|
|
Cooperative Extension Service |
 |
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
Experiment Station |
|
|
|
|
|
History
Dale Bumpers College
|
Cooperative Extension Service
Departments
|
|
|
|
Dr. Ivory W. Lyles |
Winter can put a double-whammy on our fitness routines. When the temperature drops, so does the desire to get out and exercise. Then there are those special holiday treats, most laden with fat, sugar and salt.
"Winter can be challenging, even for active people," says Dr. Anne Sortor, assistant director-family and consumer sciences. "However, it's critical to maintain a regular fitness regimen during the winter to avoid losing strength, stamina and the ability to maintain or attain a healthy weight."
A few tips for being active:
The winter holidays are also a time to be extra vigilant against extra calories. It's hard to avoid sampling Aunt Irma's famous butter cookies or Uncle Buddy's lard-based chili. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the average weight gain during the holidays is one pound.
"There's nothing wrong with sampling, but be sure to think twice before you eat," Sortor said. "Those little nibbles can add up to a few hundred calories before the party is over."
She offers some survival tactics for the holidays:
The bottom line is to work to maintain your current weight and choose to
balance the extra calories with either extra exercise or fewer calories at your
next meal. For more ideas, check out the PDF "Beating the Battle of the Holiday
Bulge" at
http://www.uaex.edu/depts/FCS/EFNEP/Lessons/Healthy_Holidays/
Beating_the_Battle_of_the_Holiday_Bulge.pdf.
Enjoy the holidays in good health!
- Ivory W. Lyles
Stone Receives Regional Excellence in Extension Award
Dr. Nathan Stone, Extension specialist-section leader for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, has received a regional Excellence in Extension Award from the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Regional award recipients are recognized as a select group of Cooperative Extension System educators who excel at Extension programming, make a positive impact on constituents served and provide visionary leadership for the System.
"Dr. Stone has had a remarkable career as an Extension educator and has made a tremendous impact on the aquaculture industry," Dr. James Garner, interim dean/director of research and Extension programs at UAPB, said. "I believe that he is most deserving of this honor and recognition."
Since 1988, Dr. Nathan Stone has worked as part of an integrated research and Extension team at UAPB that has helped Arkansas to be a leader in warm water aquaculture production in the United States. This diverse industry produces a variety of food fish, sport fish, bait and ornamental species. The vast majority of fish farms are family operations and small businesses. UAPB aquaculture/fisheries specialists and researchers provide support for those fish farmers and farm pond owners through its Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence.
Dr. Stone has been instrumental in developing innovative programs that have served as models for regional and national initiatives. These include leading the development of the first research verification program in aquaculture that led to subsequent regional efforts. He was instrumental in development of Best Management Practices for baitfish. These were the first developed for this industry and were adopted by the Arkansas Bait and Ornamental Fish Growers Association.
The new Arkansas Bait and Ornamental Fish Certification program has generated intense interest nationally and is expected to serve as a model for reducing the spread of disease and aquatic nuisance species. The scale- neutral baitfish hatchery technologies that he developed through his research formed the basis for the commercial hatcheries used throughout the industry.
With his knowledge of science, aquaculture and fish politics, Dr. Stone provides important insights that help the Center to better serve the citizens of Arkansas and the rest of the aquaculture industry. He received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University and his master's degree and doctorate degree from Auburn University.
- Carol Sanders
Arkansas Soybean Research Conference Set for December 9
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service will host the 2008 Arkansas Soybean Research Conference on December 9 at the Brinkley Convention Center at Brinkley, Arkansas. The conference, sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, will highlight select research projects the Board currently funds.
"The goal of the research conference is to present more detailed information to growers on current and on - going research focused on soybeans," says Jeremy Ross, soybean agronomist for the Division and conference coordinator. The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board funds nearly $2.5 million for Arkansas-based soybean research. The hottest topics will be presented at this year's conference.
Scheduled topics and speakers include new and emerging soybean diseases from Extension Plant Pathologist Scott Monfort, soybean nematode issues and control options presented by Extension Plant Pathologist Terry Kirkpatrick, an update on the Arkansas Soybean Seed Quality project by Extension Plant Pathologist Rick Cartwright, glyphosate-resistant weeds from Associate Professor Jason Norsworthy, as well as presentations from three graduate students currently working on soybean research projects.
Conference registration begins at 8 a.m. on December 9 prior to the 8:30 a.m. program. Lunch will be served immediately following the program. Those interested in attending should contact Jeremy Ross by e-mail at jross@uaex.edu or by calling (501) 671-2148 to reserve your seat.
- Debby Monfort
2009 Galaxy Planning Well Under Way
The 2009 Galaxy Planning Committee is actively working on a final agenda for the March 4-6 meeting to be held at the Clarion Resort at Hot Springs. The theme for 2009 is Career Advancement Through Professional Development (CAPD).
An announcement has been e-mailed to Extension faculty seeking poster and speaker presenters for workshop sessions during the three-day conference. For more information on presenting, contact Stacey McCullough, AACES president. She has set a deadline for applying of Tuesday, December 9, 2008.
Registration information is forthcoming or already announced relating to registration fee, meals and hotel phone number to make room reservations. Contact Beth Phelps or Renee Perkins for information on registration.
Visit the 2009 Galaxy web site through the Spot portal and select the BENEFITS tab. You'll see "Galaxy Conference" in the third column in the Professional Organizations channel, according to Joy Buffalo, president of NEAFCS.
A tour of Garvan Gardens plus a get-acquainted time for first-timers and retirees is being planned for one session.
A complete posting of the draft agenda, registration materials, speaker/poster presenter request application and more will be shown very soon.
For more information on the 2009 Galaxy Conference, contact any of the planning committee members (office phone numbers listed below):
All Extension professionals are invited to participate in the 2009 CAPD Galaxy Conference at Hot Springs regardless of membership in one of the sponsoring associations.
- Don Plunkett
Connected Communities Chosen for Innovative Community Development Award
Congratulations to Hope/Hempstead County Connected Communities for being chosen to receive the Innovative Community Development Program Award for communities with 10,000-50,000 population. The award was presented at the Arkansas Community Development Society (ACDS) Annual Conference on October 30 at Conway. "The purpose of this award of merit is to provide recognition of successful programs and projects taking place in Arkansas communities and to promote best practices in community development across the state," stated Terre McLendon, awards committee chair for the Arkansas Community Development Society and research specialist at the UALR Institute for Economic Advancement. "Judging was based on innovativeness, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measured objectives and secondary benefits - the program's ability to produce ancillary benefits to other community development activities in the area."
A few of the accomplishments so far include:
"With the Governor's emphasis on county strategic plans and Connect Arkansas' effort to bring broadband to rural areas, this provides a valuable example of what can happen when citizens and leaders come together to harness the power of technology in their county," states Mark Peterson, professor - community development.
- Mark Peterson
Pesticide Safety Education Program Receives Increased Funding
In Arkansas, about 26,000 farmers and commercial agribusiness professionals are licensed pesticide applicators - that's nearly 14 percent of Little Rock's population.
Ples Spradley, Extension pesticide specialist, coordinates the Pesticide Safety Education Program for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Spradley, an alumnus and associate professor of the Department of Plant Pathology, creates and provides training material for all pesticide education training in the state. A Pesticide Applicator's License allows an individual to purchase restricted-use pesticides. At any given time, there are approximately 20,400 private applicators that require retraining every five years and about 4,600 commercial applicators whose retraining occurs every three years licensed in the state. To help manage the statewide education program, Spradley relies on individual county Extension offices to coordinate training sessions for those 20,000 plus private applicators. He instructs the commercial and noncommercial applicators.
Pesticide Applicator Training is a half-day course for private individuals, like farmers, and a little longer for commercial/non-commercial professionals because they must take and pass exams in order to be licensed. "I like training the new ones," says Spradley. "I like to take extra time with them." Once an individual has taken the training course, they apply and pay for the license.
Traditionally, funding for pesticide safety education is provided by the EPA. Nationally, pesticide safety education programs have received $1.2 million. "Funding has been basically stagnant since 1976," says Spradley. "Registration fees for training courses have been implemented to offset the shortfall of federal funding."
In his role as president of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, Spradley has had an active voice and has worked closely with EPA to encourage increased federal funding amounts for pesticide education programs.
In 2008, his efforts were rewarded with changes to the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act II. An additional $500,000 has been earmarked for nationwide safety education efforts, translating to $1.7 million nationwide. Spradley's funding dollars will nearly double from $17,000 to $33,000 annually. The Arkansas State Plant Board also supports the Division's efforts with a portion of proceeds devoted to education from every private license sold.
Spradley is also enthusiastic about two other programs related to safe pesticide practices. He serves on the Abandoned Pesticide Committee, which was developed out of 2001 state legislation to provide farmers a free, approved method of safely discarding old and unwanted pesticides. The disposal program is conducted at the county level, with about 20 Arkansas counties participating so far.
Another program Spradley supports is the pesticide container recycling program. "Arkansas ranks third in the nation for recycling pesticide containers," says Spradley. The recycling program is free and available year round. "It's a joy to be involved in these programs," he says. "It's just win-win-win . . . it's great for everybody."
- Debby Monfort
2009 Calendar of Events: Key Dates
January 1 - New Year's Day Holiday
January 12 - Leadership Team Meeting
January 9 - Division of Agriculture Awards Program Luncheon
January 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday
January 26 - Executive Team Meeting
February 9 - Leadership Team Meeting
February 23 - Executive Team Meeting
March 4-6 - Galaxy Conference
March 9 - Leadership Team Meeting
March 9 - State Faculty Conference
March 10 - Division of Agriculture Unit Heads Meeting
March 13 - Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame Induction
March 23 - Executive Team Meeting
April 13 - Leadership Team Meeting
April 27 - Executive Team Meeting
May 11 - Leadership Team Meeting
May 25 - Memorial Day Holiday
June 8 - Leadership Team Meeting
June 8 - State Faculty Conference
June 9 - Division of Agriculture Unit Heads Meeting
June 22 - Executive Team Meeting
July 3 - Independence Day Holiday
July 13 - Leadership Team Meeting
July 27 - Executive Team Meeting
August 10 - Leadership Team Meeting
August 24 - Executive Team Meeting
September 7 - Labor Day Holiday
September 14 - Leadership Team Meeting
September 14 - State Faculty Conference
September 15 - Division of Agriculture Unit Heads Meeting
September 28 - Executive Team Meeting
October 9-18 - Arkansas State Fair
October 12 - Leadership Team Meeting
October 26 - Executive Team Meeting
November 9 - Leadership Team Meeting
November 23 - Executive Team Meeting
November 26 - Thanksgiving Day Holiday
November 27 - Day after Thanksgiving Holiday (If the Governor declares)
December 14 - Leadership Team Meeting
December 14 - State Faculty Conference
December 14 - Little Rock State Office Christmas Luncheon
December 15 - Division of Agriculture Unit Heads Meeting
December 24 - Christmas Eve Holiday
December 25 - Christmas Day Holiday
December 28 - In lieu of Presidents' Day/Daisy Gatson Bates Day
December 29 - In lieu of Veteran's Day Holiday
December 30 - In lieu of Employee's Birthday Holiday
December 31 - Annual leave
January 1, 2010 - New Year's Day
For details about these key dates and all other 2009 events, go to http://calendar.uaex.edu/main/CALENDAR.ASP
Grants and Contracts
| Project Title | Award Amount | Principal Investigator | Granting Agency |
| Family Nutrition Education | $1,351,605.00 | Rosemary Rodibaugh | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| Regional Multi-State Enterprise Budgets for Organic Vegetable Crops | $6,750.00 | Ron Rainey | Texas Cooperative Extension |
| Production Cost and Marketing Education for Arkansas Beef Producers | $32,945.00 | Brett Barham | Texas Cooperative Extension |
| Implement Plan of Work for the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Profession Development Program | $10,000.00 | Suzanne Hirrel | University of Georgia |
| Interim Management Program Update | $53,763.00 | Tom Riley | Arkansas Natural Resources Commission |
| A Comprehensive Watershed Response Modeling for 12-Digit Hydrolic Unit Code "HUC" in Selected Priority Watersheds in Arkansas | $169,106.00 | Dharmendra Saraswat | Arkansas Natural Resources Commission |
| Agronomic Limitations of Soybean Yield and Seed Quality in U.S. | $63,968.00 | Jeremy Ross | Iowa State University |
| Testing and Evaluating of RiceTec Hybrids | $25,000.00 | Chuck Wilson | RiceTec |
| PTA for Business Firms | $570,240.00 | Sue Coates | Department of Defense |
| Wheat Verification | $106,195.00 | Jason Kelley | Wheat Promotion Board |
| Wheat Disease Management | $16,959.00 | Scott Monfort | Wheat Promotion Board |
| Agronomic Practices to Improve Profitability | $19,820.00 | Jason Kelley | Wheat Promotion Board |
| Team Approach to Weed Management in Wheat | $10,000.00 | Bob Scott | Wheat Promotion Board |
| An Evaluation of Soil Compaction in Conservation Tillage Cotton Fields and Under Variable Rate Center Pivot Irrigation Systems and Determination of Fuel Efficiencies in Tillage Operations at Judd Hill Plantation | $10,000.00 | Subodh Kulkarni | Cotton Incorporated |
|
Total |
$2,446,351.00 |
|
© 2006 |
|
|
University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
Mission
•
Disclaimer
•
EEO
•
|
Printer Friendly
