NIFA Now Recruiting for 2025 National 4-H Conference Leaders

NIFA is accepting leadership applications submissions for the 2025 National 4-H Conference. This conference would not be possible without the Youth Leadership Team, Collegiate Facilitators, and Adult Advisors.

Learn more about the 2025 National 4-H Conference and how to apply for a leadership role. Leadership Interest Form Part A and a resume must be submitted to National4-Hconference@usda.gov using subject line “National 4-H Conference Leadership Interest,” and in the cc line include the State 4-H Program Leader/contact for the Land-grant University you plan to represent. Interest forms are due by 11:59 P.M. EDT Wednesday, September 4.


USDA Appoints New Members to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

USDA announced the appointment of 20 new members to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. This committee is part of USDA’s support for equitable access to USDA’s services and programs and creating more market opportunities for local and regional production. New members include Denis Ebodaghe, long-time NIFA National Program Leader; E'licia Chaverest, Alabama A&M; Greg Goins, North Carolina A&T; and Jon LaPorte, Michigan State.

Committee members represent ranching and farming producers, related state and Tribal agricultural entities, academic institutions, commercial banking entities, trade associations, and related nonprofit enterprises. All committee members have previously demonstrated the ability to serve on behalf of new and beginning farmers, minorities, women and persons with disabilities, and to represent small establishments and geographic diversity.


OneOp Launches 2024 Military Family Readiness Academy to Enhance Economic Security for Military Families

OneOp is a virtual professional development platform for service providers who serve military families. Programming is created in collaboration with subject matter experts from the Defense Department (DoD) and land-grant universities spanning a wide variety of family subject areas. OneOp is proud to announce the 2024 Military Family Readiness Academy (MFRA), a series that includes an online course, webinars, and engagement opportunities focused on nurturing the economic well-being of military service members, spouses, and their families. The Academy launched this month with free professional development resources available to military service providers nationwide. To learn more and register for the 2024 Military Family Readiness Academy, visit https://oneop.org/mfra.

Read more about the appointments and the role of the advisory committee.

Non-Traditional Skill Development Collaboration

Video Recording: https://youtu.be/cbGkS_YETOo

Last Friday, May 5, 2023, members of 2 APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly Sections, Academic and Cooperative Extension, convened to build the national dialogue for collaboration with 3 different learning audiences. The unique Learning for Leaders event covered:

• Youth Audiences - Extended learning opportunities for 4-H with college pathway development; 4-H projects for meaningful high school or college credit such as tech camps, and more.
• College Student Audiences - Summer and semester long Internships, undergrad scholar programs. Apprenticeships with stackable credentials leading to academic credentials that include students and adult learners.
• Adult Learners and Workforce Development - Continuing education, certifications, digital badging, micro- credentials. 

Examples of these innovations be found by reviewing the YouTube recording with these slides. Next steps in collaboration will be considered during summer leadership meetings.  

AFRI Education and Workforce Development RFP - AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) funding focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. The range of awards is $20,000 - $750,000. The closing date is Thursday, December 7, 2023. There are various competitive funding opportunities available to the Extension System. To explore AFRI EWD, visit NIFA's website here.

Increasing Food Security for Military Families - OneOp is mobilizing family service professionals at federal, state, and local levels to focus on expanding food security for military family populations throughout the country with the 2023 Military Family Readiness Academy (MFRAcademy) call to action for Military Families and Food Security. An estimated 24% of our nation’s active-duty service members and their families are food insecure. Extension educators can help! The 2023 MFRAcademy is a multidisciplinary approach to alleviating food insecurity needs within the military family community. Please share this opportunity widely during the month of May when many states and non-profit organizations are celebrating National Military Appreciation Month. 

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.

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 4-H Executive Director Announced

The ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Co-chairs Laura Stephenson, University of Kentucky, and Lisa Bouillion Diaz, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, have announced that after a nationwide search, their committee has selected Edwin Jones, Ph.D. (pictured left) as its Executive Director. A former ECOP Chair, ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Co-Chair, and Trustee of National 4-H Council, Ed is well suited to help support and advance the work of the Committee in this inaugural position. For 18 months he will support the Co-chairs and ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee initiatives. Through its shared leadership model, the Committee is working to develop new partnership and funding opportunities for 1862, 1890, and 1994 4-H programs alike—as well as new revenue-generating opportunities that will support Committee initiatives beyond the initial 18-month phase. Read full announcement here.



ECOP at PILD - ECOP had a high-profile role in this year’s Public Issues Leadership Development Conference. Held from April 3-6, 2022, in Arlington, VA, the theme of the conference was All Systems Go-Navigating National Identity for Local Impact. ECOP-related sessions included ECOP’s New Advocacy & Education Vision for the Cooperative Extension System; ECOP Program Committee's Program Action Team (PAT) breakout sessions; The FY 2022 Extension System Budget Request – What it Is, How to Talk About It, and Why It Matters; and a Capnote Presentation: A System Without Borders. Also at the conference, Extension Directors/Administrators participated in an ECOP Budget and Legislative (BLC) Special Breakout Session that included an introduction to the new APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly advocacy group-Lewis-Burke Associates, establishing a well-timed feedback loop to build year-round advocacy strategies ECOP Strategic Crosswalk and BLC Workplan, and an advocacy update.

Call for Nominations for APLU Food Systems Leadership Award Deadline April 29 - The APLU Food Systems Leadership Award annually recognizes a leader who has made an extraordinary impact on the food system through leadership and service and who exemplifies the core principles established by the Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI), including personal leadership, organizational leadership, and food systems leadership. The award also recognizes the leadership, innovation, engagement, and service that APLU promotes through its programs. The APLU Food Systems Leadership Award will be presented at “A Community of Scholars Honoring Excellence" award program at the APLU Annual Meeting in Denver in November. The recipient will be invited to address the current cohort of FSLI Fellows at one of their residential sessions. For criteria, form and the directions, click here. 

Coming June 2022 Family Well-Being - Navigating the Social Justice Landscape is an online, multidisciplinary approach, learning experience to a complex issue facing service providers working with military families. The 2022 Military Families Readiness Academy asynchronous courses focus on individuals’ understanding of social justice and equity (including their own understanding of privilege and oppression). The courses and discussions 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. Beginning June 1, the Academy addresses 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. The courses offer engaging modules and interaction, with prompts for reflection on this critically important topic. The asynchronous delivery allows working professionals to benefit from the content in the courses at times convenient to their schedules. Continuing education credits available. Extension professionals are invited to learn more sign up for a mailing list at www.oneop.org/mfra for the Academy mailing list to receive additional information and announcements in the coming months.

Summer Pathways Institute for Extension, 4-H, and University Leadership Application Now Open -  The ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee is invites Extension Directors and Administrators to apply to the Summer 2022 4-H Pathways Leadership Institutes. The Institute is an intensive, two-day, virtual leadership program that will take place June 20-21 and August 3-4, 2022, with the goal of driving innovation and developing creative partnerships. Three-person teams that represent State 4-H leadership, Extension Leadership and Land-grant University leadership should apply via this link by Friday, May 6, 2022. For participating, each team will acquire tools needed to achieve the strategic change and growth for 4-H and Extension programs in alignment with the broader goals of Universities. Please review Frequently Asked Questions or contact Andy Turner at ast4@cornell.edu..

Climate Topic Learning for Leaders

Last Friday, 31 of the 76 members of the Cooperative Extension Section, plus 1, 1994 Extension Director participated in the Learning for Leaders organized by the ECOP Professional Development Committee. Participants learned about the national collaboration between National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI) grassroots effort and ECOP Program Action Team (PAT) grasstops effort on Climate programming. The 2 organizations are still recruiting while considering next steps to determining the role of Extension in Climate Resiliency. The 2 groups will work together to continually inform the Advocacy Toolkit on Climate Mitigation, Resiliency, and Adaptation. The recording of the session is available for review at https://youtu.be/Esd5gi90qZQ and slides with active links is found here. 

Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities - ECOP wants to assure that the Cooperative Extension Section is aware of this important development and funding opportunity. On Feb. 7, 2022, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. USDA is now accepting project applications here for fiscal year 2022. A range of public and private entities may apply including Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education. Please note that the Notice of Funding Opportunity (page 11) specifically lists university Extension as eligible to apply. Grant deadlines are: April 8, 2022, for the first funding pool (proposals from $5 million to $100 million), and May 27, 2022, for the second funding pool (proposals from $250,000 to $4,999,999). 

Military Families Learning Network is Now OneOp - OneOp continues a tradition of free quality information and education for professionals helping military families. OneOp is a single-point-of-entry professional development resource for service providers. For more than 10 years OneOp has collaborated with DoD and the US Department of Agriculture to provide free and open-access learning opportunities within a full spectrum of family service subject areas. This long-standing DoD partnership allows OneOp to meet the professional development needs of service providers with programming that reflects complex and dynamic DoD priority areas. As a virtual organization with global reach, OneOp facilitates the connections and shared knowledge required of providers within DoD’s Military Family Readiness System. Please share this announcement, recommend bookmarking of the new website oneop.org, and connecting with OneOp on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Recap of 2022 Agricultural Outlook Forum - 5,900 people attended our 98th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum last month. In case you missed it, a recap is available using the links to speeches and slides embedded into the program here. This year’s event included: The release of the 2022 Outlook for the U.S. Ag Economy and Trade, Keynote address by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and discussion on China, and 25 sessions covering topics ranging from commodity outlooks and supply chain resilience to climate change adaptation and ag innovation.

The ECOP Calendar is updated frequently and found here. Contact Caroline Henney carolinecrocoll@extension.org if you have any questions. Thank you.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on January 17, 2022. Visit The King Center for information on MLK Day.

__________________________________________________________

New Year's Message from Dr. Castille

Dear Extension Colleagues,

It has been a busy year at USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). We have built our staff to nearly 300 of the nation’s best experts to serve you. Many have strong Land-grant University experience and greatly appreciate the incredible value of Extension and the work we do together. I’m proud to share these 2021 highlights:

Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE)
This new program, an interagency agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to engage Land-grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System to improve vaccination coverage in rural and other medically underserved communities, has delivered immunization education to over 4 million people nationwide.

Strengthening 4-H Leadership
When I first arrived at NIFA, I made a commitment to rebuild the staff expertise in 4-H Headquarters. Today, we have a robust staff that represents experience from all areas of the Land-grant System.

$10M for Extension, Education, and USDA Climate Hub Partnerships
In 2021, NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative established a new funding opportunity — supported by a $10 million investment — to provide effective, translatable, and scalable approaches to help next-generation agriculturalists and foresters incorporate climate change research into management practices.

Building Relationships and Improving Customer Focus
I visited with Extension partners to observe your work firsthand. The Sunbelt Agricultural Expo this fall was a wonderful opportunity to see Extension and research work on display and learn from staff and Extension directors.

What a thrill it was to finally make it to National 4-H Congress! As a former 4-H’er, I know the hard work that goes into earning a trip to Congress. I spent a day in community service with participants, had one-on-one conversations with delegates, and left with a renewed understanding that our future will be in very capable hands.

Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are central to all we do through Extension to reach farmers, producers, families, and youth across America.

Preparing for a Bright 2022
In the new year, we will continue to spotlight Extension capacity programs in our press releases, blogs, and especially USDA materials pertaining to climate change, disaster preparedness, COVID, food safety, nutrition security, and developing new and fair markets. Each of these priorities holds exciting opportunities for Extension to shine and show your unparalleled ability to deliver hands-on education in every U.S. community.

I look forward to a prosperous New Year working with you. Thank you for your generous support.

__________________________________________________________

Orientation for New Extension Leaders Resources - Last Friday, the ECOP Professional Development Committee conducted a virtual orientation with a panel of experienced leaders from Georgia, Minnesota, and New Mexico. Colleagues offered their best guidance on "what I know now that I wished I knew from the beginning." 34 members of the Cooperative Extension Section were in attendance. The recording is available at https://youtu.be/fWyn4vRMuc8. Other helpful sources are 
-- FAQ's by Extension Directors and Administrators

-- Learning for Leaders Series Archive, 2018-2021

ECOP Celebrates the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Rural Development Act of 1972 - Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) were established by the Rural Development Act of 1972 and celebrate their 50^th year in 2022. ECOP has endorsed a resolution to celebrate this momentous occasion. The RRDCs are a trusted source of economic and community development data, decision tools, education, and guidance for our nation's rural communities. The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development is based at Purdue University. The Southern Rural Development Center is based at Mississippi State University. The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development is based at The Pennsylvania State University, and the Western Rural Development Center is based at Utah State University. Each RRDC is administered by a joint agreement between USDA and a host institution operating for the Extension Services and the Agricultural Experiment Stations in the respective region. Core funding is from NIFA for integrated research, education, and Extension activities.

MFLN Launches Curated Programming Clusters - The Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) has launched its curated Programming Clusters, hand-selected programming to help build professional skills and support military families. The “Building Your Professional Skills” programming clusters support the ability to communicate with colleagues and clients, work effectively and ethically to build strong professional relationships, and build understanding while examining resources and promising practices focused on human and cultural differences. Extension Professionals may sort through this list of credentialing agencies to choose webinars to learn, build skills and obtain continuing education credits at their own pace. Extension Directors and Administrators are asked to share this information with their faculty. 

Community Resource and Economic Development Tool to Measure Program Impacts - Continuing its webinar series, the Community Resource and Economic Development National Indicators Working Group is offering the session, Using the Community Capitals Framework to Measure Program Impacts. The session will take place Tuesday, January 25, 2022, 3PM ET. The Community Capitals Framework (CCF) has been a widely used educational tool, and it also has enormous potential to guide evaluation of community development work in Extension and beyond. Presenters in this panel will highlight ways they have employed the CCF in documenting community-level impacts of Extension programming, as well as their ideas for using the CCF more broadly to document collective impacts of programming within states and regions. Please share the link to register https://msstateextension.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMpceyrqzwrHdOWFSnOtl60az9j3Vup37i3

New Advocacy and Education Web Resource for Extension

The ECOP Budget and Legislative and Program Committees, along with many experts in Extension, have worked hard to develop the ECOP Advocacy and Education Toolkit advocacy.extension.org. The purpose of the toolkit is to provide ECOP leadership and the Cooperative Extension System (CES) with consistent messaging and resources focused on CES advocacy and education priorities. These resources include priority language, talking points, CES background information, and examples of national program efforts for consistency in messaging with APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) Committees and Sections, the BAA Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy ESCOP, legislators, partners, University Congressional and Government Affairs staff, and related advocacy groups. Additionally, the SNAP-Ed Program Development Team (PDT) has developed the Nourishing Communities: Nutrition Education That Works website snap-ed.extension.org. The 2 websites are interconnected. These are living resources that will be updated and refined regularly. Advocacy topics will be improved by our experts as we move forward. Comments and suggestions can be submitted to advocacy@extension.org.

Hyde Serves the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee - Jeff Hyde, Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, has joined Southern Region Representatives Gina Eubanks, Louisiana State University, and Rich Bonanno, NC State University on the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC). The ECOP BLC establishes federal legislative, budget and advocacy agenda and strategies for the Cooperative Extension System. Members of the BLC from the the other 4 Regions are listed on page 4 of the ECOP Leaders List posted online at www.extension.org/ecop. Welcome to National Leadership with ECOP BLC Jeff, and thank you for serving! 

Systemwide Webinar on the Cooperative Extension’s Framework for Health Equity and Well Being - Individuals who have not yet had an opportunity provide input into Cooperative Extension’s Framework for Health Equity and Well Being are invited to participate in a Zoom meeting at 1:00 PM (Eastern) on Tuesday, May 25. Click here to register and look for confirmation email containing details to connect. This session will be recorded. The Framework is an updated version of the original document developed in 2014 that responds to the realities of today's health ecosystem. This document is a product of ECOP’s Health Innovation Task Force and is being vetted among Cooperative Extension’s various stakeholder groups. To view the Framework in advance, visit www.aplu.org/CES-EqHealth. An Executive Summary can be found at www.aplu.org/CES-EqHealth-ES. The system is encouraged to provide feedback on the documents, at https://tinyurl.com/yne6u9k8.

New Courses from the Military Families Learning Network - The Military Family Readiness Academy courses are FREE and self-paced, include continuing education credit, and offer practical solutions to local problems regarding disaster and hazard readiness. These courses are for Cooperative Extension professionals working with military service members and their families as well as community members interested in disaster preparedness. The Academy course list has added 11 courses from the 2020 - 2021 Disaster and Hazard Readiness series. These courses cover the basics of disaster preparedness, impact and response, and dive deeper into family caregiving, personal finance, the community recovery aspect, and more!

ECOP Spring Meeting Highlights

Chair Chris Watkins, Cornell University, presided at the virtual ECOP Spring Meeting last week. Annual Work Plans by all ECOP standing committees were ratified. The 15-member, national policy-making body endorsed the work of the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee's National Crisis Communications Playbook for the 4-H System. After reviewing the most recent draft, ECOP voted to have the ECOP Health Innovation Task Force proceed to vet the Cooperative Extension Framework for Health and Well-being at the National Health Outreach Conference (NHOC) in May. At its core, the new framework establishes "Health Equity". Speaking of NHOC...

2021 National Health Outreach Conference Update - This year's NHOC will be held virtually May 3-7, 2021. With the theme of The Grand Challenge: Building a Healthy Future for All, there will be sessions related to health equity, effective behavior-change messaging, policy system and environmental change, health behavior, and pandemic response programming. Keynote speakers, concurrent and posters sessions will be relevant for professionals who address health, nutrition, youth development, workforce development, and human development. See https://cvent.me/Ygg1N0 for additional details about the conference and note that early registration ends April 2, 2021.



Feeding the Economy Report Released - A coalition of agriculture groups has released Feeding the Economy, a study on the role of agriculture in the U.S. economy. According to the study, one-fifth of the nation’s economy and one-quarter of American jobs are linked to the food and agriculture sectors, either directly or indirectly. Key findings include:
▪ 40,714,808 total jobs
▪ $2.04 trillion total wages
▪ $797.22 billion total taxes
▪ $155.58 billion exports
▪ $6.975 trillion total food and industry economic impact

Military Family Readiness Academy Capstone - The Military Family Readiness Academy draws to a close with this Capstone event on Wednesday, March 31 from 11:00 am-12:30 pm ET. Resilience and recovery for military families depends on the social connection and collaborations existing within their communities. Service providers and Extension Educators are critical actors in making connections and forging collaborations to address family and community needs. Registration is free and results continuing education credits are available. Please share this link https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/event/92165 widely!

FANR FOCUS News Subscription - Doug Steele, APLU VP of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR), routinely sends a recurring FANR FOCUS update to provide timely, relevant information and action items to the membership of the Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources (CFERR) and its member boards and sections. A few highlights from last week:
  -  Eddie Gouge's Virtual Retirement Celebration March 30, 2021 at 4:00-5:00 p.m. (ET)
  -  Call for Nominations for the APLU Food Systems Leadership Award 
  - Joint COPs Summer Meeting Schedule
  - SAVE THE DATE: Register here: Earth Day April 22, 2021 at 3:00-4:30 p.m. (ET)
Extension Directors and Administrators with interest in receiving FOCUS should contact Suzette Robinson at srobinson@aplu.org to subscribe.

2021 NEDA - Save the Dates

This weekly news update appeals to the work of Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators in the USA with a focus on these Strategic Directions and Priorities. The ECOP Monday Minute shares member-driven opportunities designed to enhance resources, relationships and recognition for Cooperative Extension. 

The 2021 NEDA Planning Committee, Chaired by Immediate-past President of ECOP, Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, is pleased to announce the dates for the National Extension Directors and Administrators, or NEDA Meeting for 2021 that will take place virtually. 

Please save October 12-14, 2021! 

A brief survey to generate ideas for theme, topics, guest speakers and virtual format will be circulated through the Regional Associations with a deadline of February 12. The Planning Committee is grateful for the input. 

The next Learning for Leaders meeting on establishing a Racial Equity Plan, short- and long- term, is Friday, February 5, 2021, 3-4:30. p.m. ET.  Reminders to register by February 3^rd are coming soon. Click here for details.

Military Family Readiness Academy Offers Eight Free Sessions in 2021 - The Military Families Learning Network presents its 2021 Military Family Readiness Academy series, Disaster and Hazard Readiness in Action. Eight sessions will focus on the skills, contexts, and situations military family service providers may draw from and navigate as they manage disasters and emergencies within their professional fields. Participants can choose from a range of sessions that will prepare providers to support the readiness and wellbeing of military families during disasters and hazards in areas such as connecting with communities, caregiving, children and family needs, nutrition, and finances. Sessions will offer guidance on how to work effectively with families during disasters and hazards, and many will draw from recent and ongoing situations providers are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dialogue will be a central component of this series—lessons learned, resources, and insights will be shared across panelists and speakers, and participants are encouraged to contribute as much as possible. All eight sessions are free to participants and several continuing education credits will be available. For more information and to register go to: https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/mfra2021/





NIFA Plan of Work Reporting Webinar Opportunity - NIFA will hold a NIFA Reporting System (NRS) on January 27, 2021, at 2:00 pm ET and every fourth Wednesday of the month same time. For those already registered, New Connection Details are available upon request. For everyone else, it is not too late to register. Everyone should contact POW@usda.gov with "POW Webinar" in the subject line to either obtain the latest connection detail or to sign up for these helpful webinars. Who should attend?

• People with a role in putting together the Plan of Work updates, Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results, and the OGFM Supplemental (all due April 1, 2021);
• Organizational administrators who are helping onboard users of the NRS;
• Extension staff who are initiating programs in the NRS;
• People who help manage Hatch Regular, Hatch Multistate, and Evans-Allen research funds for updates on the rollout of the new research initiation module, expected to go live mid-March;
• Anyone else with interest.

2021 National Extension Conference on Volunteerism - The National Extension Conference on Volunteerism Planning Committee and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, encourages those who are interested to save April 26-29, 2021, for the National Extension Conference on Volunteerism "NECV” 2021! Plans are underway for an exciting Extension professional VIRTUAL conference with a focus on volunteerism. This conference is ideal for volunteer-focused professionals who are serving within all areas of Extension programs (4-H, ANR, FCS). For information about calls for proposals and registration opening:

• Join the NECV 2021 interest list-serv at: http://eepurl.com/gY8Pzz. Receive pertinent information about the conference without filling up email inbox! Unsubscribe at any time.
• Follow developments on Facebook at www.facebook.com/1NECV/

Urban Extension Conversation Shared

Last Thursday, 32 Extension Directors and Administrators gathered on Zoom for Learning for Leaders - Urban Agriculture: Needs, Opportunities, and Actions. A panel of experts joined ECOP Chair Chris Watkins (Cornell University). Strategies were presented that support the sustainable development of commercial and community-focused urban agriculture, use the following link:

--> YouTube Video Recording: https://youtu.be/2zUlp5iZ5Rw

--> Slides with Links/Chat/Poll Results: Click here

--> May the conversation continue: ecopblog@gmail.com

Potential Funding Opportunity - The ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Co-chairs Jon Boren (New Mexico State University) and Andy Turner (Cornell University) invite Extension Directors & Administrators and 4-H Program Leaders to join an informational webinar on Friday, December 18, 2020, 12:00 – 12: 45 PM ET, regarding a pending funding opportunity with Verizon to scale the 4-H Tech Changemakers program. Register for the webinar here, which includes a brief overview of the program, the potential for leveraging it for greater visibility across campus and the timeline for submission (possibly early January 2021) and funding. Apologies for the short notice as this opportunity is evolving quickly. National 4-H Council, source for the opportunity and webinar, will record it for anyone unable to attend. Details will be released next week here on the ECOP Monday Minute. Additional contact is Heather Elliott, National 4-H Council, at helliott@4-H.org. 

2021 Military Family Readiness Academy Series - The Military Families Learning Network will launch its 2021 Military Family Readiness Academy series. In this series, dialogue will be a central component. Eight sessions will offer guidance on how to work effectively with families during disasters and hazards, and many will draw from recent and ongoing situations Extension educators and providers are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. A workshop based on the Asset-based Community Recovery Framework, will allow for the discovery the assets and capacities of communities to make military families more resilient and aid in their recovery after a disaster. This framework is different because it’s a bottom-up approach allowing individuals, organizations, and businesses to think about the roles people and communities play in moving forward. Extension educators are encouraged to contribute their voices, experiences, and lessons learned to this workshop and register here. 



Urban, Indoor and other Emerging Agriculture and Food Systems - In May 2020, Western Center for Metropolitan Extension & Research (WCMER) and National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) hosted listening sessions related to NIFA developing an Urban and Emerging Agriculture grant program. The Western Experiment Station and Extension Directors have formally created a development committee with a charge to establish a Western Urban, Indoor and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education and Extension Initiative to facilitate and promote multi-state research and extension projects. Anyone, including those outside the Western Region, interested in joining this effort (all aspects of the food system including production, marketing, distribution, access, equity, and resource recovery) are encouraged to do so. The specific details of how to join can be found here or contact Brad Gaolach (Washington State University) gaolach@wsu.edu | 425-405-1734. 

National Leaders Announced

ECOP Chair Chris Watkins-Cornell University, welcomes the newest member of ECOP, Rich Bonanno-North Carolina State University. Welcome also to the newest ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) members, Karl Martin-University of Wisconsin, Blake Naughton-Colorado State University, Dan Lerner-University of Vermont, and Gina Eubanks-Louisiana State University. To all mentioned here, thank you for your national leadership and dedication to the Cooperative Extension System! Click here to view/download the current lists of Board of Agriculture Assembly affiliated Cooperative Extension Section National leadership. Contact Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Assistant Director Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org to provide updates. 

FY2021 Budget Process Update - Last week's post by Cornerstone Government Affairs at www.land-grant.org is a response to the release of the Fiscal Year 2021 Agriculture Appropriations bill by the Committee on Appropriations of the United States Senate. Persons not receiving these messages directly from Cornerstone may contact Maggie Earle to sign up.

2021 National Health Outreach Conference - The NHOC conference will be held virtually May 3-7, 2021. With the theme of “The Grand Challenge: Building a Healthy Future for All,” there will be sessions related to health equity, effective behavior-change messaging, policy system and environmental change, health behavior, and pandemic response programming. Keynote speakers, concurrent and posters sessions will be relevant for professionals who address health, nutrition, youth development, workforce development, and human development. Organized by Cooperative Extension professionals, invitees include faculty in human sciences, food sciences, medical and other academic institutions across public and private colleges, and universities; public health professionals; youth development professionals; local, state and federal agency partners; practitioners in the health care industry; and students. Click Here for additional details about the conference and help spread the word to save the dates.

USDA-NIFA Invests Millions to Support Educators, 4-H and Others in Workforce Training During Pandemic - USDA-NIFA has announced an investment of more than $10.5 million to support educators at technical schools, community and junior colleges, and youth development programs, including Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program. USDA-NIFA will invest in eight regional and national projects, including a $3 million grant to National 4-H Council to support the continued development of 4-H at Home, Cooperative Extension’s positive youth development digital platform on 4-H.org. 4-H at Home is a dynamic resource designed to meet the growing needs for virtual and non-virtual education resources that can be rapidly adopted at home or by various educators and Extension specialists. It is intended to level the playing field and address the widening opportunity gap for youth and families as a result of the pandemic. Details about the award recipients and initiatives can be found here.

Final 2020 Military Family Readiness Academy Session - Planning for the Worst, Hoping for the Best: The final session of the Disaster and Hazard Readiness Foundations series, Planning for the Worst, Hoping for the Best, will be held Wednesday, November 18 from 11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. ET. This final session ties together all planning aspects involved in military family readiness from both family and service professional perspectives. Dr. Angie Lindsey, University of Florida/IFAS, shares strategies, resources, and templates, with a focus on the who, what, when, where, and why of preparation, mitigation, and recovery. Nancy Beers, Director of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Midwest Early Recovery Fund, will be the guest speaker. Nancy oversees The CDP Early Recovery Fund, which focuses on supporting vulnerable populations in 10 states in the Midwest, following a disaster. Her presentation will focus on a Minnesota flooding event and how some specific military families were impacted by it in different ways. The 90-minute session is free and several continuing education credits are also available. To register and get more information go to: https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/event/mfra2020/

Communications and Marketing Committee Proposal Vote is Coming

The voting members of the Cooperative Extension Section can expect to receive a letter this week from the ECOP Executive Committee asking for a vote to support the Communications and Marketing Committee's proposal to hire personnel that will be employed by APLU and headquartered in the Office of Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources within the Board on Agriculture Assembly. The personnel will be responsible for implementing the Strategic Communications Roadmap that is in final stages of development by Forbes Tate Partners. Background and FAQ's will accompany the message.

Celebrating Excellence Events Registration - Register at the links provided.

OCT 28, 2020,  3:00 PM - 5:30 PM Eastern Time
A Community of Scholars Celebrating Excellence: Cooperative Extension and Research Awards Presentation and Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecture

NOV 3, 2020, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Eastern Time
2020 BoHS Celebrating Excellence in the Human Sciences

Summit on Mental Health and Well-Being Resources Available - In this unprecedented time, we are witnessing mental health challenges playing out across our nation, impacting all communities and creating stress and hardship across all sectors of society. Making available science-based mental health resources to our communities and institutions has never been more important. On October 1, 2020, the APLU Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources (CFERR) hosted a National Resource Summit on Mental Health and Well-Being for all CFERR Boards/Councils/Sections/Committees and their members. Each of the CFERR Boards-Board on Human Sciences; Board on Agriculture Assembly; Board on Veterinary Medicine; Board on Oceans, Atmosphere and Climate; and Board on Natural Resources were provided time during the Summit to share an overview of the current mental health challenges they are seeing in their particular sector, examples, and relevant resources and programs. Resources from the Summit are available here.

Military Family Readiness Academy Disaster and Hazard Session - Session 2 of the 2020 Military Family Readiness Academy, Impacts and Responses in Disaster and Hazard Readiness, will be held Wednesday, October 28 from 11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. ET. The session looks in-depth at disaster and hazard impacts and responses. Dr. Angie Lindsey, University of Florida/IFAS, discusses social and emotional, family and community, agricultural and environment, and housing and food security impacts. She addresses response phases, factors impacting community recovery, and what professionals and families can do now for better outcomes using a whole community response and recovery approach. The session will also feature a case study by Commander Brendan T. Byrne, Deputy Force Surgeon, USMC Central Command, MacDill AFB. Dr. Byrne is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine of the University of Michigan Medical School. The 90-minute session is free and several continuing education credits are also available. To register and get more information go to: https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/event/mfra2020/

NACo Virtual Federal Policy Summit Announced October 21-22, 2020 - NACo’s Virtual Federal Policy Summit will connect county officials, members of Congress, federal agency partners, and other key decision makers and thought leaders. Please join us for this two-day summit featuring informative speakers with practical advice on a range of policy issues and updates on the federal policy landscape – broadband, healthcare, infrastructure, COVID-19 relief, public lands, disaster assistance and more. With ongoing challenges related to in-person meetings, NACo’s Virtual Federal Policy Summit is a prime opportunity to connect, learn and share practical information and resources to help strengthen your county. Register here.

Agency Related Survey Action Request

On behalf of the leadership of  National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NCFAR), the insight of the ECOP as a member and/or sponsor is requested. ECOP Monday Minute readers are asked to share how their institutions value USDA programs in the research, extension and education (REE) mission area. Toward that end, please take a moment to complete a short survey at https://aavmc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TqsGbJPVlwo6qx. For more information, go to www.ncfar.org. 

Rural Broadband and Digital Tools in Ag Conference Opportunity - APLU’s Office of Economic Development & Community Engagement is currently soliciting Expressions of Interest from researchers and Extension professionals working at the intersection of community broadband access and the application of digital tools in agriculture to participate in an online conference. Extension Directors and Administrators and their associates are invited to complete this online form to express your interest. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on September 30.

4-H Congressional Staff Briefing - In 2019, ECOP approved the formation of a subcommittee of the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) to increase government funding for Extension/4-H from sources other than USDA. On September 8, 2020, the ECOP BLC Subcommittee for 4-H partnered with the 4-H Congressional Caucus to host a virtual 4-H Congressional Staff Briefing to raise awareness of the diversity and relevance of today’s Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and to thank Congress for their support of 4-H funding through 1890 Extension and Smith-Lever, the 4-H Mentoring (OJJDP) funding, and other opportunities. Speakers included ECOP Budget & Legilsative Committee Chair, Jon Boren (New Mexico State University), Jennifer Sirangelo (National 4-H Council), Clyde Van Dyke (4-H Member from NY) and Congressman Mike Conaway (TX).

eXtension Foundation Meeting Invitation - The eXtension Foundation invites all Extension Directors and Administrators to attend the eXtension Foundation Meeting on September 24th from 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM ET, as part of NEDA. During this meeting, eXtension and ECOP will be facilitating a discussion on the results of the National Action Dialogue for Extension Futures including infrastructure needs, training needs, and other emerging themes. The eXtension Climate Fellows will also provide a report to the CES section on their work followed by a short presentation on how the eXtension Foundation has been serving the system through its New Technologies for Ag Extension Accelerator Program and its Impact Collaborative program. NEDA registration and details are available at neda.extension.org.  

NIFA 1890 Centers of Excellence Program Opportunity - Nineteen Land-grant Universities associated with the Cooperative Extension System  are eligible to apply for NIFA Centers of Excellence Program. Originally established in 2015 in conjunction with the 125th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890, he 1890 COEs goals are: 1) increasing profitability and rural prosperity in underserved farming communities; 2) addressing critical needs for enhanced international training and development; and 3) increasing diversity in the science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics (STEAM) pipeline. Read RFA/Apply here. Last year's recipients are found here.

Military Family Readiness Academy: Disaster & Hazard Readiness 101 - The Military Family Readiness Academy opens its 2020 series on September 16 with a session entitled Disaster and Hazard Readiness 101 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET.  The session will provide a bird’s-eye view of disasters and hazards. Dr. Angie Lindsey, University of Florida/IFAS, begins with a high-level overview addressing terminology, phases of management, and types of disasters and hazards. Dr. Lindsey will also provide insights into significant research guiding disaster and hazard readiness and response, as well as the role and impact of media, and emergent conversations around the COVID-19 pandemic. The 90-minute session is free and several continuing education credits are also available. For more information and to register go to:   https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/event/mfra2020 

2020 NEDA Meeting Begins in 3 Weeks

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on September 7 and will return on September 14. Have a safe and pleasant Labor Day Weekend.

Almost a third of the Cooperative Extension Section have already registered for the 2020 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting coming up September 23 and 24, 2020. With the timely theme: Leadership in a Time of Social, Economic and Political Disruption, this unique virtual meeting will provide Extension Directors and Administrators opportunities to engage in peer-based sharing and learning; learn to better explore and face the discomfort of the times; learn to create productive environments around uncomfortable issues; contribute to ECOP actionable items; and establish future themes, opportunities and best practices for reference by Directors and Administrators. For complete details and links to register go to neda.extension.org. Please register by close of business on September 17, 2020.

Disaster Network Annual Meeting Registration - Once a year, the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) delegates assemble at the EDEN Annual Meeting to share best practices, develop research, showcase projects that have been completed throughout the year, and enhance skill sets through professional development opportunities. EDEN's Annual Meeting takes place virtually September 22-25, 2020. This meeting is an opportunity for these delegates to capitalize on collaboration by providing a forum where important issues and big ideas are discussed. Breakout sessions, panel discussions, and keynote speakers will provide a glimpse into disaster programming throughout Extension. Learn more here. 

Military Family Readiness Academy Launches 2020 Series in September - A global pandemic, extreme weather events like hurricanes, derechos, wildfires, and heavy rains have affected people around the world. The Military Families Learning Network is pleased to introduce its Military Family Readiness Academy (MFRA), a learning opportunity that takes a multidisciplinary approach to a complex issue faced by military family service providers in their work. This free professional development is designed for military family service providers working in any field, with any organization. The 2020 Academy series includes three 90-minute sessions: September 16, October 28, and November 18, focusing on the added stressors and challenges when disasters and emergencies strike military families. Sessions will provide an overview of disaster and emergency readiness relevant to military family service providers, including Cooperative Extension, working in any field. For more information and to subscribe to the MFRA mailing list go to Military Family Readiness Academy.



Inventory of Climate Change Extension Programs - eXtension's Climate Fellows are creating a database of Extension programs relating to climate and extreme weather adaptation and mitigation. By cross-referencing eXtension’s work with the Drawdown Review’s climate solutions, we hope to find Cooperative Extension Service’s strengths when addressing climate and extreme weather issues, and where Extension may have room for improvement. As of this writing 37% of all 1862 and 1890 Extension Institutions located in 26 States, from 4 of the 5 Regions have contributed valuable data. Please add your institution's exemplary Extension programs that focus on adapting to a changing climate, mitigating the impact of extreme weather, expanding carbon sinks or reducing greenhouse gas emissions today! Learn more here.

eXtension Selects 8 Projects for Acceleration for 2020-2021 - As part of eXtension’s New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) Cooperative Agreement with USDA-NIFA, eXtension selected 8 projects from 33 competitive nominations across the system for year two to participate in its project accelerator program. Projects will receive wrap-around services from eXtension to support and amplify the project outcomes. Nominations were reviewed for alignment to the USDA Strategic Goals by the eXtension Catalyst Team listed here. Selected projects represent Virginia Tech, Southern University, North Carolina State University, Oregon State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Delaware, and the University of Connecticut. Learn more about this accelerator program, wrap-around services, and the selected projects here.