| |
May 23, 2008
Topics in today's issue of Extension Update:
FARMING FOR THE FUTURE SEEKS YOUR INPUT
During 2008, WA State Department of Ag (WSDA) is assembling a statewide strategic plan for Washington agriculture. The work is based upon the vision of producers and the realities of the industry now and into the foreseeable future. This plan is being developed with information provided by our farmers and it is for our farmers. The plan will be used by the Governor, the Legislature and others to help guide future actions. In order to help prioritize information collected during the life of the project, WSDA's Director appointed a steering committee representing Washington producers and processors.
WSDA is currently requesting input through an online survey on the project’s web site. Those who are not able to participate directly or who would like to provide comments may do so in writing or by filling out the survey http://agr.wa.gov/fof/survey.htm found at http://agr.wa.gov/fof/.
As opportunities and challenges are identified and prioritized by the steering committee, private and public sector economists, agronomists, educators and other specialists will help to provide subject matter detail.
Future of Farming is looking forward about twenty years – a horizon that will force us to prepare for the future starting now. The project’s final report will be submitted to the Legislature in December 2008. Project information and documents can be found at http://agr.wa.gov/fof/ under Project Documents.
This spring and early summer project leaders will hold sessions with agricultural producers, food processors and other key industry stakeholders throughout the state. As sessions are scheduled, they will be listed on the website under Schedule. For more information about the project or to see how you can participate, contact fof@agr.wa.gov or 360-902-7549
JOHN GARDNER’S BLOG
A virtual College of Sustainability and the Environment (CSE) is planned at WSU to enhance the university's outreach by taking its research and teaching expertise to the world. Refer to the April 3rd announcement in WSU Today online. The follow up piece is Vice President John Gardner’s latest blog regarding his thoughts on “A Whole New Kind of College.” You can read this entry and past entries on his blog site, http://www.gardner.wsu.edu/?p=58.
2008 CSREES GRANTSMANSHIP WORKSHOPS
Grantsmanship workshops will be held again this fall to highlight the competitive programs in USDA-CSREES NRI and to help grant writers improve their overall success. Both the CSREES Grantsmanship Workshop and the Writing Winning Grants Workshop have received outstanding reviews from across the country in past years. These workshops will be offered together in Washington, DC on Sep 30 – Oct 1 and in Salt Lake City on Oct 7 – 8.
During the CSREES Grantsmanship Workshop an excellent group of program directors from CSREES will be providing an overview of funding programs within the National Research Initiative (NRI), other competitive programs and the 2009 NRI Request for Applications. In addition, there will breakout discussion on specific program areas as well as a mock review panel to provide insights on successful grants and the review process.
The Writing Winning Grants Workshop, presented by Drs Thomas Fretz and Michael Harrington, will feature topics that include: Where to look for funds, Principles of grant writing, Organizing integrated proposals, Developing the grant budget, Ethics in grant writing, and Common short-comings in the grant application.
Travel grants will be available for participants from minority serving institutions, including 1890s, 1994s and other tribal colleges as well as Pacific Islander, Native Hawaii and Hispanic serving institutions. The travel grant application forms for each workshop are available on the web sites below and the application is due August 1.
Washington DC Workshop: September 30 – October 1, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA. Cosponsored by the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, the Northeast Regional Research Association, and USDA-CSREES. Please visit the workshop website for information on registration, hotels and program agenda: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/usdagrant/index.html
Salt Lake City Workshop: October 7 – 8, Marriott Salt Lake City Center, Salt Lake City, UT. Cosponsored by Utah State University Extension, the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, and USDA-CSREES. Please visit the workshop website for information on registration, hotels and the program agenda: http://extension.usu.edu/grantsmanship/
PERSONNEL
New Hires:
Amy Sigman, Coordinator, Food Sense Program, Puyallup
Effective July 16, 2008, 100% Grant, Faculty
Separations:
Jeanette Cornwall, Extension Coordinator, Stevens County
Effective June 30, 2008, 100% Extension Grants, AP, Retirement
John Kugler, Area Extension Educator, Grant County
Effective May 2, 2008, 100% Extension, Faculty, Retirement
Nels Christianson, Application Systems Analyst/Developer, Energy Program Olympia
Effective May 15, 2008, 100% Extension Grants, AP, Resignation
Linda Terefenko, Web Coordinator, Energy Program Olympia
Effective April 30, 2008, 100% Extension Grants, AP, Resignation
SCHEDULE
Linda will be in Pullman Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday she will be attending the WSU Foundation meeting in Walla Walla.
John will be in Pullman Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday he will be participating in the BioAg tour for the Ag Pilots Project, Grass-Fed Beef, Direct Seeding, Organic Ag CRP Managed Grazing.
Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Associate Vice President and Dean
Washington State University Extension
411 Hulbert Hall, PO Box 646248
Pullman, WA 99164-6248
509-335-2933 Office
509-335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
509-335-2926 FAX
lkfox@wsu.edu
ext.wsu.edu
WSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. |
|
