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Dr. Ivory W. Lyles |
The annual field day at the Stuttgart Rice Research and Extension Center was a couple of weeks ago, and of the 500 plus attending, it is estimated that approximately 250 producers came to learn about the latest technologies and management practices that might benefit them in these challenging times.
Over the years, producers have learned to turn to the Division's research and extension experts for answers to very tough questions, with results that have kept rice the top row crop when it comes to revenue generated for farmers. The three-way partnership between producers, research and extension has proved beneficial over the decades.
Yields have risen steadily, thanks to research and extension. A comparison of today's production yields with those of 57 years ago tells the story.
In 1948, Arkansas farmers harvested 2,350 pounds of rice per acre. Today, that same acre saw 6,650 pounds harvested. If you look back just 10 years, farmers harvested 5,450 pounds per acre in 1995, which is 1,160 pounds per acre less than in 2005.
If technology and today's management practices had not evolved over the decades, which they have thanks to research and extension, today's farmer would need to farm almost three times as much land as he did in 1948 to produce the same quantity of rice, and we would see farmers squeezed even more than what is occurring today.
Given the rising of costs of land, fuel and fertilizer, it's easy to see that without extension's efforts, rice farming in Arkansas might not have survived.
Farmers today are facing a very difficult situation. The costs for inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides, continue to increase, yet, the prices farmers are paid remains flat, leaving rice producers in a bind.
As they have done for decades, farmers came to the field day looking for solutions that will give them a step up in keeping their operations more efficient. They have put so much faith in the Division of Agriculture's ability to provide answers that they have invested millions through their check-off dollars into research and extension.
Based on what was presented during the field day, the farmers are getting a good return on their investment. Researchers and extension faculty were demonstrating new technologies and providing sound advice as to how producers can continue becoming even more productive given a finite amount of land and the pressures from the rising costs of inputs.
Today, as was the case 57 years ago, the three-way partnership is invaluable to farmers, and our success with farmers is invaluable to Arkansas. The crop in 2005 added $811 million to Arkansas' economy. The impact of the revenue benefited rural Arkansas in particular, but all of Arkansas as well, as it rippled through the economy impacting employment in several sectors.
Our ability to help rice producers confronted with very difficult pressures is vital to their ability to remain viable. Farmers and private consultants to farmers have learned over many years to look to extension faculty for the answers on which they can depend. During the field day in Stuttgart, they were getting their money's worth.
This article is to say "thank you" to the faculty of the Division of Agriculture, especially Extension, for your hard work and dedication to the citizens of Arkansas and to the University of Arkansas.
- Ivory W. Lyles
A Call for Leaders
Are you looking for a professional development opportunity to enhance your career? Strengthen your leadership skills? Build a professional network? If so, consider applying to the Faculty Leadership Program.
The Faculty Leadership Program began accepting applications for Class Three on August 1, 2006. To learn more about the program and to apply online, visit the
Faculty Leadership Program web site at: www.uaex.edu/depts/OSLD/Programs/flp/default.htm. The application period closes September 15, 2006.
Extension faculty members and professionals are eligible for the program. This includes county agents, specialists and administrators. A minimum of five years of Extension experience or combined university experience is required.
The Faculty Leadership Program provides Extension professionals leadership development through training, hands-on experiences and personal reflection. The main goal of the program is to build a strong leadership base within the Cooperative Extension Service. The Faculty Leadership Program focuses on developing and building strengths related to knowledge of the organization, human relationships, communication, professionalism, leadership and program and resource development.
FLP Class 3 begins January, 2007. The program includes seven seminars, two and a half days in length, and a study tour to Washington, D.C. The program concludes with a graduation event in April 2008.
In addition to providing positive leadership and professional growth experiences, the program has been approved for three hours of graduate level credit in the Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences through the Agriculture and Extension Education department.
– Allisen Penn
Polk County 4-H'ers Participate in Terrific Tuesdays Day Camps
Polk County Extension staff offered five weeks of day camps for 4-H members ages 9 through 13 during July and August. Promoted as "Terrific Tuesdays" and organized with a different theme each week, the program was a huge success. Commitment and participation in projects by younger 4-H members was identified as a concern by the 4-H subcommittee of the County Extension Council. The day camp concept was implemented as a way to get this age group excited and involved beyond club level.
The first day of activities was themed "Fun Food Day" and was conducted by FCS Agent Kim Hughes. 4-H members learned about food labels, shopping for healthy foods and preparing healthy snacks. Food safety guidelines were discussed and a session on manners and table etiquette was included.
The second session was titled "Play it Safe" and included instruction on ATV safety, gun safety, skin cancer safety, boating safety, internet safety and fire safety. Participants received a free smoke detector and gun lock from the speakers. 4-H Program Assistant Robin Melrose took the lead on this session and FCS Agent Gloria Strother assisted. The highlight of this session was getting first-hand experience using a fire extinguisher.
The third session was called "The Sky's the Limit" and was led by Staff Chair Carla Vaught. This session focused on aviation. Activities included touring the local airport where 4-H'ers were taken on board a 727 jet, watched jet engines being overhauled and saw Comedy Central actor/comedian Dave Chappelle's jet being customized by a local airplane upholstery shop. Participants learned about the 20 businesses and industries providing jobs for Polk County families at the Mena Intermountain Airport. The highlight of this day was traveling to River Bend Flyers flight field and flying radio controlled aircraft.
"4-H in the Great Outdoors" was conducted at Cossatot State Park. Park staff taught the 4-H'ers about Cossatot State Park, local wildlife in the park and led them on an afternoon of scavenging for macro invertebrates in the shallow water of the Cossatot River. The youth learned about water quality based on indicator species inhabiting the water. They determined that the water was definitely clean enough to swim in and spent the last hour swinging off the rope swing at a swimming hole. Robin and Carla were the staff members that chaperoned the day.
The final day of camp was an afternoon of preparing for the county fair. The theme was "Color Me Creative" and consisted of making items that could be exhibited in the county fair. All staff members worked to make this day happen. 4-H members chose three of eight projects to complete during the day. Projects included making a screech owl house; leather craft bracelet or key chain; sewing a 4-H pillow; photography; popsicle stick art; bead art; or painting plaster of paris animals. After a long day of creativity, the 4-H members were awarded their Terrific Tuesdays 4-H T-shirts and sent home with their projects for the fair.
– Carla Vaught
Trip to National Congress Supported by AACES
The Arkansas Association of Cooperative Extension Specialists is pleased to announce the 4-H'er who will receive a trip to National 4-H Congress donated by AACES.
Joshua Harris, Jefferson County, received a trip to Congress for his work in encouraging individual development. His project focused on leadership.
It's an honor to donate the trip to National 4-H Congress for this outstanding 4-H'er.
Harris will speak about his trip to Congress during the AACES annual meeting in January.
– Elizabeth Fortune
4-H Alumni Search
The Arkansas 4-H Centennial is quickly approaching, and we are busy making the plans to make this one of the best celebrations ever. Right now, we are focused on finding all possible 4-H Alumni. By Alumni, we mean anyone who has participated in 4-H as a 4-H’er, volunteer, leader or agent. If you or anyone you know fits this description and you have not completed our Alumni Registration form, please go to www.kidsarus.org and do so today. During the months of August and September, many of our county agents are distributing this information through their county fairs. By completing the form, you can be informed of all the activities surrounding the Centennial Celebration and 4-H in Arkansas. Watch for more details on the Celebration to come.
– Sarah L. Harrison
4-H COnnection Moving Statewide!
No one is more amazed than we are that our efforts to increase 4-H clubs in Poinsett and Van Buren counties have swiftly spread to a statewide 4-H marketing tool! It is overwhelming that more than 100 Career Orientation (CO) teachers in 55 counties have expressed an interest in utilizing 4-H curriculum after hearing about the 4-H COnnection project.
Since we were former CO teachers, we had often discussed what a great fit 4-H was for the one-semester course that is mandatory for seventh or eighth grade students in Arkansas Public Schools. When we found that there were no plans for future editions of CO textbooks, we decided to apply for a FY06 Associate Vice President’s Internal Innovative Grant and initiate a pilot in eight schools. We were invited to present the project to a CO certification class at Arkansas State University, a CO Teacher In-service Workshop at Crowley's Ridge Education Service Cooperative and to the Arkansas Career Orientation Teachers Association (ACOTA) at the annual conference in Hot Springs.
Early reviews of the 4-H COnnection concept were positive, and the project gained “approved” status for Carl Perkins Funding, the federal funding earmarked for vocational classes in public schools. Educational Cooperatives began to call offering to pay our expenses for 4-H COnnection workshops during the summer. After those workshops, many inquiries about 4-H Career Project Clubs soon followed.
We really appreciate the support that we have gotten from Dr. Judy Robison, Dr. Darlene Baker and the state staff in 4-H, Finance and IT. Sherry Jones graciously launched the 4-H COnnection In-service Training through Educator. Chris Meux, Gloria Mayhugh, Holley Tucker and Carolyn Bryant in Communications assisted us with the creation of very professional brochures, publications and conference exhibits.
Any county agent interested in learning more about reaching the junior high audience through the CO classroom should benefit from completing the Educator training (available until December 20, 2006). We are in the process of creating a CD of marketing tools and directions for assembling the teaching kits. In the meantime, we will e-mail materials to agents, who complete the Educator training and accompanying survey.
Again we would like to say thanks for your support of the 4-H COnnection Project and your patience as it has grown from a two county endeavor to a statewide 4-H initiative!
– Earlene D. Brecheen and Debbie DeRossitte
Retiring Classified Employees Now Eligible to Receive Money for Unused Sick Leave
Classified employees at the U of A Division of Agriculture who are planning to retire can now receive money for their unused sick leave due to recent legislation. During the first year that this legislation has been in effect, two retiring Extension classified employees have received checks for their unused sick leave.
The program provides an incentive for employees to use their sick leave only when necessary, reducing absenteeism. The total paid by Extension to the two retirees was $6,160.26.
Questions concerning retirement should be directed to Lynda Lee, benefits manager, at llee@uaex.edu, while leave questions should be directed to Sherry Funderburg, payroll benefits specialist, at sfunderburg@uaex.edu.
– Bernadette Hinkle
To Send or Not to Send
Have you ever received news that tugged at your heart? Often, your first impulse is to share that information in an e-mail to all employees. Before you succumb to that urge, please take a moment to consider how appropriate that message is to our business environment. For help, review Extension’s policy on computer and network use, which gives you these valuable tips:
Before sending out that mass e-mail, take a moment to consider whether it is really appropriate. A patriotic message to support our troops may be a worthwhile message to share, but it isn’t consistent with our educational mission. If sent, it should be handled outside of normal working hours. Sharing personal information about someone in our Extension family, such as the loss or illness of a family member, is of interest to us all, but should only be shared if the person involved gives prior approval of the message content and to whom it is sent. Refrain from sending any e-mail message that sells a product, solicits contributions for a cause or asks the message to be mass forwarded to others.
E-mail has become so convenient; we often forget that it is the official method for us to communicate with our colleagues. If in doubt, delay that mass e-mail and ask your friendly IT department.
– Nina R. Boston
Grants and Contracts
| Project Title | Award Amount | Principal Investigator | Granting Agency |
| CSREES/AR Beef Improvement Program | $171,072.00 | Tom Troxel | Cooperative State Research, Education, & Extension Service |
| Wheat Verification | $4,220.00 | Jason Kelley | Wheat Promotion Board |
| Southern Region - Georgia (112) |
$20,000.00 |
Suzanne Hirrel | University of Georgia |
| Planning Project: Finding Government Contract Opportunities for Small Farmers and Agriculture-Related Businesses | $25,000.00 | Sue Coates | The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation |
| FY2007 Best Care Project | $190,432.00 | Traci Johnston | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| 2007 Best Care Connected | $59,476.00 | Traci Johnston | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| 2007 Guiding Children Successfully | $140,092.00 | Wally Goddard | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| 2007 AR 4-H Afterschool | $85,000.00 | Laveta Wills-Hale | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| Sudden Oak Death | $573.33 | Stephen Vann | State Plant Board |
| Rice Web Program | $3,000.00 | Nina Boston | Rice Research Promotion Board |
| Education Youth: BQA | $4,000.00 | Steven Jones | Arkansas Beef Council |
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Total |
$702,865.53 |
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© 2006 |
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University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
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