e-Directions is an information-sharing newsletter issued at least bi-monthly to help keep you updated on Extension-related issues covering restructuring, programming opportunities, strategic plan initiatives and enhancements and other information.
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.
Comprehensive Coastal Plan Submitted for Legislature's Approval
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana (CPRA) submitted Louisiana’s comprehensive master plan for coastal restoration and hurricane protection and the Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Plan to the Louisiana Legislature for consideration during the current legislative session.
CPRA Chair Sidney Coffee commented, "It marks the first time our legislature has had before it a plan that brings together both hurricane protection and coastal restoration efforts in a comprehensive way. This master plan will serve as the overarching vision for how we ultimately restore our coastal environment and rebuild and protect our communities and some of our nation's most critical assets."
Copies of these final plans are being submitted to the House Committee on Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works for approval, pursuant to La R.S. 49:213.6. The full legislature will consider the final plans after they have been approved by the committees.
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority approved the final draft of the plan at its meeting April 12.
Entitled, "Integrated Ecosystem Restoration and Hurricane Protection: Louisiana's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast," the plan represents more than 18 months of extensive research, writing, planning and public discussion and is designed to be the guide for all coastal protection and wetland restoration projects in Louisiana over the next several decades. More than 30 meetings with civic groups, coastal scientists, concerned citizens and various stakeholders were conducted since the summer of 2006 to gather input and introduce the public to some of the concepts and potential projects in the plan.
A complete draft of the plan is available at www.lacpra.org/masterplanfinal. A copy of the FY 2008 Annual plan is available at www.lacpra.org/2008annualplan.
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6th Annual 4-H Day at the Capitol on June 5
This year it is expected that approximately one thousand 4-H’ers and volunteer leaders will make the trek to the 6th annual 4-H Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, June 5.
The 4-H officers and board members will be honored the evening before at a dinner at the Governor’s Mansion. Governor Blanco is expected to attend as she has in previous years.
The following morning on June 5, the group will assemble on the Capitol steps at 10 a.m. and hear short speeches from politicians including Rep. Beverly Bruce from DeSoto Parish and Sen. Butch Gautreaux from Houma, the two sponsors of the event. Afterward, young 4-Hers will disperse to visit local legislators and learn how state government works. Scott Carroll, 4-H president from Sabine Parish, will address both chambers that afternoon.
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Ricky Kilpatrick Awarded Project Learning Tree Gold Star
Northwest extension agent and area forester Ricky Kilpatrick was honored with a gold star during the Project Learning Tree’s (PLT) 21st International Coordinators’ Conference in Wichita, Kan., on May 11, 2007. The PLT Gold Star Award is the highest honor bestowed by PLT to a PLT program coordinator in recognition of their years of exemplary service to Project Learning Tree.
Mr. Kilpatrick works with parish school systems, individual schools, and universities to make PLT a part of their curriculum. He supports the development of outdoor classrooms and learning stations using PLT as a focus. He has conducted nearly 100 PLT professional development workshops for educators, and plans and participates in PLT facilitator training every year. He is chair of Louisiana PLT’s state steering committee, and contributes to the state PLT newsletter. Each year he attends PLT’s International Coordinators’ Conference and helped host it in Louisiana in 1993.
Let us congratulate Mr. Kilpatrick for this great achievement and recognition for his hard work and dedication to Project Learning Tree.
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LSU AgCenter Hosts Corn Drying, Storage Workshop June 12
The LSU AgCenter will host a free workshop on corn drying and storage at the West Carroll Parish Extension Office located at the Thomas Jason Lingo Community Center in Oak Grove from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12.
The session, featuring Dr. Ron Noyes, an expert in designing these facilities, will be transmitted via videoconferencing to other LSU AgCenter facilities, including the Scott Extension and Research Center near Winnsboro, the Dean Lee Extension and Research Center near Alexandria and the Red River Extension and Research Center in Bossier City. People attending at any of the sites will be able to ask questions.
Noyes, a professor emeritus at Oklahoma State University, was an extension and research agricultural engineer at Purdue University before joining Oklahoma State. He has 17 years of design experience in the grain storage and drying industry.
The meeting is designed for county agents, farmers, grain bin contractors and anyone else interested in temporary storage and post-harvest management of corn, conversion of other facilities to corn storage and construction of permanent facilities.
To register, contact Myrl Sistrunk at (318) 428-3571, or msistrunk@agcenter.lsu.edu.
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Dr. Allen Owings to Transfer to Hammond Research Station
Dr. Allen Owings, horticulture specialist in the School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Systems, will be transferring to the Hammond Research Station effective July 1. Owings will maintain his statewide appointment (75% extension / 25% research) and will join the team of AgCenter horticulturists working in the recently initiated landscape horticulture research and extension program effort at the Hammond Station.
This transfer continues the efforts of the AgCenter to move specialists closer to the clientele they serve.
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Piazza named CIO
Congratulations to Fred Piazza for being named Chief Information Officer for the LSU AgCenter effective May 1, 2007. He will continue serving as director of our Web services in that capacity.
Please give Fred your full support as he assumes this responsibility.
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Patent and Trademark Workshop
The LBTC, LSBDC Technology Center at LSU and the LSU Middleton Libraries are teaming up to host a patent and trademark workshop series to be held on June 9, July 7 and August 4 from 10:15 am to 12:15 pm in room 230-B LSU Middleton Library. A patent attorney will be on hand to answer questions from participants. There is no charge to attend the workshops but seating is limited.
For more information and to register for the event, please visit http://www.lsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=2270050.
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2007 4-H Community ATV Safety Program Grantees
Congratulations to Wesley Sorenson, Livingston Parish, Roddy Karl, St. Helena Parish, and Michelle Abington-Cooper, Assistant Professor for the AgCenter, for being named three of the 19 recipients of the 2007 4-H Community ATV Safety Program grant.
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Epsilon Sigma Phi Scholarship
Dr. Bobby Fletcher, Jr. has been selected to receive the Epsilon Sigma Phi scholarship for receiving his doctoral degree at LSU during 2006. Bobby received his Ph.D. in Human Resource Education with a minor in Horticulture from LSU in Baton Rouge in May, 2006. Epsilon Sigma Phi members in good standing are encouraged to apply annually. Contact Dr. Earl Johnson for additional information.
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eXtension Provides Solutions to Wildlife Damage through Launch of Web Site
Consumers now have instant access to research-based solutions for helping humans and wildlife coexist--managing problems caused by wildlife through an online resource dedicated to linking people who need information with the experts who have this information.
The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site is an excellent resource for anyone needing information about managing wildlife problems. The website can be accessed by clicking on the following link: http://www.extension.org/human-wildlife+relations.
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eXtension Launches Imported Fire Ants Web Site
eXtension's Imported Fire Ants Web site was launched during the Annual Imported Fire Ant Conference in Gainesville, Fla. The Web site provides a wealth of research-based information for consumers. It is an excellent resource for anyone needing information about imported fire ants and how to control them.
The site features the following:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) allows users to submit queries about imported fire ants. If an answer is not already available in the FAQs section, the question is directed to “Ask the Expert” where local contacts provide requested information.
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Learning Sessions titled “Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas” and “Managing Imported Fire Ants in Cattle Production Systems” target unique situations facing homeowners and livestock producers.
News & Upcoming Events keeps the news and calendar of events current at the local, state, and national levels.
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The soon-to-be-added Imported Fire Ant Management Decision Module will ask users a series of questions and then offer suggestions to help them decide what to do about fire ants in their urban landscapes or cattle operations.
Visit the eXtension Web site for information on Personal Finance, Horses, and Wildlife Damage Management.
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AgMagic a Huge Success
AgMagic, the interactive journey that shows children and adults the various aspects of Louisiana agriculture and the role it plays in the things they use every day, was a huge success.
Held at Parker Coliseum during the week of April 23-29, the 4th annual AgMagic hosted 4,304 attendees for the weekend alone. During the entire week, close to 7,500 children and adults attended the event.
AgMagic is an experience that is interactive and visually stimulating, and it helps children see the links between food and fiber products and the forests, field crops and livestock produced by Louisiana farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.
It also tries to show how Louisiana agriculture plays a vital role in the state’s economy – in addition to contributing to the food we eat, clothes we wear and homes we live in.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the efforts of all those who contributed to the success of AgMagic.
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Rep. Melancon to Chair House Sugar Caucus
U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon has announced that he will serve as co-chair for the House of Representatives Sugar Caucus in 2007. Congressman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) serves as the other chair of the caucus, which was created last year to help maintain a strong U.S. sugar policy in the upcoming Farm Bill.
Louisiana Reps. Alexander (R), Baker (R), Boustany (R), Jefferson (D), and Jindal (R) are also among the 30 members of the caucus.
U.S. sugar policy has operated at no cost to America's taxpayers, which makes the program particularly appealing given current budget deficits. Supporters also tout the facts that sugar policy is critical to America's food security and that it keeps retail sugar prices affordable and stable.
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SCOOP
Over the last year, a committee has been working to develop plans for how the AgCenter would operate in the event of various disaster scenarios that might close all or a portion of each unit. The committee has developed a template so that each unit can prepare its own Safety and Business Continuity of Operations Plan (SCOOP).
Two training sessions were held this month on May 9th and May 10th in which instructions were given on how to complete the template. Participants were also given information on the AgCenter’s overall campus plans in this area.
Each unit office (departments, regional offices, parish offices, stations, administrative offices, etc.) will be responsible for preparing a SCOOP. Each unit’s completed SCOOP will be due in the chancellor’s office by July 31, 2007.
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Regnal Wallace Ag Communicator of the Year Award
Congratulations to Bruce Schultz, assistant communications specialist with the AgCenter, who has been selected as the winner of the 2007 Regnal Wallace Ag Communicator of the Year Award by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. The award is presented each year to a farm journalist who has worked diligently to bring news of the importance of agriculture to the public through various new outlets.
The award will be presented to Bruce at the 85th annual Farm Bureau convention, held at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel June 21 through 24, 2007. The Organization Awards Program is scheduled for Thursday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Carondelet Room at the Marriott Hotel.
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Outstanding Nutrition Educator
In last month’s edition of e-Directions, I congratulated Juanice Moses, nutrition educator, in Natchitoches Parish, for being named Food and Nutrition program’s Outstanding Nutrition Educator at the recent EFNEP, FNP & FFNEWS 2007 Spring Conference.
Along with Juanice, I would also like to congratulate Erica Simon, EFNEP nutrition educator for Jefferson/Orleans parish, who was also recognized as the EFNEP Outstanding Nutrition Educator.
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Dr. Fred Enright, Jeanette Tucker and Lee Southern Named Distinguished Professorship
We extend our congratulations to the AgCenter faculty that have recently been recognized with distinguished professorships. Dr. Fred Enright was named to the Doyle Chambers Distinguished Professorship in the LSU AgCenter. Dr. Enright is professor and head of the Department of Veterinary Sciences. Dr. Jeannette Tucker was named to the Luella Dugas Chambers Distinguished Professorship. Dr. Tucker is a Family Economics professor within the School of Human Ecology. Dr. Lee Southern was named to the Doyle Chambers Professorship in Animal Science. Dr. Southern is a professor in the area of swine nutrition in the School of Animal Sciences.
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New Appointments
Congratulations to the following new appointments within the LSU AgCenter:
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Mary Ann Van Osdell, appointed assistant communication specialist for the communications department
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Esther Vanderlick, appointed associate county agent for the central region in Rapides parish
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Carrie Knott, appointed Assistant Professor for Plant Environmental Science
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Carrie Castille, promoted to Assistant Professor at Callegari
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Rafash Brew, appointed interim parish chair for Lincoln parish
Please give your full support to these individuals as they assume their new responsibilities.
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Please continue to visit the director’s website at:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/administration/about_us
/extension/our+director/index.htm
If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the director’s website, please contact me at pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
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