[Image: Cow]LSU AgCenter nutrition educator receives national USDA award:
JoAnn Smith, an LSU AgCenter nutrition educator in Richland Parish, has been awarded a certificate of recognition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service for her contributions to the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). She was presented the award during a conference for LSU AgCenter nutrition educators. Smith was commended for many accomplishments, including a collaborative partnership with the Richland Parish School System.
Beginning in 2006, she began monthly nutrition education programs for all fifth-grade students at Delhi Middle School. Smith also began nutrition programs to physical education students at Delhi Elementary School this school year. Click here for full story.
Source: Mary Ann Van Osdell
New Selected “For Sale” Printed Publications Policy Initiated:
The LSU AgCenter - Cooperative Extension Service is entering a relatively new phase in the distribution of selected publications. Clientele continue to request printed copies of larger and more popular publications, and they have indicated a willingness to pay for hard copies that traditionally have been expensive to print and distribute. Even if printed copies of selected publications are made available for a cost, we will continue to offer online versions of the publication and educational material free of charge to the public.
This new policy will change the protocol for these publications in the following manner -- rather than receiving a number of copies of these publications to distribute to your local clientele, you will receive a display copy of each and order forms that will allow people to buy the publications and have those books delivered (or mailed) to them.
Some examples currently available are: Louisiana Home Vegetable Gardening, 2009 Disease, Insect and Weed Control Guides, Building Your High Performance Home-Gulf Region Homeowners Guide, and soon to be available the Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods Guide to Environmental Landscaping.
All these can be viewed at http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/communications/publications/Publications+for+Sale/ so check it out today. Most parish offices should have display copies to sell using an order form.
Questions or comments can be directed to Penny Ringe, who is the publications coordinator in LSU AgCenter Communications. She can be reached at (225) 578-6598 or pringe@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Source: Bobby Fletcher Jr., bhfletcher@agcenter.lsu.edu
Solicitation for Stakeholder Input on the USDA Science Roadmap:
The Research, Education and Economics Office (REEO) of the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking stakeholder input on the preparation of a roadmap for agricultural research, education and extension at USDA. The announcement appeared in the Federal Register (74 FR 14767, April 1, 2009). The text of the REEO announcement about the proposed rule follows this memorandum. The deadline for submitting comments about the proposed rule is May 31, 2009. All questions about the announcement should be directed to the point of contact listed in the REEO solicitation.
SUMMARY: The Research, Education and Extension Office (REEO) of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission Area of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting written stakeholder input on the preparation of a roadmap for agricultural research, education and extension at USDA. The preparation of the Roadmap is mandated by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (FCEA) of 2008. By this notice, the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics has been designated to act on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) in soliciting public comment from interested parties regarding the preparation of the Roadmap.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by REE-2009-0001, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. E-mail: Roadmap@osec.usda.gov. Include REE-2009-0001 in the subject line of the message. Fax: (202) 690-1677. Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to:
Michele Simmons
Research, Education, and Extension Office (REEO)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mail Stop 0114
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.
Washington, DC 20250-0114
All comments received will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.
Source: Michele Simmons, (202) 720-1777 (phone), (202) 690-1677 (fax), or Roadmap@osec.usda.gov.
Lafayette LMG Group Recognized at International Conference:
The Lafayette Parish Master Gardener Children's Garden recently received the 2009 International Master Gardener Search for Excellence Award for Youth. Glenda Balliviero, chairperson for the gardens, received the award at the convention recently held in Las Vegas, Nev. It consisted of a beautiful plaque and a check for $150 to the Master Gardener group. This was the first international award received by a Master Gardener group from Louisiana.
Stuart Gauthier, county agent for Lafayette Parish in 2008, submitted a paper which Glenda had prepared describing the project in detail, the methods of instruction used, the results of the program, significant learning and impacts upon the community, as well as a budget narrative.
Both Glenda and her husband, Norman, also a Master Gardener, developed the gardens and provide the tours and educational programs.
The garden is located on the grounds of the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center in Lafayette. It is actually a part of the demo gardens which is a cooperative outreach program of the LSU AgCenter and UL of Lafayette. More than 4,000 children have visited the gardens, and programs for more than 700 children have been presented within the schools.
Source: Glenda Balliviero
SPESS Interim Director Chosen:
As all of you know, Dr. Freddie Martin has announced his retirement as SPESS director effective July 31, 2009. We thank Dr. Martin for his dedicated service to the School and the LSU AgCenter and we wish him well in this next chapter of his life. Under the current budgetary challenges facing the LSU AgCenter and the College of Agriculture, we have decided to select an Interim Director from the existing faculty. Dr. Don Labonte, Professor - Sweet Potato Breeding and Genetics, was appointed as interim director effective July 1, 2009. We feel confident that Dr. Labonte will do an outstanding job and work hand-in-hand with Dr. Martin over the next two months as this transition is implemented.
We also know that faculty support and assistance will be vital and important to a successful transition. We hope our budget challenges improve over the next year so we can move forward with a national search for a permanent director; however, until then, we want Dr. Labonte to proceed with the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and innovative goals that will move the School forward in teaching, research and extension. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Labonte for assuming this very important leadership position. The support of the faculty and staff is much appreciated.