Extension Updates

To assure that all of you are kept up to date on a regular basis, the three regional directors and the state Extension Administration Office provides bi-weekly Extension Updates. This forum is for all Extension announcements, so if you have something to distribute, please forward it to Lori Bates with FOR EXTENSION UPDATE noted.

March 26, 2014

On Behalf of the State Extension Administration Office Update


PLT Funding Awards – Jan Carroll

Program Leadership Team (PLT) announces program funding for spring, 2014. Eight Planning & Reporting Units (PRUs) applied and Regional Directors (RDs) recommended the total amount available -- $25,000 -- be allocated among them. The funding must be drawn down no later than June 30, and reports to PLT are expected no later than December 1. Congratulations to these PRUs and the leads who submitted the proposals.

  • 4-H Youth Development (Jeff Goodwin) to explore and develop effective and engaging electronic training formats for volunteer training purposes.
  • Community & Economic Development (Jacque Miller) for a set of 24 more advanced clickers/receivers and carrying case for the collection of evaluation/research data.
  • Cropping Systems (Ron Meyer) to provide technical training for CSU Extension Agents employing Colorado State University Extension and Experiment Station and ARS Specialists training agents on topics that pertain directly to Agricultural and Cropping Systems PRUs.
  • Energy (Cary Weiner) to engage Coloradans in energy issues through a traveling energy photo exhibit resulting from a photo contest. They expressed hope that there will be learning outcomes from educational opportunities that result from this awareness work.
  • Financial & Family Security (Laurel Kubin) to accomplish two objectives related to the POW for the PRU:
    • Facilitate participation of Extension agents in the statewide Smart Choice Health Insurance Update on June 3 and 4, 2014 in northern Colorado.
    • Facilitate participation of FAFS PRU team participants to meet face-to-face for a one day planning session.
  • Livestock & Range (Casey Matney) to provide three days of training in early June of 2014.
  • Natural Resources (Jennifer Cook) to implement the Soil Conservation Program.
  • Nutrition, Food Safety & Health (Jessica Haas) to enhance educational outreach efforts. Funds will be applied toward developing and promoting NFSH print and online resources, specifically for the creation of farmers’ market/CSA toolkits and Live Eat Play Colorado (LEP CO) website materials.

Reminder on CPRS Reporting – Integrated and Multistate – Judy Barth

Under Federal regulations, all State Extension programs receiving Smith-Lever funds (our Federal funds), must be able to document that at least 25% of that federal funding goes to support Integrated efforts, and 25% of that funding goes to support multi-state efforts (funds can be counted in BOTH categories so this does not mean that 50% of our funds have to go toward these two efforts). This is why we ask Extension folks to report their integrated and multi-state efforts in CPRS.

This past year, reporting against these categories fell significantly from previous years. We were barely able to document the necessary expenditures based on the amount of time spent on these two efforts. In the future, if we are not able to document expenditures equaling 25% for each type of effort, the difference in expenditures vs. the 25% allocation must be returned to the USDA. Obviously, we would not want to return Federal funds to USDA, so it is important that we track our integrated and multistate efforts.

To help you with your estimates for 2014:

Examples of integrated efforts might include (but are certainly not limited to):

  • crop trials that are reported through field days or Extension factsheets, newsletters or newspaper articles,
  • joint on-farm research conducted by Extension and research personnel
  • results of research efforts being delivered to Extension clientele
  • use of research (directly or indirectly) to inform education being provided to clientele

Examples of multi-state efforts might include (but are certainly not limited to):

  • research or publishing efforts with colleagues located in another state
  • joint program planning/delivery across state lines
  • development and delivery of programs to a multi-state audience (at professional association meeting)
  • coordination of multi-state events and activities

CSU Extension’s Google Liquid Galaxy – Lori Bates

quick reminder that the Google Liquid Galaxy wrap-around multi-monitor workstation is set up in Room 106 of University Square for all Extension staff to use. The room is open during business hours on Monday – Friday. If you have any technical problems when using the equipment, please see the Technology Unit.


Specialists' Introductions

Marisa Bunning

Meet CSU Extension Specialist
Marisa Bunning

Title: Associate Professor
College: Health and Human Sciences
Department: Food Science and Human Nutrition & Colorado School of Public Health
% Extension Time: 90%
Years with CSU: 6
Extension/Outreach Involvement: All aspects of food safety education, from production through consumption, outreach information is posted on the Farm-to-Table Food Safety website: http://www.farmtotable.colostate.edu/, Facebook, and the CSU Center for Food Safety and Prevention of Foodborne Disease
Research Area: Produce safety, food safety in food systems including farmers’ markets, farm-to-school, and community gardening, high risk audiences
Teaching Responsibilities: FTEC 574, Current Issues in Food Safety
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, reading, eating, jogging
Contact Information: 200B Gifford, 1571 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1571, 970-491-7180 marisa.bunning@colostate.edu

 

Troy Bauder

Meet CSU Extension Specialist
Troy Bauder

Title: Sr. Research Associate
College: Agricultural Sciences
Department: Soil and Crop Sciences
% Extension Time: 8%
Years with CSU: 16
Extension/Outreach Involvement: Responsible for outreach and educational programs to prevent water contamination from nutrients and pesticides through the adoption of Best Management Practices. Groundwater pollution prevention through private wellhead protection. Improved irrigation record keeping and irrigation scheduling, particularly through ET-based methods. Website: http://waterquality.colostate.edu/ or www.csuwater.info
Research Area: Water and nutrient management in irrigated cropping systems
Teaching Responsibilities: None
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, hunting, fishing, reading, gardening
Contact Information: C11 Plant Sciences, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1170, 970-491-4923 troy.bauder@colostate.edu

Updated