eXtension Announces Fellowships

Applications are now being accepted for four eXtension fellowships offered in partnership with USDA-NIFA. Three of the fellowships are for developing innovations for application in the Cooperative Extension System. The fourth is a new fellowship offered in partnership with GODAN (Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition) to focus on applied innovation in the access and use of open data linking research and U.S. Cooperative Extension information. Deadline for applications is July 7, 2016. For details, see https://extension.org/2016/06/09/new-fellowship-opportunities/. 

USDA-NIFA Releases Results of State Energy Extension Partnership – Promoting an Energy Efficient America with Outreach Education is a new infographic released by USDA-NIFA. It highlights State Energy Extension Partnership projects at the Universities of Nebraska, Kentucky and Wisconsin, the Colorado Energy Master Program, and the Montana State University and University of Wyoming’s E³A Program. View the infographic as part of the series at NIFA’s Flickr site. 

Funding Opportunity – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces funding for programs to reduce obesity in targeted areas. Cooperative Extension in states with high obesity rate counties (adult obesity prevalence of more than 40 percent) are eligible to apply by the August 2, 2016 deadline. Funding will support intervention strategies through existing Cooperative Extension and outreach services at the county level to improve physical activity and nutrition, reduce obesity, and prevent and control diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. For details, see http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=284395. 

SNAP-ED Program Development Team (PDT) Update – For more information on the work of the PDT, funded by assessments to universities participating in SNAP-ED, see http://articles.extension.org/pages/73812/2016-snap-ed-program-development-team-meeting. A national report on SNAP-Ed provided by land-grant universities is in process. 

Reaching Urban Veterans Through Urban Horticulture – Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6124637483114134785 for the 3:00 p.m. ET webinar 6.21.16 describing a structured learning environment to introduce unemployed or underemployed U.S. military veterans to urban agriculture, aquaponics and organic land care as career options. Veterans are encouraged to become business owners in their communities through entrepreneurship training in collaboration with the Rutgers-Newark School of Business. This webinar is part of a series provided by the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research and aligns with a 2016 ECOP goal on urban programming. 

USDA-NIFA Equipment Prior Approval Webinars This Week – USDA-NIFA Office of Grants and financial Management will host webinars June 15 and 16, 2016 to get feedback from capacity fund recipients on prior approval requirements for equipment purchases. Among capacity funds to be addressed are 1890 Research and Extension and Smith-Lever. The prior approval for equipment requirements are located in OMB’s Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.407. The definition of equipment is located at 2 CFR 200.33. The two sessions are each about 45 minutes and are identical. To connect at 10:00 a.m. ET on 6.15.16, go to http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/equipmentcapacity/ or dial 877-369-5243 or 617-668-3633, Access Code: 0776001#. For the 1:00 p.m. ET, 6.16.16 session, go to http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/equipmentcapacity/ or dial 877-369-5243 or 617-668-3633 Access Code: 0470116#.

10.6.14 - State Energy Extension Partnership (SEEP) Strategy Session

State Energy Extension Partnership (SEEP) Strategy Session – Coordinated by Beverly Samuel, USDA-NIFA National Program Leader, representatives from USDA-NIFA, USDA-Rural Development (RD), U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), Cooperative Extension, and APLU met in DC last week to set priorities for the coming year. A Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by USDA-REE, USDA-RD, and DoE in October 2012 designates intentional educational collaboration by the partners in order to encourage efficient use of energy by individuals, communities, government and business in the United States. To get notices of funding, webinars, and other opportunities related to energy education, Cooperative Extension educators are encouraged to join the NIFA Energy listserv by e-mailing a request to Beverly Samuel at bsamuel@nifa.usda.gov. Additional questions about SEEP can also be directed to her. 

Kress Represents Extension at Civic Science Workshop – Civic Science: Re-framing the Role of Science in Society was the theme of a two-day workshop at the National Science Foundation last week in Arlington, VA. Cathann Kress, Iowa State University, together with Jane Schuchardt, ECOP National Office, represented Cooperative Extension at the session focused on citizens as co-creators of a democratic society. Discussions centered on the definition, best practices, and challenges to research and application where scientists and lay citizens work together to build respect, enhance capacities to act, and generate positive public outcomes. Significant discussion centered on the legacy and potential of Cooperative Extension to engage in this work. Kress will keep Directors/Administrators informed as the discussions progress, including distribution of a white paper now under development. For more information see www.civic-science.org.

President Commemorates Extension Centennial – President Barack Obama has provided a message in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act. Signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established America’s Cooperative Extension System. 

UConn Extension Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Smith-Lever Act – On 9.19.14, more than 300 guests gathered to celebrate a century of leadership and service by UConn Extension. Jennifer Riggs, a dedicated Extension volunteer, and Gregory Weidemann, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, co-hosted the evening’s events. Guests were treated to dinner featuring locally-sourced wine, cheese, vegetables, seafood, and poultry. Congressman Joe Courtney and Senator Richard Blumenthal provided remarks prior to dinner. A short video documented UConn Extension’s contributions around the state. The evening also included a congratulatory video from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and a Proclamation from Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy. Dinner concluded with Centennial Crunch ice cream, an award-winning flavor created specifically for the centennial celebration. 

Health Conference Call for Proposals – The National Health Outreach Conference Planning Committee is now accepting proposals through 10.31.14 for the 2015 National Health Outreach Conference Promoting Connections to Create Healthy Individuals, Families and Communities May 6-8, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. Visit the National Health Outreach Conference website www.nationalhealthoutreach.org or the Call for Proposal website http://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/2015-national-health-outreach-conference for details. 

USDA-NIFA Listening Sessions for Children, Youth Families-at-Risk (CYFAR) – Stakeholder listening sessions about the FY 2015 CYFAR Sustainable Communities Project will be 3:00 p.m. ET, 10.28.14 and 2:00 p.m. ET 10.29.14. Registration is required by 10.27.14 at http://2015cyfarstakeholderlisteningsession.eventbrite.com. Webinar login information, background information on CYFAR, and a list of questions that will be asked during the session will be sent to registrants. Participation will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are unable to register, you may send an email to cyfar@nifa.usda.gov to be placed on the waiting list.

ECOP Monday Minute 3.11.2013

See You in San Antonio -- Nearly all of the 75 institutions in the Cooperative Extension Section will be represented at the National Extension Directors and Administrators Meeting next week. With the theme “Strong Partnerships, Sustainable Resources” this an opportunity to learn of the significant national leadership ECOP provides while benefiting from interaction with colleagues.

Save the Date NEDA 2014 --  The National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting and the National eXtension Conference (NeXC) will be held jointly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the week of March 24, 2014. These two events will highlight shared programming and independent business meetings and networking. NEDA will begin Monday evening with a reception and continue through midday Wednesday. ECOP will meet Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. Watch the ECOP Monday Minute for further details.

ECOP-ESCOP Take Joint Message to DC -- In late February, Daryl Buchholz, ECOP Chair, and Mike Hoffman, ESCOP Chair, attended a series of meetings with USDA-NIFA, USDA Research, Education and Economics, and others to carry the joint message of CES and AES research to application and the need to maintain federal capacity funds. On the agenda was a seminar for USDA-NIFA national program leaders and administrators on “Knowledge with a Public Purpose: How Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Experiment Stations Work Together.” Presentation slides are at http://www.nera.umd.edu/escop/USDANIFASeminarPPT.pdf.

State Energy Extension Partnership Announced -- The Departments of Agriculture and Energy announces a new collaboration -- the State Energy Extension Partnership -- to equip America’s farm families and rural small businesses with the efficiency tools, resources and training needed to reduce energy costs. This effort couples the Energy Department’s energy efficiency expertise with USDA Rural Development programs and Cooperative Extension learning strategies. The intent is to deliver expert financial and technical assistance across a network of state energy offices and land-grant universities that touch nearly every county. Read more at http://energy.gov/articles/energy-department-and-usda-partner-support-energy-efficiency-rural-communities.

Strategy Session Ahead for 4-H  (by Lisa Lauxman, USDA-NIFA) -- USDA-NIFA 4-H National Headquarters and the National 4-H Council will host a meeting April 2-5, 2013, at the 4-H Center, Washington, D.C. Together with the Public Private Partnership (P3WG) composed of state 4-H program leaders and Extension directors and the Program Management Committee members of the three Mission Mandates, the goal is to develop a 4-H logic model, vision, strategic direction, and an opportunity to merge and meld the mission mandates.