 12/15 - Because of the interest expressed by Extension Directors and Administrators to learn how various LGUs are advancing health as a priority, twelve institutions have been invited to share their accomplishments in this area. The first webinar was held on November 15 with Penn State, Ohio State, Kansas State, and Universities of Georgia, Florida, and New Hampshire presenting. Roughly 100 individuals participated live. A recording of that session can be accessed at https://4-h-org.zoom.us/rec/share/zI9dunTwok0zQNEP7C9KHmjlbBDHgLBBHZ6cVgd5y4b_hKb-0dD8lrpsd6cZ9axb.XISPRM_ZKG2WvXpW using passcode t$b6Uy5B. To register for the second session scheduled for December 15, 1:00 PM ET to hear from University Kentucky, Clemson University, Tennessee State University, the University of Wisconsin, Colorado State University, and the University of Missouri, register at https://4-h-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtd-urqz8vHNI1I-TijtvhJjT3zzEvAq7I, The sessions are open to all Extension personnel.

 

 
Health Conference Call for Proposals - The planning committee for the 2023 National Health Outreach Conference is currently accepting presentation proposals. The conference to be held May 22-24, 2023 in Ithaca, NY is hosted by Cornell University. Interested Extension professionals may submit proposals for concurrent sessions of 60 or 20 minutes in length as well as poster presentations that will be staffed at a designated time. The central theme of the conference is Health Equity: Framing Our Work, ensuring that all people have a fair and just opportunity to experience lifelong health and well-being. Learn more and submit at https://bit.ly/NHOCproposal2023 no later than January 12, 2023.

2022 Census of Agriculture Underway - USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently sent a press release announcing the start of data collection for the 2022 Census of Agriculture USDA invites ag producers to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Use the social media toolkit at the bottom of the release to get the message out to ‘respond now’ to every ag producer. Every voice counts. Collected just once every five years, the ag census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every county and state in the nation. Survey codes for producers to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov were mailed Nov. 22 and paper questionnaires will follow in December. Responses are due February 6, 2023. Additional promotional materials to encourage response are available on the NASS Partner Tools webpage.

Census of Agriculture Response by June 30

From the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Extension Directors and Administrators are reminded that the 2022 Census of Agriculture is about people. Every survey response is essential by June 30, 2022. Ag census data informs policy, research, assistance programs, ag education, community development, and countless more decisions that ultimately affect farms and communities. From cattle ranchers to greenhouse and backyard growers and urban farmers to producers working thousands of acres, every ag producer needs to be represented. The ag census is a producers' voice, future, and opportunity. Find Partner Tools (i.e. brochures, FAQs, flyers, ads, website banners, etc.) for this Sign-Up to Be Counted phase and more on the NASS census page. Please check there regularly for additional/updated products. Contact: Jodi.halvorson@usda.gov.



Affordable Connectivity Program - As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, President Biden and Vice President Harris worked with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to create the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households $30/month off their internet bills, or $75/month on Tribal lands. To deliver maximum cost savings to families, the current administration has secured commitments from 20 leading internet providers to offer ACP-eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30 per month. Eligible families who pair their ACP benefit with one of these plans can receive high-speed internet at no cost. Fact sheet is available here and outreach materials are available at GetInternet.Gov



Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments Proposed Rule - Almost a year ago USDA announced that it would begin work on three proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act, the law that protects poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in livestock markets. Recently, Secretary Vilsack announced that the first of the three priority regulatory initiatives, the Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments proposed rule will be released. The proposed rule would revise the list of disclosures and information live poultry dealers (integrators) must furnish to contract poultry growers. The proposal would establish additional disclosure requirements in connection with the use of poultry grower ranking systems (tournaments) by live poultry dealers to determine settlement payments for poultry growers. The proposed rule is intended to promote transparency in poultry production contracting and to give poultry growers and prospective poultry growers relevant information with which to make business decisions. One of the disclosures in the proposed rule requires live poultry dealers to supply the contact information for the state university Extension service office or the county farm advisor’s office that can provide relevant information to the current or prospective poultry grower about grower costs and poultry farm financial management in the grower’s geographic area. A link to the proposed rule can be found here on the USDA website: Poultry Transparency proposed rule.



Food Supply Chain and Food System News from USDA - USDA announced details of a framework to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new, more, and better markets for small and mid-size producers. The announcement also provides additional details on the June 2021 announcement to strengthen critical supply chains and address longstanding structural challenges that were revealed and intensified by the pandemic.



Free Online Social Justice Courses and Discussions Available - The 2022 Military Family Readiness Academy series focuses on individuals’ understanding of social justice and equity, including their own understanding of privilege and oppression. Three asynchronous courses and two panel discussions will equip family service providers with the skills to identify barriers that impact a family’s health and well-being and identify opportunities for social justice advocacy in their work. The Academy series will address the intersections between engaging a social justice mindset as a family service professional and the ability to support the well-being of diverse military families. Enrollment information can be found here.

ECOP Meeting Actions

As noted in last week’s blog, ECOP met this past week in Park City, Utah in conjunction with the Joint COPs meeting. Actions include:

• Executive Director, Cooperative Extension System, ECOP, search process and position description were approved. Position will be advertised soon. 
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded, Well-Connected Communities initiative enhancements were endorsed as part of Cooperative Extension Section’s Strategic Agenda. 
• An ECOP Budget Legislative Committee sub-committee will be identified to develop strategies for 4-H and others to engage in capacity funding advocacy. 
• SNAP-Ed Professional Development Team’s report was received, and the National Office will continue to provide support for the Team’s financial transactions. 
• Beverly Durgan, University of Minnesota, was appointed Chair of the ECOP International Extension Committee. 

For more information contact Rick Klemme, rickklemme@extension.org.

Accessing eXtension Membership Benefits through Engage & Empower Online - Engage & Empower Online (EEO) is a one-stop-shop for continuing professional development beyond face-to-face events. Within EEO, Extension professionals from eXtension members institutions have access to exclusive publications, presentations, and eFieldbook content to fuel program and project development. Professional development opportunities (webinars and Learning Circles) centered upon strategically themed topics are provided regularly, bringing together a national cohort of Extension professionals to co-create solutions for community impact. Members also have access to an online version of our Innovation Skill Builder tool to help develop impactful programs. External partners contribute to EEO professional development offerings, providing unique insights into developing strategic partnership opportunities. Additionally, the EEO platform is a social intranet designed to connect Extension professionals across states to share experiences, resources, and collaborate on similar projects. Learn more and register at https://impact.extension.org/engage-empower-online/

Western Rural Development Center and Regional Extension Faculty Deliver - Economic Development Strategies Throughout Western U.S. - The four Regional Rural Development Centers work collaboratively on national Extension initiatives and these efforts serve the regional work of each Center. One example from the West comes from the Western Rural Development Center’s award-winning, economic development program, Area Sector Analysis Process (ASAP). ASAP has now been applied in over 40 rural, western communities across Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah, and over 750 citizens have served on ASAP community committees. ASAP recently launched in new communities in Kauai, Hawaii, and Parachute and Silt, Colorado. ASAP is managed by the Western Rural Development Center at Utah State University and is comprised of western Extension faculty/professionals from the University of Idaho, University of Nevada-Reno, University of Arizona, and Utah State University. For ASAP details, visit http://wrdc.usu.edu/programs/asap.

Latest Census of Agriculture Product - USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) just released the 2017 Census of Agriculture Watersheds Report. Produced in service to agricultural and environmental data users, this publication compiles Census data at the water basin, or watershed, level according to boundaries set by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). A supplement to the Census of Agriculture, the Watersheds Report can be used by farmers, community planners, conservation districts, environmental engineers, researchers, and others interested in how land and water resources are being used and how these uses are changing. Data are available for each of the 20 USGS watersheds and 381 water basins in the United States. Information from the 2012 Census of Agriculture Watersheds Report is published alongside the 2017 Census results to show changes in land use, production practices, and livestock distribution in these geographic areas over the past five years. Other 2017 Census of Agriculture products recently released include the full report, State and County Profiles, and Congressional District Profiles. For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture and to access the Watersheds Report and other Census products, visit www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.

Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network RFA Webinar July 9

The ECOP Monday Minute will return on July 15, 2019.
Have a safe and pleasant Independence Day holiday!

The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network funding opportunity is intended to provide resources to address the challenging issue of farm and ranch stress. The closing date is July 25! Applications must be submitted by a collaborative state; tribal; local or regionally-based network, or partnership of qualified public and/or private entities, as determined by the Secretary. These collaborations may include the following entities: Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); State departments of agriculture, State cooperative extension services; and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). An interested applicant webinar will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2019, 2:00 PM-3:30 PM ET. Click Here to join webinar or Here to listen to webinar recording after July 9; meeting number 967 884 412, or by phone at 1-888-844-9904 (US/Canada), Access code 584 544 7. Learn more at NIFA Funding Opportunity Page and apply at the Grants.gov Page.

NACD Offers Free, Electronic Publications - The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is a nonprofit representing America's 3,000 locally-led conservation districts, that helps millions of landowners and operators to manage and protect land and water resources on private and public lands through grassroots advocacy, education and partnerships. NACD offers free publications covering a range of agriculture, conservation and natural resource related topics, including NACD's activities, the latest conservation news affecting conservation districts and their customers, and newly available tools and resources. Click Here to view the list of NACD’s free publications to which Extension specialists and leader may subscribe.

Latest Census of Agriculture Product - USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released Congressional District Profiles and Rankings with an interactive data visualization. These profiles are often used by producers, congressional leaders, and others in support of agriculture in their districts. Still to be released is the Watersheds Report on July 25; the American Indian Reservations Report on August 26; Zip Code Tabulations on September 18; and Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Profiles on October 1. All products are or will be available at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Other products to be released this summer include weekly, state-specific Census blogs are showcased on www.usda.gov and additional Census Highlights publications on the NASS website. Already preparing for the 2022 Census of Agriculture, NASS is asking for content change suggestions and for new producers who did not receive a 2017 Census of Agriculture form last year to sign up to be counted in future censuses and surveys. Both forms can be found at www.nass.usda.gov. NASS appreciates Extension leaders consideration to spread the word!

NACAA Annual Meeting - The National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) 104th Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference (AM/PIC) will be held in Fort Wayne, IN on September 8 - 12, 2019. Registration is now open. Early, discounted registration ends July 15! Five “super seminars” will provide in depth focus on current, relevant topics. Poster session will feature 140 Extension educators presenting their research and education posters and another 130+ members will deliver oral presentations during the week. Four pre-conference educational subject matter tours are offered, and  24 professional improvement tours covering a wide array of agricultural topics and enterprises will be available to participants.

2019 Joint ESS/CES-NEDA Meeting Registration

Extension Administrators and Directors are encouraged to promptly register for the Joint Experiment Station (ESS) Cooperative Extension Section (CES-NEDA) meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, September 23-26, 2019. The Sections' leaders, who have mutual interests in scientific research and application, are from the 76, 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant University (LGU) institutions who receive a portion of their funding through USDA-NIFA. The theme of their meeting to be held at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, is LEADING THE FUTURE: CHANGES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND RELATIONSHIPS. Details for registering for the meeting are found at http://www.cvent.com/d/66qy1n. Co-chairs of the Planning Committee are ECOP Past-chair Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska, and ESCOP Chair-elect George Hopper, Mississippi State University. Stay tuned for more details regarding the Joint Sessions and the annual CES-NEDA business meeting agenda. 

Dicamba is Topic of Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders - ECOP Chair Ed Jones invites Extension Directors and Administrators to learn about challenges in public policy outreach and Extension programming in agriculture and natural resources – the case of  dicamba, on Friday, June 14, 2019, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. The June Learning for Leaders meeting occurs 1 week later than normal. Presenters will soon be announced by email. Connection details: Join Zoom Meeting https://extension.zoom.us/j/129450710 or Dial by your location 646-876-9923 (New York) 669-900-6833 (San Jose) Meeting ID: 129 450 710. The wealth of the previously recorded Learning for Leaders’ sessions may be accessed here.


2020 NERAOC Topics Due by June 28 - According to Gina Eubanks, Louisiana State University, ECOP Representative to National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference (NERAOC) National Planning Committee, the University of Missouri and Lincoln University will host the 2020 NERAOC, April 19-22 in St. Louis, Missouri. The purpose of the conference is to provide a professional development opportunity to exchange current and relevant best practices, discuss policy, obtain definitive interpretation of regulations, and discuss future issues pertinent to operating the LGU system and other cooperating institutions. The Committee seeks input and ideas for potential topics by June 28 using the online form. Tracks include Diversity and Inclusion, Finance/Capacity Grant, HR/Organizational Development, Minority Serving Institutions, and Program Reporting and Accountability. Contact Gina at GEubanks@agcenter.lsu.edu for more information.


SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Core Competency RFP Announcement - With an awareness of the importance to continue to build capacity in low-income nutrition education programs, the LGU SNAP-Ed Program Development Team is seeking to update core competencies. SNAP-Ed and EFNEP state coordinators and program supervisors use core competencies in hiring, training, and performance management decisions for systematic program effectiveness nationwide. The intent of this project is to conduct a thorough review of existing competencies and associated resources and to revise and update so that they are current and relevant for the future. Proposals due June 27, 2019. Direct questions to Vicki Soren, 605-688-4989. The posting can be found at https://www.mercurycommerce.com/secure/SourcingEventPostingBoard/default.asp?sID=%7B1CFAA89E7-35C9-49B9-B091-AF5C3C0EEED1%7D&PagingID=&RefreshOption=3. Scroll to CORE Competency RFP # 1721.


NIFA Granstmanship Webinar Announced for Next Week - NIFA's Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition will present a grantsmanship webinar entitled 2019 AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Food Safety, Nutrition & Health Program Areas, on June 11, 2019. Click Here for all of the details and to register.

New Census of Agriculture Products - Please share these new products and information with producers and other local data users – NASS just released (May 30) the much anticipated 2017 Census of Agriculture State and County Profiles. On June 26, NASS will release another popular Census product, the Congressional District Profiles and Rankings. More Census products, such as the watershed report, zip code tabulations, and race, ethnicity and gender profiles, will follow throughout the summer. Access the full 2017 Census of Agriculture report and other associated products (e.g. highlight videos and publications) here. Stay connected with NASS on Twitter @usda_nass for the latest data released and information about NASS’ upcoming surveys and censuses.

Hibberd and Eubanks Inducted into NIFA’s Hall of Fame

On April 25, 2019 during the NIFA Day of Appreciation, Past ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd (pictured top-left), University of Nebraska, was inducted into the NIFA Hall of Fame. The program was established in 2011 to recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to NIFA’s mission. Other inductees this year are Gina Eubanks (pictured bottom-left), Louisiana State University, and Ian Maw, retired leader of the Board on Agricultural Assembly (APLU). Click Here to read more about NIFA’s recognition of our Pacific land-grants, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University. The event was typified by compelling comments made by NIFA Director Scott Angle (pictured right in both images), Chuck, Gina, and Rachel Novotny’s (University of Hawaii) that trusted land-grant science delivered through Extension Education improves lives and provides resilience to richly diverse communities. Another former ECOP Chair, Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, received this same honor in 2015.



Two Days Left to Nominate for National Awards  - The 2019 nomination process for the National Excellence in Extension and Extension Diversity Awards ends in 2 days at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, May 1. Honorees who are selected will receive cash awards and will travel to the APLU Annual Meeting in San Diego California on a stipend to accept their awards. The awards are sponsored by ECOP and NIFA. Go to www.aplu.org/CESawards or contact Assistant Director Sandy Ruble at sandyruble@extension.org or 202-478-6088 for more details.

Opportunities! Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders 5/3/19 - ECOP Chair Ed Jones (Virginia Tech) welcomes colleague, Michelle Rodgers (University of Delaware), Well Connected Communities Project Director, to a conversation this Friday, 5/3/19, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. All 1890, 1994, and 1862 land-grant Extension Leaders are encouraged to participate. The program is ECOP endorsed and privately supported (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) program in partnership with National 4-H Council. The case for sustained funding for the program which equips volunteer leaders to help their neighbors be healthier at every stage of life, continues to roll toward 2020. Add to calendar: Join Zoom Meeting https://extension.zoom.us/j/129450710 or dial by your location 646-876-9923 (New York), 669-900-6833 (San Jose); Meeting ID: 129 450 710. For more information contact Sandy Ruble (contact info above). This will be the 16^th in a series of recorded 1-hour national conversations by the Cooperative Extension Section on topics that are system-wide issue driven and enterprising for the members of the Cooperative Extension Section and beyond. The archives are held here-2019 and here-2018.


Low-Income Nutrition Program Enhances Leadership - The Land-Grant University (LGU) SNAP-Ed Program Development Team (PDT) identifies itself as an action-oriented, proactive group, and is focused on long-term projects. Represented by all regions, the Team is comprised of family and consumer science (FCS) program leaders, university administrators, SNAP-Ed program coordinators, an office manager, and a federal partner from NIFA. In 2019, an EFNEP Coordinator was added to help facilitate coordination among SNAP-Ed, EFNEP, and other LGU extension low-income nutrition education programs. A second FCS administrator was added to the Executive Committee to share volunteer leadership responsibilities. Go to https://community-nutrition-education.extension.org/2019/04/2019-snap-ed-program-development-team-meeting to learn more. Later this year ECOP will consider renewing an agreement to collect assessments that support the work of the PDT.

60 Years of 4-H Leadership in Washington, DC - As the National 4-H Conference Center (Center) celebrates its 60^th year as the home of 4-H in Washington, DC, it remains a unique source of exceptional learning opportunities for 4-H youth, volunteers and professionals. In addition to national 4-H events like 4-H Conference and Citizenship Washington Focus, the Center now offers workshops on civic engagement and civil discourse, food and agriculture, STEM and many other topics that focus on today's important career paths. To keep these offerings relevant, dynamic and attractive, National 4-H Council is making improvements such as engaging industry experts, providing access to government leaders, and working with Cooperative Extension to maintain cutting-edge curriculum. As a result, program staff are adjusting event pricing to account for enhancements and the increases in the cost of goods and services, while continuing to provide a cost-effective product. Center staff will be communicating more about 2020 program opportunities over the next few months. For more information, contact Freeman Thompson at fthompson@4hcenter.org.

Census of Agriculture Data Now Available - Several census items are currently available for sharing, including two highlights on demographics and economics, a census data highlight video series (farms and land in farms, economics, and demographics), the press release, several Partner Tools (an email signature and letter footer, web banner, print and web ad, FAQs, PPT presentation, and more), and the new census data query tool. Devoted to census data, the new query tool is unique in that it automatically displays matching data sets from the past five censuses for easy comparison. Additional products such as state and county profiles (May 30) and congressional district rankings (June 26) will be available later the this year.


BFRDP Grant Deadline 5/16/19 - The 2018 farm bill reauthorized the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). NIFA has released the FY2019 BFRDP Request for Applications (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-BFR-006742), with a deadline of May 16, 2019. The estimated total program funding for FY2019 is $14 million. For more details on criteria and eligibility, go to Request for Applications. To apply, applications must be submitted through grants.gov at Apply for Grant. Direct questions regarding preparing application to electronic@nifa.usda.gov or call 202-401-5048.

NEDA Leadership Meeting Coming Up in September

Extension Administrators and Directors of the Cooperative Extension Section (CES) will gather for a joint meeting with the Experiment Station Section Directors on September 23-26 in Nashville, TN. The joint ESS/CES-NEDA meeting sessions will provide unique opportunities for professional development, collaborative learning and networking for the leaders of our national Cooperative Extension system. During a portion of this joint meeting, about 3 1/2 hours total, Extension leaders will also hold their annual CES Business Meeting and National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) meeting to focus on CES strategic priorities and the future of Cooperative Extension. The last time the 2 voting bodies of the Board on Agriculture Assembly met was September 2016. Registration and other details will be released in May 2019.

New Book Asks Can Extension Change? - The Innovation Imperative book was developed from a 2016 innovation report submitted to the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). It is a collection of creative insights from 17 Cooperative Extension leaders and innovations from 12 land grant universities about 1. Innovation in leadership, 2. Innovation in learner engagement, 3. Positive change in Cooperative Extension culture, and 4. Innovation in hiring practices. The purpose of this book is to explore innovation, what it means to Extension, and how Directors and Administrators and their colleagues in leadership can innovate. For more information contact Paul Hill, paul.hill@usu.edu.

NUEC19 - Early Registration Ends Soon - Registration is now open, early-bird registration ends on Earth Day, April 22: https://sites.google.com/view/nuec2019/registration. Three, full-conference registration scholarships (value of $650) are being offered – deadline is tax day, April 15: https://sites.google.com/view/nuec2019/registration/scholarship-application.

• Conference includes: Over 150 presentations, 
• 6 Leading Edge Dialogue spotlight six critical issues facing our universities and our cities, 
• 10 Mobile Learning Workshops (filling up fast, don’t miss out), 
• Green Infrastructure working session and research tour. 

New CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects RFA Released - USDA-NIFA is pleased to announce the release of Requests for Applications (RFA) to fund new projects for the fiscal year 2019 Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects. The mission of the CYFAR Grant Program is to marshal resources of the Land-grant and Cooperative Extension Systems so that, in collaboration with other organizations, they can develop and deliver educational programs that equip youth who are at risk for not meeting basic human needs with the skills they need to lead positive, productive, contributing lives. For the initial year, the maximum funding per grantee will be $80,000 for a single institutional applicant and for joint institutional applications the maximum funding allowed in the initial year is $160,000. Click Here for the RFA details. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, April 22, 2019.

Census of Agriculture Data Release Coming Soon - Please help NASS share these details about the upcoming Census of Agriculture data release on Thursday, April 11 at noon ET. The data will be available on the NASS website along with several census data highlight publications and videos, maps, and ranking tables. Additional products will follow throughout the year. NASS will host a live Twitter Ask the Census Experts Stat Chat (@usda_nass) for the public on Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m. ET. Pre-release informational videos are available HERE. Already preparing for the 2022 Census of Agriculture, NASS is currently asking for content change suggestions and for new farmers and ranchers to sign up to be counted in future censuses and surveys. 

ECOP Assigns Hadley to National 4-H Congress

Gregg Hadley,
Kansas State University

ECOP thanks Gregg Hadley, Kansas State University Director of Extension, for accepting an appointment to represent the Cooperative Extension Section and to serve high school aged learners on the National 4-H Congress Board of Advisors. The first National 4-H Congress was held almost 100 years ago in Chicago, where over 100 young people met to exchange ideas and receive recognition for individual accomplishments and community service. Congress grew to include exhibits, demonstrations and a parade, with the participation of delegates, Extension staff, volunteers, partner representatives, exhibitors and other friends of 4-H. The event moved to Atlanta in 1998. This year the dates are November 29 – December 3. To learn more about what delegates will experience while participating in 2019 Congress, stay tuned here.

Irrigation Survey Extended Through April - Please let producers know that the deadline for the Irrigation & Water Management Survey was extended through April – every response matters! Producers can respond online or by mail. The Irrigation survey will provide a single source of comprehensive, up-to-date information on irrigation and water use across the agricultural industry; the results will aid efforts to promote efficient irrigation practices. This is the last week to respond to the Census of Aquaculture! This census is the only comprehensive source of information on the aquaculture industry in the nation; the data serve as the baseline for many decisions involving the sustainability and growth of U.S. aquaculture. For more information, visit www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus or call (202) 690-8123.


Awards Tied to Reporting Land-grant Extension Impacts -

Screenshot of the online submission form for the Extension Diversity Award.

All Extension leaders should know that while submitting a nomination for the National Excellence in Extension or the Diversity Award, nominators must agree to also submit an impact statement into the National Impacts Database www.landgrantimpacts.org. The deadline to submit is 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, May 1, 2019. For more information contact is Sandy Ruble, sandyruble@extension.org. 

Impact Collaborative Registration Deadline is Approaching - The Cooperative Extension Section is reminded that a national Impact Collaborative Summit, with the benefit of five free registrations for each eXtension membership, is coming on April 30 - May 2, 2019 to Atlanta, GA. The registration deadline is April 7, 2019. The event is the first of two national Impact Collaborative Summits in 2019. Additional project or program teams or team members are welcome to join with payment of a registration fee. Summits are designed to catalyze teams in their various stages of either planning or implementation. This includes individualized support to help propel teams through their journey towards launching their project or program. Click here to learn more or contact CEO Chris Geith, christinegeith@eXtension.org.

Top: Career Impact Awardees: Barbara Brown | Oklahoma State University;
Charlotte Cross | University of New Hampshire (Retired)

Bottom: Early Career Achievement Awardees:
Jacquelyn Benson | University of Missouri-Columbia;
Heather Wallace | University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Family Life Specialists Recognized - Please congratulate four Family Life Extension Specialists who were recognized with awards during the recent Federal Update and Family Life Specialists’ Awards webinar held on February 26, 2019. The National Awards are awarded to state Extension specialists who have made important contributions to the work of Cooperative Extension and who provide clear evidence of program impacts. These awards honor research-based programming that is effective at improving people's quality of life and well-being and are given annually in partnership with NIFA’s Division of Family & Consumer Sciences.

Save the Date for 2019 Joint ESS/CES-NEDA Meeting - September 23-26, 2019

ECOP thanks members of the Cooperative Extension Section, USDA-NIFA, eXtension Foundation, National 4-H Council, Joint Council of Extension Professionals, and National Urban Extension Leaders for participating in the 2018 NEDA conference. Participants are invited to complete an anonymous survey by Monday, October 22. There are several exciting and useful additions to the archive from this meeting found at www.bit.ly/CESpioneer.

• A large photo library
• The approved 2019 CES/ECOP Budget 
• Extension Program Evaluation References 
• Evaluating Engagement NEDA Participant Input 
• PowerPoint presentations are listed in the order they occurred during the meeting   

Please reserve September 23-26, 2019 on your calendar for the Joint ESS/CES-NEDA Meeting in Indianapolis [changed to Nashville]. ~Thank you.

APLU Annual Meeting Update - Directors and Administrators who plan to attend the APLU Annual meeting at the New Orleans Marriott, November 11-13 may still register at the higher rate. There are a number of interesting opportunities for engagement during the conference on behalf of Extension and to learn more about the Board on Agriculture Assembly and its work throughout the country. CLICK HERE to view and download the latest "Cooperative Extension Section" version of the schedule including awards program, November 10-11 and two collaborative Sessions at 1:45 p.m. on both November 11 and 12. 


USDA-NIFA Listening Sessions - The Extension Director and Administrator (EDA) team and ECOP Executive Committee have developed talking points, highlighted below, for written and verbal testimony for the 2018 USDA-NIFA Listening Sessions (4). CLICK HERE to view/download complete set.

1. NIFA is a valued partner 
2. Extension’s strategic priorities reflect the broad-based issues facing rural and urban America
   
   • Nutrition/health/wellness
   • 4-H positive youth development
   • Water quality and use
   • Food production and food security
   • Community and economic development 
3. Capacity funds are vitally important to leverage state and local investments in supporting the locally-based, national network.

Thanks Cooperative Extension - A USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) press release to thank producers for their participation in the 2017 Census of Agriculture and a Partner Thank You Toolkit is now available to use in State and Local programming. The press release includes the 71.5 percent national Census response rate; information about the Census being conducted this winter in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories; details about Census data release starting on February 21, 2019; an announcement about the upcoming Census Special Studies in Irrigation and Aquaculture being conducted this winter; and the debut of the newly merged NASS/Ag Census website at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. In addition to the press release, NASS also sent a stakeholder update that thanked all who helped promote Census response over the last year. NASS is grateful for the Cooperative Extension partnership!