White House Briefing by Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance

On Thursday, October 26, Bill Hoffman Executive Director, Cooperative Extension System/ECOP, attended a White House briefing organized by the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA). The session is pictured above. With FACA and APLU/Cooperative Extension in the room, representatives from Farm Bureau, American Seed Trade Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National, Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The agenda included Climate-Smart Investments messaging in rural communities and Food Loss & Waste. 



JCEP Event Engagement for 2024 - The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) has 2 important annual conferences. The Extension Leadership Conference (ELC) February 14-15 in Tampa, Florida and Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) April 15-17 in Arlington, Virginia. Extension Directors and Administrators are invited to support Extension Faculty, Specialists and Agents/Educators to join the organizations listed here and encourage presentation proposals for the JCEP Conferences. The deadline for proposals ends this week on November 3, 2023. Details are available at www.jcep.org.

Extension Foundation and ECOP WorkForce Development PAT Hiring AgriProspects Workforce Development Network Positions - The Extension Foundation, in partnership with the ECOP Workforce Development Program Action Team, is seeking dynamic, collaborative individuals to help lead the AgriProspects Workforce Development Network. AgriProspects, supported through a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture AFRI Education and Workforce Development Competitive Grant 2023-67037-40533, establishes a National Working Group supported by six Regional Working Groups focused on growing and refining the national portfolio of Extension workforce programs. AgriProspects seeks to align the supply of trained workers to the demand for agricultural jobs by developing and delivering a national agriculture workforce development framework. Application Deadline: November 10, 2023. Learn more here.

Invitation by Board on Health and Human Sciences - The Board on Health and Human Sciences invites Extension professionals who are planning to attend the 2023 APLU Annual Meeting to join their session Envisioning the Future of Health and Human Sciences on Monday, November 13 from 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM. Panelists will include Beverly Coberly, CEO of the Extension Foundation. Participants will hear perspectives on including health as a core feature of the human sciences identity and learn strategies to cultivate a growing community of academic disciplines inclusive of health and the human sciences. For more information, contact Executive Director Kelly Dalton.



$3.4M NTAE Award Announced - In partnership with the Extension Foundation , the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was awarded the USDA-NIFA New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) Cooperative Agreement (Grant Number 2023-41595-41325). The Technology-Enhanced Cooperative Extension Hub (TECHExt), a groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionize the Cooperative Extension System by infusing it with state-of-the-art technologies and practices. The project aligns with the strategic priorities of the USDA-NIFA and ECOP, aiming to foster innovation, increase the capacity of Extension professionals, update NTAE delivery and management policies, enable locally meaningful opportunities through responsive marketing, and conduct comprehensive evaluations for continuous improvement. Full release available here.

Funding Opportunity Information Session

New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) is a grant from USDA-NIFA in partnership with Oklahoma State University and begins its fourth year on September 1, 2022. The Extension Foundation invites land-grant university Extension project and program teams to apply for up to $60K in Fellowships available and 1 year of support from Catalysts, Coaches, and Key Informants. Programs with a focus on DEI, Climate, Economic/Workforce Development, Health Equity, Positive Youth Development, Urban Programs, and Broadband Access/Digital Skills are encouraged but not required. According to ECOP's Workplan with Extension Foundation, application is encouraged. To learn more and register for information sessions visit pages.extension.org/ntae. The first session available to all land-grant universities is on April 27, 2022. Direct questions to Beverly Coberly at beverlycoberly@extension.org.



National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NCFAR) Update - NCFAR is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, consensus-based, and customer-led coalition that brings together food, agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and natural resource stakeholders to serve as a forum and unified voice supporting federal investment in the USDA Research, Education, and Economics (REE) enterprise. This USDA mission area underlies the tools necessary to build resiliency for humanity’s most basic needs, particularly relating to climate change and nutrition security for all Americans. ECOP is a member and sponsor of NCFAR Outreach, and well-represented by Rich Bonanno, Associate Dean and Director of Cooperative Extension, North Carolina State University. See the updated NCFAR website leadership here.



How to Inform the Development of the Dietary Guidelines, 2025-2030 - The process to develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 is kicking off. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the proposed scientific questions that will inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines. HHS and USDA is requesting public comments on the proposed questions. This is the first of several opportunities for public input on the Dietary Guidelines development process. Written comments on the proposed questions will be accepted from Friday, April 15 to Monday, May 16, 2022. HHS and USDA will carefully consider all relevant comments in refining the scientific questions. Learn about the process to identify the proposed scientific questions, read through the proposed scientific questions, learn how to submit a comment, and check out the frequently asked questions.

New Link for Summer 4-H Pathways Institutes Application - There is a new link to apply to the Summer 2022 4-H Pathways Leadership Institutes that was announced in detail here last week. Extension Directors and Administrators with interest in registering a 3-person team should use https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Institue22. If there are questions go here or contact lead communicator Andy Turner at ast4@cornell.edu.

NEDA Registration Update

Thank you to 59% of the Cooperative Extension Section who have registered early for 2021 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting! Small group discussions organized by the planning committee are:

• Extension as Integral to the Health Response for the Nation 
• Perceptions of the County Delivery System
• Embracing a Remote Workforce-University Policy Impacts on Field Personnel
• Broadband Access and Digital Skills
• Who Are We Leaving Behind and What Are We Going to Do About It?
• Envisioning the Rural Workforce of the Future
• Urban Programs
• Envisioning Extension’s Role in Student Recruitment

The meeting on October 12-14 is for the members of the Section and 1 or 2 members of their team, Associate/Assistant Directors or Administrators. The registration deadline is September 21 at neda.extension.org. Questions? Contact Sandy Ruble at sandyruble@extension.org. 

BAA Virtual Events Proposed November 8-12 - The Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) section and committee virtual meetings are proposed for the week of November 8-12, 2021. Final decisions will be made soon (in consultation with NIFA) about the awards ceremonies (teaching, research, and Extension), lecture series and Food Systems Leadership Institute programs. Draft agendas and more details will be discussed during the JointCOPs Virtual Summer meeting this week! The 2021 APLU Annual Meeting will be conducted utilizing a “hybrid” format of in-person meetings with livestreaming for General and Keynote Sessions. The location for on-site participation is the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (1201 Market Street). Conference dates are Sunday, November 14 - Tuesday, November 16, with a limited number of pre-meetings that will be held on Saturday, November 13. Registration and fees for portions of the meeting will released sometime next month.  

Extension Foundation Report Available: Technologies Impacting the Cooperative Extension System - The Extension Foundation, in partnership with a research team from Ohio State University, has released a new report on emerging technologies. The Extension Foundation Report on Emerging Technologies Impacting the Cooperative Extension System was supported by funding from USDA-NIFA New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE). The report found here, was developed by the research team in part through interviews with a panel of thirteen experts representing all five Extension Regions, as well as non-Extension personnel. Panel participants were selected based on their background and experiences in adult learning and development, applied technology use, and innovation. 

 

Water Management Addressed in New SARE Video - The increased frequency of severe weather events puts additional strains on water quality and quantity, threatening the success of farms worldwide. SARE’s Water Conservation animation illustrates how efficient water management can help farmers and ranchers increase the resilience of their operations while improving the health of their crops and livestock. The newest episode in SARE’s What is Sustainable Agriculture? series provides a simple and short introduction to efficient water use strategies and is intended to complement more detailed training materials.

Budget and Legislative Virtual Meeting 4/13/2021

Each year the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) leads a session for Extension Directors and Administrators who attend the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference. Since the meeting is virtual this year, members of the AEA, NEED, NCCEA, ASRED and WEDA organizations were invited to join the session at no charge on Tuesday, April 13, 11 a.m. - Noon ET. For any members who wish to attend and have not yet registered, click here to sign up. A recording will be released in next week's ECOP Monday Minute. Participants will come away with knowledge of the innerworkings of a federal budget process through the Board on Agriculture Assembly and the latest updates from government affairs advisors. Chair Jon Boren, New Mexico State University, is moderator and hopes to see a good number of his fellow Extension Directors and Administrators on Zoom tomorrow. 

New Technologies for Agriculture Extension Funding - NTAE, an Extension Foundation project administered by Oklahoma State University provides an open opportunity for all land-grant institutions. Extension (formerly eXtension) Foundation membership is not required to submit early stage, high potential projects that could benefit from market research and/or strategic messaging, digital engagement, leadership and team development, partnership development, efieldbook publication, professional engagement with peers, evaluation support, and mentoring. A highly informative introduction (45 minutes) is available here. A mandatory application workshop will be held on Monday, May 10, 2021 (2-4:00 p.m. ET) and again, Wednesday, May 12 (3-5:00 p.m. ET) that will provide guidance, tools, and templates for a successful project application. Contact Tira Adelman tiraadelman@extension.org for workshop connection details.




USDA Farm Service Agency Funding Opportunity - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency has announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The funding was made possible by USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, an effort to distribute resources more broadly and to put greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers impacted by the pandemic. To view this funding opportunity, visit here.

Strengthening Rural Anchor Institutions - Federal Policy Solutions for Rural Public Colleges and the Communities They Serve Report - This report focuses on a group of 118 rural public colleges, including 1862, 1890 and 1994 institutions that prioritize access for students. This access mission is particularly important because institutions dedicated to access are often overlooked and under-resourced compared to institutions that are more selective in their admissions practices. Read the report here.

Action Plan for Brand New Strategic Directions

Each year, the ECOP Chair establishes goals for their 1-year term. 2020-2021 Chair, Chris Watkins from Cornell University states, "My vision as Chair of the Board on Agriculture Assembly Cooperative Extension Section is to ensure that the ECOP Strategic Directions is a living document. The Strategic Direction document will will ECOP to enhance its relevance to Members of the Section, and provides outcomes for the Cooperative Extension System that advance delivery of evidence-based education to all." Find the Action Plan Overview here and stay tuned for the release of the full plan which details the action steps to be taken. 

2020 APLU Annual Meeting Registration Now Open - For the first time in its 133-year history, the APLU Annual Meeting with the theme Resilience & Equity will be held virtually, from November 9-11, 2020. According to APLU President Peter McPherson, while the world is rapidly changing, the APLU Annual Meeting is still here to provide higher education leaders with an opportunity to strengthen our community with opportunities to share best practices and strategies and make lasting connections with colleagues from across North America. Click Here for the Cooperative Extension Section’s Guide to APLU/FANR Events which includes links to register for the APLU Annual meeting.  

County Connectivity Landscape Dashboard - COVID-19 has sped the adoption of virtual programming in Cooperative Extension across the nation and has highlighted a need for information about connectivity at the county level for use in planning virtual programs. A new tool developed by a team at Purdue University may help. With funding backed by the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) cooperative agreement with USDA-NIFA through Oklahoma State University, the team received a grant from eXtension to create a County Connectivity Landscape Dashboard to help inform Cooperative Extension professionals as they plan online programming and outreach methods. Users can quickly identify a range of county-level statistics. Learn more here.



Webinar on Social Determinants of Health in Rural Populations - Social determinants of health are defined by the World Health Organization as "the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age." For rural populations, many of these conditions are not conducive to achieving optimum health and well-being. Building on work conducted by the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, this presentation will review some of the key elements associated with health across rural White and minority populations, such as education, income, and health facility availability. Join Jan Probst, PhD, of the Rural and Minority Research Center for a deep dive into how social determinants are influencing rural health on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 1:00 PM Eastern. For more information, visit https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/webinars/sdoh-in-rural-populations.



CECE Enhances Online Communications - The Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) was established to lead and coordinate APLU's mission pillar of "expanding engagement." CECE convenes senior university economic development and community engagement administrations, presidents and chancellors, provosts, senior research officers, Cooperative Extension leaders, communications and government affairs administrators, and others across APLU member universities and university systems across North America who maintain responsibility for planning, executing, or communicating their institution’s work in economic development and public engagement. A new opt-in Listserv platform is available to CECE members to share resources, opportunities, and relevant news directly with one another. To become a member of CECE and opt-in on the ListServ at no cost, complete this form today.

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.

Change and Healing Through Understanding - ECOP is Responding

The Cooperative Extension family grieves as the nation again comes face-to-face with the serious and disheartening mistreatment that, sadly, is a part of African Americans’ daily existence. ECOP Executive Committee will be releasing a call to action later this week. Meanwhile, one effort for the Cooperative Extension System to consider in responding. One effort for the Cooperative Extension System to respond to the need for dialogue to promote racial understanding and healing is Coming Together for Racial Understanding (CTRU). Seeded by ECOP in 2016, CTRU began following a similar season of anguish in our country. CTRU’s vision is to grow a community of Extension professionals ready to aid in fostering meaningful community conversations leading to positive change. Many of the trained teams across 26 states continue to work fervently, aiding both CES professionals and communities toward this vision. As work continues, three principles are clear: 
  1. Dialogues are vital to understanding, and understanding is vital to healing and meaningful change.
  2. CES must do our own work around race before we can effectively engage communities.
  3. Administrative support to these teams is vital to their success.
Learn more about CTRU: http://srdc.msstate.edu/civildialogue/index.html.
To view other great resources: https://civildialogue.extension.org/.
Coordinator: Rachel Welborn rachel.welborn@msstate.edu.

Extension’s Leadership on Climate and Extreme Weather - Last Friday, Directors and Administrators from all 5 Regions joined ECOP Chair Mark Latimore for the latest Learning for Leaders session. The eXtension Climate Fellows introduced themselves and described the project using Project Drawdown framework. ECOP's Chuck Ross, University of Vermont, says, "Collectively, by building a database from across the System, the Climate Fellows will tell the story of the efficacy of the Extension System on the issue of climate and extreme weather conditions. We should look forward to the Climate Fellows contacting us and we should reach out to them to make this possible."   

   Enhanced PowerPoint with chat Q&A, resource links and contact info: Click here. 

   Recording: https://youtu.be/sA_dGPVoJyc. 

   Contact information for the Fellows:
    * Jennison Kipp, mjkipp@ufl.edu

    * Sarah Klain, sarah.klain@usu.edu

    * Paul Lachapelle, Paul.lachapelle@montana.edu

    * Roslynn Brain McCann, roslynn.mccann@usu.edu

Health Equity Principles for State and Local Leaders - The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic downturn have differentially affected certain groups of people causing some to suffer disproportionately. To ensure that all people and communities have an opportunity to recover fully and fairly, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently released an issue brief which identifies five health equity principles that should be considered in state and local decisions regarding the reopening the economy and eventual recovery from COVID-19. These principles include examining dis-aggregated data to surface inequities, engaging those most affected in decision-making, empowering teams take action on disparities, proactively addressing policy gaps, and investing in infrastructure which fosters resilience. Read the full text of the issue brief here.

Nominations for New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) for 2020 - The NTAE cooperative agreement with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will enter the second year on September 1, 2020. Nominations are a short request for information that is quickly and easily completed in minutes and will be available June 15, 2020. Selected projects will receive wrap around services from eXtension Foundation to support and amplify the project/program outcomes. Wrap around services include program advisory support, publication creation, evaluation, digital engagement, professional development services, and optional partnership development support and marketing/market research services from external firms. Learn more about eligibility, nominations, and the wrap around services that promote project/program progression to an evidence-based model here.  

Small Business Online Training is Available - The USDA SBIR Program Office is offering free, online training to learn more about the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Training is comprised of 5 weekly one-hour webinars (live or recorded) and a brief activity aimed at discovering previous SBIR awardees and complementary service providers in your area. USDA, Land-grant university, and Cooperative Extension (across ALL program areas) that complete this course will receive a Certificate of Completion signed by leadership at SBA and USDA. To learn more and to register, visit www.usdasbir.com. 

CYFAR Annual Report Available - The Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Program is funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to support collaborative programming with the nation’s land-grant college and university system. Although only 1862 and 1890 land-grant colleges and universities were eligible prior to passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, these land-grant institutions often collaborated with 1994 land-grants. This collaborative programming between institutions provided positive outcomes for children, youth, and families placed at risk and served by those institutions. The 2018 Annual Report features the highlights of these programmatic activities, outcomes, and impacts.

Health Extension Institutional Contacts

By investing in a second, two-year wave of funding to National 4-H Council, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has reaffirmed its commitment to a long term partnership with the Cooperative Extension System to build a society in which all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being across their life span. In addition to supporting community-based work in roughly forty communities across the nation, this wave of funding will also support systemwide transformation and capacity building efforts across the Cooperative Extension System. Central to that effort is building a network of institutional contacts for health and wellness at each 1862 and 1890 institution. Extension directors and administrators are reminded to submit the name of their institutional contact here no later than February 28. Questions may be directed to rogerrennekamp@extension.org.

A survey developed by Extension Disaster Education Network's (EDEN's) Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative (FADI) Team, is open for all of Extension to complete, regardless of affiliation with EDEN - by February 29, 2020. Directors and Administrators are asked to complete the survey and share. To learn more and complete the survey go to https://extensiondisaster.net/extension-disaster-needs-assessment-survey-now-open.

Technology in Extension Education Survey - Through the nationwide New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) Cooperative Agreement in partnership with Oklahoma State University, eXtension's Technology Fellow, Dr. Rose-Hayden Smith, will lead the offering of professional development opportunities and serve as editor of the Technology in Extension Education and Organization eFieldbook to be published in 2020. This eFieldbook will serve as a guide for Cooperative Extension professionals about the modern, up-to-date, uses of technology and provide resources to get them started. The scope of the technology includes technology for engagement, teaching, program delivery, and marketing. How can eXtension help with the technology needs across the system? Educators, Agents, and Specialists, regardless of eXtension Foundation affiliation, are invited to take a short survey at eXtension.org/edtechsurvey. Please respond to the survey by March 4, 2020. Results will be shared through the ECOP Monday Minute and on the eXtension website.

National Academies - Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty - A year ago, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a landmark report to Congress, A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty. This report reviews research on linkages between child poverty and child well-being, analyzes the poverty-reducing effects of major assistance programs, and provides policy and program recommendations for reducing the number of children living in poverty by half. It examines contextual factors that can either impede or promote the effectiveness of anti-poverty policies and programs. Download the free report and check out the interactive data explorer tool to examine the effectiveness of policy “packages” by state. The National Academies is hosting a free event, A Dialogue on Measuring and Reducing Child Poverty, on March 13 (on-line option available).



Ag Innovation Agenda - USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue used last week’s 2020 Ag Outlook Conference to unveil the Ag Innovation Agenda of the USDA Science Blueprint: A Roadmap for USDA Science from 2020 to 2025. See https://madmimi.com/p/c0f8401 for details on the Ag Innovation Agenda.

Cooperative Extension Leaders at 132nd APLU Annual Meeting

L-R: Rick Klemme, Cooperative Extension/ECOP Exec. Dir.; Scott Angle, USDA-NIFA, Dir.;
Dorothy Brandon, Alabama A&M Univ.; Kim Greder, Iowa State Univ.; Matt Devereaux, Univ. of
Tennessee; Donna Shoemaker, Ohio State Univ.; Dave Schramm, Utah State Univ.; Gordon Johnson,
Univ. of Delaware; Mark Latimore, Jr. (ECOP Chair), Fort Valley State Univ., and Mark Peterson, Univ. of Arkansas

Almost half of the Cooperative Extension Section (all Regions) are currently attending the APLU Annual Meeting in San Diego. The meeting runs through Tuesday. Yesterday morning the impact of Extension was showcased during the Annual National Awards Program. The awards were presented by USDA-NIFA Director Scott Angle, USDA Chief of Science Scott Hutchins, and ECOP Chair Mark Latimore, Jr., Fort Valley State University. Follow the news here and here on Twitter. Click Here to view today's happenings.


Innovative System Staffing Model Launched November 1 - ECOP entered into a new era to strengthen organizational functioning of Cooperative Extension last week when Executive Director Rick Klemme and Assistant Director Sandy Ruble completed negotiations with eXtension Foundation, National 4-H Council (Council) and APLU to bring aboard an Extension Health Director (See below). The result is an independent contract agreement through October 31, 2021, funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The administrative package is a combination of technical support (eXtension), implementing partners (Council and APLU), national leadership (ECOP) with regional support (AEA, NCCEA, NEED, WEDA, ASRED). This initiative is an example of what the Extension Resource and Program Development Committee developed as a pathway to leveraging public investment with outside funding.

Roger Rennekamp,
Extension Health Director

Extension Health Director Welcome - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through their support of the Well Connected Communities project recognized a need for an Extension leader as a key strategist and communicator for health extension in the Cooperative Extension System (CES). Roger Rennekamp has joined the national office to fill this important role! While focusing on increasing health equity by responding to the diverse needs of children, youth, and families; particularly among vulnerable populations, Roger will simultaneously develop partnerships focused on systems and policy change to address four core themes.

1. Building partnerships and acquiring resources to achieve the core themes, 
2. Increasing understanding and visibility of the Cooperative Extension System as a national leader in health education, 
3. Enhancing leadership and professional development among Extension System colleagues, and
4. Strengthening organizational functions to sustain health equity as a CES initiative. 

Roger reports to the Chair of ECOP and Executive Director, Cooperative Extension/ECOP, with day-to-day interaction with the Well Connected Communities Program Director and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Development Director. Contact information: rogerrennekamp@extension.org and 541-740-5327.


eXtension Shares Results of New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) Survey - eXtension appreciates the participation of Directors and Administrators in a recently conducted system-wide survey to gauge interest and identify existing Extension programs in four topic areas aligned with USDA strategic priorities. 942 Extension professionals responded to the survey. The end goal is to provide professional development opportunities focused in these areas for Cooperative Extension. The following percentage of respondents indicated interest in these topic areas:
    -- Climate Smart Agriculture: 72%
    -- Prevention & Mitigation of Ag Pests & Disease/IPM: 67%
    -- Prevention of Foodborne Illness & Protection of Public Safety: 75%
    -- Safe & Nutritious Food for Low-Income Individuals: 73%
An overview of the national results are available here. The results by region are available here.


NIFA Information Update - Josh Stull, Acting Communications Director / Congressional and Stakeholder Affairs Officer, NIFA, USDA, forwarded the following information to be shared with colleagues regarding the NIFA resources.
    -- Updated NIFA org chart
    -- NIFA grants page
    -- NIFA Director Update Message on ReePort/Plan of Work