e-Directions is an information-sharing newsletter issued at least bi-monthly to help keep you updated on Extension-related issues covering restructuring, programming opportunities, strategic plan initiatives and enhancements and other information.
If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the Director’s Web site, please contact me at pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
2007 Census of Agriculture
National Launch of eXtension
Strategic Opportunities for Cooperative Extension
WRDA Bill Passes Over President’s Veto
Dr. Steve Linscombe Recognized as the Winner of the 2007 Rice Awards
A Regional Comparison of Scholarship and Service in Cooperative Extension
Economic Considerations of Louisiana’s Cypress Resource
Overstreet Receives Bayer CropScience International Award
On-line Submission for Galazy III Now Available
New Personnel
2007 Census of Agriculture
The Census of Agriculture conducted every five years by the USDA, is a complete count of the nation’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures and other topics. It provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every parish in the state. After the losses from Hurricane Katrina followed by Hurricane Rita, it’s critical that all producers send in a completed census form.
The USDA-NASS, Louisiana Field Office urges all producers to ensure that their farms or ranches are counted in the 2007 Census of Agriculture. “The Census is a crucial tool that provides federal and state governments with data about agricultural production and practices in Louisiana and the United States. This is an opportunity for farmers and ranchers to have their voices heard in future decisions pertaining to their community and operation,” said Nathan Crisp, Director of the Louisiana Field Office.
The Census of Agriculture provides information that is not available anywhere else – information that benefits agricultural producers and their communities in a host of different ways. For instance, policymakers factor census data into decisions concerning agricultural and rural programs. Community planners use census to target needed services to rural residents. Companies rely on census data when determining where to locate their operations such as grain elevators and storage facilities, agricultural transportation systems such as rail or truck services, ethanol plants, etc. As the country’s definition of energy is changing so are agricultural production practices. And farmers themselves can use census data to help make critical decisions about their businesses. The Census of Agriculture will assist in answering a substantial number of questions surrounding the future of agriculture in Louisiana and the United States.
Crisp added, “NASS is committed to making this census the best count ever. It’s about the future of agriculture and rural communities in Louisiana and the nation. Regardless of how large or small your operation might be or what kinds of products are produced, Louisiana farmers and ranchers will make their voices heard by filling out the census of Agriculture and returning it promptly. But to ensure farmers can continue feeding and clothing a growing world, we need to provide them with the programs, services and tools they need. To do this, we urge them to speak out and let their voices be heard by participating in the 2007 Census of Agriculture. This will probably be a record-breaking year, especially for crops, in Louisiana, so every completed report we receive adds to the accuracy of all parish numbers.” So let your voice be heard: send in your completed census form.
NASS will mail out census forms December 28 to collect data for the 2007 calendar year. Completed forms are due by February 4. Producers can return their forms by mail or, for the first time, they have the convenient option of filling out the census online. For more information about the census, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call toll-free (888) 4AG-STAT or (888) 424-7828.
Source: USDA
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National Launch of eXtension
eXtension National Launch is set for February 21 at 4:15 p.m. EST during the Ag Expo in Washington DC. The Secretary of Agriculture will flip the switch turning on eXtension, which is hosted by one parish/county extension office in each state.
In Louisiana, the Dean Lee Region office will host the launch. Other eXtension briefings during the Ag Expo will be Web cast via U2.
The launch will unveil the Communities of Practice (CoP) which include:
- Horse Quest
- Dairy
- Personal Finance
- Parenting
- Fire Ants
- Consumer Horticulture
- Cotton, Sandy Stewart is the leader for this CoP
- Wildlife Management and Control
- Obesity
- Disaster Preparation
Source: Pamela Hodson
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Strategic Opportunities for Cooperative Extension
The Cooperative Extension Service at each of the nation’s land-grant universities and colleges is a powerful presence in moving the country forward in the 21st century. As the country’s population has changed over the years, historic links to colleges of agricultural sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have expanded to include partnerships across the educational enterprise of the university and to many other federal agencies. The deep connections to citizens at the grassroots level are fostered by close relationships to local and county governments. The local-state-federal partnerships now include new relationships that take the efforts into all communities and neighborhoods across the United States. Extension’s potential is bounded only by its imagination and creativity; thus the need for identifying priority opportunities.
In this new century, opportunities exist to help advance America’s greatness in the midst of many challenges. Energy, water, food, environment, health, economic productivity, global competitiveness and the quality of the living environments are all paramount to the future. Extension is, as a part of higher education, prepared to create new knowledge and to participate as co-learners with others. Extension is positioned and prepared to engage in education to meet the challenges—opportunities—of this new century.
Extension’s strategic opportunities are to:
- Create pathways to energy independence
- Assure an abundant and safe food supply for all
- Sustain profitable plant and animal production systems
- Prepare youth, families and individuals for success in the global workforce and all aspects of life
- Assist in effective decision making regarding environmental stewardship
- Help U.S. residents become physically, mentally and emotionally healthy
- Assist communities in becoming sustainable and resilient to the uncertainties of economics, weather, health and security
Please refer to the link below. This document portrays the opportunities the Cooperative Extension system envisions as priorities in serving the country and its citizens, as listed above. http://www.nasulgc.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=369
Source: NASULGC
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WRDA Bill Passes Over President’s Veto
The Senate overrode the President’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act, marking the first time in Bush’s presidency that Congress has enacted a law despite his objections. By a vote of 79-14 the Senate confirmed the action the House set in motion the day before with an override vote of 361-54.
The $23.2 billion bill was vetoed by the President on November 2 citing its excessive cost and contending that it does not give priority to the most urgent corps projects. Republicans and Democrats abandoned the President’s request arguing that this is an authorization measure and does not spend a dime.
The measure, the first of its kind in seven years, authorizes funding for more than 900 projects and studies for the Army Corps of Engineers for inland navigation, coastal restoration and flood control projects throughout the country. The language includes $3.6 billion in crucial flood control, navigation and hurricane protection projects for Louisiana with $1.9 billion authorized for restoration along the Louisiana coast. The bill also authorizes a number of specific projects around the New Orleans area to improve flood control, including raising levee heights and upgrading water pumps, stipulating expedited planning, design and construction for projects that within the past five years have been subject to severe flooding and were declared a major disaster by the president.
In addition to the authorization of funding for many Corps projects, the measure creates an independent review process created by the National Academy of Sciences for projects exceeding $45 million or those deemed "controversial." The governor of the affected state also has the authority to request a review for any project in his or her respective state.
Source: B. Jeffrey Brooks, Adams and Reese, LLP
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Dr. Steve Linscombe Recognized as the Winner of the 2007 Rice Awards
Dr. Steve Linscombe, along with Clarence Berken and Dr. Joe Street, were honored at the USA Rice Outlook Conference as the winners of the 2007 Rice Awards for their significant rice industry contributions. Clarence Berken was named the Rice Farmer of the Year, Dr. Joe Street received the Rice Industry Award and Dr. Steve Linscombe received the Rice Lifetime Achievement Award.
The USA Rice Federation President and CEO Betsy Ward commented, “The men chosen for these awards are proven leaders in their fields……It challenges the imagination to wonder where the industry would have been without the rice research conducted by Drs. Joe Street and Steve Linscombe.”
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A Regional Comparison of Scholarship and Service in Cooperative Extension
Richard Vlosky, School of Renewable Natural Resources, and Michael Dunn, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, conducted a study titled “A Regional Comparison of Scholarship and Service in Cooperative Extension.”
In this study, they surveyed U.S. Extension professionals on their employment experiences and personal perceptions about scholarship and service. They segmented the results by U.S. census region to identify similarities and differences between regions. Results indicated that overall, respondents receive more satisfaction from service and believe that it is more important than scholarship in their jobs. They believe that scholarship is more important to their institutions and that they are rewarded more for exhibiting scholarship. Also, respondents do not believe that their host institutions have adequately defined scholarship, which creates confusion for employees.
To view the full study, please visit click here.
Sources: Richard Vlosky, LSU AgCenter; Mike Dunn, LSU AgCenter
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Economic Considerations of Louisiana’s Cypress Resource
A discussion paper on the economic considerations of Louisiana’s cypress resource by LSU AgCenter’s Mike Dunn can be found at http://www.sref.info/spotlight/louisiana2007.pdf. Background information is found below.
Recently, concern has been expressed by environmental interests and concerned citizens regarding the harvest of cypress grown in Louisiana. This concern grew after the devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the growing knowledge among the citizenry of the changing structure of the coast. The changing structure of the coast is a result of many factors including human intervention to prevent upstream flooding of the Mississippi River (mainly levee construction) resulting in nutrient deficiencies and land subsidence, human settlement and encroachment, rising sea levels and exploitation of natural resources for human benefit, among other factors. These formerly forested areas helped protect the state from the most damaging effects of hurricanes in the past.
Since cypress is an integral component of forests that inhabit lowland areas and areas in relatively close proximity to Louisiana’s coast, concern about the loss of cypress because of the aforementioned factors has come to the forefront in terms of issues facing landowners, land managers and concerned citizens in Louisiana. Some argue that certain uses for cypress, such as harvesting or using cypress for mulch, is an unworthy end for the tree and cypress should not be used for these purposes. Others argue that most trees are the property of private owners who have rights protected by law to have trees harvested from their land as they see fit. Yet others charge that cypress that is harvested in Louisiana comes from unsustainable sources.
Source: Mike Dunn, LSU AgCenter
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Overstreet Receives Bayer CropScience International Award
Charles Overstreet, AgCenter nematologist, is the recipient of the Bayer CropScience Award presented by the Organization of Nematologist of Tropical America (ONTA) during their 39th annual meeting in Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina, Oct. 28–Nov. 2. Overstreet was cited for his outstanding research work in applied nematology, in particular the management of the reniform and other nematodes in cotton and other crops grown in Louisiana and for his service to Latin America agriculture.
ONTA’s focus is the Latin American area including the southern United States and Central and South America. Membership includes scientists from these areas as well as much of Europe who have interests in Latin America. Overstreet is involved with a number of national and international organizations that work with nematode problems on plants, serving on various committees, has held several officer positions within the Louisiana Plant Protection Association and serves as an editorial reviewer for three journals. He is currently the chairman of the ONTA Foundation.
Source: LSU AgCenter Communications
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On-line Submission for Galazy III Now Available
We are pleased to announce that the on-line submission process for Galaxy III for seminars / poster sessions / roundtables and research sessions is now open. Complete information can be found on the Galaxy III homepage at: http://www.ces.purdue.edu/galaxy
The Galaxy III Extension conference will be September 15-19, 2008 in Indianapolis. This will be an outstanding opportunity for all Extension staff to join together for professional development and networking with colleagues from all disciplines from across the nation.
The call for proposals will be open through January 15.
Source: Diane Baker, University of Illinois Extension
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New Personnel
Please join me in welcoming new AgCenter personnel! They include:
- Jeffrey Davis, Asst. Professor, Entomology
- Timothy Pyle, Research Associate, Food Science
- Alison Muller, Asst. Extension Agent, SW Region
- Jennifer Johnson, Research Associate, Entomology
- Mason Foret, Research Associate, CARS
- Thu Bui, Asst. Extension Agent, St. Mary Parish
- Beverly Bailey, Extension Agent, East Feliciana
- Salvator Kaburungu, Assoc. Prof-Research, SPESS
- Blair Hebert, Extension Agent, Iberia Research Station
- Joshua Wilhite, Asst. Extension Agent, Jackson Parish
- Kelly Galjour, Admin Assistant, Jefferson Parish
- Joshua Regan, Maint Repairer, Rice Research Station
- Stephen Smith, Human Res Analyst, HRM
- William Falgout, Res Farm Assistant, Central Station
- Andrea Painter, Sci Res Technician, Entomology
- Laura Leonards, Res Farm Assistant, Rice Research Station
- Tony R. Anderson, Maintenance Repairer, Pecan Research Station
- Blake Broussard, Res Farm Assistant, Iberia Research Station
- James Tyler, Mobile Equip Operator, Iberia Research Station
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I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year! May you enjoy this much deserved break for all your hard work and dedication to the LSU AgCenter. Happy Holidays!
Please continue to visit the Director’s website.
If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the director’s website, please contact me at pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
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