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e Directions May 19, 2009 Please continue to use this method of communication to keep up with Extension Service-related policies and programs. Due to the length of this e-Directions, it has been divided into sections. Click on the section you would like to read. President's FY 2010 budget released President’s budget – message from CSREES administrator Dr. Hefferan USDA, EPA and DOE form Biofuels Interagency Working Group to increase energy independence H1N1 influenza Web sites Organic funding Proposed EPA rule may affect diesel power units Recession spurs millions of new gardeners Former chancellor passes 4-H Museum grand opening and LaHouse open house Despite Senators' Call, EPA plans narrow NPDES spraying permit LSU AgCenter agent receives Community Development award Agritourism newsletter 4-H Foundation reaches out to donor base to help fund 2009 educational trips President's FY 2010 budget released The president's budget for FY 2010 was recently released and although we have the following information to report, explicit details are not yet available because the budget justification documents have not been released. The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture would see the following changes: (1) Research and Education Activities would be reduced by a net $68.15 million, primarily through elimination of congressionally designated projects (earmarks); (2) extension activities would see a net increase of $12.75 million; and (3) Integrated Activities would remain unchanged. Most line items in the budget request remain at their FY 2009 levels. However, there appear to be three major initiatives: (1) Institution Challenge grants; (2) Secondary/2-year Post Secondary (including expansion of this program to K-12); and (3) Improved Rural Quality of Life grants (a new Extension program). Also, the budget request does not contain any proposed reductions to the four mandatory programs that we fought hard to have included within the 2008 farm bill and successfully protected in the FY 2009 appropriations process. Other changes are detailed in the table that follows (proposed increases highlighted in green; decreases highlighted in yellow): Line-by-line NIFA breakdown (in $ millions) FY 2008 FY 2009 FY2010 Research and Education Activities Enacted Enacted President Hatch Act 195.812 207.106 207.106 McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry 24.791 27.535 27.535 Evans-Allen Program (1890s Research) 41.051 45.504 45.504 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 190.883 201.504 201.504 Improved Pest Control 15.313 15.945 15.945 Special Research Grants 91.775 84.499 2.021 Animal Health and Disease (Sec. 1433) 4.971 2.950 2.950 1994 Institutions Research Program 1.533 1.610 1.610 Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration 0.983 0.983 0.983 Graduate Fellowship Grants 3.675 3.859 3.859 Institution Challenge Grants 5.385 5.654 23.154 Multicultural Scholars Program 0.981 0.981 0.981 Hispanic Education Partnership Grants 6.046 6.237 9.237 Secondary/2-year Post Secondary 0.983 0.983 18.483 Capacity Building Grants (1890 Institutions) 13.592 15.000 18.000 Payments to the 1994 Institutions 3.319 3.342 3.342 Native Alaska/Hawaiian-Serving Education Grants 3.196 3.196 3.196 Resident Instruction Grants for Insular Areas 0.745 0.800 0.800 New Era Rural Technology Program 0.750 0.750 Veterinary Medical Services Act 0.869 2.950 2.950 Federal Administration (Total) 42.154 39.426 12.753 Alternative Crops 0.819 0.819 0.819 Aquaculture Centers (Sec.1475) 3.928 3.928 3.928 Critical Agricultural Materials Act 1.083 1.083 1.083 Sustainable Agriculture Research & Ed. (SARE) 14.399 14.399 14.399 Subtotal 668.286 691.043 622.892 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY2010 Extension Activities Enacted Enacted President Smith Lever Sections 3(b) and 3(c) 274.660 288.548 288.548 Smith Lever Section 3(d): Farm Safety 4.726 4.863 0.000 Food and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) 65.557 66.155 66.155 Indian Reservation Agents 2.979 3.000 3.000 New Technologies for Ag Extension (eXtension) 1.475 1.500 1.500 Pest Management 9.791 9.791 9.791 Sustainable Agriculture 4.568 4.568 4.568 Youth at Risk 7.968 8.182 8.182 Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification 0.463 0.479 0.479 Improved Rural Quality of Life Grants 28.000 1890 Institutions and Tuskegee 35.850 40.150 40.150 1890 Facilities Grants (Sec. 1447) 17.267 18.000 18.000 Renewable Resources Extension Act 4.008 4.008 4.008 Rural Health and Safety Education 1.738 1.738 1.738 Extension Services at the 1994 Institutions 3.298 3.321 4.321 Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database 0.806 0.000 Grants to Youth Organizations 1.737 1.767 0.000 Federal Administration and Special Grants (total) 17.180 17.374 8.565 Subtotal 453.265 474.250 487.005 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY2010 Integrated Activities Enacted Enacted President Water Quality 12.649 12.649 12.649 Food Safety 14.596 14.596 14.596 Regional Pest Management Centers 4.096 4.096 4.096 Crops at Risk from FQPA Implementation 1.365 1.365 1.365 FQPA Risk Mitigation Prog. for Major Food Crops 4.388 4.388 4.388 Methyl Bromide Transition Program 3.054 3.054 3.054 Organic Transition Program 1.842 1.842 1.842 International Science and Education Grants Program 1.986 3.000 3.000 Critical Issues Program 0.732 0.732 0.732 Regional Rural Development Centers 1.312 1.312 1.312 Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative 9.830 9.830 9.830 Subtotal 55.850 56.864 56.864 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY2010 Other NIFA Accounts Enacted Enacted President Tribal Colleges Endowment Fund 11.717 11.880 11.880 Interest (Estimated) on Tribal Colleges Endowment 3.209 3.700 3.700 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY2010 NIFA (Agency Total) Enacted Enacted President TOTAL 1,192.327 1,237.737 1,182.341 Related Documents: NIFA Spreadsheet: www.land-grant.org/documents/FY2010/NIFA_Budget_Request.xls NIFA Portion of Budget: www.land-grant.org/documents/FY2010/NIFA_Request.pdf Source: Cornerstone (top) President’s budget – message from CSREES administrator Colien Hefferan On May 7, President Barack Obama forwarded the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Budget to Congress. This submission provides additional information on the FY 2010 budget proposal, A New Era of Responsibility – Renewing America’s Promise, announced by the President on February 26. The FY 2010 budget proposal covers the period from Oct. 1, 2009, to Sept. 30, 2010. Section 7511 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 transferred all authorities of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service to the newly created National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The FY 2010 Budget reflects this change which will take place by Oct. 1, 2009. The FY 2010 Budget for NIFA includes discretionary funding totaling $1.2 billion (total includes the Native American Endowment Fund). This represents a decrease of $55.4 million or approximately 4.48 percent below the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriation discretionary funding amount of $1.2 billion. Some highlights of the FY 2010 President’s Budget request for NIFA are: -- NIFA proposes increased funding totaling $70 million to improve rural education and quality of life. Funds will be used to provide incentives for rural educators to enhance their teaching skills by pursuing professional development. The funds also will allow educators to update and revise curricula and encourage coordination in research and extension activities in the food and agricultural sciences at rural secondary, 2-year postsecondary and higher-education institutions. The initiative will strengthen teaching, research and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences at minority-serving institutions as well as implement a competitive grant program that will utilize the existing infrastructure of 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions to facilitate rapid adoption of research-based guidance and implement training and Web-based tools for rural citizens and communities. -- The budget proposal sustains funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). AFRI is the new core competitive grant program for research, education and extension. The program will provide funding for fundamental and applied research, extension and education to address food and agricultural sciences. Although AFRI covers an equally broad scope of topics and will support many of the grant types offered by the former National Research Initiative, the new authority allows greater flexibility in the types of projects funded to include single-function projects and integrated projects in research, education and/or extension. -- The FY 2010 Budget includes funding to continue program activities for most of the other NIFA programs at the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriation level. -- Earmarked Special Research Grants, Extension and Research Federal Administration projects and grants, and several specific, targeted programs are not proposed for funding in FY 2010. -- The FY 2010 Budget for NIFA also includes mandatory funding totaling $149 million for the following programs: Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative; Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program; Biomass Research and Development; Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center; Specialty Crop Research Initiative; Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers; Agriculture Risk Management Education Program; Biodiesel Fuel Education Program; and Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program. At this time, the House and Senate appropriations hearings schedules for NIFA have not been released. We will provide additional information on Congressional hearings and action as it becomes available. Information on the USDA FY 2010 Budget, including the FY 2010 Budget Summary Book, is available by going to http://www.obpa.usda.gov/budsum/budget_summary.html It is anticipated that the USDA Office of Budget and Program Analysis will post the FY 2010 Congressional budget justifications (Explanatory Notes) for all USDA agencies on their Web site. As soon as this information is available, you will be notified via e-mail. Source: Colien Hefferan, Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (top) USDA, EPA and DOE form Biofuels Interagency Working Group to increase energy independence President Obama issued a presidential directive to Secretary Vilsack on May 5 to aggressively accelerate the investment in and production of biofuels. On a conference call with Energy Secretary Stephen Chu and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Vilsack also announced that he will help lead an unprecedented interagency effort to increase America's energy independence and spur rural economic development. "President Obama's announcement today demonstrates his deep commitment to establishing a permanent biofuels industry in America," said Vilsack. "Expanding our biofuels infrastructure provides a unique opportunity to spur rural economic development while reducing our dependence on foreign oil -- one of the great challenges of the 21st century." Increasing renewable fuels will reduce dependence on foreign oil by more than 297 million barrels a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 160 million tons a year when fully phased in by 2022. On the call, Jackson announced that the EPA would establish four categories of renewable fuels, some of which would be produced form new sources. To address lifecyle analysis, the EPA said they are soliciting peer-reviewed, scientific feedback to ensure that the best science available is utilized prior to implementation. "Producing clean, renewable energy in our country is a powerful rural development tool that creates jobs domestically while generating new tax revenues for local, state and federal governments," added Vilsack. President Obama directed Secretary Vilsack to expedite and increase production of and investment in biofuel development efforts by: Refinancing existing investments in renewable fuels to preserve jobs in ethanol and biodiesel plants, renewable electricity generation plants and other supporting industries Making renewable-energy financing opportunities from the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 available within 30 days. These opportunities include: Loan guarantees for the development, construction and retrofitting of commercial-scale biorefineries and grants to help pay for the development and construction costs of demonstration-scale biorefineries Expedited funding to encourage biorefineries to replace the use of fossil fuels in plant operations by installing new biomass energy systems or producing new energy from renewable biomass Expedited funding to biofuels producers to encourage production of next-generation biofuels from biomass and other non-corn feedstocks; expansion of Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, which has been renamed the Rural Energy for America Program, to include hydroelectric source technologies, energy audits and higher loan-guarantee limits Guidance and support for collection, harvest, storage and transportation assistance for eligible materials for use in biomass conversion facilities. The Biofuels Interagency Working Group will develop the nation's first comprehensive biofuels market-development program. The increased collaboration between federal agencies will accelerate the production of and access to sustainable homegrown energy options by coordinating policies that impact the supply, secure transport and distribution of biofuels, as well as identifying new policy options to improve the environmental sustainability of biofuels feedstock production. The Biofuels Interagency Working Group will also work to develop policies to increase flexible fuel vehicle production and assist in retail marketing efforts while also taking into consideration land use, habitat conservation, crop management practices, water efficiency and water quality and lifecycle assessments of greenhouse gas emissions. Source: http://www.usda.gov/2009/05/0145.xml (top) H1N1 influenza Web sites Web sites to consult for more information on Influenza A (H1N1): CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ WHO: http://www.who.int/en/ Promed: http://www.promedmail.org EDEN: http://www.eden.lsu.edu/Issues_View.aspx?IssueID=d1b8635b-6b6a-4326-8bbf-ff6fcec0ea5c CFSPH: http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/DiseaseInfo/MoreInfo/FLU.htm AVMA: http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus/default.asp USDA: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0131.xml Source: Henry I. Moreau, DVM, State Veterinarian, LDAF, 225-925-3980 (top) Organic funding The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on May 5 that farmers will have three weeks to apply for $50 million in land stewardship funding to help pay the cost of converting to organic production. The equipment sign-up runs from May 11-29 under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. It is open to growers switching to organic production or expanding their organic operations and certified organic farmers who want to expand stewardship work. Source: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/05/0146.xml (top) Save time, save money, save gas, save your inbox Save on travel, long distance telephone charges and time by using Office Communicator 2007. It is a software application for instant messaging, voice and video chat available to all AgCenter employees. After significant testing, AgCenter IT made this application available, and it's received a great response. Many people didn't wait for instructions. They jumped right in and put it to work. Office Communicator has already saved a lot of time and money for the AgCenter. And it's a great tool to help ease the impact of the budget cuts. 1. Get real-time-availability information from your colleagues (find out if they are available for an instant message or phone call). Send and receive instant messages and save on calls or back-and-forth e-mail threads. 2. Have voice/video conferences. Have your next meeting on a video conference and save on time and travel. Audio only is available for the camera shy. 3. Make free calls to AgCenter employees irrespective of your location or theirs. 4. Integrates with Outlook to update your free/busy time from your calendar. 5. Use the same AgCenter i.d/password to login to the software, access everybody in the AgCenter directory. 6. Encrypted secure communication is restricted to AgCenter employees. Examples a. An AgCenter employee had to travel to Baton Rouge for a one-hour meeting. Travel time was 2.5 hours. The person now attends the meeting using Communicator, thus saving 5 hours each meeting and saving the AgCenter travel expenses (gas, vehicle maintenance expenses, etc.). b. Individuals in a certain department would send e-mails back and forth asking questions, not knowing who was at their desk to see the e-mail. They can now instant message each other and also have a chat conference with several individuals. c. Collaborate with colleagues across the state. Share files, have video and voice conferences that result in higher efficiency. Get started now... http://intranet.lsuagcenter.net/unit/InfoTech/Training/OCS/Pages/QuickstartCommunicator.aspx Source: Mike Carl, Mahesh Chinnaiyan and Dave Woerner (top) Proposed EPA rule may affect diesel power units You may have heard of the EPA’s proposed emissions rule covering stationary engines known as the RICE NESHAP Rule [Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)]. This proposed rule would require testing and record keeping for stationary diesel and electric engines, such as those used for irrigation and emergency power. The proposed rule is that there would be a one-time emissions test and continued maintenance record-keeping requirement for diesel power units less than 500 hp, but diesels between 300 and 500 hp would need to meet the emissions standard. Diesels more than 500 hp would need annual testing and meet the proposed standard. I do not see in the language that producers would need to make appropriate modifications if an engine less than 300 hp is below the standard emission rate. Not many pumps are more than 300 hp, so we are looking a one-time emissions testing and continual requirement for maintenance records (oil changes, belts, etc.) for each engine. This will be a pain in the behind, but it is manageable. The emissions test should run around $150 for each engine. If the rule is finalized, the AgCenter can easily publish a maintenance log for irrigation systems to assist producers in meeting this requirement. Since the vast majority of pumps are less than 300 hp, this rule should have a moderate impact on our producers. In other rice-producing areas (Miss., Ark., Calif.) this potential rule will have a greater impact. Please encourage your producers to educate themselves and to send specific responses, including economic data from their farms if possible, to the EPA by the June 3 deadline. I will keep you informed of any changes on this rule and will help you with educational programs for your producers if the rule is approved. Related articles: http://westernfarmpress.com/tree-nut-crops/emissions-reduction-0212/ http://farmindustrynews.com/farm-equipment/0808_reinventing_engine/ Source: Ron Sheffield (rsheffield@agcenter.lsu.edu) (top) Recession spurs millions of new gardeners More and more individuals are gardening because of the recession and other safe-food issues. A dramatic increase in vegetable seed sales and more individuals and families concerned about food costs have resulted in more community and home gardens being planted in the United States this year. More individuals realize the benefits of locally grown produce and the health benefits of eating healthier as well as “growing your own.” In addition, the exercise and therapeutic value of gardening are positive perks. Produce grown at home tastes better, can be picked and eaten, plus can decrease your food costs in the long run. Officials with the National Gardening Association say consumers spent $2.5 billion in 2008 to purchase seeds, plants, fertilizer, tools and other gardening supplies to grow their own food. According to NGA estimates, even a modest, well-maintained vegetable garden yields a $500 average return per garden when considering a typical gardener's investment and the retail price of produce. This is a great opportunity to expand school and community gardening as well as the outreach of the LSU AgCenter. School and community gardens are great tools to educate youth and adults about the benefits of gardening while improving their lifestyle and eating habits. School gardening projects provide an extraordinary learning opportunity for students, and their popularity is increasing with the downturn in the world economy. Using school gardens, students can learn science, mathematics, English, environmental studies, health, family and consumer sciences and art. They learn first-hand about plants, nature and the outdoors, and they learn how fresh food is grown, as well as about agriculture and where their food comes from. In addition, children learn and develop healthy eating habits that can reduce childhood obesity rates. Not only can school gardens can be used to teach students about nutrition and healthier food choices but they can expose youth to environmental stewardship and scientific principles (Morris et. al 2000). Researchers have found that students who are engaged in more outdoor-related activities reported more positive environmental attitudes (Skelly and Zajieck 1998). A child’s hands-on involvement in designing, creating, caring for and using outdoor areas such as a garden can help improve a student’s academic performance, as well as a willingness and capacity to make a difference in their community (Bell 2001). Because gardens have been found to increase interpersonal skills, these types of projects help foster relationships and increase teacher involvement with their students (Alexander and Hendren 1998). Community gardens have positive benefits such as: -- Strengthened neighborhood cohesiveness -- Increased access to fresh, affordable produce -- Opportunities for positive intergenerational interactions -- Opportunities for positive multicultural interactions -- Increased interactions of people from different neighborhoods throughout the city -- Empowerment and leadership development of community gardeners in low-income neighborhoods Additional information can be found at: http://www.newsleader.com/article/20090315/LIFESTYLE/903150315/1024/LIFESTYLE Source: Ashley Mullens (amullens@agcenter.lsu.edu) and Grace Peterson (gpeterson@agcenter.lsu.edu) (top) Former chancellor passes Alvin C. Harper, Chancellor Emeritus of the LSU AgCenter, recently passed away. He served in the LSU System from 1953-1984. He graduated cum laude in 1952 with a bachelor’s and earned a master’s in 1954 -- both in Agricultural Economics from LSU. He received a Ph.D. in 1962 from Purdue University. He started his career with LSU as an associate in Agricultural Economics in 1953 and was promoted to full professor. In 1961, he moved to LSU-Alexandria and served as the business manager. He became the vice president for Administration and Facility Planning for the LSU System in 1977. He was appointed Chancellor of the LSU AgCenter in 1980 and served through 1984. (top) 4-H Museum grand opening July 18; LaHouse open house, June 13 It is with great pleasure we announce that the Grand Opening of the Louisiana 4-H Museum will be held on Saturday, July 18, from 2-4 p.m. The 2009 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place during the Grand Opening. Inductees will be notified of the date in the near future. Exhibit components are being delivered and installed, and the results are quite stunning. Many thanks to everyone for all the items and photos submitted. We will display as many as possible for the grand opening and add to displays over time. Without your help and support, there would be no museum. Source: Rose Anne St. Romain, 4-H Museum Coordinator LaHouse will hold an open house on Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sustainable housing and landscaping, as well as alternative energy sources will be showcased. Source: Margaret Pierce, mpierce@agcenter.lsu.edu (top) Despite senators' call, EPA plans narrow NPDES spraying permit EPA is planning to develop a narrow clean water general permit for pesticide spraying activities in states and tribal areas that do not have delegated permit authority, leaving most states with broad discretion to adopt stricter requirements than EPA despite calls from key lawmakers who had sought to avoid a patchwork of state approaches. Agency lawyers earlier this month asked a federal appellate court to delay by two years its landmark ruling forcing many pesticide applicators to seek clean water permits for their activities. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled earlier this year in National Cotton Council et al. v. EPA to vacate EPA's rule exempting pesticide application from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Since the court ruled that pesticide spraying amounted to a point source discharge, spraying without a permit would face liability as an unpermitted discharge subject to penalties. EPA estimates the ruling will apply to some 5.6 million annual pesticide applications performed by 365,000 applicators. Although many farm groups and their supporters in Congress urged the agency to appeal the ruling, the agency instead asked the court to delay the ruling to allow officials time to craft a permitting approach. Two key senators – Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the chairman and ranking Republican on the Senate agriculture committee – urged EPA to appeal the ruling but said that if the agency chose not to, it should instead craft a nationwide general permit for which sprayers would seek coverage as a way to avoid imposition of more burdensome individual permits. In an April 3 letter, the lawmakers also urged EPA to adopt a nationwide general permit as a way to avoid overlapping state requirements. "A state-by-state regulatory mechanism in which each state can modify permit requirements would present serious logistical problems," the lawmakers say, noting that it could present especially difficult conditions for producers whose operations cross state boundaries. This entire issue is still being evaluated by EPA and the courts. We will provide updates as more information is available. Full details can be found at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=41 Source: http://www.epa.gov/ (top) LSU AgCenter agent receives Community Development award Dr. Kay Lynn Tettleton, a community rural development agent with the LSU AgCenter, received the Distinguished Service award for Louisiana from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) at its conference in San Diego. Tettleton joined the LSU AgCenter in 1976 and has been a CRD agent since 2001. She coordinates regional community rural development programs in the LSU AgCenter’s Northeast Region. She provides educational programming in leadership development (organizational and individual), entrepreneurship, rural tourism and value-added agriculture and community decision making. Tettleton has been a member of the NACDEP for four years and has served as co-chair on the awards and recognition committee. She has been a member of the International Community Development Society (CDS) for six years, currently serving as secretary to the executive board and on the national marketing and membership committee. Tettleton and Dr. Cynthia Pilcher, another LSU AgCenter CRD agent, presented “Regionalism: Reflection to Reality: A Case Study of the Miss-Lou Regional Tourism Summit” at the conference. Tettleton received her Doctor of Education, Master of Education and Bachelor of Science degrees from Louisiana Tech University. Source: Mary Ann Van Osdell (318) 741-7430, ext. 1104, or mvanosdell@agcenter.lsu.edu (top) Agritourism newsletter Agritourism, a business venture on a working farm, ranch or agricultural enterprise, is growing in popularity throughout the United States. Agritourism blends entertainment, education and tourism to provide a fun, exciting and memorable getaway for school trips and family outings. This Web site provides educational resources to assist new and existing entrepreneurs in developing, expanding and improving their agritourism ventures. A newsletter has been established called the “Louisiana Agritourism Connection.” The LSU AgCenter is proud to partner with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in a Louisiana agritourism initiative to provide economic development and cultural opportunities for our farms, ranches, forests and working lands. Source: Dora Ann Hatch, Extension Agritourism Coordinator (top) 4-H Foundation reaches out to donor base to help fund 2009 educational trips Louisiana has been one of the only states in the nation that reward 4-H’ers with virtually all-expense paid educational trips for excelling in a contest or project. For more than 50 years, 4-H’ers have been attending such memorable trips as Club Congress, National Livestock Judging, Entomology, Fashion Board, National Meat Identification and many others. As youth recall their time in 4-H, one of the most memorable experiences was the opportunities to travel and meet people not only from Louisiana but from other parts of the country. The Louisiana 4-H Foundation provides funds for these trips using interest accrued from its endowments. The current state of the economy has caused a major impact on investments, which will make it extremely difficult to sustain normal funding levels. The 4-H Foundation is still committed to providing positive educational experiences for our 4-H youth across Louisiana, and this year it is appealing to the loyal 4-H donor base to come together and help ensure that our youth do not miss out on these wonderful opportunities. Since May 1, the 4-H Foundation has received 46 responses to its appeal for a total of $4,230. Click here to access the donation form on the 4-H Foundation Web site. Donors will be recognized at the 2009 4-H University Closing Ceremony, where a majority of the trips are awarded. In addition, the parish that is credited with the most trip contributions will receive a pizza and ice cream party at this year’s 4-H University. Source: Eric A. Eskew, eaeskew@agcenter.lsu.edu (top) If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the director’s Web site, please contact me at pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Posted on: 5/18/2009 12:30:18 PM