IN THIS NEWSLINE ISSUED AUGUST 29, 2003:

1. UA ENTOMOLOGISTS CAUTION AGAINST MOSQUITO BREEDING
2. SANTA RITA RANGE CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE
3. 'DESERT PLANTS' JOURNAL NOW ONLINE
4. NEW RESOURCE FOR MANAGING AGRICULTURAL LABOR
5. RAISING FISH IN THE DESERT
6. DESERT VEGETABLE CROP PRODUCTION PROGRAM
7. BUILDING ACADEMIC TIES WITH MEXICO
8. EMERGENCY DROUGHT FEED AVAILABLE
9. ARIZONA LAND AND PEOPLE
10. NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES
11. EVENTS

Several western states, Arizona included, have yet to report an animal or human case of West Nile virus.

However, the mosquito- and bird-borne virus is likely to reach Arizona soon, University of Arizona entomologists say.

Colorado had its first human case of West Nile virus last month, and infected horses are showing up in Colorado near the Four Corners area of Arizona.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water available in backyards (including drained swimming pools and neglected hot tubs), golf courses, irrigated orchards and fields, natural washes and wetlands.

Check and then rid the backyard and natural washes of standing water. Toys, cups, buckets, old tires and plant saucers need to be dumped after a rain. Water that stands for 5 days can breed mosquitoes.

Be wary of indoor standing water. Arizona's common brown mosquitoes breed in large indoor plant pots, and can be abundant inside humid buildings.

Henry Hagedorn, Department of Entomology
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/11.7.html

To commemorate 100 years of research activities on the Santa Rita Experimental Range in southern Arizona, a conference will be held in Tucson October 30-November 1. The format will include invited speakers and poster presentations at the Holiday Inn Palo Verde on Thursday and Friday, and a guided field trip to the Range on Saturday.

"The Santa Rita Experimental Range is the longest continuously operating research area dedicated to the sustainable management of North American rangelands," says Mitchel McClaran, a professor of range management in the UA School of Renewable Natural Resources. "We invite scientists, natural resources professionals, ranchers, university faculty, staff and students, and all others interested in the natural science and history of western rangelands to attend all or part of this event."

In 1903 more than 51,000 acres of land in what was then the territory of
Arizona were set aside for researching the effects of cattle grazing. One
hundred years later the Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) still provides
answers to pressing environmental questions in the region. Researchers there
are looking at carbon storage by plants; the effects of fire, noxious weeds
and overuse on public lands; the changing vegetative face of lands in the
Southwest, and other issues.

Conference registration is $100 before September 1, $150 after, and includes a conference program and proceedings, refreshments during breaks, dinner on October 30 and lunch on October 31. An additional $30 is required to attend the field day and barbecue on November 1. More lunch, dinner and field trip tickets can be purchased for guests of the participants. See website below for conference details and hotel reservations.

Mitchel McClaran, School of Renewable Natural Resources
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/SRER/conference.html

"Desert Plants" is a botanical journal produced by the UA's Boyce Thompson Arboretum, devoted to encouraging the appreciation of indigenous and adapted arid land plants. Plant physiology, desert ecology, landscape architecture and the history of desert plant discovery and introduction are just a few of the topics covered in this biannual publication.

First published in 1979, Desert Plants is currently published in June and December. Subscriptions are accepted throughout the year. Special issues devoted to the flora of an area are routinely printed. Occasionally an issue devoted to one specific topic is published.

Desert Plants is a non-profit publication supported solely through subscriptions and contributions. Back issues are available online.

Margaret Norem, Arboretum Affairs
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/desertplants/

Ag Help Wanted, a full-color, 250-page handbook, is a valuable source of ideas for improving management policies and practices in human resource management in agriculture.

The publication includes management principles with practical examples, legal considerations, and additional references. Chapter headings are:
-- Roles and Responsibilities of an Agricultural Employer
-- Organizational Planning
-- Staffing the Farm Business
-- Supervising Agricultural Work
-- Managing Employee Performance
-- Communication and Problem Solving

This handbook is published by the Western Farm Management Extension Committee. Support for their development was provided by Farm Foundation, the Western Center for Risk Management Education, the USDA Risk Management Agency, and the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES). The book is available in print for $25.00 or on CD-rom for $10.00.

Trent Teegerstrom, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/AREC/ext/aglaborbook.html

Aquaculture, or raising fish in a controlled environment, can be profitable for Arizona growers. To learn more about the challenges and opportunities aquaculture offers, CALS scientists are growing fish in tanks at the Environmental Research Lab near the Tucson Airport, as well as at the new Controlled Environment Agriculture Center greenhouses in Tucson north of the UA campus.

The CALS aquaculture program includes coursework and research. Topics for research include shrimp and tilapia culture; production and diseases; integrating agriculture and aquaculture for multiple uses of water; fertilization using effluent water; and algae control using grass carp.

Kevin Fitzsimmons, Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/azaqua/aquacltr.html#extension.html

The UA Cooperative Extension Vegetable Crop Production Program assists growers in the Arizona vegetable industry to help them remain competitive and profitable in a global economy. A top priority in this effort is to help the Arizona vegetable industry provide the U.S. and international consumer with safe and nutritious quality foods at affordable prices.

Faculty members from numerous CALS departments strive to meet the needs of vegetable growers and allied agribusinesses through research and education. Their efforts have led to the introduction and evaluation of new crops, and have assisted in identifying and developing opportunities for growing new and established crops to further expand the industry.

Faculty program participants also evaluate, develop, and introduce economical and environmentally responsible methods for efficient water use and crop protection.

Pat Clay, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/crops/vegetables

Agricultural engineering faculty and students from the United States and Mexico now have the chance to exchange programs, resources and expertise. A contract funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development has created a formal research and academic collaboration between the CALS Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and the Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, located slightly north of Mexico City.

The goal is to develop human resource training capabilities in emerging areas of agricultural production and processing in Mexico. The project also provides for three focused short-courses to be conducted by UA faculty in Mexico during the first year of the project.

Don Slack, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/landandpeople/spring2003/article6_l&p.pdf

Summer monsoon rains have not ended the drought in Arizona. The dryness has meant a decrease in range feed for livestock. Emergency drought feed is available statewide: feed products include 20-25 percent protein blocks and range cubes using between 25 and 40 percent non-fat dry milk.

For more information please contact Arizona Department of Agriculture at www.agriculture.state.az.us or Bob Kattnig at The University of Arizona (520)621-9757 or (520) 349-5607.
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/ans/alr/ALR-JULY-03.pdf

Arizona Land and People, published by the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, features articles on research, extension and academic programs. Since 1949, when it was first published as Progressive Agriculture in Arizona, the focus has been to bring the latest research-based information from the college to the citizens of Arizona.

A newly formatted version of Arizona Land and People was recently published -- a shorter format published quarterly which will cost less to print than the traditional magazine format. You can subscribe to future issues by signing up at the url below.
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/landandpeople

A listing of new CALS publications is available online, including titles that can be purchased online through Calsmart. Some web versions are also available.
available.

A sample of new titles includes Arizona Irrigation Scheduling System Users Handbook; Arizona Range Grasses: Their Description, Forage Value, and Grazing Management; Composting [Teacher Reference] (CD-ROM); Cotton: A College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Report; Food Safety Associated with Cook-outs and Picnics; Nondormant Alfalfa Varieties for Arizona 2003; Showmanship of Project Animals; Troubleshooting Problems with Roses; Turfgrass Consumptive Use Values for the Phoenix Area; and Turfgrass Consumptive Use Values for the Tucson Area.
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/general/whatsnew.html

Arizona Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) Conference 2003 -- Environmental Education in a Multicultural Society
Marriot University Park, Tucson, Arizona
September 18-21, 2003
http://www.arizonaee.org/conference/registration.php

County Fairs in Arizona
Aug. 29 - Sept. 1: Coconino County Fair
Sept. 3-7: Navajo Nation Fair
Sept. 10-13: Navajo County Fair
Sept. 11-14: Mohave County Fair
Sept. 12-14: Santa Cruz County Fair
Sept. 18-21: Greenlee County Fair
Sept. 18-21: Gila (Globe) County Fair
Sept. 25-28: Cochise County Fair
Oct. 7-10: Graham County Fair

Santa Rita Experimental Range: 100 Years of Accomplishments and Contributions.
October 30-November 1, 2003. More information is available at: http://cals.arizona.edu/SRER/conference.html
To learn more: http://main.dlv.cals.arizona.edu/cals-calendar/

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