Creating an Inclusive, Equitable Cooperative Extension System

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on Presidents' Day, February 15, 2021.

Last Friday’s Learning for Leaders event, Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP, was a launching point by 36 Extension Directors and Administrators from 1890, 1862,  and 1994 Land-grants to create an inclusive, equitable Cooperative Extension System. Organizers of this event and last month's, hope their colleagues can say in 2022, "I finally saw change." For anyone listed here who was unable to attend and for participants wishing to review, links to the 5-minute dynamic topical presentations, slides, and survey are found below.  Save the Date, March 5, 2021, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Details of the next Learning for Leaders will soon be released.
-- Programming–A Path Forward
-- Hiring/Recruitment/Pipeline/Retention
-- Professional Development for Leaders and Personnel
-- Support for New/Existing Diverse Employees
-- 1890/1862 Relationship – Lessons Learned
-- Best Practices, and Collaboration Between 1862/1994 Institutions
-- Click Here to view/download Power Point
-- Complete Survey at bit.ly/CES-DEI-Survey

USDA’s Forum Building Resilience in Agricultural & Food Systems through Innovative and Strategic Partnerships - Wednesday, February 17, 2021 from 1:00-4:30 pm EST -  Presenters include leaders from USDA, Ag industry and community organizations followed by open Q&A discussion. This forum discussion will highlight how innovative and strategic partnerships between federal, state, local and private partners support the building of resilience in agricultural and food systems, with a focus on food systems and disaster recovery. Held in conjunction with USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum, this Microsoft Teams Live Event is hosted by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area. Click here to register! The link to the event will be provided upon registration.

2021 Renewable Resources Extension Act Programming Webinars - For Extension Directors and Administrators with direct dealings in renewable resources, the Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) Programming website features informative webinars. Coming February 23, 2021 at 1 p.m. (EST), is one that deals with the uncertainty about the future transfer of family forest or rangeland enterprises. To learn more and/or to register, go to https://globalrangelands.org/rreasp/webinars.

Webinar: Applying for NEW AFRI “Education and Workforce Development” Funding on February 26 -  In FY 2021, the AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) applications cover seven areas: agricultural workforce training, professional development for agricultural literacy, training of undergraduate students in research and extension, fellowships for predoctoral candidates, fellowships for postdoctoral scholars, a new program for food and agricultural non-formal education (FANE), and a FY 2021-only program for evaluation of NIFA’s agricultural literacy and workforce development portfolio. 1890, 1994, and 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, and a host of others are eligible to apply. On February 26 from 2-3:00 PM Eastern Time, NIFA staff will provide an overview of 2 New! EWD programs, FANE and Civic Engagement Experience for Youth (CEEY). Learn more/register here.  

2021 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Virtual Conference April 12-13 - Registration is now open for the virtual Extension PILD Conference. PILD is sponsored by JCEP (Joint Council of Extension Professionals) and is conducted by and for Extension professionals. This year’s conference theme is “Building Our Future Together”.  Early registration is available through April 2. Speakers include Dr. Waded Cruzado, President of Montana State University, and Dr. Chuck Hibberd, Extension Dean & Director Emeritus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A special session especially for Extension Directors and Administrators will be organized by the ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee. Through speakers, workshops and panels, participants will learn how to communicate and engage with stakeholders and elected officials in advocating for Extension at the local, state, and national level. Information and registration is available at www.jcep.org/pild.

Urban Ag Event 12/10/2020

The ECOP Monday Minute is on hiatus on November 30^th and returns on December 7^th. Have a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving.

Urban Agriculture: Needs, Opportunities, and Actions - Last Thursday members of the Cooperative Extension Section were personally invited to a Zoom event set for December 10^th, 3-4:00 p.m. ET organized by the Cooperative Extension System/ECOP National Office. A special Thursday edition of  Learning for Leaders is planned to network and engage with a panel of experts who will present multiple strategies that support the sustainable development of commercial and community-focused urban agriculture. ECOP Chair Chris Watkins will moderate the conversation with his colleagues and 2 experts to reveal findings of a NIFA-funded research study and for engaging current opportunities at the state, region, and national levels. To receive complete details and connection information, contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org. 

USDA Ag Outlook Forum in 2021- USDA announced that its 2021 Agricultural Outlook Forum will be a virtual event, and registration will be free. The two-day forum will take place February 18-21. Its theme is “Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience,” and builds on the current administration’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda, launched earlier this year to align USDA’s resources, programs, and research toward the goal of increasing U.S. agricultural production by 40% while cutting the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture in half by 2050. Agricultural Outlook Forum registration ▪ USDA – Agriculture Innovation Agenda




Safety Matters: Cybersecurity Put First for Youth - The FEMA Region 5 (out of Chicago) Regional Youth Preparedness Council is hosting a youth preparedness webinar next Monday, November 23,^rd from 6:00 – 7:00 PM CT. This webinar is open to anyone interested. Please feel free to register for this informational webinar and share with any interested youth or youth-serving organizations in your network. Guest speakers include Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Amanda J. Knutson, Supervisory Special Agent and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Tony Enriquez, Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA) Registration Link: https://fema.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_RXZo2NsNQaulxPijx8euwg



Sustainable Ag Funding Opportunity - Applications to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems program focuses on approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects focused on the themes in the USDA Science Blueprint: sustainable agricultural intensification; agricultural climate adaptation; value-added innovation; and/or food and nutrition translation. These projects are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America. These approaches must demonstrate current needs and anticipate future social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. For more information, read the AFRI SAS funding opportunity.

2018 Public Issues Leadership Development Conference in Review

2018 Joint PILD/4-H Delegations from Oregon and Georgia.
Picture Your Delegation Here in 2019!

Over 290 Extension Administrators, professionals, and volunteers learned how to tell Extension’s story and communicate more effectively with Congressional members and other decision makers at this year’s Joint Council of Extension Professional’s (JCEP) Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference that took place in the Washington, DC area last month. The conference theme was “Cultivating a Climate of Civil Dialogue.” Highlights included a panel on “Cooperative Extension’s Value Proposition” moderated by ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd, Dean and Director of University of Nebraska, updates with NIFA National Program Leaders, as well as a session with two Congressional staffers who provided their perspectives on effectively communicating with members of Congress. Resources from the conference are available at http://jcep.org/public-issues-leadership-development-conference/link-to-2018-pild-presentations. PILD delegates were joined by over 300 4-H youth and their chaperones to coordinate talking points and plans for Congressional visits. Next year’s PILD Conference is scheduled for April 14-17, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA.

National Extension Web Mapping Tool Is Available - With the support of eXtension Foundation, the University of New Hampshire and Virginia Tech have developed a mapping and data exploration tool to assist Cooperative Extension staff and administrators in making strategic planning and programming decisions. The tool, called the National Extension Web-mapping Tool (or NEWT), was released in Beta late last year. No GIS experience is required to use NEWT, which is key in the effort to make spatial data available to a wider audience within Cooperative Extension. The Principal Investigators of the grant which supported the development of NEWT, Shane Bradt, University of New Hampshire, and John McGee, Virginia Tech, would like to get the word out about NEWT and get feedback about the ways in which NEWT could be improved. The relevant information and recent webinars about NEWT can be found at https://www.mapasyst.org/newt.


Sustainable Agricultural Systems Webinars - New in 2018, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) program. SAS promotes the sustainable supply of abundant, affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible food and other agricultural products, while enhancing economic opportunities and improving the long-term health and well-being of all Americans. The program requires a Letter of Intent, due June 27, 2018, after which applications are due October 10, 2018. Approximately $80 million will be available to fund non-renewable grants up to $10 million for fully integrated (including research, education, and extension) Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs) and Strengthening CAPs using transdisciplinary approaches. NIFA will present an AFRI Sustainable Agriculture Systems webinar on May 23rd. Go to https://nifa.usda.gov/event/webinar-afri-sustainable-agricultural-systems-may23 to learn more.

TEConomy Capacity Funding Report Released

USDA-NIFA commissioned a study by TEConomy Partners, LLC www.teconomypartners.com to examine the value of capacity funds that provide resources for Extension and research in agriculture, natural resources and community/family/youth development. The report highlights the findings of this research and can be summarized in three points stating that Capacity funds
    a) result in relationship building and partnerships that lead to change in behaviors for agriculture, communities, families and individuals,
    b) provide the infrastructure and the stable, ongoing source of funding to enable quick response, drawing form the land-grant research base, to address issues important to communicating, families and individuals in every corner of the country, and
    c) are leveraged by state and local funds as well as a wealth of additional financial and human resources that results in a high return on the federal investment.
The detailed study highlights can be found at bit.ly/CapFunding_HL, and the link to the full report can be found at bit.ly/2osfr4M.


Awards Q&A -
    WHAT? 2 Awards! The Award for Diversity is designed to focus national attention on innovative models and techniques that ensure that Extension programs equitably engage all appropriate audiences in an effective manner. The Excellence in Extension Award recognizes Cooperative Extension professionals who excel at Extension programming, make a positive impact on constituents served, and provide visionary leadership for the System.
    WHEN? Submit nominations by May 1
    HOW? Go to: www.aplu.org/CESAwards
    WHO? Direct questions to ECOP Program Assistant Sandy Ruble 202.478.6088 or sandyruble@extension.org.

Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska

Building Bridges For Energy Programming - ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt addressed National Extension Energy Summit attendees on April 4, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The biennial Summit is intended to enhance the sharing of ideas and programs among Extension educators. Dr. Schlutt spoke about recent discussions with the US Department of Energy (DOE) over how to expand linkages with Cooperative Extension, especially at the state level with Land-grant Universities. He asked meeting participants to work with ECOP to develop a list of national needs and program priorities to be shared in conversations with potential partners. Discussions are planned with members of the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professional (ANREP) National Extension Energy Initiative, many of whom were in attendance at the Summit, to organize the collection of the needs and priorities.

L-R: Judith Barth, JCEP rep. to ECOP-BLC; Jim Richards,
Cornerstone Government Affairs; Doug Steele ECOP-BLC
Chair, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and ECOP Executive
Director Rick Klemme. Not pictured, ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt.

Educating and Advocating on Behalf of the System - Nearly 300 extension professionals, administrators and volunteers met last week in Crystal City at the annual Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) annual Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) conference. ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt presented an overview of Cooperative Extension including an update on the One-ask Proposal and an overview of the TEConomy capacity funding report. ECOP-Budget & Legislative Committee (BLC) Chair Doug Steele led an information session, National Leadership: Partnerships and Advocacy in Action, for Directors and Administrators. The conference culminated with Hill visits on Wednesday morning.


AFRI Foundational: Critical Agricultural Research and Extension - AFRI-CARE is designed to support research and Extension efforts that quickly yield solutions for critical programs that impede the efficient production of agriculturally-important plants and animals that can be rapidly implemented by producers. The application deadline will be summer-fall of 2017. Roughly $3 million will be available to fund proposals with an estimated capacity of $300,000. A webinar will be held on May 2 at 1:00 E.T. The webinar address is http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/afri-care/. Olivia Kwong olivia.kwong@nifa.usda.gov or 202-720-7536 is the webinar contact person.

See You in Wyoming!

Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware

ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, announces the agenda https://goo.gl/XI1xQA for the annual meeting of the Cooperative Extension Section (CES)/National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Wednesday morning, September 21, 2016 at Jackson Lake Lodge, Wyoming. In addition to brief updates on ECOP national leadership priorities, the meeting is designed to engage Extension directors/administrators in discussion and decision-making. Note the links to supporting documents on innovation, the Extension health agenda, National 4-H Council Board of Trustees, and the SNAP-Ed Program Development Team. Throughout the meeting participants will be asked to use mobile devices (e.g. smart phone, laptops) to provide your opinion or vote. In the case of the SNAP-ED Program Development Team, you will be asked to vote on continued investments in this work via assessments to Extension in institutions receiving SNAP-Ed funding. If you are not able to attend the meeting in person and have comment about any of the agenda items, please send them to Rodgers mrodgers@udel.edu with a copy to ECOP Executive Director Jane Schuchardt jane.schuchardt@extension.org by 9.19.16. The CES/NEDA meeting is joint with the Experiment Station Section. See http://goo.gl/c9WM74 for the full agenda. 

Building a Culture of Health: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Grant Update – For the last year, leaders from Cooperative Extension, USDA-NIFA, National 4-H Council, and the RWJF together with 4-H members have been exploring a potential partnership to impact Americans' health within communities throughout the United States. This important work will continue this fall with the help of a second planning grant. The start-up phase (September 2016-April 2017) will be dedicated to designing a systems approach and organization for implementation while testing tools and support systems to begin activating the Extension-RWJF partnership in 2017. States will have the opportunity to determine readiness to participate and opt into the partnership. For more information, click here. 

4-H Youth in Action Awards Webinar 9.14.16 – National 4-H Council is accepting applications for the 2017 4-H Youth in Action Awards to be presented at the eighth annual Legacy Awards in Washington, D.C. on March 21. The 2017 awards will recognize one remarkable 4-Her within each pillar area: agriculture, citizenship, healthy living, and STEM. Each of the four 4-H Youth in Action Awards pillar winners will receive a $5,000 scholarship for higher education, an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to be recognized at the Legacy Awards and a shopping experience to select attire for the event. A 2017 4-H National Youth in Action winner also will be selected and given an additional $5,000 scholarship. The application deadline is 10.24.16. To find out more, join the webinar 11 a.m., ET, 9.14.16. Click here to register To apply, go to www.4-h.org/youthinaction. Direct questions to YouthinAction@4-H.org. 

Extension Urban Programming Webinars – The Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research announces two webinars. The first at 3:00 p.m. ET, 9.22.16, is on Urban Communities Re-Imagined, a multi-region, multi-state project funded by the Kettering Foundation. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9183739417566395650. A second webinar on Leadership in the City is 3:00 p.m. ET, 9.29.16. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7742191711828300803. For more information visit: http://metroextension.wsu.edu/. Extension urban programming is an emphasis area for ECOP national leadership this year. 

Final Rule on AFRI with Request for Comments – USDA-NIFA is soliciting comments on its final rule on a revision of the general administrative guidelines applicable to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grant program. The solicitation appeared in the Federal Register (81 FR 58809, August 26, 2016) and can be found at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-08-26/pdf/2016-18422.pdf. The comment deadline is 9.26.16.

ECOP to Name Social Media Associate

ECOP to Name Social Media Associate – Extension Directors and Administrators are asked to encourage applications for an ECOP Social Media Associate. This one-year assignment is designed to augment the national social media presence established during the Cooperative Extension centennial in 2014. Details are at http://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5665. The application deadline is 1.16.15.

Centennial Celebration Social Media Milestone – In 2014, the ECOP Extension Centennial Committee promoted events related to the anniversary through social media. The Facebook page www.facebook.com/Extension100Years recently passed 5,000 Likes. There were an average of 12 posts per week and a weekly average reach of close to 20,000 with several spikes of more than 100,000. The posts included vintage and contemporary imagery as well as impact stories. The most popular posts were related to farming, local foods, and 4-H. Bill Woodrum, former Extension associate administrator, led the social media effort as well as assisted with other efforts of the Centennial Committee. His report is at http://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5664. ECOP thanks everyone who participated in a terrific celebration and helped to position Cooperative Extension for a new century of innovative excellence.

ECOP Releases 2015 Infographic – See http://bit.ly/2015ECOP for ECOP’s new handout Extending Knowledge, Changing Lives: A New Century of Engagement. It features impact statements, a summary of what Extension does and how to learn more, and a special focus on the 125th anniversary of 1890 land-grant universities. Editing and production was provided by Louisiana State University AgCenter.

ECOP/ESCOP Chairs Visit DC Colleagues – ECOP Chair Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, and ESCOP Chair Bob Shulstad, University of Georgia, continued joint efforts to build strategic partnerships and advance understanding about Experiment Station research and Cooperative Extension education. In mid-December 2014, Foster and Shulstad visited USDA colleagues Cathy Woteki, REE Undersecretary, and Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA Director. Additional discussions occurred with Randy Johnson, USDA Climate Hubs Leader, and Cornerstone Government Affairs and kglobal colleagues. A separate Extension meeting occurred with USDA-FSA colleagues including the new administrator, Val Dolcini.

APLU Annual Meeting Early Bird Registration – You have until 1.19.15 to get the early bird discount for the 2015 APLU Annual Meeting November 15-17 in Indianapolis. To register, go to www.cvent.com/d/hrq7hn.

AFRI Report Released – The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is NIFA’s premier agricultural competitive grants program. It is a tool for funding research, education, and Extension projects that bring practical solutions to societal challenges. NIFA recently released the 2012 AFRI Annual Synopsis Overview that includes the number of applications, awards, and total dollars awarded for each AFRI program by area. The synopsis also includes characteristics of AFRI peer review panelists and number of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral jobs that were provided by AFRI awards. Several research impacts show how these grant programs continue to solve societal challenges.

ECOP Monday Minute 7.29.13

ECOP Meets in Manhattan – ECOP Chair Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University, welcomed ECOP members to Manhattan last week for the Joint COPs meeting. Among key ECOP actions were naming of a work group to review assessments, accepting a report of the eXtension external review, considering renewal of contracts related to work of the Communications and Marketing Committee, and approving a National 4-H Partners Memorandum of Understanding for signature. Watch the ECOP Monday Minute for further details.

ACTION: Comment on AFRI – The National Research Council, which is reviewing the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), is conducting a web-based solicitation to seek input broadly from research, academic and Extension leadership. Go to http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1257840/AFRI-Solicitation-of-Input to participate. The deadline is August 15, 2013. Comments in the letter sent by ECOP for the AFRI listening session in early 2012 may be helpful.

ECOP Comments on AFRI Water Challenge Area – See https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=4662 for the ECOP letter sent to USDA-NIFA regarding the proposed new AFRI challenge area on water resources for FY 2014. Others are encouraged to submit written comments which are due July 30, 2013.  For the Federal Register announcement (July 8, 2013, Vol. 78, No. 130, p. 40689), go to http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-08/html/2013-16204.htm.

Align and Elevate Project Update – A summary for the Aligning and Elevating University-Based Low-Income Nutrition Education project may be accessed at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=4660. This project is funded by USDA-NIFA in support of land-grant university EFNEP and SNAP-Ed efforts. ECOP members Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, and Mary Jane Willis, Rutgers University, attended the meeting in April 2013 in Washington, DC.

4-H Horizons Newsletter – See https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=4661 for the Horizons newsletter (summer edition) from USDA-NIFA.

ECOP Monday Minute 7.15.13

Galaxy IV Early Registration Ends Today – If you plan to join the launch of the Extension Centennial Celebration, co-chaired by ECOP member Bill Woodrum, West Virginia State University, and Frankie Gould, Louisiana AgriLife, taking place at the JCEP Galaxy IV Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, September 16-20, 2013, the reduced rate for early registration at Galaxy ends today. See details by clicking here.

Comment on AFRI Water Challenge Area – USDA-NIFA announces a web-based listening session on the proposed new AFRI challenge area on water resources for FY 2014. The session, 1-3 p.m. ET, Tuesday, July 16, 2013, can be viewed at http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/afri-water/ or heard by conference call at 888.858.2144, code 1512861#. ECOP Chair Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University, will provide comment on behalf of Cooperative Extension. Others are encouraged to participate to carry the Cooperative Extension message and can reserve a five-minute slot by contacting Terri Joya at 202.401.1782 or tjoya@nifa.usda.gov. Written comments are due July 30, 2013. For the Federal Register announcement (July 8, 2013, Vol. 78, No. 130, p. 40689), go to http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-08/html/2013-16204.htm.

ECOP to Convene at Joint COPs – Chair Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University, convenes ECOP as part of the Joint COPs meeting next week in Manhattan, KS. Included on the national leadership agenda is the external evaluation of eXtension, regional scans, efforts to enhance capacity funding, and actions of the ECOP 4-H Implementation Team, the National Task Force on Health, and the Extension Centennial Task Force.

EDEN Provides Swine Flu Alert – ECOP liaison to the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Nick Place, University of Florida, reminds those involved with county and state fairs to be aware of recent outbreaks of swine flu (influenza H3N2v or variant H3N2) and encourage 4-H exhibitors and attendees to take precautions. See the EDEN Swine Influenza Topic Page for details.

4-H Policy Statement – See https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=4640 for USDA-NIFA’s policy statement on international positive youth development and the use of the 4-H Name and Emblem.

USDA-NIFA Releases Impacts –  The new publication, 2008 Farm Bill - Making an Impact through NIFA, is available at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/pdfs/farm_bill_2013.pdf.