ECOP, ESCOP Chairs Engage USDA-NIFA Staff

Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware,
and Shirley Hymon-Parker, North Carolina
A&T University

“Research to Application: National Leadership, Local Impacts” was the theme of a seminar last week for USDA-NIFA colleagues in Washington, DC. Speakers were ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, and ESCOP Chair Shirley Hymon-Parker, North Carolina A&T State University. The purpose was to brief NIFA partners on joint Cooperative Extension and Experiment Station efforts including pest management, water security, healthy food systems and people, climate, communications and marketing, impacts reporting, and the need for both capacity and competitive funding. Other meetings during the day-long visit focused on communications, program planning and reporting, and other items to advance the partnership with USDA-NIFA. 

Chris Boerboom, North Dakota
State University

Boerboom Named to Pest Management Team – ECOP member Chris Boerboom, North Dakota State University, has been named to the National Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinating Committee. The committee makes recommendations to ESCOP and ECOP on programs, policies, reports, and budget matters that affect pest management implementation. It also facilitates national collaboration for IPM research and Extension at land-grant universities, and between land-grants and federal agencies. Membership includes representatives from regional IPM technical committees and centers, USDA agencies including NIFA, other federal departments, and non-government organizations. 

Grow True Leaders Campaign Thunderclap Deadline 5.21.16 – There is still time to participate in the 4-H Thunderclap. Join Reba McEntire, Jennifer Nettles and others in supporting #TrueLeaders. If 4-H reaches its 500 supporter goal by May 21, Thunderclap will blast out a timed Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr post, spreading the message of #TrueLeaders to millions. Join here http://bit.ly/4HThunderclap and add an extra note celebrating young people passionate about 4-H. 

County Health Rankings Webinar 5.17.16 – The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program, is hosting a webinar titled First Things First: Priority Setting. This short webinar will examine how to collaboratively set priorities building on data while also honoring multiple voices in the community. A priority setting tool from the National Association of County & City Health Officials, called First Things First, will be featured and examined. For registration and more information, click here. 

International Programs Webinar 5.9.16 – The APLU International Agriculture Section announces a webinar 1:00 p.m. ET, 5.9.16, featuring Otto Gonzalez, USDA-NIFA’s new director of the Center for International Programs. ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, met with Gonzalez and other USDA-NIFA colleagues last week where he described how he will work across all USDA-NIFA institutes to develop global engagement opportunities. Webinar registration is at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3471901852318820609. 

eXtension What’s New Webinar – If you missed the webinar last week reviewing recent changes and new opportunities now available for eXtension member institutions, view the recording at https://learn.extension.org/events/2621. The eXtension leadership team answers questions and provide examples of how to use new tools and services.

11.17.14 - ECOP Releases 2014 Annual Report

ECOP Releases 2014 Annual Report – As Cooperative Extension wraps up its centennial and launches another century of “extending knowledge, changing lives,” ECOP is pleased to release highlights of this year of national leadership. See the ECOP 2014 Accomplishments Report at http://www.aplu.org/CESannualreport. Jimmy Henning, ECOP immediate past chair, University of Kentucky, particularly emphasizes the release of the National Framework for Health and Wellness www.aplu.org/ducument.doc?id=5134, signing of Memorandums of Understanding related to 4-H youth development https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5187 and USDA climate hubs http://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5315, establishment of the ECOP 4-H National Leadership Committee, launching of www.landgrantimpacts.org, and extensive visibility for Cooperative Extension related to the centennial. Thanks to all who had a part in these efforts. 

 NC-FAR to Host Cooperative Extension Dialogue – Why Cooperative Extension? A New Century for Food and Ag is a dialogue sponsored by the National Coalition for Food & Agricultural Research (http://www.ncfar.org/) 9:30 -10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2014. Featured are ECOP’s representatives to NC-FAR Tim Cross, University of Tennessee, and Michael Ouart, University of Missouri. The purpose is to engage NC-FAR members and others in a discussion about what agriculture producers, commodity groups, and other stakeholders expect of Cooperative Extension in its second century. You are invited to join via webinar at http://bit.ly/1uTmfrk. Drs. Cross and Quart also will represent ECOP at the NC-FAR board of directors meeting which follows. 

Why Should Agricultural Research Be a National Priority? – Today the Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation (RMF) announced the new report Pursuing a Unifying Message: Elevating Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research as a National Priority will be released on December 5, 2014 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The report documents that the United States is in danger of losing its position of international prominence in the scientific research upon which our food, agriculture and natural resources systems depend. It encourages public and private organizations to work together toward a common goal at a time when global challenges require additional investment in agricultural research. Discussing the report will be former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman; Jo Handelsman, Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and Wendy Wintersteen, Endowed Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University. The report, published by the RMF, was developed by the RMF and Iowa State University, in partnership with Mississippi State University, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Texas Tech University and Colorado State University. Cooperative Extension had opportunity to comment on the report during its development. Registration (space limited) is available at www.rileymemorial.org. For those unable to attend, a live webcast of the program may be viewed on the website at 9:00 a.m. ET on December 5, 2014. 

USDA-NIFA and Cooperative Extension Partnership – A two-day retreat last week in Arlington, VA brought together representatives from Cooperative Extension and USDA-NIFA to explore what partnership means for the two groups and what actions can be taken to strengthen work together. A report is expected that will help ECOP and the agency prioritize and implement follow-up actions. Robin Shepard, Executive Director, North Central Cooperative Extension Association, provides key leadership for the effort. 

ECOP Proceedings 1985-1989 – During ECOP’s history, bound books with a green cover were provided to each institution in the Cooperative Extension Section. If your institution has a set of these Proceedings of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and are missing Volume VII (1985-1989), let Sandy Ruble sandy.ruble@extension.org know by 12.5.14 and a book will be shipped. Supplies are limited. 

PILD 2015 Save the Date – Imagining Extension – Eyes on the Future is the theme of the 2015 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference April 12-15 in Crystal City, VA http://www.jcep.org/images/PILD/2015-PILD/2015_PILD_Flyer.pdf. Sponsored by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals, the conference is focused on building advocacy skills for Cooperative Extension. Registration opens January 12, 2015 at http://www.jcep.org/.