Census of Agriculture Response by June 30

From the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Extension Directors and Administrators are reminded that the 2022 Census of Agriculture is about people. Every survey response is essential by June 30, 2022. Ag census data informs policy, research, assistance programs, ag education, community development, and countless more decisions that ultimately affect farms and communities. From cattle ranchers to greenhouse and backyard growers and urban farmers to producers working thousands of acres, every ag producer needs to be represented. The ag census is a producers' voice, future, and opportunity. Find Partner Tools (i.e. brochures, FAQs, flyers, ads, website banners, etc.) for this Sign-Up to Be Counted phase and more on the NASS census page. Please check there regularly for additional/updated products. Contact: Jodi.halvorson@usda.gov.



Affordable Connectivity Program - As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, President Biden and Vice President Harris worked with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to create the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households $30/month off their internet bills, or $75/month on Tribal lands. To deliver maximum cost savings to families, the current administration has secured commitments from 20 leading internet providers to offer ACP-eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30 per month. Eligible families who pair their ACP benefit with one of these plans can receive high-speed internet at no cost. Fact sheet is available here and outreach materials are available at GetInternet.Gov



Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments Proposed Rule - Almost a year ago USDA announced that it would begin work on three proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act, the law that protects poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in livestock markets. Recently, Secretary Vilsack announced that the first of the three priority regulatory initiatives, the Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments proposed rule will be released. The proposed rule would revise the list of disclosures and information live poultry dealers (integrators) must furnish to contract poultry growers. The proposal would establish additional disclosure requirements in connection with the use of poultry grower ranking systems (tournaments) by live poultry dealers to determine settlement payments for poultry growers. The proposed rule is intended to promote transparency in poultry production contracting and to give poultry growers and prospective poultry growers relevant information with which to make business decisions. One of the disclosures in the proposed rule requires live poultry dealers to supply the contact information for the state university Extension service office or the county farm advisor’s office that can provide relevant information to the current or prospective poultry grower about grower costs and poultry farm financial management in the grower’s geographic area. A link to the proposed rule can be found here on the USDA website: Poultry Transparency proposed rule.



Food Supply Chain and Food System News from USDA - USDA announced details of a framework to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new, more, and better markets for small and mid-size producers. The announcement also provides additional details on the June 2021 announcement to strengthen critical supply chains and address longstanding structural challenges that were revealed and intensified by the pandemic.



Free Online Social Justice Courses and Discussions Available - The 2022 Military Family Readiness Academy series focuses on individuals’ understanding of social justice and equity, including their own understanding of privilege and oppression. Three asynchronous courses and two panel discussions will equip family service providers with the skills to identify barriers that impact a family’s health and well-being and identify opportunities for social justice advocacy in their work. The Academy series will address the intersections between engaging a social justice mindset as a family service professional and the ability to support the well-being of diverse military families. Enrollment information can be found here.

History Travels to a New Home

Special publications of the 100+ years history of Extension are packed, labeled and ready to move to a new home. The collection has been headquartered at APLU was packed by Executive Director Caroline (Crocoll) Henney and Assistant Director Sandy Ruble last month. According to authorities from the President's Office, the boxes shown here will be temporarily transferred to storage before landing at its permanent location at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. To learn more about the volumes of history click here or contact Sandy at sandyruble@extension.org.  

American Connection Project Interactive Wi-Fi Map Available - Several partner organizations have announced the launch of the American Connection Project (ACP) interactive Wi-Fi map https://www.americanconnection.io. The map provides a free resource to help the public locate more than 2,300 free Wi-Fi locations across 49 U.S. states. The map includes Wi-Fi locations from Land O’Lakes, Inc. and its ag retail owner network, along with several partner organizations including National 4-H Council and Cooperative Extension (providing half the locations), and many other corporations. The Wi-Fi map is an extension of efforts undertaken by the American Connection Project to drive meaningful progress toward closing the digital divide to create opportunities and reduce digital inequality for rural and urban communities in the United States. The map is designed to provide immediate but temporary access for those people who lack access to the internet today. Throughout the next several months, additional locations will be added to the map. 



Use Links to Register Today! 

• A Community of Scholars Celebrating Excellence: Cooperative Extension and Research Awards Presentation and Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecture.
  Wednesday, October 28, 2020, 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM Eastern Time. 
  
  
• Learning for Leaders Special Event - Leading Through Crisis and Uncertainty - Friday, November 6, 2020, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Registration is free and required by close of business November 1, 2020. This session will not be recorded. Feel free to share this opportunity with Extension Director and Administrator leadership teams.
  
  This special event has great potential to understand today's challenges and provide tools to minimize negative impacts and maximize psychosocial adaptability, resilience and the potential for post-traumatic growth. Topics that will be covered: Understanding COVID-19 from a Psychosocial Lens; Reimagining, Redesigning and Reconstructing Work; Social Neuroscience: Threat, Our Brains and Relationships; Adaptive & Agile Management Strategies to Protect Health & Well-Being; and Strategies and Tools for Adaptability, Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth. 

Action Plan for Brand New Strategic Directions

Each year, the ECOP Chair establishes goals for their 1-year term. 2020-2021 Chair, Chris Watkins from Cornell University states, "My vision as Chair of the Board on Agriculture Assembly Cooperative Extension Section is to ensure that the ECOP Strategic Directions is a living document. The Strategic Direction document will will ECOP to enhance its relevance to Members of the Section, and provides outcomes for the Cooperative Extension System that advance delivery of evidence-based education to all." Find the Action Plan Overview here and stay tuned for the release of the full plan which details the action steps to be taken. 

2020 APLU Annual Meeting Registration Now Open - For the first time in its 133-year history, the APLU Annual Meeting with the theme Resilience & Equity will be held virtually, from November 9-11, 2020. According to APLU President Peter McPherson, while the world is rapidly changing, the APLU Annual Meeting is still here to provide higher education leaders with an opportunity to strengthen our community with opportunities to share best practices and strategies and make lasting connections with colleagues from across North America. Click Here for the Cooperative Extension Section’s Guide to APLU/FANR Events which includes links to register for the APLU Annual meeting.  

County Connectivity Landscape Dashboard - COVID-19 has sped the adoption of virtual programming in Cooperative Extension across the nation and has highlighted a need for information about connectivity at the county level for use in planning virtual programs. A new tool developed by a team at Purdue University may help. With funding backed by the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) cooperative agreement with USDA-NIFA through Oklahoma State University, the team received a grant from eXtension to create a County Connectivity Landscape Dashboard to help inform Cooperative Extension professionals as they plan online programming and outreach methods. Users can quickly identify a range of county-level statistics. Learn more here.



Webinar on Social Determinants of Health in Rural Populations - Social determinants of health are defined by the World Health Organization as "the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age." For rural populations, many of these conditions are not conducive to achieving optimum health and well-being. Building on work conducted by the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, this presentation will review some of the key elements associated with health across rural White and minority populations, such as education, income, and health facility availability. Join Jan Probst, PhD, of the Rural and Minority Research Center for a deep dive into how social determinants are influencing rural health on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 1:00 PM Eastern. For more information, visit https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/webinars/sdoh-in-rural-populations.



CECE Enhances Online Communications - The Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) was established to lead and coordinate APLU's mission pillar of "expanding engagement." CECE convenes senior university economic development and community engagement administrations, presidents and chancellors, provosts, senior research officers, Cooperative Extension leaders, communications and government affairs administrators, and others across APLU member universities and university systems across North America who maintain responsibility for planning, executing, or communicating their institution’s work in economic development and public engagement. A new opt-in Listserv platform is available to CECE members to share resources, opportunities, and relevant news directly with one another. To become a member of CECE and opt-in on the ListServ at no cost, complete this form today.

A Leader's Guide to Natural Disasters In Review

Extension Directors and Administrators from the 5 regions of the Cooperative Extension Section participated in last Friday's Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders', A Leader's Guide to Natural Disasters. Nick Place, University of Florida Dean and Director of Extension and ECOP's Liaison to the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Executive Committee, guided the conversation. To explore how Florida's Extension leaders leveraged EDEN resources to reduce the impact of Hurricanes Michael and Irma and how Nebraska Extension leaders are relying on EDEN to lift up volunteer centers to help relieve the effects of the recent "bomb cyclone" related flooding, go to recording go to https://youtu.be/XJefcUoKujc and view the PowerPoint. ECOP thanks all of the presenters and participants for demonstrating how federal, state, community, and land-grant university post-disaster resources are linked to a proactively well-prepared Extension workforce. Stay tuned for the release of EDEN's new website and quarterly newsletter. Save the date of 5/3/19, 3-4:00 p.m. ET for the next CES conversation; the topic is Well Connected Communities, Wave 2.

ECOP Meets This Week - The the representative leadership of the  Cooperative Extension Section is meeting this week, April 11-12 in Blacksburg, Virginia. Ed Jones, Chair and host, will lead the meeting of national decision-makers; 3 representatives from each region. National office staffing 2020 and beyond, resource and partnership development, and the futuring of Extension are the featured agenda items. Click here to view the complete agenda and collection of written reports. Stay tuned when next week's ECOP Monday Minute will feature the actions taken during the meeting. The ECOP Calendar lists the remaining meetings of 2019. Send agenda inquiries to your ECOP Representative or to Executive Director Rick Klemme at rickklemme@extension.org.



Countdown to Award Nominations Continues - Remember to move the nominations along for the National Cooperative Extension Awards. Only about 15 working days left to submit. The deadline is 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, May 1, 2019. Go to www.aplu.org/CESawards or contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for more information.

The 4‑H club in Quincy, Washington gathering data from their peers,
parents, teachers and community members to help them determine how
they want to pursue digital skills training in their communities.
Click Here for more examples.

4-H and Microsoft Bridging the Digital Divide through 4-H Tech Changemakers - According to the Federal Communications Commission at least 24 million people in America’s rural communities don’t have access to high speed broadband internet, and millions more lack the digital skills needed to utilize this important tool. National 4-H Council and Microsoft, in partnership with the Southern Rural Development Center, the National Digital Education Extension Team and Cooperative Extension, including Georgia 4-H, are working together to help teens address this issue through the 4-H Tech Changemakers program. In this program, 4-H teens in 15 states are working with their communities to identify local needs and create action plans for using digital skills to help people thrive in a digital economy and benefit from high-speed connectivity. This summer Tech Changemakers stories along with materials for teaching your communities and 4-H’ers digital skills will be shared through the 4-H.org website and other platforms. For more information please contact Jennifer DePasquale at National 4-H Council at jdepasquale@fourhcouncil.edu.


Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program) - Recently Acting Assistant to Agriculture Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley announced that USDA Rural Development will begin accepting the first round of application for the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program) on April 23, 2019. USDA is making available up to $200 million in grants, $200 million in loan and grant combinations, and $200 million in low-interest loans. Use the link https://www.usda.gov/reconnect to note deadlines, learn more and to apply.

eXtension Website Redesign

eXtension has launched a redesigned version of its website. The new design provides greater clarity to the mission of eXtension, its flagship program - the Impact Collaborative, and other national and supporting resources. With user experience as a primary goal, the new design allows for users to quickly access information and see the most up-to-date content on how eXtension is helping Extension professionals’ effectiveness in addressing issues of importance to the nation. Visit online at eXtension.org.


Cooperative Extension’s Role in e-Connectivity Development in Rural America - The four Regional Rural Development Centers and the National Digital Education Extension Team (contact, Rachel Welborn' rachel.welborn@msstate.edu) are working to lessen the digital divide through assisting communities with strategic planning, advancing digital literacy, establishing partnerships, and conducting vital research. Current initiatives include:

• working on a pilot project with 4-H to strengthen digital skills, 
• evaluating the impacts of broadband infrastructure, 
• identifying ways to increase broadband availability in rural communities, and 
• walking communities through strategic planning efforts such as Stronger Economies Together (SET).

To learn more about the work about e-Connectivity by the Regional Rural Development Centers, see http://rrdc.info/rural-america/eConnectivity-3-1-19.pdf.

Reminder: Professional and Volunteer Development Opportunities at PILD - Extension Directors and Administrators are reminded to register institutional teams, including volunteers, to participate in the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference. Early registration ends March 22, but please act sooner so that participants can join an important preparatory pre-Conference webinar to be held on March 14, 2:00 p.m. ET.  The webinar will help team members prepare for a successful conference and Hill visits. Details and purpose of PILD are explained in the January 28 edition of the ECOP Monday Minute or go directly to www.jcep.org/pild. ECOP thanks the Joint Council of Extension Professionals for making this Cooperative Extension specific public issue education opportunity possible each year. To learn more about PILD, stay tuned to the ECOP Monday Minute or email ecopblog@gmail.com, subject, PILD Inquiry.


Opportunity: Learning and Evaluation Consultant for National Rural Assembly - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Leadership for Better Health and Healthy Communities themes are funding the National Rural Assembly http://ruralassembly.org to help rural leaders find their voices and to help emerging leaders build agency. In the next two years, the Rural Assembly will strengthen relationships with rural leaders who lift up marginalized voices, especially ones working with communities of color, young people, immigrants, and women. In support of the project’s objectives, the intention is to build the agency of rural leaders in their communities and within the Rural Assembly, create shared purpose among leaders, and amplify their stories with a national audience. The Rural Assembly is seeking proposals for consulting services. The consultant will work with project staff and other contractors to develop a framework for measuring sustainable engagement, participation, and communication toward improving the effectiveness of the Assembly. The project duration is July 1, 2019 – November 30, 2020. Proposals are due by April 1, 2019 and questions can be submitted via email to Marty Newell at the Center for Rural Strategies, marty@ruralstrategies.org.

Award Opportunities – Time is Limited

Excellence and Diversity in Cooperative Extension
awaits recognition by the Nation in San Diego in November 2019.

Luckily, Directors and Administrators and their associates can use a new leaders’ resource to organize and prepare nominations for the National Cooperative Extension Awards. Award-winning nominators strongly recommend starting the process well before the May 1 deadline. Go to www.aplu.org/CESawards to begin.  Please share this message widely and contact ECOP Assistant Director Sandy Ruble at 202-478-6088 for more information.

And speaking of awards...

New! 2019 Culture of Health Awards - The Well Connected Communities initiative is pleased to offer three Culture of Health awards to one youth volunteer, an adult volunteer, and a Land-grant University, that have been leaders in healthy living programming in their communities. All land-grant universities are invited to nominate, including those involved with the Well Connected Communities initiative. T. his work should have a focus on health equity and inclusion, address one or more of the social determinants of health, and successfully engage in youth-adult partnerships. Visit the Culture of Health Awards website to download and submit your applications by March 15, 2019. For more information, contact Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.

4-H Council Strategic Plan Approved - National 4-H Council’s Board of Trustees approved a new three-year strategic plan for Council operations at its quarterly meeting in December. The plan, which covers fiscal years 2019-2021, was developed in collaboration with the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee and looks to accelerate private sector support for Extension’s high-quality 4-H positive youth development programming. The plan maintains Council’s focus on creating public-private partnerships to generate funds and on telling the story of today’s 4-H. In this next phase of its 10-year vision, Council intends to highlight the positive impact that Extension and 4-H have on economic prosperity, equity and upward mobility for all young people. To read the plan and review Council’s accomplishments over the last three years, go to www.4-h.org/outcomes.

eXtension Member Events - Spring 2019. Registration for our April Impact Collaborative Summit is open. Each member institution receives five free registrations to send a project or program team to the Summit. More info can be found here. Also, State and Institutional Events are being scheduled, designed alongside leadership teams, to help with building skills in innovation. Contact Chris Geith at christinegeith@eXtension.org for more information.

Cooperative Extension Partnering with APLU Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) on Learning More About e-Connectivity in Rural America - Marshall Stewart, University of Missouri, and Ashley Stokes, Colorado State University, colleagues who are currently serving on the CECE’s Executive Committee encourage Directors and Administrators to participate in an online survey.

"There is no question that rural residents and businesses need access to high-speed internet service," says Sheila Martin, contact for the effort. "APLU knows its member institutions are already working in this area; however, we are certain we do not have the complete story of what our member institutions are doing to promote rural digital inclusion. APLU is requesting information from its members regarding their institution’s contributions to rural community’s access to the benefits of high-speed internet. We invite you to view read the white paper e-Connectivity in Rural America: Public Research Universities Advancing Digital Inclusion and share your institution’s contributions to expanding high-speed internet access in rural communities by taking this online survey by Sunday, March 10^th. Our staff will review responses and make the relevant contacts at your institution to understand the full picture of your work in this area. The final product will articulate practices making a difference for rural communities based on your responses."

Reminder: Extension Administrators and Directors and/or their economic development/community engagement associates may join CECE at no cost at this link.