IN THIS NEWSLINE ISSUED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003:

1. NEW STUDY ON USE OF BIOSOLIDS FOR FERTILIZATION
2. 'FIREWISE COMMUNITIES' WORKSHOP
3. AQUACULTURE PROGRAM
4. GUIDE TO USING INSECT REPELLENTS
5. ARIZONA COTTON GROWERS SYMPOSIUM AT COTTON FIELD DAY
6. TAKE CHARGE AMERICA INSTITUTE
7. 100% PLACEMENT IN NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES
8. LEGISLATIVE BUDGET CUTS AFFECT COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
9. AGRICULTURAL LITERACY OPPORTUNITIES
10. PM-10 COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
11. CALS HOMECOMING EVENTS 2003
12. EVENTS
    

A recent study by scientists at the University of Arizona has proven that a human disease pathogen present in raw sewage is not present in biosolids applied to land.

Biosolids are chemically and biologically different from raw sewage, and must meet federal EPA standards before use on cropland, pastures and timberland. When applied directly to these lands, they decompose and subsequently provide nitorgen, phosphorus and potash to growing plants.

A team of researchers led by Ian Pepper of the CALS department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science recently studied biosolid and bioaerosol samples from 15 separate sites across the United States to determine the presence or absence of Staphylococcus aereus. S aereus causes a wide variety of human skin and wound infections, food poisoning and other infections.

Ian Pepper, Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/6.4.html


2 'FIREWISE COMMUNITIES' WORKSHOP

A workshop for Arizona residents concerned about how to protect their families and property from wildfires will be held in Tucson in October.

The Arizona Firewise Communities workshop will be held October 16 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center, 250 S. Church Street.

Learn to recognize wildland/urban interface wildfire hazards, explore creative mitigation techniques for treating the hazards, and learn basic Firewise home construction and landscaping techniques.

Anyone interested in learning more about what they can do to reduce personal risks from wildfire is encouraged to attend this free workshop; pre-registration is required.

Contact: Alix Rogstad at arogstad@ag.arizona.edu, phone (520) 621-7263.
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/firewise


3 AQUACULTURE PROGRAM

The August issue of NewsLine incorrectly stated that part of the CALS aquaculture program is housed at the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center in Tucson. The program actually spans a number of locations that do not include the CEAC.

At the West Campus Agricultural Center near Interstate 10 in Tucson veterinary microbiologist Donald Lightner and his research team maintain the shrimp pathology laboratory in several buildings and tanks. The program researches shrimp diseases that affect the commercial shrimp industry worldwide. Associate research scientist Kevin Fitzsimmons has two ponds nearby, one with grass carp used for aquatic vegetation control, and another containing Oscars, a type of aquarium fish, as part of a student project.

At the CALS Environmental Research Laboratory near the airport in Tucson, Fitzsimmons maintains tanks with shrimp and fish under study for aquaculture purposes.

Several ponds and tanks of fish are also under study at the Maricopa Agricultural Center.

Kevin Fitzsimmons, Environmental Research Laboratory
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/azaqua

4 GUIDE TO USING INSECT REPELLENTS

With the threat of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus looming in Arizona, homeowners need to know how to protect themselves. In addition to getting rid of standing water in the yard where mosquitoes can breed, repellents applied to skin and clothing discourage mosquitoes and other insects from biting.

To address this issue, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension recently produced the publication "Insect Repellents." The six-page, 8 1/2"x 11", full-color guide includes:

- How do we attract biting arthropods?
- Choosing insect repellents
- Using insects repellents safely
- Important information on using repellents
- Types of repellents

A unique feature of the guide is the inclusion of time frames showing how long the products last on the skin. Readers may be surprised to find that some products last only minutes while others last for hours. The guide includes chemical, botanical and child-safe repellents.

Dawn H. Gouge, Department of Entomology
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1311.pdf


5 ARIZONA COTTON GROWERS SYMPOSIUM AT COTTON FIELD DAY

The pink bollworm continues to challenge Arizona cotton growers. The Arizona Cotton Growers Association is sponsoring a symposium on the pink bollworm eradication program in conjunction with the UA Cotton Field Day on Wednesday, October 15 at the Maricopa Agricultural Center.

Cotton Field Day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends with a 12:00 noon lunch. The Maricopa Ag Center is located near the town of Maricopa and Casa Grande in central Arizona.

UA scientists at MAC conduct variety trials, no-till and low-till studies, and cotton entomology research in test plots. This year's field day will include tours of the research fields highlighting current research. A poster session provides attendees with in-depth information along with an opportunity to disucss the research with scientists.

Reservations for the grower's symposium must be made by October 6.

Ed Martin, Maricopa Agricultural Center
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/aes/mac/cotton_fld_day_flier2003.htm


6 TAKE CHARGE AMERICA INSTITUTE

With credit card approval readily available, college students today are going into debt to a greater degree than ever before. The new Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and Research, housed in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) will address this problem through seminars and research programs.

Fueled by a recent endowment of $10 million from Take Charge America, Inc. (TCA), formerly Credit Counselors of America, the institute aims to be one of the nation's leading centers in personal financial education and research.

Phoenix-based TCA is a non-profit firm that provides financial counseling and debt management skills for thousands of individuals, and resources for credit agencies dealing with distressed borrowers.

The Take Charge America (TCA) Financial Fitness Academy will be held October 29 and 30 at the Windmill Inn in St. Phillips Plaza, Tucson. The conference will bring extension educators together with community partners to learn about TCA, share curricula, and develop program ideas for extension mini-grants to be made available by the TCA Institute.

Call 621-7147, or contact Soyeon Shim at shim@ag.arizona.edu or Melinda Burke at mburke@ag.arizona.edu for more information.
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/fcs/srcer/fall03.pdf


7 100% PLACEMENT IN NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES

While most universities match only 50% of their dietetics graduates, 100% of CALS nutritional sciences seniors graduating in May 2003 were placed into dietetic internships. These graduates are going to the US Army, Tufts University, Cal Poly Pomona, Michigan State University,University of Minnesota, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio), San Diego State University, University of Memphis, Geisinger Health Services (Pennsylvania), Aramark Services (Kansas City), Maricopa County Health Department, University Medical Center, and St. Mary's Hospital.

Dietetic internships are generally one year in length and provide students with on-the-job training in all aspects of nutrition, ranging from clinical nutrition in intensive care units and trauma settings to counseling diabetic and renal patients; from business and foodservice management to teaching nutrition in public health settings, to everything else in between. Most of the CALS graduates will be concurrently working on graduate degrees in nutrition.

Wanda Howell, Department of Nutritional Sciences
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/OAP/NewsletterAugust.pdf


8 LEGISLATIVE BUDGET CUTS AFFECT COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Recent Arizona legislative financial decisions resulted in a $4.4 million budget cut for the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, heavily impacting Cooperative Extension, especially in Gila, Yavapai and Yuma counties. Extension has been particularly hard hit because its funding comes from the state and not from tuition monies.

As the outreach function of CALS, Cooperative Extension is a statewide nonformal education network bringing research-based information into communities to help people improve their lives. Arizona Extension in turn is part of a nationwide land-grant network of scientists and educators who put university-based knowledge to use in helping solve problems in communities.

Funding from grants and partnerships with industry are helping Extension deal with cuts in 4-H and research programs.
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/081803.pdf


9 AGRICULTURAL LITERACY OPPORTUNITIES

Ask most city kids where their food comes from and they're likely to answer, "the supermarket." They aren't alone. With increasing urbanization in Arizona many residents are unaware of their connection to farming--eating!

To emphasize agriculture's importance in Arizona and in our society, Ag-Ventures at the Farm is offered at the Maricopa Ag Center (MAC) in central Arizona.

The 3 1/2-hour program includes a combination of videos, educational presenters, hands-on learning experiences and trailer rides around the farm for a first-hand view of the aquaculture, green houses, irrigation systems and crops that are all part of the MAC Farm educational experience.

Program Opportunities this fall include A "Food, Fish, Farm Experience" in September and October and the "Amazing Corn Festival" in October and November.

Victor Jimenez, Maricopa Agricultural Center
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/aes/mac/ag-ventures.htm


10 PM-10 COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Through an interagency service agreement, the Arizona Department of Agriculture and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality are providing assistance to commercial farmers to ensure their compliance with air quality regulations.
The compliance assistance program targets the Phoenix planning area of the Maricopa County PM-10 non-attainment area.

The focal point of the program is commercial farmland that produces particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM-10) and is subject to regulation of agricultural activities.

PM-10s are considered to be a source of air pollution throughout the state. Combustion of diesel fuel, emissions from fossil-fuel-powered electrical plants, aerosolized soils, and soil movement operations in mining, transportation, agriculture and other industries can contribute to PM-10 concentrations in the air and reduce air quality.

On-site visits (OSV) can be scheduled. They will be conducted by a field consultant from the Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) Agricultural Consultation and Training Program (ACT) who will discuss overall compliance with local, state and federal air quality regulation.

The OSVs are voluntary, non-regulatory and will identify compliance difficulties, assist in the selection of agricultural PM-10 best management practices and identify other needs to ensure compliance. Coordinating the program is ADA ACT field consultant Marcia Colquitt, who can be reached in Phoenix at (602) 542-3484 or toll free outside the Phoenix area at (800) 294-0308, or contact Pay Clay, Field Crops Extension Agent (602) 470-8086 or email pclay@cals.arizona.edu.
To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/crops/counties/maricopa/field/ctnadvisory.html

11 CALS HOMECOMING EVENTS 2003

Make a note to attend any or all of the CALS events planned for UA Homecoming, November 7-8.

Friday, November 7:
Annual Touchstone Energy AgCat Open Homecoming Golf Tournament, at the Dell Urich Golf Course at Reid Park in Tucson, breakfast at 6:45 a.m. tee off at 7:30 a.m. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) student endowment. Player registration is $75 per player and includes breakfast and lunch. Contact Amanda at 621-7190.

School of Renewable Natural Resources (SRNR) Alumni Get Together, at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 5:00 p.m.

Bear Down Bash in the Student Union Memorial Center-Grand Ballroom, 5:30 .m. Bonfire/Pep Rally on the west UA mall, fountain side of Old Main, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday November 8:
13th annual Dean's Almost-World-Famous Burrito Breakfast & Auction, on campus at the Student Union Memorial Center-South, 8:00 a.m.

School of Renewable Natural Resources (SRNR) Open House, Biosciences East, 9:00 a.m.

Aggie House Alumni Board Meeting, 819 N. Euclid, 9:00 a.m., lunch at 11:00 a.m.

Family and Consumer Sciences Reception, FCS patio, 11:00, and luncheon, FCS 101, 11:00 a.m.

Arizona vs. Washington football game, Arizona Stadium, 4:00 p.m.
To learn more: http://www.uagrad.org/Homecoming/hc_03.htm


12 EVENTS

Retirement celebration for CALS Assistant Dean for Sponsored Research, Merle Jensen, UA Student Union Catalina room. Jensen is retiring after 35 years with the college. September 30, from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Arizona Firewise Communities Workshop - October 16, 2003, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S Church St, Tucson.
Contact: Alix Rogstad at arogstad@ag.arizona.edu, phone (520) 621-7263. http://cals.arizona.edu/firewise

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

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