North American Agricultural Advisory Network & APLU Webinar November 5

Join us on Wednesday, November 5th from 10-11 a.m. MST for the CONVERSATION on NAAAN CONNECT with the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities(APLU). The association represents more than 250 universities and affiliated organizations across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This CONVERSATION will focus on the cross-border efforts of APLU and invite a discussion around new opportunities for collaboration in agricultural extension and rural advisory services for strengthened food security. 

Featured speakers include Waded Cruzado, President of APLU, and Doug Steele, Vice President of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at APLU.

NASS to release key reports despite shutdown

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will release key data in November for the following reports:

• Milk Production – November 10, 2025 (previously scheduled for October 22, 2025)
• Crop Production – November 14, 2025 (previously scheduled for November 10, 2025)
• Cattle on Feed – November 21, 2025 (as previously scheduled)
• Milk Production – November 21, 2025 (as previously scheduled)
• The World Agricultural Outlook Board will release the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) in conjunction with the Crop Production release on November 14th.

Keystone Policy Center RFP – Due November 15

Keystone Policy Center has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on enhancing agricultural technical assistance (TA) to achieve conservation outcomes and efficiencies. The RFP deadline is November 15, and the anticipated award size is $30,000. The group is looking for a research team to identify the appropriate tools, new technologies, as well as potential opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance TA delivery.  The selected research team will:

• Identify key technology and data challenges that impact TA delivery

• Conduct a landscape analysis of AI applications relevant to conservation TA

• Conduct a landscape analysis of technology and data applications that can streamline delivery

• Engage with Keystone’s working group to refine research questions and share interim findings

• Develop a draft white paper that includes the following: streamlining technical aspects of TA delivery, data access and compatibility, information access for producers, AI tools for producer use, risks/tradeoffs, and potential pilots 

Government Funding Lapse Will Temporarily Halt SNAP Benefits

In an updated notification on its website, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) informed visitors that no benefits will be issued November 1. Earlier this month, FNS signaled that the program would be funded through October. Contingency funds are currently being used to temporarily support the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); school lunch; and other programs. While some states may use state funds to continue benefits, there is no provision under Federal law for those states to be reimbursed for those payments. According to multiple artificial intelligence sources, SNAP benefits are paid once per month to recipients, typically as a single lump sum loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. The day of the month for this benefit loading varies by state.

Rapid Response Multistate Committee

The agInnovation Science and Technology Committee requests your assistance with populating the Rapid Response Multistate Committee W525 entitled “Evaluation of Outcomes-Driven, Aspirational Goals to Achieve National Food Security” (available here). We encourage experts in research, Extension, and teaching to join this Rapid Response Multistate Committee by submitting an Appendix E in the National Information Management and Support System – NIMSS.

REMINDER: LEAD 21 Applications Open Until November 15, 2025

LEAD21 is currently accepting applications for Class 22 (2026-2027). The primary purpose of LEAD21 is to develop leaders in land-grant institutions and their strategic partners to link research, academics and extension to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current position or as they aspire to new roles.

The LEAD21 Board of Directors (BOD) consists of representatives from the various Board of Agriculture Assembly Section's Committees on Organization and Policy (headquartered at APLU) and strategic partners. More information and the link to apply is found here.

The ECOP appointees to LEAD21 BOD are Amy Loader, University of New Hampshire, and Program Chair Quentin Tyler, Michigan State University.

National Extension Award for Innovative Programming that Addresses New Audiences

The National Extension Award for Innovative Programming that Addresses New Audiences was presented to the Neighborhood Leadership Fellows (or the NLF), a program of the MU Extension and the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

NLF is a 9-month advanced leadership training program that works to equip Missouri residents with the necessary leadership skills to invoke positive changes in their communities. With over 170 graduates, NLF trains participants in policy, strength-based leadership, collaboration, and community engagement.

Fellows connect with local leaders, apply data-driven decision-making, and build relationships that support sustainable change. More than a program, NLF is a movement—empowering residents to lead transformation in their neighborhoods.

This award recognizes the impact of investing in community-driven leadership. Dr. Dwayne James, Community Development Specialist for MU Extension, accepted this honor on behalf of the NLF team.

New Administrator Orientation Program Webinar on Oct. 23

On behalf of Dr. Chris Daubert, Chair of the Administrative Heads Section (AHS), we would like to invite you to join an upcoming webinar on the use of social media as a new administrator.  This webinar is part of the 2025 New Administrators Orientation (NAO) program that has a blended format of Zoom meetings and two in-person meetings (the final in-person meeting will be held at the conclusion of the APLU Annual Meeting in Philadelphia PA).  We feel that this topic is both timely and relevant for administrators in today’s social media environment.

Webinar Specifics:

Webinar Title: Effectively Navigating Social Media as a New Administrator

October 23, from 4:00-5:15 pm Eastern.

North American Agricultural Advisory Network

The North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) is a North American platform among extension and rural advisory services organizations promoting and supporting innovation, knowledge utilization, and information sharing in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. They share North American best practices and facilitate learning from global expertise.

You are invited to join NAAAN on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 10-11 a.m. MST for the CONVERSATION on NAAAN CONNECT with the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities. This conversation will focus on the cross-border efforts of APLU and invite a discussion around new opportunities for collaboration. Featured speakers include Waded Cruzado, President of APLU, and Doug Steele, Vice President of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at APLU.

See more information and register.

New ECOP Chair shares implementation recommendations to agInnovation

Via email last week, Lisa Townson shared some recommendations on the implementation of the Research Facilities Act:

It is vital that stakeholders, particularly but not exclusively farmers and ranchers, achieve the maximum benefit from this historic investment. While every institution is different, for most institutions this will mean balancing research facility investments on campus and off campus. These off-campus facilities are an important part of demonstrating an innovation’s relevance to local conditions, including soil types, weather patterns, and ecosystems. They provide context specific knowledge that can directly lead to the next logical adoption step, on-operation trial. Investment in these off-campus facilities has the added benefit of widening the perceived value to a broader cross section of the state’s or territory’s citizenry.

Further, as we invest in off-campus research facilities, it is important that these investments include state of the art Extension facilities, capable of demonstrating innovations in the most effective possible manner. Any investment in research facilities without a clear vision and plan to ultimately communicate the resulting innovation to producers would be short-sighted.

Finally, the implementation of this program should not be rushed. The process for making such a large federal investment should allow time for states and territories to consult with stakeholders of all varieties, particularly farmers and ranchers, and undertake local planning processes to leverage this investment to the maximum possible benefit. 

On campus discussions are encouraged among Agricultural Experiment Station Directors and Extension Directors and Administrators to maximize the ultimate demonstration benefit of this investment. These same sentiments will be communicated with NIFA with the hopes of giving them priority in the call for proposals, which is expected during the first quarter of calendar year 2026.  

Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program

The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program was authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) and empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem. Through innovative system-wide change, the RHT Program invests in the rural healthcare delivery ecosystem for future generations.
 
State Departments of Health are often implementing the program, and some are involving their Cooperative Extension Service as a subcontractor. Sources have indicated that the deadline for state submissions is November 5, 2025.

LEAD21 Applications Open Until November 15, 2025

LEAD21 is currently accepting applications for Class 22 (2026-2027). The primary purpose of LEAD21 is to develop leaders in land-grant institutions and their strategic partners to link research, academics and extension to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current position or as they aspire to new roles.

 The LEAD21 Board of Directors (BOD) consists of representatives from the various Board of Agriculture Assembly Section's Committees on Organization and Policy (headquartered at APLU) and strategic partners. More information and the link to apply is found here.

The ECOP appointees to LEAD21 BOD are Amy Loader, University of New Hampshire, and Program Chair Quentin Tyler, Michigan State University.

2025 Team Excellence in Extension Award – University of Wisconsin Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve team

Lake Superior is the largest freshwater surface on earth. There is 325 miles of Wisconsin coastline along this superlative body of water. Since Wisconsin Cooperative Extension led the federal designation in 2010, the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve team has led research, stewardship, and education efforts along the coast and the St. Louis River estuary. This exceptional place has drawn together a uniquely dedicated team. Staff believe their strong connections to the watershed and to their community resulted not only in this honor, but a better tomorrow for the estuary. Director Deanna Erickson, who is accepted this award at the 2025 NEDA conference, says that the collective commitment to land and water, especially in Wisconsin, will endure beyond our lifetime and the next.

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JCEP Public Issues Leadership Development Conference Save the Date

The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) Public Issues Leadership Development Conference (PILD) will take place April 20-22, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda, MD.

Extension Leadership Conference Call for Proposals – Due October 17

Extension professionals, specialists, and administrators are invited to share their expertise at the 2026 Extension Leadership Conference (ELC), which will take place February 4^th and 5^th in Savannah, GA. This national event is designed to support, challenge, and inspire Extension professionals across all disciplines as they grow in their leadership journey. The conference will provide education and training in leadership and management skills essential for building confidence and capacity in today’s Extension leaders.

Important: Proposals should focus on building leadership skills rather than replicating subject-matter Extension programs.

Presentation Topics

Presentations should highlight leadership while drawing from diverse perspectives, which may include, but are not limited to:

• People skills and team development

• Planning tools and processes

• Effective communication strategies

• Leadership in a changing environment

• People management and supervision

• Incorporating both in-person and virtual program components