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Dr. Tony E. Windham |
One of the best-kept secrets is a phrase many of us use in describing what we in extension do. The good news is that we may not be much of a secret any more.
On May 15, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ran a two-page feature story about the extension service, offering a small taste of what it is we do, and some of the more unusual issues we handle on a daily basis.
For many, the Cooperative Extension Service and the Division of Agriculture aren't a secret. Our agents, faculty and program associates and assistants are in the fields, pastures and barns working with our producers; helping educate our neighbors; and working with youth to develop productive citizens.
For example, our weed scientists are working with cooperators to find new methods for dispensing with resistant pigweed by capitalizing on pigweed's weakness: its short-lived seed. It is hoped that by promoting an environment that will keep the seed from germinating, fewer resistant plants will rise and less seed will be produced in the future. Agents and faculty are face-to-face with clients in the field helping to diagnose, treat or forestall production problems.
Extension faculty are part of a statewide, multi-agency team that is trying to combat teen abuse of prescription drugs through education. Arkansas has one of the highest rates of teen prescription drug abuse. We hope to curtail the problem by teaching parents and teachers how to spot symptoms of prescription drug abuse, as well as monitor, secure and properly dispose of unused and unneeded prescription drugs.
In 4-H, we're expanding our client base in youth development. One example is the rebranding of the RES-Q program into the Arkansas Outdoor School. The aim is to give the program a broader appeal. Meanwhile, we're continuing another successful program with a nontraditional base: Operation Military Kids.
We're also responding to the economic downturn. Community and Economic Development recently held workshops on local government finance to equip state and county faculty to better provide services in times of financial stress. Tools for participants included a PowerPoint showing each county government's financial trends. Also available is a database with income and spending for all counties from 1999 to 2007, for those wanting to perform their own analyses.
Now that the secret's out to thousands more Arkansans, let's continue to spread the word.
- Tony E. Windham
Zimbra A to Z
From archiving to Zimlets, the transition to Zimbra will address a range of topics that allow you to effectively manage your e-mail and calendar plus new features. The move to Zimbra is a positive step for Extension. It provides increased storage space - up to 7GB versus our current limits of 250MB - improved reliability and additional capabilities - all for a lower cost.
How do we prepare for the Zimbra transition? We're providing multiple channels for this information to fit your busy schedule.
Multiple auditorium sessions have been scheduled for the week before and after for those in the Little Rock State Office or nearby. Support staff received classroom training during the recent in-service training sessions at the C. A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center.
We will be scheduling multiple Centra sessions the week before and after the June 4 transition date. We've also recorded a Centra session that will be placed on the new county disk and will be accessible via IT's Zimbra web page at www.uaex.edu/depts/InfoTech/Zimbra/. These sessions cover the same material as the face-to-face sessions but can be viewed at your convenience and as many times as you choose.
- Sam Boyster
Zimbra Rollout to Occur in Phases
The Zimbra rollout will be phased.
Phase 1 will begin at the close of business on Friday, June 4, with the routing of all e-mail to the new Zimbra e-mail system. Our objective is to ensure basic e- mail functions are operational the following Monday, June 7, for the start of the workweek.
Phase 2 begins as soon as we can be assured the majority of Extension personnel are receiving and able to send e-mail properly. Over the next two to three months, the focus will be on archiving your old GroupWise e-mail using a product called "Archive To Go." You will still be able to view your old e-mail through GroupWise until you run the Archive To Go product.
Phase 3 begins after we've addressed archiving. We recommend using the Web interface because of the convenience and additional features offered. However, if you wish to use Microsoft Outlook, Zimbra is compatible. Use of Outlook will require IT to rebuild your computer to ensure all traces of GroupWise have been removed for Outlook to function properly.
- Sam Boyster
2010 ACAAA Communications Awards
The following awards were presented from the Arkansas County Agricultural Agent's Association Arkansas Affiliate of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents at the annual meeting in April:
Audio Recordings
National Finalist Jack Boles, Jr., "Renting Land."
Published Photo and Caption
Craig Allen, "4-H Shooters Take Aim at State Shooting Match."
Computer-Generated Graphics (Regional Finalist Southern)
Robert Goodson, "Agriculture in Phillips County," PowerPoint presentation.
Program Promotional Piece
Lance Kirkpatrick, "Utilizing personal invitations to increase attendance at local field days."
Personal Column
Craig Allen, "Ag Talk."
Feature Story
Lance Kirkpatrick, "Cold weather can be hard on beef cattle."
Newsletter, Individual
Lance Kirkpatrick, "Logan County beef producers love the Beef and Forage Review."
Newsletter, Team
Rick Thompson and Craig Allen, "Poinsett County Agri-News."
Video
Jesse Bocksnick, "Backyard Farming in the River Valley."
Fact Sheet (Regional Finalist)
Stewart Runsick, "Rice Seeding Rate Recommendations for Arkansas, FSA2157."
Publication
James Robert Hall, "Pocket Guide to Parliamentary Procedure," MP475.
Website
Dustin Blakey, "Bloomer Online."
Bound Book (Regional Finalist)
Robert Goodson, "Result Demonstrations in Agriculture for Phillips County."
These awards were submitted to the regional level for judging. Robert Goodson was a southern regional finalist in bound book and computer-generated graphics. Stewart Runsick was a southern regional finalist in fact sheet. At the national level, Jack Boles, Jr., was a national finalist in the audio recordings category. The regional and national finalists will be recognized at the national meeting in July.
- Keith Perkins
Monsanto Donates $5K to Desha County 4-H Foundation
The 4-H Foundation has received a $5,000 donation from Monsanto, thanks to the energy and generosity of the county's farmers.
Monsanto sponsored a contest titled "America's Farmers Grow Communities Project," in which eligible farmers enrolled for a chance to win money for a nonprofit of their choice.
Don Smith of McGehee, was chosen as the recipient for Desha County and chose the county's 4-H Foundation as the recipient of the $2,500 donation.
The Desha County 4-H Foundation also received an extra $2,500 for having the most producers of any county within Arkansas enrolled in the Monsanto contest.
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Autumn Day (second from left) of Monsanto presented the Desha County 4-H Foundation a check for $5,000. Don Smith of McGehee chose the Desha County 4-H Foundation to be recipient of a $2,500 donation. Also included in the picture (from left to right) are A.J. Hood, Desha County Extension agent, Leta Lampkin, secretary for the Desha County Cooperative Extension Service, and Ann Compton, Desha County 4-H program assistant. A.J., Leta, and Ann were instrumental in ensuring Desha County claimed the donation. |
- Wes Kirkpatrick
Extension Honored for Continuing Coverage
The Cooperative Extension Service has been honored by Arkansas Press Women for having the best continuing news coverage. Extension was recognized for its news coverage of the wet harvest in the last quarter of 2009. The Division of Agriculture was also awarded first place for Arkansas Land and Life magazine.
Arkansas Press Women is a 61-year-old organization devoted to professional development among journalists and other mass communications professionals of both sexes.
The winners were announced June 5.
Celebrating Years of Service
Several employees were recognized for their dedication and years of service to our organization during the annual Classified In-Service training.
Those recognized include:
Five years of service
Dena Childs, Human Resources, LRSO
Trina Jackson, Family and Consumer Sciences, LRSO
Veronica Jones, C.A. Vines 4-H Center
Paula Long, Crop, Soil and Environmental Science, LRSO
10 years of service
Kelly Cochran, Financial Services, LRSO
Tomeka Nolen, Entomology, LRSO
15 years of service
Rebekah Beene, Clark County
Roxie Jones, Little River County
20 years of service
Amy Hedges, Administration, LRSO
Paul Martin, C.A. Vines 4-H Center
Janet Slate, C.A. Vines 4-H Center
30 years of service
Susan James, Information Technology, LRSO
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| 5 Years (from left): Dr. Tony Windham, Dena Childs, Paula Long, Veronica Jones and Trina Jackson | |
| 10 Years (from left): Dr. Tony Windham and Kelly Cochran | |
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| 15 Years (from left): Dr. Tony Windham, Roxie Jones and Rebekah Beene | |
| 30 Years (from left): Dr. Tony Windham and Susan James | |
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| 20 Years (from left): Dr. Tony Windham, Janet Slate, Paul Martin and Amy Hedges |
- Elizabeth Fortune
Miller County Agent Earns Scholarship From Retirees
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| BIG CHECK – Members of the Extension Cord editorial board share a laugh as they present a big check to scholarship winner Carla Haley. From left to right, J.W. Lehman, Lorraine Hupp, Fann Woodward, Mike Wright, Bob Reynolds (at microphone), Stan Chapman, Haley, Miller County Staff Chair Doug Petty (University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower). |
Carla Haley, a Miller County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, has been awarded the 2010 scholarship funded by retirees of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Haley, of Texarkana, has worked for the extension service for 19 years, all of them in Miller County. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in Human and Environmental Sciences from the University of Arkansas.
This is the second year the scholarship has been awarded. The scholarship fund was established to aid professional development efforts for extension personnel.
"We're in the education business, and since advanced education is for the benefit of both the employee and the organization, we thought it would be a good way to spend our resources," said Mike Wright, a member of the editorial board of the "Extension Cord," the monthly newsletter for extension retirees.
Wright said the idea goes back to the time in extension when there was no financial assistance for employees who were doing graduate work.
To donate or for other information about the scholarship, contact Merritt Royal, director of development-extension for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, at 479-575-2322 or via e-mail at mjroyal@uark.edu.
- Elizabeth Fortune
Burnett Honored by Memorial Scholarship
Jim Burnett, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board and a former member of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation board, is being honored with a scholarship established in his name.
Burnett had deep ties with 4-H, going back to his days as a member. He was 1965 Journal winner in leadership from Van Buren County and went on to win state and national awards.
Donations can be made online at http://arkansas4hfoundation.com/ or can be mailed to the Arkansas 4-H Foundation, Jim Burnett Memorial Scholarship, 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204. For additional information, please contact Dr. Brad Davis at 501-671-2079 or bdavis@uaex.edu.
Constant Contact vs. Spam
Constant Contact has proven to be a valuable tool in communicating our programs to clients. Constant Contact has strict rules about how its service should be used in order for it, and the user, to maintain credibility and not be consigned to the spam folder.
If you are using Constant Contact, please remember that these points are included under the terms of service.
If you have any questions, refer to the terms of use at http://www.constantcontact.com/uidocs/CCSiteOwnerAgreement.jsp.
- Mary Hightower
New Course on Social Media
Community and Economic Development has a new educational offering, "Social Media for Small Businesses." The course is offered in two ways - a six- session classroom series or an online Moodle course.
Participants receive hands-on training using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, blogs and RSS feeds and guidance on developing a social media marketing plan for their business. Kim Magee serves as lead instructor.
CED partnered with the Johnson County extension office to pilot the curriculum. Participants represented a variety of businesses. "It's been the most enjoyable seminar I've attended thus far in my short career. Now I feel up-to-speed with my younger customers and their social media involvement - and equipped to do it," said one participant.
Want to see more? Check out the class blog (http://socialmediaclassofclarksville.blogspot.com/) and YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8JjTjDzmbI).
This program was developed with funding from the National e-Commerce Extension Initiative Grants Program. Other team members include Drs. Jeff Miller and Leslie Edgar (Agricultural and Extension Education) and Stacey McCullough.
Counties interested in hosting a "Social Media for Small Business" seminar series should contact Kim Magee (kmagee@uaex.edu; 501-671-2081). The online course is expected to be available beginning July 1.
- Stacey McCullough
Broyles, Beebe Headline EHC State Meeting
The first family of Arkansas college football and the first lady of Arkansas are scheduled to speak during the state meeting of the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council.
The meeting is set for June 8-10 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
Frank Broyles, longtime coach and athletic director at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; his daughter, Betsy Arnold; and his granddaughter, Molly McCall Arnold, will be the keynote speakers during the opening session on June 8.
Broyles lost Barbara, his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of 59 years, to Alzheimer's disease in October 2004. He is now a very strong advocate for those with Alzheimer's and is setting the pace to find a cure for the disease.
The family members will share their experiences as caregivers and their efforts to help others. Broyles, his daughters, Linda and Betsy, along with Betsy's husband, David, wrote "Coach Broyles' Caregiver's Playbook."
Betsy Arnold is executive director of the Barbara Broyles Legacy Fund, and Molly Arnold is president of Barbara Broyles Legacy.
Ginger Beebe became the first lady of Arkansas when her husband, Mike Beebe, was inaugurated as governor of Arkansas in 2007. She will discuss volunteerism during the final session of the meeting June 10. Mrs. Beebe credits her parents, who adopted her when she was 4, with instilling in her the value of helping others.
Her love for volunteering is reflected in the many activities in which she is involved, including the Committee of 100, which supports the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, and her report, "The Arkansas Mental Health System for Children… A Family Perspective."
- Eva Marie Pearson
Great Places Road Trip Great Success
"[A] great experience, and I learned a tremendous amount about what can be done in our community."
That's how Terry Cook, executive director of the Harrison Convention and Visitor's Bureau, summarized the "Creating Great Places Road Trip." The May 20-21 road trip attracted community leaders from Harrison, Springdale, Bull Shoals, Cabot, Little Rock and Broken Arrow, Okla.
The trip was offered by the Breakthrough Solutions program and Harrison C.O.R.E.
"The purpose of the road trip was to learn from leaders in four communities, Extension faculty and Breakthrough Solutions partners what are the most important strategies to create great places that will attract people to live, work and play," said Mark Peterson, professor of community development. The Road Trip visited key leaders in Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Russellville, and included a walking tour of downtown Conway, a trolley tour of Little Rock led by former Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey and interaction with Extension county agents and state faculty.
Noah Washburn, associate district director - Ouachita, told the North Little Rock session participants about helping farmers investigate forming a cooperative after Pilgrim's Pride announced it was closing its poultry processing plant.
Tom Riley, interim assistant director - CED, explained how Extension's Community and Economic Development Department can help communities with economic studies, leadership development, public policy issues and businesses contracting with the government.
Phil Sims, Pope County Extension agent - staff chair, moderated a panel of Russellville leaders and shared how Master Gardeners, the Pope County Farmers' Market, fire ant program and agricultural industry all impact the development of the community.
- Mark Peterson
Kami Marsh, Faulkner County Extension agent, moderates a panel of Conway leaders (l to r): Kim Williams, executive director, Conway Downtown Partnership; George Covington, developer and president, Conway Downtown Partnership; Bill Hegeman, treasurer, Downtown Partnership; and Jack Bell, assistant to the mayor of Conway.
Honorary and Memorial Gifts
The following honorary and memorial gifts were recently received in support of programs and funds within the Cooperative Extension Service. This list covers gifts deposited April 1 - 30, 2010.
- Lynn R. Russell Endowed Award for Professional Excellence
In memory of Lynn Russell
William Russell
Honorary or memorial donations may be forwarded to the Development Office, Cooperative Extension Service, 2301 South University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204. To ensure that proper notification is sent, please also include in whose honor or memory the gift is made and the mailing address of the person to receive the notification.
- Merritt Royal
Grants and Contracts for Month Ending April 30, 2010
| Project Title | Award Amount | Principal Investigator | Granting Agency |
| Soybean Real-Time Weed and Disease Alerts |
$ 5,500 |
Bob Reynolds | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Site-Specific Determination of In-Season Corn Nutrient and pH Variablity Under Arkansas Growing Conditions |
$34,000 |
Dharmendra Saraswat | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| Weed Management Systems, Resistance, and Interference in Soybean |
$71,007 |
Dr. Bob Scott | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Developing a New Threshold for Corn Earworm, Helicoverpa zea |
$38,600 |
Dr. Gus Lorenz | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Biocontrol Option (Afla-Guard) for Control of Aflatoxin Production in Corn |
$19,500 |
Dr. Jason Kelley | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Verification Program |
$108,000 |
Dr. Jason Kelley | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| Developing Planting Date Guidelines for Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum |
$38,000 |
Dr. Jason Kelley | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| Improving Technology Transfer for Profitable Corn and Grain Sorghum Production in Arkansas |
$27,500 |
Dr. Jason Kelley | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| Improving Technology Transfer for Profitable and Sustainable Soybean Production |
$27,000 |
Dr. Jeremy Ross | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Investigating Emerging Production Recommendations for Sustainable Soybean Production Using Production Systems |
$24,500 |
Dr. Jeremy Ross | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Soybean Maximum Yield Research |
$2,000 |
Dr. Jeremy Ross | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Soybean Research Verification Program |
$126,500 |
Dr. Jeremy Ross | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Statewide Monitoring of Soybean Rust and Other Diseases |
$9,201 |
Dr. Jeremy Ross | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Optimizing Soil Fertility Requirements for Corn |
$25,500 |
Dr. Leo Espinoza | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| Optimizing the Lime Requirements for Soybeans |
$20,900 |
Dr. Leo Espinoza | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Management of Grain Sorghum Diseases in Arkansas |
$23,350 |
Dr. Richard Cartwright | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| A Comprehensive Approach to Assessing Soybean Varieties for Chloride Toxicity |
$8,000 |
Dr. Richard Cartwright | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Commercialization and Discovery of Biocontrol Agents for Soybean Nematodes |
$23,000 |
Dr. Richard Cartwright | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Comprehensive Disease Screening of Soybean Varieties in Arkansas |
$68,000 |
Dr. Richard Cartwright | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Soybean Planting Seed Quality Assessment and Education in Arkansas |
$80,800 |
Dr. Richard Cartwright | Soybean Promotion Board |
| National TAAF Training Coordination Center |
$715,000 |
Dr. Ron Rainey | University of Minnesota |
| Evaluation of Control Options and Treatment Thresholds for Redbanded Stink Bug (Piezodorus guildinii) in Arkansas Soybean |
$28,700 |
Dr. Scott Akin | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Assessment of the Importance of Nematodes and Foliar Disease in Corn in Arkansas |
$22,413 |
Dr. Scott Monfort | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| Evaluation of White Grain Sorghum Hybrids in Arkansas |
$6,000 |
Dr. Scott Monfort | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| Sentinel Plots to Monitor Program for Early Detection of Soybean Rust and Continued Development of Model Forecasts of Soybean Rust Spore Movement and Spread in the United States |
$40,000 |
Dr. Scott Monfort | North Central Southern Research Program |
| Defining the Spatial Distribution and Movement of Inoculum of Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 for the Precision Management of Aerial Blight on Soybean |
$3,000 |
Dr. Scott Monfort | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Effect of Various Application Timing and Rates of Soybean Rust Fungicides on Endemic Foliar Diseases in Crop Production Systems in Arkansas |
$1,082 |
Dr. Scott Monfort | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Integrated Management of Soybean Nematodes |
$31,586 |
Dr. Scott Monfort | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Newly Emerging Diseases in Double Crop Production Systems in Arkansas |
$19,000 |
Dr. Scott Monfort | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Statewide Monitoring of Soybean Rust and Other Diseases |
$28,399 |
Dr. Scott Monfort | Soybean Promotion Board |
| Hot Springs Village Study IV |
$5,000 |
Dr. Wayne Miller | Hot Springs Village Property Owner Association |
| 4-H/Army Youth Development Project-KS |
$38,520 |
Maureen Rose | Kansas State University |
| Economic Analysis of Corn and Grain Sorghum Production Practices |
$4,500 |
Scott Stiles | Corn and Grain Promotion Board |
| TOTAL APRIL 2010 AWARDS |
$1,724,058 |
Monthly Gift Total Summary - March 2010
The following chart summarizes gifts and noncash gifts deposited in March 2010 to advance the programs of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
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Cumulative Givingg |
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March 1 - 31, 2010 |
Fiscal Year 2010 |
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Monthly Gift Count |
Monthly Gift Total |
Fiscal |
Fiscal |
| C E S Administration | 15 | $139,998.35 | 34 | $144,515.53 |
| C E S Finance and Administration | 0 | $0.00 | 1 | $500.00 |
| Delta District | 13 | $3,149.33 | 61 | $19,003.57 |
| Ouachita District | 2 | $75.00 | 22 | $14,368.82 |
| Ozark District | 3 | $4,135.26 | 10 | $5,819.26 |
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4-H Youth Development |
0 | $0.00 | 2 | $5,596.35 |
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Agriculture and Natural Resources |
3 | $18,800.00 | 117 | $831,584.00 |
| Community and Economic Development | 3 | $1,225.00 | 91 | $27,736.99 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences | 3 | $4,285.00 | 12 | $4,910.00 |
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Arkansas 4-H Foundation |
75 |
$113,918.14 |
358 |
$314,801.88 |
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TOTALS |
117 |
$285,586.08 |
708 |
$1,368,836.40 |
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