Please continue to use this method of communication to keep up with Extension Service related policies and programs.
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LSUAgCenter.com Web Traffic Reaches New Record
June www.lsuagcenter.com Web site Interest
State of Louisiana Launches Agriculture Recovery Grant and Loan Program
Critical Weather Update
LSU AgCenter offers series on “Agritourism”
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Major NIFA Program Increases
Lafayette Master Gardener Recognized
eXtension.org Communities of Practice
Changes in Responsibilities, North Central Region
Louisiana 4-H’ers win awards
‘Windywood’ property expands 4-H camp’s footprint
4-H Camp Grant Walker
National Small Farm Conference
Journal of Extension article
LSUAgCenter.com Web Traffic Reaches New Record
The LSUAgCenter.com Web site has reached a new traffic record for the month of May, reports Fred Piazza, head of Information Technology. That month the Web site received 20,029,811 hits generated from 5,449,315 page views. These numbers represent a significant increase over the same time period last year in which the Web site logged 14,489,423 hits from 2,652,962 page views. Fred attributes the significant increase in hits to a variety of reasons: a better integration of the Web site’s search features with major search providers such as Google; a newly redesigned site with better navigational elements and new multimedia offerings; and the growing number of Web users worldwide.
Source: Fred Piazza
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June www.lsuagcenter.com Web Site Interest
Parish Web pages continue to garner interest plus an opportunity for expanding the ability of Parish agents to disseminate research-based information to clientele. Table 1 indicates the individual visits and page views from June. Relevant and timely information is critical for these pages to be used by clientele. Continue to enhance the information included on parish Web pages and more clientele will visit and return.
Table 1. Parish Web page, June 2009
|
Parishes |
Visits |
Page views |
|
Terrebonne |
2,364 |
2,616 |
|
|
|
|
Rapides |
1,777 |
2,081 |
|
St. Tammany |
1,445 |
1,534 |
|
Evangeline |
1,027 |
1,184 |
|
Livingston |
1,012 |
1,160 |
|
Franklin |
1,007 |
1,163 |
|
St. Helena |
982 |
1,052 |
|
St. Martin |
961 |
1,045 |
|
Lafayette |
910 |
1,156 |
|
East Baton Rouge |
867 |
911 |
Other general areas reporting high hits and page views include:
Home Gardening
4-H Camp and Teens
Nutrition and Food
Urban Forestry
Family Development-Home
Insects
Rice and Sugarcane
Community and Development
Beef and Cattle
Horses
Parish Master Gardener Programs
Source: Sam Razi
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State of Louisiana Launches Agriculture Recovery Grant and Loan Program
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain DVM and Louisiana Recovery Authority Executive Director Paul Rainwater unveiled the details of the $44.5 million Louisiana Farm and Agribusiness Recovery Grant and Loan Program at the annual Farm Bureau convention in New Orleans today. Strain said the funds are earmarked for eligible Louisiana farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses that suffered damages from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. For full details, click here.
Source: http://www.ldaf.la.gov/portal/
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Critical Weather Update
On June 22, Jay Grymes, chief meteorologist at WAFB
Television and former state climatologist, presented a live briefing on two very
important and timely weather-related topics: (1) drought status and outlook and
(2) review of Louisiana hurricane threat. With the
seriousness of the current statewide drought on crops, gardens, turf and
home/business landscapes, we thought an LSU AgCenter faculty and staff update
would be important and valuable as we work with extension clientele and deal
with these challenges on our research stations across the state. The ongoing
hurricane threat also cannot be overemphasized now that we are in the hurricane
season and have fresh memories of the damage from Gustav and Ike last year.
To view this presentation, please click on the following link:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/WeatherTalk/June2009
Source: www.lsuagcenter.com
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LSU AgCenter Offers Series on Agritourism
The LSU AgCenter is offering a series of educational programs across the state, beginning July 21, to help people get into the agritourism business. Agritourism is a business venture on a working farm, ranch or agricultural enterprise that offers educational and fun experiences for visitors while generating supplemental income for the owner, according to Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter community rural development agent.
“It’s everything from a u-pick blueberry patch to hunting leases to corn mazes,” Hatch said. “Agritourism is a broad area that covers entrepreneurial activities outside of production agriculture.” To better explain agritourism ventures, the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) have planned an Agritourism Roadshow at seven locations in the state this summer. The sessions will include information about the legislation passed in 2008 that limits liability for certain agritourism ventures, Hatch said.
In addition, Carrie Castille with LDAF will explain how to complete the required plan of operation to be eligible for certification with LDAF.
Source: Dora Ann Hatch
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Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Major NIFA Program Increases
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill July 8 and provided $124 million in increases for 11 of the 13 National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) lines that the Budget and Advocacy Committee had targeted for enhancement, including a $93.677 million (46.5 percent) increase for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), NIFA’s flagship competitive grants program.
Table 1. BAC Lines Targeted for Enhancement Compared to House and Senate Marks
|
Targeted Enhancements |
F.Y. 2009 |
APLU |
House |
Senate |
|
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative |
201.504 |
300.000 |
210.000 |
295.181 |
|
Smith Lever 3(b) and 3(c) |
288.548 |
300.000 |
295.000 |
300.000 |
|
Hatch Act |
207.106 |
225.000 |
215.000 |
215.000 |
|
Evans-Allen Program (Research) |
45.504 |
49.000 |
48.000 |
49.000 |
|
1890 Institutions Extension |
40.150 |
43.000 |
44.000 |
41.354 |
|
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry |
27.535 |
30.000 |
28.000 |
30.000 |
|
Higher Education Challenge Grants |
5.654 |
23.154 |
5.654 |
5.654 |
|
National Needs Fellowship Grants |
3.859 |
4.500 |
3.859 |
3.859 |
|
1994 Institutions Extension |
3.321 |
5.000 |
4.321 |
4.000 |
|
1994 Institutions Research |
1.610 |
3.000 |
1.610 |
2.000 |
|
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program |
66.155 |
68.000 |
68.000 |
68.139 |
|
Children, Youth and Families at Risk |
8.182 |
10.000 |
8.396 |
8.427 |
|
New Technologies for Ag Extension (eXtension) |
1.500 |
5.000 |
1.500 |
2.000 |
|
TOTALS |
900.628 |
1,065.654 |
933.340 |
1,024.64 |
These are tremendous results, and Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) the Chair and Ranking Member of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee (respectively) — and many other senators — deserve a hearty “thankyou” from the entire land-grant university system for: (1) agreeing to or exceeding the system’s recommended funding levels for Smith-Lever, Evans-Allen, McIntire-Stennis and EFNEP; (2) providing a huge increase for AFRI; and (3) significant increases to Hatch, 1890s Extension, 1994s Research and Extension, Youth at Risk and eXtension!
Mandatory Programs. In addition to the increases shown above, the Senate Appropriations Committee did not impose any limitations on the $117 million in mandatory farm bill funding that goes to four NIFA program lines in F.Y. 2010: (1) Organic Agriculture Research and Extension; (2) Specialty Crop Research; (3) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development; and (4) Biomass R&D.
Earmarks. Continuing the trend of recent years, the Senate reduced both the number and dollar value of NIFA special research grants and federal administration research/extension grants. The value of these earmarks would be reduced by $49.269 million compared to FY 2009.
Links
Spreadsheet showing Senate (and House) markup results for all NIFA programs:
http://www.land-grant.org/documents/FY2010/NIFA_Senate.xls
Source: http://www.land-grant.org/advocacy_reports/2009/07-07.htm
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Lafayette Master Gardener Recognized
Lafayette Master Gardener Glenda Balliviero was recently recognized as a winner in the Garden Crusader award. She has won second prize in the education category. Gardener’s Supply, an employee-owned national direct-to-consumer gardening company, started the Garden Crusader awards in 2001 to recognize individuals who are using their love of gardening to make a difference in their community. The awards cover four categories: Feeding the Hungry, Urban Renewal, Education and Restoration. They honor one grand prize winner and a first, second and third place winner, plus two honorable mentions for each category. As a second place winner, Glenda will receive a $500 gift certificate from Gardener's Supply.
Congratulations to Glenda and thanks to Robert Trawick for nominating her for this award.
Source: Becky Cohen
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eXtension.org Communities of Practice
Communities of Practice (CoP) within the www.eXtension.org Web site now total 40. To review each of them with a brief description, click here.
Source: www.extension.org
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Changes in Responsibilities
Matt Stephens is full time in Jackson Parish as county agent, parish chair and ANR agent. Matt will retain nutrient management responsibilities for Jackson Parish, but he will not have those responsibilities in other parishes. The North Central Region will not have a regional agent with nutrient management responsibilities, and parish agents will assume those responsibilities. Johnnie Whitmire will be the contact person in the North Central Region for the agents to use when they have questions related to poultry nutrient management issues, but she will not have full programming responsibilities in that area.
Matt had worked with poultry growers in Natchitoches, Sabine and Webster parishes and with row crop farmers in Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Franklin and a few other parishes. Hopefully the ANR agents in those parishes will be able to fill in the void.
Rafash Brew has been asked to devote more time to consumer horticulture with the increased interest in gardens and lawns. His work with commercial growers will be reduced. Either change should have minimal effect on programs in your region. Gary Stockton will be the new Parish Chair in Lincoln Parish immediately.
Effective August 1, Joe Barrett will begin working in Natchitoches Parish as a county agent with 4-H and ANR responsibilities. Joe has worked in Bossier Parish and done a very good job coordinating the shooting sports program in that region.
Congratulations to all these faculty members with new responsibilities.
Source: Allen Nipper
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Louisiana 4-H’ers Win Awards
Two Louisiana teams finished first, and four teams finished in the top five in daily competition at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational meet June 24-28. In addition, three Louisiana teams placed in the top five teams overall, and eight Louisiana 4-H’ers were in the top 10 in overall individual events. Louisiana teams came in first in Shotgun–Sporting Clays and Hunting-Hunting Skills and second in Hunting–Wildlife Identification and Management.
In other team events, Louisiana 4-H’ers placed: third in Small Bore Pistol-Slow-Fire Bullseye; Small Bore Pistol-Small-Bore Hunter Pistol Silhouette; Small Bore Pistol-Camp Perry Round (modified); Archery-3-D Round and Hunting-Hunter Decision Making; and fourth in Shotgun-Skeet. In the overall awards, Louisiana 4-H teams placed second in hunting skills and small-bore pistol and fifth in shotgun. Click here for full story.
Source: Mary Ann Van Osdell and David Boldt
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‘Windywood’ Property Expands 4-H Camp’s Footprint
LSU AgCenter’s 4-H camp increased its size to 82 acres as the Louisiana 4-H Foundation donated a vacant piece of property for camp expansion. The 30-acre addition was Camp Windywood, a former Girl Scout camp and adjacent to the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center. Eric Eskew, executive director of the 4-H Foundation, turned over the property deed to LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson at a ceremony at the camp on July 9.
“We’re going to do everything within our power to use this land to develop one of the best 4-H programs imaginable,” Richardson said. Plans for the property include a rifle and shotgun range and an educational building with laboratory facilities. Click here for full story.
Source: Tobie Blanchard
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Summer 4-H Camp
This summer 4-H Camp Grant Walker is hosting more than 4,000 campers from every parish in Louisiana, providing educational and recreational opportunities in a beautiful outdoor setting. The week spent at camp allows these 9- to12-year-old youth to develop their sense of responsibility, independence and other fundamental life skills in a safe, positive atmosphere. The campers choose educational tracks about Dramatic Arts, Wetlands, Outdoor Skills, Food and Fitness or Science, Engineering and Technology. They also participate in other activities such as sports, nature hikes, swimming, canoeing, archery, arts and crafts and the much-anticipated dance each night.
This year the Character Counts program is being promoted with signs posted around camp, junior counselor skits and recognizing campers that demonstrate the Pillars of Character in their daily activities. The campers also learn about the importance of recycling and composting and are encouraged to do so at meals and snack time. The last week of the summer, LOST Camp, is dedicated to seventh and eighth graders, and emphasis is placed on Science, Engineering and Technology. Robotics and rocketry are two additional tracks the campers can choose. Camp is open to any child in Louisiana, and scholarships are available to ensure that all youth can attend. A recent picture taken at 4-H Camp No. 5 was featured in the Town Talk newspaper.
Source: Kimberly Landry and Town Talk
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National Small Farm Conference
The fifth National Small Farm Conference, Roadmap to Success for Small Farmers and Ranchers, will be held September 15-17 at the Hilton Springfield and the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Ill. The conference will provide an opportunity to share new ideas in research, extension and outreach and to strengthen collaboration and partnership among those who are working to support small farmers and ranchers.
You can register for the conference online at http://www.conferences.uiuc.edu/smallfarm.
Source: Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant
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Journal of Extension Article
An article entitled Photos Can Inspire a Thousand Words: Photolanguage as a Qualitative Evaluation Method [Article No. 3IAW1] recently was published in the Journal of Extension. This article provides a wonderful overview on the use of this innovative technique for evaluation. The article addresses a real challenge common in qualitative evaluation. It’s important to find ways to encourage expression of individuals who are young, shy or have limited verbal abilities as well as assist with personal expression and small group interaction. Congratulations to Rick Bogren, Johnny Morgan, Diane Sasser and Becky White on getting these finding published.
Source: Janet Fox
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