Resources Shared on Inclusivity in 4-H Programs

ECOP Monday Minute will return on June 4, 2018. Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend!

On May 18 ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd and Chair-elect Ed Jones moderated a conversation with Extension Directors and Administrators with a panel of Land-grant experts.

• Joining Ed Jones, Kay Heidbreder, University Legal Counsel, Virginia Tech
• Glenda Humiston, Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, and joining Glenda was Katherine Soule, Extension Director for SLO & SB Counties & Youth, Families & Communities Advisor
• ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Co-chair Andy Turner, State Leader for the 4-H Youth Development Program, Cornell University, and joining Andy was Melissa Schroeder, Youth and Family Leader, Schuyler County, and Eduardo Gonzalez, Jr. Statewide Diversity Specialist

Click Here to download resources from the conversation.
The link to the recorded presentation is provided below. Comments and questions are welcome at ecopblog@gmail.com.



Act Promptly: Extension System Addresses the Opioid Crisis - The Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup is charged by ECOP to develop a nationwide strategic framework to help position the Land-grant system to address the opioid crisis. There are 2 sets of activities in motion:

1. Develop a broader strategic framework for Extension activities in the behavioral health arena. Last week Directors and Administrators were invited to either complete the 15-minute “Extension Behavioral Health Survey” https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5prkLpgveAo0aTH or share the survey link with the most knowledgeable behavioral health person in their organization. This survey is due by close of business on Wednesday, May 30.
2. Provide Extension substance abuse program resources that can be quickly expanded across state lines. From May 24 through June 1, a series of webinars have been designed to share information about these programs. To learn more about either joining the webinars live, viewing the recordings, or offering assessment of the programs go to http://www.canr.msu.edu/ncrcrd/projects/opioid-programming. 

Direct questions/concerns to Workgroup Coordinator Mark Skidmore, mskidmor@msu.edu or Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director Rick Klemme rickklemme@extension.org.

Culture of Health Opportunities in 2019 Webinar June 6 - National 4-H Council, in partnership with the groundbreaking health initiatives of the America's Cooperative Extension System, is helping to drive transformational change to create a Culture of Health across 1,000 communities in America over the next 10 years. The overarching strategy of the Well-Connected Communities initiative is governed by a combination of sustainable structure, leadership tools and training intended to emphasize the power of communities organizing to lead change. Learn more about the Well-Connected Communities initiative and future funding opportunities by participating in the following webinar.  
   Readiness for Well-Connected Communities - https://extension.zoom.us/j/825414633
   June 6, 2018 Time: 1-2 pm EST
   Audience: Land-grant institutions interested in Wave 2 of change makers (2019)


Economic Research Service Highlighted - USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) anticipates trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment, and rural America and conducts high-quality, objective economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making. ERS research and statistics serve those who routinely make or influence these decisions – White House and USDA policy officials, the U.S. Congress, program administrators/managers, Federal agencies, State and local governments, private agribusinesses, and farm and industry groups. All ERS information can be found at www.ers.usda.gov, including ERS research and outlook reports, Amber Waves magazine, data visualizations and data products. For recent research highlights, see ERS’s FY 2017 Annual Report: Illuminating the Issues: How ERS Research Informs Decisions. Stakeholders can stay apprised of what’s new at ERS by signing up for weekly e-mail updates or by following @USDA_ERS on Twitter.

ECOP Summer Meeting Highlights

ECOP members and guests step outdoors at Kananaskis Village, Alberta, Canada

ECOP met for a day and a half at the annual JointCOPs meeting last week that was held in conjunction with APLU Commission on International Initiatives. Agenda topics included

• funding opportunities for Extension,
• Ag and other organization relationships,
• 4-H Leadership Committee work,
• NIFA updates (Q&A on Calls to Conversation Meeting Series, time & effort reporting),
• budget advocacy and call to action challenges, and 
• nutrition education. 

Through a process undertaken by Chair-elect Chuck Hibberd, ECOP, the Board of Directors for the Board on Agriculture Assembly’s Cooperative Extension Section (CES) is learning what topics are most important to Directors and Administrators. Each of from this list warrant recognition in the ECOP Monday Minute. Stay tuned for more details.


Rural Broadband Resources - Access to broadband remains a significant economic and community challenge across the country, particularly in rural areas. ECOP recognizes the need to support Extension’s education efforts, and we have had conversations with the Regional Rural Development Centers and NIFA. In a recent webinar it was discovered that BroadbandUSA was developed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to provide assistance to stakeholders (government, industry, nonprofit) that want to expand their broadband capacity and promote broadband adoption. It provides technical assistance, publications and a connectivity assessment capacity. See https://www2.ntia.doc.gov/ for more information. You can join their mailing list by sending a request to BroadbandUSA@ntia.doc.gov.


Breakthroughs 2030 Input Opportunity - The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are pleased to announce Science Breakthroughs 2030: A Strategy for Food and Agricultural Research, a new study to identify ambitious scientific opportunities in food and agriculture made possible by incorporating knowledge and tools from across the science and engineering spectrum. The year-long project will involve the scientific community in describing research directions with high potential to open new frontiers for food and agriculture science. The study needs input from scientists of all disciplinary backgrounds to understand where opportunities are emerging. The public is also invited to contribute to the Breakthroughs discussion. Go to the Community Input page to find out how you can share your ideas in an IdeaBuzz framework. An in person and webinar-based town Hall will be held at the National Academy of Science Building in Washington, DC on August 8, 2017 to discuss ideas and white pages submitted to the IdeaBuzz discussion platform. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-breakthroughs-2030-town-hall-tickets-36195982157 to register.


Economics Research Service’s Report Reveals Extensive Work - A new ERS accomplishment report is posted at https://www.ers.usda.gov/about-ers/plans-and-accomplishments/ers-annual-report-fy-2016/. The report provides specific accomplishments across the ERS program from the agricultural economy, global markets and trade, nutrition and food safety, resources and environment, and the rural economy. In addition, there’s an overview of how ERS adds value to the numbers through our integrated program of statistics, outlook, and research.


Biosecurity to Protect America’s Food and Agricultural System - Tactical science programs protect the integrity, reliability, sustainability, and profitability of the U.S. food and agricultural system against threats from pests, diseases, contaminants, and disasters. It is necessary to mitigate the threats posed by these foreign and emerging constraints to our nation’s economy and food supply. NIFA is committed to supporting programs that provide readily available, science-based tactics to help prevent, prepare for, detect, respond to, and recover from known and emerging threats. Click here to view the infographic.