Registration for Joint ESS/CES-NEDA 2022

Last Friday Cooperative Extension and the Agriculture Research Directors and Administrators received much-anticipated invitation to register for the Joint ESS/CES-NEDA Meeting, September 25-28, 2022. Building Trust is the theme for the event to be held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. This list of members of the Cooperative Extension Section and those with whom they delegate are urged to review the agenda and to register here for the first in person NEDA meeting since 2019. 

• The Cost to register for all Sessions, Sunday-Tuesday, September 25-27, is $600.
• The Cost to register for the bullet above and post-meeting sessions, Regional Association business, on Wednesday, September 28, is $750.

Either option includes the annual business meeting Tuesday, September 27, 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.

• 1-hour Extension Foundation Meeting
• Networking Break
• 2-hour Cooperative Extension Section Business Meeting, presided by ECOP Chair Wendy Powers, University of California
  

Revisit the registration link after August 10 to book lodging. Listen to 90-second video promotion by keynote speaker, David Horsager, the Trust Edge - https://youtu.be/FjQC8pKXJkM. To register a travel companion for joint meeting meals served at the Marriott, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/392746684907. Direct questions to Ms. Jenn Tippetts at jennifer.tippetts@waaesd.org.

NRCS Releases Climate Change Adaptation Plan - USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has released a new Climate Change Adaptation Plan that works to ensure its programs and services meet the demands of the changing agricultural landscape for farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and land managers, and rural communities. The plan found here evaluates seven current vulnerabilities to NRCS’s mission, operation and infrastructure that may be affected by climate change and prioritizes key actions to address these vulnerabilities. 

Nominations for CARET Awards - The Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET), a voluntary organization of citizens cooperating with the Board on Agriculture Assembly, is seeking nominations for 2 types awards by September 15, 2022. At the March 2023 CARET/AHS Joint Meeting, the Lifetime of Service and the Meritorious Service Award will be presented to individuals who have been extraordinary in their service to CARET. The Lifetime Service Award is given to a longstanding CARET delegate who made significant contributions over many years and concluded their service to CARET. The Meritorious Service Award is given to an individual who has supported CARET and the overall Land-grant University community. Learn more about both awards here. Please submit nominations to fbethel@aplu.org by the deadline. 

FFAR Board Holds Public Conversation Next Month - The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) leverages public and private resources to increase the scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships critical to boosting America's agricultural economy. The FFAR Board of Directors will host the Foundation’s annual Public Conversation on September 8, 2022, from 10:00-11:30 AM ET. This year’s event will be held in-person and virtual. The Public Conversation is an opportunity for the public and members of the food and agriculture community to hear from FFAR’s leadership and interact with them during the public comments and Q&A session. At this year’s event, meet FFAR’s incoming Executive Director, Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin, learn about FFAR, and engage with the Board of Directors. Go here to register to attend the event and/or submit comments to FFAR in advance. 

Alliance with CDC to Help Rural and Underserved Populations

Extension Directors and Administrators are welcome to share this registration link https://extension.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0uf-6vrjwjEtZz_mAGOQYjvtBj8Ue-xc81 as appropriate for the webinar, Immunization Education - Faculty & Staff, Wednesday, February 24, 2021, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. The hour-long session is led by Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware. Michelle is the new Project Director for the developing alliance between the Cooperative Extension System and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote the immunization education and innovative models for community action. This alliance was launched by the ECOP Health Innovation Task Force. 

On a related note...

Aimed at improving the health and well-being of rural and underserved populations, the Cooperative Extension System’s work to reduce hesitancy and remove barriers to receiving the COVID-19 vaccines will be featured at a practitioner town hall scheduled for 2:00 PM ET on Wednesday, February 24. The town hall is part of the CDC’s National Forum on the COVID-19 Vaccine being held this week. The Forum is designed to connect representatives from the federal government with community leaders and health practitioners to promote the most effective strategies to build trust and confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and increase access nationwide. The Forum begins on Monday, February 22 at 10:00 AM EST and ends on Wednesday, February 24 at 3:30 PM EST. View the full agenda here. Register here to participate in either the entire conference, or just the sessions of most interest.

Expedite Nominations - Recognize the Best of Best in 2021 - The call for nominations for the Cooperative Extension Awards Program offered collectively by ECOP and USDA-NIFA began February 1. Whether they showcase innovation or shear excellence, winning nominations could take months to prepare. Ask administrative leadership teams to investigate the nomination process without delay at www.aplu.org/cesawards. The deadline to submit is May 1 only 10 weeks away. Direct questions to Sandy Ruble, Assistant Director, Cooperative Extension System/ECOP, sandyruble@extension.org. Thank you.

Coming Together for Racial Understanding (CTRU) Pilots Virtual Train-the-Trainer Workshop - With support from ECOP, CTRU recently piloted a virtual Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Previously, this has been a week-long intensive face-to-face experience, but the current situation called for experimenting with an online process. Three new states joined the CTRU pilot: Delaware, New Mexico, and Ohio. Five existing CTRU states (Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Virginia) filled empty team slots due to retirements or job changes, and two Regional Rural Development Center colleagues joined to help strengthen regional support. Over the next few weeks, the CTRU evaluation team will be examining the efficacy of the virtual workshop in comparison with the two previous face-to-face efforts. To learn more about CTRU, visit: http://srdc.msstate.edu/civildialogue/index.html or contact Rachel Welborn, Southern Rural Development Center, rachel.welborn@msstate.edu.




Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR)-Funded Report Outlines National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste - A FFAR-funded consensus study report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, “A National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste at the Consumer Level,” examines the cultural and societal drivers of food waste among consumers. The report provides a multilevel strategy for how the public and private sectors can provide the motivation, opportunities and abilities to help consumers reduce food waste.




2021 Trust In Food Symposium - With individuals and communities forging new ways to do business, communicate and go about their daily lives. Against this backdrop, our country’s food system – from producers to consumers – appears to be rapidly evolving, as well. From Feb. 23-25, the 2021 Trust In Food Symposium Regenerative Reset will help leaders from farms, agribusinesses, conservation organizations, farmer associations, food companies, food retail, government agencies and other sectors make sense of the changing landscape and position themselves for success. Learn more and register here: https://www.trustinfood.com/symposium

Land-grant Impact Stories and More

Do you ever wonder if the impact statements submitted to the national database get used? They do. With the support of the Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Sections, a team of nationally recognized writers, editors and designers gathers each year to create materials highlighted on landgrantimpacts.org. Under "Areas of Impact" you will find and download 28 stories and 15 fact sheets the group developed for each topic area that showcase the success of land-grant universities across the country. The stories are there for you to use in your communications efforts.


IMPORTANT UPDATES: Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders - ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd recommends the following action for Extension Administrators and Directors:

• Tune in April 20, 2018, 3:00 p.m. Eastern to a special edition! Framing Cooperative Extension’s Response to the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (ARP) Join ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd in a conversation with National Program Leader Brent Elrod and Southern Regional Rural Development Center's Rachel Welborn about Extension opportunities found in Rural America Counts: A blueprint for reinvesting in Rural America. Watch for calendar invitation coming soon.
• Review the Well Connected Communities presentation from last Friday, April 6. Project Director Michelle Rodgers (University of Delaware) introduces Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Dr. Monica Vinluan. Hear how Karla Trautman, South Dakota State University began the project at her institution. Stay tuned to ECOP Monday Minute for a list of professional development opportunities for the System!
  

USDA NIFA National Program Leader State Liaison Assignments - As a follow up to last week’s article on the NIFA state program liaison roles and responsibilities, the state liaison assignments may be found at https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/POW%20State%20Liaison%20Assignments%20FY2018.pdf


Time and Effort Webinar Available For Viewing - NIFA’s Office of Grants and Financial Management presented a webinar on April 5 that previews the time and effort reporting presentation to be made at the 2018 National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference (NERAOC) in Grand Rapids, MI, April 22-25, 2018. The webinar was conceived as a way for Extension Administrators and Directors to hear the presentation in advance in order for them to engage with their business officers ahead of this NERAOC conference. The webinar was viewed by nearly 120 participants with Maggie Ewell (Senior Policy Analyst for NIFA’s Office of Grants and Financial Management) and Natalie Bush (Manager of Financial Operations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) moderating. The content of the webinar was a collaborative process involving NIFA’s Office of Grants and Financial Management, the BAA Cooperative Extension Section and the BAA Experiment Station Section. The webinar is available for your viewing at: https://zoom.us/recording/share/hoGRKpWzqyAey3hx2Hzk_Sp9B76VZckPEV4ZWPE4oQKwIumekTziMw.

Learn more about FFAR - The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research was created in the 2014 Farm Bill to support food and agriculture research, foster collaboration, and advance and complement the mission of USDA. Many of you are aware of the Foundation, and I suspect that many of you are not fully up to speed on its work. To learn more about FFAR, you can go to https://foundationfar.org/. You can also subscribe to the FFAR monthly newsletter at http://bit.ly/ffarnewsletter, and connect with FFAR on Twitter at @FoundationFAR.

National Systems Task Force Delivers Report to ECOP

Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska

Chuck Hibberd, ECOP Chair-elect, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, expresses thanks to Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators for engagement on the work of the ECOP National Systems Task Force. Via national surveys, a webinar and on-line polling at the September 2016 National Extension Directors and Administrators meeting in Wyoming, the task force, chaired by Hibberd, outlined recommendations currently under consideration for action by ECOP. For the executive summary of the report, see bit.ly/ECOPNatlSystem_ES. Responses demonstrated a willingness to consider a national system approach to funding and collaboration for Cooperative Extension. Task force members representing all Extension regions were Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University; Scott Reed, Oregon State University; Doug Steele, Texas A & M University, and Debby Sheely, University of Rhode Island, assisted by Jane Schuchardt, Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director, and Ron Brown, Association of Southern Region Extension Directors Executive Director. 

Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska

ECOP Releases 2017 Handout – ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska, calls your attention to the one-pager he will reference to explain Cooperative Extension and ECOP in visits with partners in Washington, DC and other venues. The single page leave-behind document found at bit.ly/AboutCoopExt outlines what we do, why we are valued, how we are organized at the national level, and why partner with us. Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators are welcome to use any part of the document for state and local Extension visibility. 

Call for Proposals Extended for eXtension’s Diversity and Inclusion Issue Corps – Promoting diversity and inclusion is an important part of any Extension program. The eXtension Foundation is seeking additional proposals for the Diversity and Inclusion Corps to increase opportunities available for innovative Extension professionals. The deadline is extended to 1.5.17. See https://extension.org/announcing-the-call-for-the-next-issue-corps-diversity-inclusion/. 

Sign Up for USDA-NIFA News and Information Service – NIFA has an email subscription service for those interested in receiving news and information from the agency. The subscription service includes such topics NIFA updates, press releases, announcements, programs, initiatives, research, education, and Extension projects, funding opportunities, grants awarded, budgetary and legislative updates, policy changes, blogs, significant NIFA-funded impacts, and items of interest about and for land grant universities and non-land grant colleges of agriculture. With this service, readers can select the frequency of their information -- immediately, daily, or weekly. To sign up visit bit.ly/NIFAsubscribe. For questions, contact Judy Rude at 202-720-4242. 

Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Funding Opportunity Announcement – The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), a nonprofit organization that builds unique partnerships to support innovative science, is Seeding Solutions, a call to the community to come forward with bold, innovative, and potentially transformative research proposals. Through this program, FFAR seeks scientific solutions to some of today’s most pressing food and agriculture challenges. Prospective grantees may come forward with a proposal for up to $1,000,000 of FFAR funding, and must secure equal or greater matching funding from a non-Federal source before a grant will be awarded. FFAR anticipates funding at least one meritorious and transformative proposal in each challenge area. Seeding Solutions is open for pre-proposals through 1.16.17. Learn more or Download detailed pre-proposal guidelines and instructions. 

Changing Lands, Changing Hands Conference Next Summer – A National Conference on Farm and Ranch Access, Tenure and Transfer will be June 13-15, 2017 in Denver, CO. This conference will bring together service providers, policymakers and advocates working on land access, farm succession, conservation, beginning farmers, tenure arrangements, and farm landowners. Learn more about the event provided with funding from USDA-NIFA. Colorado State University Extension is involved with the conference planning. Early bird registration will open 2.1.17.

Extension Health Expert on USDA Ag Outlook Forum Panel

David Buys, Mississippi State University

David Buys, Mississippi State University, chair of the ECOP Health Action Team on Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, is a panelist for a session on Nutritional Security through Agricultural Production at the USDA 2017 Agricultural Outlook Forum February 23-24 in the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Arlington, VA www.usda.gov/oce/forum. Early registration USDA 2017 Agricultural Outlook Forum Registration ends January 26. The forum is USDA’s largest annual meeting, attracting 1,800 attendees. It offers 30 sessions with more than 80 speakers and a host of agriculture-related exhibitors. 

USDA-NIFA Releases Report on 1994-1862 Cooperation Meeting – See https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/1994-and-1862-land-grant-cooperation-progress-report for a summary of the September 22-23, 2016 meeting in Jackson Hole, WY on Engagement and Success of Land-Grant Universities and Colleges - Respecting Sovereignty, Serving the People and the Land. According to NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy, the meeting resulted in six action items with identified champions for each. Ten current 1862 Extension directors attended, plus two former directors who have transitioned to roles as a university president and a dean of agriculture at land-grant universities. 

Brian Higginbotham, Utah State
University

Nominations Due for Extension Family Life Awards – Brian Higginbotham, Utah State University, and chair of the National Awards Committee for Family Life and Human Development State Specialists, asks your assistance in submitting nominations by the December 20th deadline to recognize state Extension specialists who have made important contributions to the work of Cooperative Extension and who provide clear evidence of program impacts. Awards will be presented during a NIFA/USDA sponsored national webinar. Details are available at https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/2016-family-life-and-human-development-state-specialists-awards. 

eXtension Issues call for Proposals for 2017 Innovation Projects – The eXtension Foundation has issued a Call for Prescreening Proposals for its 2017 Innovation Projects initiative. Innovation Projects are part of eXtension’s mission to support experimental projects that will drive opportunities to adopt innovation in the Cooperative Extension System. In 2017, grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded for up to 10 projects to be completed over a one-year period. Recipients will also receive support of their project from eXtension’s Innovation Lab. Applicants must be a faculty member, Extension specialist, educator or agent of an eXtension Foundation premium member institution. The prescreening proposal deadline is December 19th. For complete details, visit https://extension.org/innovation-lab/announcing-call-for-2017-innovation-projects/. 

CYFAR 2015 Report Available – The 2015 Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Annual Report is a compilation of funded sustainable community sites across the United States and its territories, plus a summary of CYFAR’s professional development and technical assistance and work with 4-H military efforts. See the report at https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/2015-cyfar-annual-report. 

Foundation Offers Matching Funds for Rapid Response to Agricultural Emergencies – The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports innovative science, invites groups to self-organize around a commodity or commodities to take advantage of matching funds for emergency research and outreach through the Foundation’s Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program. ROAR provides nimble deployment of funds to support one-year grants in the event of emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems. If and when a threat arises, ROAR consortia will be able to apply for FFAR matching funds and receive a decision within one week. Consortia members may include researchers, Extension agents, institutions, commodity and industry representatives, diagnostic laboratories, and relevant state and local government representatives. Pre-establishing expert teams for research and outreach will accelerate first response to agricultural emergencies. When emergency situations arise, response time is critical. ROAR fills the gap until traditional, longer-term funding sources can be secured. Learn more at www.foundationfar.org/ROAR.

ECOP Releases Innovation Report

Happy Thanksgiving! 

ECOP Monday Minute will return 12.5.16. 

Leadership, organizational culture, hiring practices, training and support, and learner engagement are addressed in a new ECOP report on innovation http://bit.ly/2016ECOP_Innov. Led by Keith Smith, retired Extension director, The Ohio State University, the ECOP Innovation Task Force, provides guidelines for implementation strategies within the Extension organization. ECOP expects to take follow-up action in 2017 and recommends Extension Directors and Administrators embrace the call to action to support and invest in innovation. 

Extension Focuses on Civil Discourse – In response to a charge from ECOP, a Rapid Response Team on Civil Discourse was established to explore existing resources, develop a competency framework for Extension staff, and generate a strategic plan for future work. A survey has been launched targeting Extension professionals knowledgeable about the resources and expertise within the Land-grant University System to address complex community issues through civil discourse. Extension Directors and Administrators are asked to encourage Extension faculty and staff with interest in civil discourse to participate in the short survey at https://msudafvm.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_b4xksyJwSc5Yu2x. 

Extension Celebrates Excellence

Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska, accepts the
ECOP gavel from Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware.

– At the Cooperative Extension dinner meeting last week as part of the APLU Annual Meeting in Austin, Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska, became the new ECOP Chair accepting the gavel from Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware. Three ECOP members have completed four-year terms and were recognized, along with leaders of key ECOP functions. Also recognized for six years of service was Jane Schuchardt, ECOP Executive Director, who has resigned effective the end of this year. 

ECOP members completing four-year terms are (left to right)
Tim Cross, University of Tennessee; Celvia Stovall, Alabama
A&M University, and Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University.

Recognized for ECOP leadership were (left to right): Rick Klemme, University
of Wisconsin, chair, ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee, and co-chair,
ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team; Celvia Stovall, Alabama A&M
University, co-chair, ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team, and co-chair,
ECOP Personnel Committee; Tim Cross, University of Tennessee, Board of Directors
representing Extension, National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research; Jimmy
Henning, University of Kentucky, chair, ECOP Budget Task Force; Chuck Hibberd,
University of Nebraska, chair, ECOP National System Task Force, and Scott Reed,
Oregon State University, chair, ECOP Private Resource Mobilization Task Force.

Extension nationwide expressed appreciation to Jane Schuchardt,
ECOP Executive Director (right), with a homemade quilt bearing the logos
of the 76 land-grant universities in the Cooperative Extension Section.
Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, (left) presented the gift. To view
video of the presentation go to: https://youtu.be/ph6bJUXza4o

eXtension Foundation Names Evaluation Fellow – The eXtension Foundation has named Julie Huetteman, Purdue Extension, as recipient of the first 2017 Program Evaluation NAEPSDP/eXtension Fellowship. Dr. Huetteman is currently Coordinator, Extension Strategic Initiatives, and has deep experience in evaluating projects and programs and reporting Extension impacts. Throughout 2017 she will serve as a key informant to the 2017 i-Three Issue Corps, providing professional development and one-on-one consulting with Issue Corps members on measuring and reporting impacts on their innovative projects. https://extension.org/2016/07/12/naepsdpextension-fellowship-opportunities/

Foundation Announces New Innovators – The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports innovative science, announces nine winners of its New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award. Winners will pursue innovative and potentially groundbreaking food and agriculture research projects and receive a total of $4.8 million over five years. Matching funds from each awardee’s respective institution will leverage the FFAR investment of up to $300,000 per recipient. The FFAR New Innovator Award is designed to provide the early investment needed to launch new faculty members into successful scientific careers in food and agriculture. Applicants were required to demonstrate a commitment to mentoring, supporting the Foundation’s interest in inspiring future generations of agricultural and food scientists. Meet the 2016 New Innovators, most of whom are from land-grant universities. 

USDA-ERS Reports on Rural America – The latest edition of Rural America at a Glance is available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=80893. Produced annually by the USDA Economic Research Service, key economic indicators point to a comeback for rural America. Rural unemployment continued to decline in 2015, dropping below 6 percent for the first time since 2007, and rural poverty rates have fallen. Median household incomes in rural areas increased by 3.4 percent in 2015, and rural populations have stabilized and are beginning to grow.

Polling Open Now: Private Resource Mobilization

ECOP Private Resource Mobilization Chair Scott Reed, Oregon State University, requests your participation in a poll at https://form.jotform.com/63072237527960. The purpose is for Cooperative Extension Section Directors and Administrators to indicate preferences and provide comment about an institutional home for fund development, a three-year development plan, and oversight responsibilities. For background, the survey includes video segments of the recorded webinar from 11.2.16. Following ongoing conversation with Cooperative Extension nationwide, the task force will make recommendations to ECOP early next year. 

Sally Rockey,
Executive Director, FFAR

Rockey to Address Extension Next Week – Sally Rockey, Executive Director, National Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), will provide comment about Extension’s opportunities with the foundation at the Monday evening 11.14.16 Extension dinner meeting at the APLU Annual Conference, Austin, TX. Learn more about FFAR. The complete APLU Annual Meeting agenda is at http://www.aplu.org/library/2016-aplu-annual-meeting-program/file.

eXtension Launches New Diversity & Inclusion Issue Corps – The eXtension Foundation has issued a call for proposals for up to 35 projects for improving Diversity and Inclusion within Cooperative Extension, its partners, and the public. The Issue Corps experience combines virtual and face-to-face events to assist corps members in developing projects that can have a visible, measurable impact at the local level. Proposals are due December 5, 2016. Learn more about eXtension's first Issue Corps of 2017. 

Beverly Coberly, eXtension Foundation; Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware;
George Czapar, University of Illinois; Gary Lemme, Auburn University;
Brian Higginbotham, Utah State University; Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State
University, and Dan Lerner, University of Vermont

ECOP Names NEDA 2017 Planning Team – Naming a theme and related programming for the 2017 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting October 2-4 at The Essex near Burlington, VT, is the charge of a new planning team. As immediate past chair of ECOP, Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, leads the effort. Together with the executive director and staff associate in the ECOP National Office, team members represent the views of the five Cooperative Extension regions. Members are Brian Higginbotham, Western Region; Dan Lerner, Northeast Region; Gary Lemme, Southern Region; George Czapar, North Central Region, and Mark Latimore, 1890s Region. The eXtension Foundation also is represented on the planning team by Beverly Coberly. In preparation for the first planning meeting, ideas can be shared with any team member by 12.1.16. 

FY 2017 AREERA Reporting Requirements – USDA-NIFA reminds Cooperative Extension that the FY 2017 Plan of Work update requirement has been suspended. Further, 2018-2022 Plans of Work will not be submitted through the online software in FY 2017. Reporting required from each state by 4.3.16 are the 2016 Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results, and the Multi-State and Integrated Activity Supplemental Forms (NIFA-REPT, NIFA-PLAN, Brief Summaries). To report, go to http://portal.nifa.usda.gov. Contact Katelyn Sellers at ksellers@nifa.usda.gov with questions.

ECOP Focuses on Civil Discourse Programming

Mark Latimore,
Fort Valley State University

Civil discourse, defined as conversation intended to enhance understanding, is of concern to Cooperative Extension in many parts of the country, particularly in areas of civil unrest. Responses by Extension Directors and Administrators to a survey outlining relevant programs, resources, and experts is at goo.gl/KRCFzi. To provide leadership and additional resources for local programming, ECOP is initiating a Civil Discourse Rapid Response Team. Rachel Welborn, Southern Rural Development Center, will provide organizational leadership in collaboration with the ECOP Program Committee, chaired by Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University. 

Vernon Jones, Langston University, Barbara Petty, University of Idaho, and
Ken LaValley, University of New Hampshire

eXtension Foundation Names New Board Members – Following a vote of affirmation by eXtension members, Ken LaValley, University of New Hampshire, and Barbara Petty, University of Idaho, will represent the eastern and western regions, respectively, on the eXtension Foundation Board of Directors. La Valley replaces Dennis Calvin, Pennsylvania State University, and Petty replaces Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska. Both Calvin, who chaired the Board, and Schlutt served during the transition of eXtension to the new membership model. Vernon Jones, Langston University, is the new chair of the Board. 

Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin, and
Doug Steele, Texas A&M University

ECOP Appoints New Budget and Legislative Committee Chair – Doug Steele, Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has been appointed by ECOP as the new chair of its Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC), replacing Rick Klemme, Director, University of Wisconsin Extension. Klemme has served as BLC chair since 2012 and was recently cited by ECOP for his significant national leadership related to federal authorizations and appropriations. Klemme was particularly instrumental in communicating the need for BOTH capacity and competitive funding to support Cooperative Extension programming. 

Foundation Offers Rapid Response Funds for Ag Emergencies – The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports innovative science, invites groups to self-organize around a commodity or commodities to take advantage of matching funds for emergency research and outreach through the Foundation’s Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program. ROAR provides nimble deployment of funds to support one-year grants in the event of emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems. If and when a threat arises, ROAR consortia will be able to apply for FFAR matching funds and receive a decision within one week. Consortia members may include researchers, Extension agents, institutions, commodity and industry representatives, diagnostic laboratories, and relevant state and local government representatives. ROAR fills the gap until traditional, longer-term funding sources can be secured. Learn more and sign up for the 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 21, 2016 webinar at www.foundationfar.org/ROAR. 

Results Reported for SNAP Education by Extension – A new report SNAP-Ed FY2015: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education through the Land-Grant University System is available at http://articles.extension.org/pages/73228/national-snap-ed-program-impact-reports. This report was funded through assessments paid by participating Cooperative Extension Services. 

USDA-NIFA Wants Your Views on Big Data – Extension professionals are invited to join the USDA-NIFA Big Data Summit remotely to help shape the agenda driving data-enabled innovation in the U.S. agricultural enterprise. The live stream is 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET, 10.10.16. For details, see https://nifa.usda.gov/event/data-science-agriculture-summit. Register here to join.

Urban Conference Proposals Due 9.30.16

ECOP Monday Minute will return on 8.29.16. 

The University of Minnesota Extension and the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) announce a call for proposals for the National Urban Extension Conference on Engaging in Collective Purpose in Bloomington, Minnesota, May 7-11, 2017. For details, see https://t.co/hSXJ4v5wWM. The conference website is https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/urbanextensionconference2017/index. Extension professionals from all program areas can share research and innovative educational strategies that address the needs of urban, suburban, and peri-urban populations as well as urban-rural interdependencies. Journey for Diversity and Human Rights, a three-day tour designed for community leaders and educators, will take participants to the places that history has marked as pivot points in the state’s judgements on collective values and their effects on the state’s original peoples, workers, women, and communities. ECOP member Chris Boerboom, North Dakota State University, is the liaison to NUEL. An ECOP 2016 priority is to enhance Extension urban programming while maintaining a strong presence in rural places. 

Growth Plan for eXtension Communities – The eXtension Foundation Board of Directors chaired by Dennis Calvin, Pennsylvania State University, directs your attention to the new eXtension Growth Plan for eXtension Communities of Practice and Learning Networks. The plan supports the new eXtension focus on issues, innovation and impact. Work addresses one or more county, area, state or national levels and is designed to garner program visibility and measurable impact. Existing communities can build upon established resources, keep what is working, retire low impact activity, and experiment with establishing new cohorts as a complete community or segments of an existing community. They will have the opportunity to narrow their focus on a county, state or national issue and leverage i-Three Issues Corps strategies. New communities can begin as an Issue Corps cohort and leverage existing eXtension publishing tools and services. 

4-H Science Day $50,000 Award Letters of Intent Due 9.2.16 – The deadline is fast approaching to express interest in creating the 2017 4-H engineering challenge. 4-H National Headquarters at USDA-NIFA and the National 4-H Council invite Cooperative Extension faculty and staff at all land-grant universities to submit a proposal detailing an innovative engineering design challenge for youth to conduct during the 2017 4-H National Youth Science Day. The winning application will receive a $50,000 award. The 2017 subject area focus is "wearable technology." To apply, go to http://grants.4-h.org/index.do. Letters of intent are due on September 2. Top applicants will be notified on September 12 and asked to submit a full application by October 28. Direct questions to 4HNYSD@4-H.org. 

Food and Agriculture Sciences Nominations Due 10.3.16 – Mid-career Extension professionals are encouraged to review requirements for the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) award provided in partnership with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Beginning in 2017, the new $100,000 prize will recognize one annual mid-career recipient for an extraordinary contribution to agriculture or to the understanding of the biology of a species fundamentally important to agriculture or food production. The prize is endowed in perpetuity. For details, see Learn More | How to Nominate. 

USDA State Fact Sheets – The USDA Economic Research Service has updated its data sets on population, income, education, employment, federal funds, organic agriculture, farm characteristics, farm financial indicators, top commodities, and exports for each state in the United States. Some county-level data also is available. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets.aspx.

In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday,
ECOP Monday Minute will return on 1.25.16. 

4-H Engagement Campaign Webinar 1.20.16 – The ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee, Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, and Renee McKee, Purdue University, invites you to a webinar 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET, January 20, 2016 to review and clarify aspects of the 4-H Engagement Campaign, including campaign deliverables and individual institution participation. Registration is required through Sarah Hunt shunt@fourhcouncil.edu. The meeting URL is https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ecop. You are encouraged to confirm connection capability in advance at www.extension.iastate.edu/testconnect. For the web browser, Firefox or Internet Explorer, not Chrome, is recommended. Audio is via phone through the call-back function in Adobe Connect. If this is not available to you, call directly at 866.433.4616, Code 882477. 

SNAP-ED, Rural Development Webinar 1.15.16 – The SNAP-ED Program Development Team, in partnership with the Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs), is offering a webinar 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET, January 15, 2016 on “Linking Community Development to Individual Choices: SNAP-ED and Community Development Working Together.” Presenters are Rachel Welborn, Program Manager, Southern Rural Development Center, and Don Albrecht, Director of the Western Rural Development Center. Participants will learn how positive changes in communities can affect individual food choices and physical activities. To connect, go to https://msues.adobeconnect.com/_a828402417/srdc/. 

Mary Jane Willis
(1948-2015)

Memorial Fund to Honor Mary Jane Willis – ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, calls your attention to an opportunity to honor the legacy of ECOP member Mary Jane Willis, Rutgers University, who passed away last month. Rutgers Extension Director Larry Katz says, “Mary Jane dedicated herself to Rutgers Cooperative Extension for nearly 40 years. She gave her heart and soul to the betterment of our communities on a state and national level. To honor her, efforts are now underway to raise $50,000 to create a memorial endowment to provide stipends to seed, expand, and enhance projects that serve urban and diverse populations. This endowment will ensure that Mary Jane’s legacy will forever serve as a guidepost to do more for our underserved communities.” Contributions may be made payable to “Rutgers University Foundation,” with the words “MJW Endowment” in the memo line. Mail checks to Rutgers Cooperative Extension c/o Rachel Karl, 88 Lipman Drive, 3rd Floor, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Please direct additional questions to Rachel at (848) 932-3593, rachel.karl@rutgers.edu. 

NEW eXtension Completes Major 2015 Milestones – The NEW eXtension is a knowledge-to-action service that is an integral part of the U.S. Cooperative Extension System. It is designed to help Extension professionals increase program visibility and measurable impact locally and system wide. eXtension completed 2015 having passed major milestones toward advancing innovation and professional development for the Cooperative Extension System. For more information see 2015 Reflections: Creating the NEW eXtension.

JCEP Leadership Conference Registration Due 1.15.16 – The Joint Council on Extension Professionals (JCEP) hosts the annual leadership conference, this year themed “Leading Across Generations” February 10-11, 2016 in Las Vegas. Early bird registration and the room block at the Tropicana Hotel ends January 15th. See www.jcep.org for details. 

Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit Next Week – A national summit highlighting policy, education and economic issues surrounding the stewardship of antimicrobial drug use in food-producing animals will take place January 20-21, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. A collaboration of Farm Foundation, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the Association of American Veterinary Medicine Colleges (AAVMC) and USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS), this summit will highlight the diverse issues involved in antimicrobial stewardship. Targeted to livestock producers, feed suppliers, veterinarians, academics and government agency staff, the summit is an opportunity to advance the conversation on the industry's adaptation to the changing landscape of antimicrobial drug use. Included in the program is a discussion of a report Addressing Antibiotic Resistance http://www.aplu.org/library/addressing-antibiotic-resistance/file issued in October 2015 by a joint task force of APLU and AAVMC. The agenda is available HERE. There is no fee to attend the summit. Registration is requested and can be completed online by CLICKING HERE. The summit is preceded by a Farm Foundation Forum on the topic: Antibiotic Use in Humans and Animals. 

FFAR Advisory Council Nominations Due 1.20.16 – The Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR) announces a call for nominations to inaugural Advisory Councils designed to advise programming decisions addressing today’s agricultural challenges. Expertise is needed in one or more of FFAR’s research focus areas: optimizing agricultural water use; transforming soil health; enhancing sustainable farm animal productivity, resilience, and health; improving plant efficiency; achieving a deeper understanding of nutrition and healthy food choices; managing food production systems to enhance human nutritional outcomes, and spurring food system innovation. Further directions are available at www.foundationfar.org/advisory-councils. Nominations are due January 20, 2016. 

FFAR New Innovator Award Nominations Due 1.20.16 – The Foundation of Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) announces a call for nominations for the “New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award.” This program seeks to support, through grants of up to $200,000 per year over three years, standout food and agriculture scientists within the first three years of their tenure-track career. Further directions are available at www.foundationfar.org/new-innovator. Nominations are due January 20, 2016. 

USDA Ag Outlook Forum Early Registration 1.20.16 – The USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum February 25-26 2016 in Arlington, VA carries the theme “Transforming Agriculture: Blending Technology and Tradition.” See http://www.usda.gov/oce/forum/ for details. Registration at a reduced fee continues through January 20, 2016.

NACo Webinar Features EDEN

NACo Webinar Features EDEN – The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is the focus of a National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, June 25, 2015. Registration is required at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8952778193842903297. The webinar resulted from work of the NACo-Cooperative
Extension National Leadership Team created during Daryl Buchholz’s term as ECOP chair in 2013. In addition to Buchholz, Kansas State University, Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin, and Cooperative Extension Executive Directors Robin Shepard, Lyla Houglum, and Jane Schuchardt participate in the quarterly meetings with NACo legislative and program directors. 

USDA-NIFA Convenes Plan of Work Expert Panel  – The five Cooperative Extension regions have named representatives for the USDA-NIFA 2015 Panel of Experts meeting this week in Washington, DC. They are Lisa Townson, University of New Hampshire; Deborah Lewis, Ohio State University; Scott Cummings, Texas A&M University; Debbie Carter, University of Alaska, and Benjamin Forbes, North Carolina A&T University. These panelists join regional representatives from the Experiment Stations and USDA-NIFA to review and make recommendations for implementing the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) Plan of Work requirements. This review occurs every five years. Townson, together with Cameron Faustman, University of Connecticut, representing the northeast region Experiment Stations, will work with other Extension and Experiment Station panel members to provide a report to ECOP and the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy (ESCOP). 

1890 Universities 125th Celebration Hotel Block Update –

The block of rooms for the 1890s 125th celebration at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill closes today, and has been extended until 6.22.15 at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel. Book a room under the name of 125th Anniversary of the 1890 Morrill Act by calling the Hyatt at 1-888-421-1442 or the Liaison at 1-866-233-4642. The rate is $209.00 per night plus tax. Registration, which is required for all of the 125th events July 14-16, 2015 in Washington, DC, is at http://www.1890universities.org/node/298. The welcome reception Tuesday evening and the dinner on Wednesday evening will be at the Hyatt Hotel. The Exhibition at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday and the Convocation from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Thursday are at the Library of Congress. Direct questions to L. Washington Lyons, Executive Administrator, Association of Executive Administrators, lwlyons@ncat.edu or 336-340-6465.

Ed Jones, Virginia Tech; Renee McKee, Purdue Univ.

ECOP 4-H National Leadership Committee Meets in St. Louis – Engaging more youth to ensure 4-H grows into the future was among items for discussion at a recent meeting of the 4-H National Leadership Committee, chaired by Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, and Renee McKee, Purdue University. Other priorities of the committee made up of Cooperative Extension, USDA-NIFA, and National 4-H Council representatives relate to marketing, resources, and governance. The two-day meeting at Monsanto Headquarters in St. Louis supported the continued goal of exemplary communications about 4-H, a youth development program of Cooperative Extension, as outline in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2014. Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska, serves as ECOP liaison to the committee. 

FFAR Names First Executive Director – The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a private foundation formed by the Agriculture Act of 2014 (farm bill) to catalyze innovation in agricultural research, has named its first executive director. Sally Rockey, the current deputy of extramural research at the National Institutes of Health, will lead the foundation starting in September. For more information, see this press release.

ECOP Monday Minute 7.28.14

ECOP Meets in San Diego – Among action at the meeting 7.22.14 in San Diego, ECOP accepted the interim report of the eXtension Strategic Planning Committee (see next item), approved continuation through 2015 of the AES-CES Communications and Marketing Project, endorsed a Futuring Task Force to be funded and managed by the BAA Policy Board of Directors, and accepted the recommendation by the ECOP National Task Force on Health to establish an implementation team. Votes are in process to approve an ECOP representative to the BAA Committee on Legislation and Policy and to approve a joint ECOP-ESCOP memorandum of understanding with USDA regarding regional climate hubs. Jimmy Henning, ECOP Chair, University of Kentucky, appreciates the strong participation at the meeting and critical national leadership of ECOP.

eXtension Strategic Plan Interim Report – ECOP has accepted the interim report on the eXtension Strategic Planning process chaired by Keith Smith, Ohio State University. See http://bit.ly/InnovStratFrame for a summary of the new Innovation Foundation (working title) designed to augment electronic capabilities of participating institutions. The business model calls for a membership structure in place of the current assessment process. The final report is due to ECOP at its October face-to-face meeting in Lexington, KY.

Power of Excellence in Extension Database (by Deborah J. Maddy, Associate Director, Oregon State University Extension) – You never know when comprehensive data, at your fingertips, might be needed to tell the Extension story to elected officials, to university administrators or to members of your own organization. The Excellence in Extension database provides historical and comparative information for Cooperative Extension systems across all land-grant universities. This important tool designed especially for Extension leaders is most powerful if everyone participates. As of the June 30 data entry due date, only 17 out of 75 Extension organizations had complete or partial data in the database, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota (partial), Alaska (partial), Oregon, and Wyoming. Special thanks to those who made it a priority to provide Excellence in Extension data by June 30. If the due date slipped by you, it’s not too late to enter 2014 data. The recent program upgrade has many improvements, making entry easy. The data is used to describe the overall scope of Extension, market it as a national system, document Extension’s strengths, and focus on areas of impact.

USDA Announces Foundation for Food and Ag Research – For details about the new Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR) and the appointment of its 15-member board of directors, see http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2014/07/0156.xml. The foundation, authorized in the Ag Act of 2014, will leverage public and private resources to increase scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships critical to boosting America's agricultural economy. Congress provided $200 million for the Foundation which must be matched by non-federal funds as it identifies and approves projects.

USDA-NIFA Requests Comment on Centers of Excellence – Join a webinar 7.31.14 (1:00-3:00 p.m. ET) about the Centers of Excellence, which will receive priority for funding for competitive research or Extension grant programs. Stakeholder input is welcome at any time, but to be incorporated into planning for the 2015 cycle, must be received by 7.31.14 via email to vbest@nifa.usda.gov (please put “comments” in the subject line) or sign up to speak during the 7.31.14 webinar. NIFA is particularly interested in input on how best to define the scope of a Center of Excellence, whether there are models being used by other federal agencies that might be useful to examine, and at what point in the review/selection process “priority” should be given to applications submitted by Centers of Excellence. For more information, go to http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/offices/legis/pdfs/excel_stkhold_wbnr_announce.pdf