February 2, 2007
Topics in today's issue of Extension Update:
CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND HUMAN NUTRITION
Big, bold changes are occurring in the CAHNRS Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Over the last year, the food science faculty has been working with the University of Idaho faculty to form a bi-state Department of Food Science. At the same time a campus-wide task force at WSU was been looking at ways to enhance health sciences and more closely align the disciplines that are important in health fields. As part of the realignment, the human nutrition and dietetics faculty will join with exercise physiologists to form a new department in the College of Pharmacy. The Extension Foods Specialists, Dick Dougherty and Karen Killinger-Mann will continue to be in the new Food Science Department and the Extension Nutrition Specialist, Sue Butkus, will be located aligned with the new, as yet unnamed, department in the College of Pharmacy.
Despite the numerous changes, we do not anticipate any interruption in extension programming in either food science or human nutrition. Extension will continue to support these programs in these areas that are so vital to the people in Washington.
The planning process with the faculty has been facilitated by Sue Butkus and on occasion Kelsey, Extension specialist from Community and Rural Sociology, Spokane campus.
STATEWIDE WELCOME RECEPTIONS FOR ELSON S. FLOYD, INCOMING PRESIDENT
You are cordially invited to attend a campus and community welcome reception for Elson S. Floyd, Washington State University’s newly appointed president. He will take office as the University’s 10th president in July.
The Board of Regents selected Dr. Floyd as WSU’s new leader on December 13. He has served as president of the four-campus University of Missouri system since 2002. Prior to that Dr. Floyd served as president of Western Michigan University.
The entire WSU community looks forward to welcoming Dr. Floyd and his wife Carmento to one of the country's top-ranked institutions of public higher education. Under Dr. Floyd's leadership, the University will continue to serve as a catalyst for solving the challenges of the state, the nation, and the world Dr. Floyd’s schedule for campus visits is as follows:
WSU Pullman
Friday, February 9
3:30 – 5:00 PM
Lighty Student Services Building Atrium, First Floor 2580 NE Grimes Way, Pullman More Information: Office of University Relations
E-mail: wsuevent@wsu.edu Phone: 877-978-3868
WSU Spokane
Monday, February 12
10:30 AM - Noon
Academic Center First Floor Atrium
600 North Riverpoint Boulevard, Spokane
More Information: Becki Meehan
E-mail: rmeehan@wsu.edu Phone: 509-358-7528
WSU Tri-Cities
Monday, February 12
3:30 – 5:00 PM
Consolidated Information Center, Room 120 2770 University Drive, Richland More Information: Jo Kostoff
E-mail: jkostoff@tricity.wsu.edu Phone: 509-372-7264
WSU Vancouver
Tuesday, February 13
10:30 AM - Noon
Student Services/Administration Building, Room 129
14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave, Vancouver
More Information: Analese Forster
E-mail: forster@vancouver.wsu.edu Phone: 360-546-9580
2007 ACADEMIC SHOWCASE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ABSTRACTS IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
This is a reminder that the deadline to submit abstracts for the 2007 Academic Showcase (part of WSU’s World Class. Face to Face. Showcase) is Friday, Feburary 9. The Academic Showcase committee will not review late submissions.
This annual event on Friday, March 23, 2007, includes an Academic Showcase, a luncheon presentation of the Distinguished Faculty Address, a reception for WSU retirees, and Celebrating Excellence, the University's recognition banquet for faculty and staff including those recently promoted and tenured. The Showcase web site is http://showcase.wsu.edu/. For questions, contact Tena Old (skeen@wsu.edu or 509-335-1467). If she is not available, Janet Herrlinger can also assist you. She can be reached at herrlingerj@wsu.edu or 509-335-0989.
MASTER GARDENER MAGAZINE DEBUTS
The first edition of Master Gardener Magazine is now available in its entirety online. Go to www.MasterGardenerOnline.com and click on the "current issue" button. Congratulations to Linda Chalker-Scott, Marian Ophart, Mike Bush and other who contributed to this partnership and excellent publication.
REMINDER: WORKSHOPS ON WSU POLICIES ON PESTICIDE USE
Workshops are being offered to notify employees about WSU's policies on pesticide use, recommendation, testing of experimental compounds or uses, required recordkeeping and licensing. These half-day workshops are being offered on the following dates at the following locations:
Feb 14 - WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center Feb 20 - WSU Wenatchee Tree Fruit R & E Center Feb 22 - WSU Prosser R & E Center Feb 28 - WSU Mount Vernon R & E Center
Workshop hours are from 9 am to noon. All employees who recommend the use of pesticides, supervise volunteers who make pest management recommendations, test experimental pesticides or uses of registered pesticides, or supervise application of pesticides as part of general maintenance to farm, greenhouse or field plots should attend one of these workshops. If you are not sure whether the materials you work with are pesticides, contact Catherine Daniels at (253) 445-4611 or cdaniels@wsu.edu in advance of the workshops.
There is no fee for registration, but advance registration is required. To register, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=37942316436
USDA’s 2007 FARM BILL PROPOSALS
On Wednesday, January 31, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns unveiled USDA’s 2007 Farm Bill proposals. USDA Under Secretary Thomas Dorr will discuss USDA’s farm bill proposals at the Ag Expo in Spokane on February 7, 2007. Under Secretary Dorr will speak at 9:00 a.m. in the Spokane Convention Center Theater.
Source: Chris Bieker, Outreach Coordinator, USDA Farm Service Agency chris.bieker@wa.usda.gov
MORE ON FARM BILL
On January 31, USDA Secretary Johanns held a webcast on proposals for the 2007 Farm Bill on a title by title basis. See http://www.usda.gov for the title by title proposals, news release, PowerPoint presentation, and fact sheets. It proposes:
- Creating an Office of Science in USDA which will include a new agency called Research, Education and Extension Service (REES). REES would merge CSREES and ARS.
- New authorization for funding on Biofuels and Bioproducts research (and extension).
- New funding authorization for Specialty Crop research (and extension?)
- Additional funding authorization for research on Organic production.
- The proposal has some aspects of the CREATE-21 proposal, but does not go as far in reorganizing USDA REE function.
FEDERAL BUDGET – FY 07
House and Senate Appropriators have agreed upon the terms of a Continuing Resolution (CR) for the remainder of F.Y. 2007. The Resolution was introduced yesterday by Rep. David Obey (D-MN) chair of the House Appropriations Committee. As you are aware from newspaper and other communications, the CR funds most departments, agencies, and accounts of the federal government - including USDA and CSREES - at their F.Y. 2006 funding levels. However, the CR contains no earmarks, and some $126.9 million in "special grants" and $58.1 million in "federal administration" (compared to F.Y. 2006) are not included within the CR.
However, this $185 million has not been lost! Through the hard work of the NASULGC system, Congress has retained these funds within the CSREES budget, providing one-time increases for Hatch, McIntire-Stennis, Evans-Allen, NRI, 1994s Research, 1890s Capacity Building, 1994s Research, Smith-Lever 3(b) and 3(c), EFNEP, 1994s Extension, Indian Reservation Agents, 1890 Facilities, 1890s Extension. In addition, all of the Integrated Activities line items were funded at 2006 levels.
For more information, go to the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) Budget and Advocacy Committee web site http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/
FEDERAL BUDGET – FY08
On Monday, February 5, President Bush will reveal the President’s budget for FY08. Watch for email updates and new fact sheets to be posted on the NASULGC web site http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/
KING COUNTY EXTENSION EMPLOYEE RECIEVES MAYOR’S HONOR
Mr. Yao Fou Chao, King County Extension, was honored for his hard work by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels at the 2006 Mayor's End Hunger Awards. This is an excerpt from NW Asian Weekly highlighting Yao Fou's efforts: "Herb Tsuchiya and Yao Fou Hinh Chao were among the honorees at the 2006 Mayor’s End Hunger Awards In October at the Palace Ballroom in Seattle.
Tsuchiya is a co-founder of Walk for Rice, an annual event that raises money for the Asian Counseling and Referral Service Food Bank. Chao helps the Lao community gain access to the P-Patch program and acts as a volunteer ambassador for Lao gardeners." Congratulations, Yao Fou!
Source: Todd Murray, King County Extension
SCHEDULE
Next week Linda will be in Pullman on Monday. She will be in College Park, MD Tuesday through Thursday attending the National Extension Directors and Administrators conference.
John will be in Pullman on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He will be attending the CASE Catalyst Team meeting in Spokane on Wednesday.
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Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Dean and Director
Washington State University Extension
PO Box 646248, 411 Hulbert Hall
Pullman WA 99164-6248
(509) 335-2933 Office
(509) 335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
FAX (509) 335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu |
