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.
4-H Football Tailgate Party
The LSU Athletic Department is once again offering the 4-H program an opportunity to participate in an LSU football game at the reduced price of $20.00. These tickets can be purchased by 4-H members, their families, volunteers, and any LSU AgCenter employee.
A large tailgate party is being planned for those participating in this function with food and over 75 door prizes at Parker Coliseum prior to the game. LSU cheerleaders and Mike the Tiger will perform during the tailgate party and provide photo opportunities for 4-H members.
The 2007 4-H tailgate party will be held on September 15th, when the LSU Tigers will face Middle Tennessee University, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
Tickets must be ordered through the LSU site this year: Please click on the following link:
http://ev10.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/evenue/ev68/se/DisplayPromoList.d2w/report?linkID=lsu&RSRC=&RDAT=&caller=PR
The promotion code for each group is the parish name with 4H following. (i.e. The promotion code for East Baton Rouge Parish is eastbatonrouge4h). State and Regional personnel will utilize the promo code of their parish of residence. This can be typed in all lower case or caps. It will then go to a purchase page and follow the next steps:
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Enter parish promo code.
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Click on Middle Tennessee.
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Enter number of tickets under quantity and then click on add to cart.
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Select delivery method and then click on check out.
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Complete information on new online customers by clicking on register.
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There is a $5 charge for any size order and payment must be with a credit card.
Priority for seating will be provided through the Web site; the first ticket orders will receive the south end zone seats. A total of 1,250 tickets are available for purchase this year. Approximately 600 seats have been reserved for the South end zone and the remainder will be in the East Upper Deck. All requests for tickets to the September 15th game will be handled through the LSU Web site.
Enjoy the game and tailgate party with your 4-H members.
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Renee Castro Honored the Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture Award
Renee Castro, associate county agent in Assumption Parish, won the Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture Award. She was presented this award, along with other prizes, at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans on June 21. Please join me in congratulating Renee on this outstanding achievement.
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USDA Announces Time Frame for Nominations to the Advisory Committee for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Agriculture Department Farm Service Agency Administrator Teresa Lasseter announced that nominations for individuals to serve on the Advisory Committee for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers are being accepted through July 16.
To qualify, members must belong to or participate in any of the following groups or programs:
- USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA)
- State beginning farmer programs
- Commercial lenders
- Private nonprofit organizations currently participating in a beginning farmer or rancher program
- The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
- Community colleges or other educational institutions with demonstrated experience in training beginning farmers or ranchers
- Other entities or persons providing lending or technical assistance to qualified beginning farmers or ranchers
In addition, farmers and ranchers are eligible for nomination.
Form AD-755, “Advisory Committee Membership Background Information,” must be completed for those interested in serving on the committee.
Submission of this form constitutes a nomination, and eligible persons may nominate themselves. Letters of recommendation may also be submitted but should not be solicited or obtained from USDA officials employed in Washington, D.C.
The questionnaire is available at:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/ad755.pdf.
The Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 requires the secretary of agriculture to establish the committee. The 20-member committee advises the secretary on ways to support federal and state programs that administer joint financing to beginning farmers and ranchers as well as provide methods of maximizing new opportunities created through federal and state programs.
About one-third of the existing 20-member committee will be replaced this year when the charter is renewed in November 2007. Commercial lenders, other entities or persons and farmers and ranchers are among the categories in which there will be vacancies this year. Appointments are for a two-year term. Reappointments are made to assure effectiveness and continuity of operations. No member, other than a federal employee, can serve for more than six consecutive years. Members are not paid; however, they are reimbursed for travel expenses related to attending meetings, which are generally held annually.
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Journal of Extension Seeks Reviewers
The Journal of Extension (JOE) is seeking journal article reviewers in nutrition, health, food and food systems, 4-H and Ag economics. Many of you have faculty who enjoy and/or need the scholarship opportunity to serve as a reviewer for a journal.
You can apply to become a JOE reviewer by sending the name and e-mail address of a reference who can speak to your ability to serve as a reviewer and a file containing your curriculum vitae to JOE Editorial Committee Co-chair Margaret Miltenberger at m.miltenberger@mail.wvu.edu.
Visit the JOE Web site for more details.
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Request for Pre-applications for Biomass Research and Development Grants
USDA Rural Development in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy announced the availability of up to $16 million for research & development work on technologies and processes to advance biomass-based fuels and high-value biomass-based products. Biomass includes agricultural crops, wood and wood wastes, and municipal wastes.
Only four research and development topics will be supported:
- Development of crops & cropping systems for biomass feedstock (20% of awards)
- Overcoming the recalcitrance of cellulosic biomass to conversion (45% of awards)
- Product diversification technologies that will increase the feasibility of biorefineries (30% of awards)
- Strategic guidance of biomass technologies (5% of awards).
The research and development may be either applied fundamental research or demonstration projects (pilot plants or semi-works scale facilities).
Eligible applicants are national laboratories, federal research agencies, state research agencies, private sector entities (including cooperatives), nonprofit organizations and consortiums of such groups.
The maximum individual award is $1 million. Applicants must provide nonfederal matching of at least 20% for research and development projects and at least 50% for demonstration projects.
Full details are available in the Federal Register at:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.
gov/2007/pdf/07-2865.pdf
Preapplications are submitted directly to USDA Rural Development's National Office in Washington, D.C., and questions may be directed to Lisa Siesennop at lisa.siesennop@wdc.usda.gov or 202-690-3810.
The deadline for pre-applications is July 11.
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52 Certified Master Farmers Honored at 2007 Farm Bureau Convention
On June 22, at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation annual convention in New Orleans, 52 more Louisiana farmers, including nine women, achieved the status of Master Farmer. Certified Master Farmers recognized include these farmers listed alphabetically by parish:
Acadia
Michael Hundley
Allen
David Dean Lavergne
William Eric Unkel
Avoyelles
Larry K. Sayes
Beauregard
Sara Meadows
Bossier
Shannon Mendenhall
Calcasieu
Jim Paul Dupont
Dezere Richard
Catahoula
Richard Price
De Soto
Floyd Wayne Medlin
Martha Jean Rogers
Evangeline
Dale Reed
Anthony Rozas
Grant
Dennis Courtright
Paula Courtright
Dana Shuff
Iberia
Gregory Durand
Benson Langlinais
Josh Romero
Nolan Romero
Shane Romero
Madison
Jay Bailey
Natchitoches
Gary Lirette
Ouachita
Roy Robert
Rapides
John Lance Harris
Clay Robertson
Red River
Roger Wilson
Jack Wimberly
Jimmy Windham
Sabine
Theresia Strahan
St. Landry
Angela Hebert
Roylee Hebert
St. Martin
Daniel Durand
Edgar Durand
Jeffery Durand
Tangipahoa
Larry Miller
Louis Wittie
Sheila Wittie
Union
Patricia Avery
Angelia Murphy
Vermilion
B.M. Boudreaux
Dwyer Griffin
George Sagrera
Mark Sagrera
Sherrill Sagrera
Allen Schriefer
Washington
Leslie Boudreaux, Jr.
West Baton Rouge
Leo LeBlanc
John Tilton III
West Carroll
Tommy Roberson
Clifton Vining III
Winn
Don Price
These producers received their certificates along with a 12-inch by 20-inch sign for their property that reads, "Certified Master Farmer.” They join 13 others who received this honor at last year’s Farm Bureau convention. Please join me in congratulating these outstanding farmers and ranchers.
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CSREES Partnership Awards Program
CSREES is announcing a new CSREES Partnership Awards Program. The purpose of the program is to annually recognize exemplary work from a team or individual at a land-grant university or other cooperating institution or organization supported by CSREES.
The program recognizes outstanding achievement in four categories:
- Mission integration
- Multistate efforts
- Innovative program models
- Effective and efficient use of resources
All nominations must be related to programs or projects that have been in place for at least three of the last five calendar years.
All nominations must be received by July 10.
For more information about the program, its eligibility requirements, selection criteria, selection procedures and points of contact, please visit:
http://cms.lsuagcenter.net/MCMS/RelatedFiles/%7B4ADD8004-9651-4846-
A56B-477BF4B91DFE%7D/CSREES+partnership+awards+program.pdf
The nomination form can be accessed at:
http://cms.lsuagcenter.net/MCMS/RelatedFiles/%7B4ADD8004-9651-4846-A56B-477BF4B91DFE%7D/CSREES+partnership+Nom-form.pdf.
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Poultry Biosecurity
Johnnie Whitmire, assistant extension agent in the North Central Region, has composed information regarding poultry biosecurity. The article discusses transmittable diseases and how they are transferred, in addition to ways to protect your farm from the spread of transmittable diseases.
To access the article and obtain a free DVD on poultry biosecurity, please visit http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/2C41B6A7-D329-4137-B031-2F308837D62C/37088/PoultryPost_June_2008.pdf.
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Incoming Acting State Conservationist for Louisiana
Dot Harris has been named the incoming acting state conservationist for Louisiana. She reported for duty on June 24.
Dot grew up in Marietta, Georgia, attended the University of Georgia and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy. During two summers, while in college, she worked in South Georgia as a cotton pest scout.
She had an interest in seeing the west and found a job at Kansas State University as a research assistant working on soybean genetics. While there, she completed her masters degree, also in agronomy.
Dot started with the Soil Conservation Service in 1983, working as a soil conservationist in Pierre, South Dakota. She was there a only short time before transferring to Ohio, where she spent the last 21 years working as a soil conservationist, a district conservationist and then as an assistant state conservationist for field operations.
Since July 2005, Dot has reported to the Georgia State Office in Athens to serve as the assistant state conservationist for operations.
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Five Things an Extension Professional Needs to Know About Distance Learning
Distance learning is an education and outreach tool that extension must embrace. However, many have asked where do you start gaining proficiencies using this excellent teaching technology? Epsilon Sigma Phi will be sponsoring a workshop that will cover the five basic things you need to know as you consider expanding your program to include distance learning. From what it is and what it isn't, to where to find examples of success, these five ideas will help you begin to understand the process and the opportunities.
This professional development opportunity will be available at your desktop on Tuesday, July 24 at 4:00 p.m. EDT, sponsored by Epsilon Sigma Phi.
To learn more go to http://www.espnational.org/.
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Asian Soybean Rust Hotline
The Asian Soybean Rust Hot Line is up and running. The number is updated either weekly or when conditions in the state change concerning ASR.
The hot line can be accessed by dialing 1-866-641-1847.
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New Personnel
Please join me in welcoming new personnel to the LSU AgCenter. New personnel include:
- Michelle Miller, proposal specialist, sponsored programs
- Tamara Guillotte, grant specialist, sponsored programs
- Celia Jackson, assistant extension agent, West Baton Rouge Parish
- Lucas Bissett, research associate, Central Research Station
- Randy LaBauve, assistant communications specialist, Communications
- Adam Woener, compressed video technical support specialist, Information Technology
- Julia Scott, assistant extension agent, Sabine Parish
- Hassan Mashriqui, assistant extension professor, Bio & Ag Engineering
- Tanya Ruffin, coordinator, Information Technology
Please give these individuals your support as they assume new responsibilities.
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Please continue to visit the director’s website at:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/administration/about_us
/extension/our+director/index.htm
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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