IN THIS NEWSLINE ISSUED April 29, 2004:

1. 2004 CALS GRADUATES
2. CENTER FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION ESTABLISHED
3. OSTEOPOROSIS AND EXERCISE MANUAL AVAILABLE
4. HOT WEATHER LANDSCAPE PLANT CARE
5. UA CAMPUS IN BLOOM
6. BT COTTON RESISTANCE UPDATE
7. THE CO-EVOLUTION OF A BEETLE AND A PLANT
8. HOME LANDSCAPE IPM WORKSHOP OPEN TO PUBLIC
9. CONFERENCE ON MADREAN ARCHIPELAGO
10. 4-H TEEN CONGRESS
11. OFFICE OF ARID LANDS STUDIES ACTIVITIES
12. BIOSOLIDS SAFE FOR LAND APPLICATION
13. UPCOMING EVENTS
    

1 2004 CALS GRADUATES

This spring, 271 College of Agriculture and Life Science (CALS) undergraduates will be awarded baccalaureate degrees. CALS is the largest degree-granting college at the UA, according to Paul Kohn, assistant dean, Academic Programs.

"The greatest growth in student enrollment the last few years has occurred in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences," he says. The school includes majors in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Family Studies and Human Development, and Retailing and Consumer Sciences.

The CALS Commencement Convocation Ceremony to honor graduates of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the School of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the School of Natural Resources will be Saturday, May 15, 2004. Seating and registration will be from 8:30 a.m to 9:30 a.m.; the ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.with the processional.

The university commencement takes place that afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in the Bear Down Gym. Other CALS graduation activities will take place during the week.

Paul Kohn, Academic Programs

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/OAP/graduation.html

2 CENTER FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION ESTABLISHED

Poor nutritional habits and a lack of regular physical exercise among Americans of all ages have led to epidemic levels of obesity. This in turn has resulted unprecedented increases in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, some forms of cancer, and other chronic diseases.

To address these problems, The University of Arizona has established the Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition. The center is a collaboration between the UA Colleges of Medicine and Agriculture and Life Sciences.

CPAN collaborators within those colleges include the UA departments of nutritional sciences, orthopedic surgery, neurology and physiology; UA Cooperative Extension; and the Arizona Arthritis Center, Arizona Cancer Center, Arizona Center on Aging, Sarver Heart Center, Steele Memorial Children's Research Center and UA National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. The Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health is an affiliate.

The center is dedicated to improving the quality of life and longevity of people and communities in Arizona and the United States through physical activity and nutrition research, education and services.

Linda Houtkooper, Department of Nutritional Sciences

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/17.15.html

3 OSTEOPOROSIS AND EXERCISE MANUAL AVAILABLE

The Bone Estrogen Strength Training (BEST) study, funded by the National Institute of Health, identified the 6 BEST exercises that are the most effective for preventing osteoporosis and improving bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

A new publication features information from the BEST team of researchers on the 6 BEST exercises, training protocols and specific programming and motivational strategies to help women adhere to a lifetime of exercise for bone health.

Vanessa A. Stanford, Department of Nutritional Sciences

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/nsc/new/nutrition_health/bestbook.htm

4 HOT WEATHER LANDSCAPE PLANT CARE

Sizzling summer conditions in the Sonoran Desert can be brutal to landscape
plants. Proper selection and placement of desert-adapted plants not only provides maximum shade for outdoor activities but also helps reduce energy costs as well.

A free workshop, "Selecting and Placing Plants for Maximum Shading," will be held at the Wilmot Public Library in Tucson on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

These free weekly gardening presentations are repeated on Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at the Wilmot Public Library and on Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Oro Valley Public Library.

John Begeman, Pima County Cooperative Extension

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/talks.html

5 UA CAMPUS IN BLOOM

The profusion of blooms that color the landscape this time of year can be identified easily by a short trip around the UA campus in Tucson. The University of Arizona campus boasts hundreds of trees and unusual plants from all over the world. The campus is an officially-designated arboretum and many of the trees and shrubs are labeled. Once identified on campus it is easier to spot them in the wild or in urban landscapes.

Plants that are currently blooming include palo verde, aloe barbedensis, acacias and more. A descriptive list of flowering plants and a map of their locations on campus is available online.

Elizabeth Davison, Department of Plant Sciences

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/5.21.html

6 BT COTTON RESISTANCE UPDATE

Bt cotton is now beginning its ninth season of use in Arizona without any indication of resistance problems in the field. It continues to provide exceptional control of pink bollworm. Moreover, in concert with the continued excellent field performance of insect growth regulators for controlling whiteflies, insecticide use in Arizona cotton has reached historic low levels. Thus, Bt cotton has contributed to substantial reductions in exposure of workers and the environment to neurotoxic insecticides. For growers in areas of severe pest pressure, Bt cotton is unquestionably the most effective insecticidal technology ever available for management of pink bollworm. Keeping pink bollworm from developing resistance to Bt cotton is essential for maintaining these advantages for cotton growers, workers, and the environment.

Tim Dennehy, Department of Entomology

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/crops/cotton/bt/btrefuge040804.pdf

7 THE CO-EVOLUTION OF A BEETLE AND A PLANT

For the past 112 million years an insect and a plant have faced off in a deadly dance where neither quite finishes off the other.

If the flea beetle bites a leaf, the leaf vein squirts a glue-like resin under high pressure to poison and immobilize its attacker. The beetles have learned to sever leaf and stem veins to disarm the squirting mechanism so they can continue to feed. In response, the plant has developed different poisons and toxin delivery systems over time.

The results of a study by UA entomologist Judith Becerra, published in the October 2003 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show the resilience of this co-evolutionary system that is based on defense and counterdefense strategies.

Judith Becerra, Department of Entomology

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/general/resrpt2003/article7_2003.html

8 HOME LANDSCAPE IPM WORSHOP OPEN TO PUBLIC

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a method for controlling insect pests while limiting the use of chemical pesticides and avoiding harm to beneficial insects. An introductory workshop for homeowners will be held May 8, 2004 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension office, 4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix.

Learn how to diagnose pest problems, recognize insect damage, and identify which natural enemies are busy at work to keep your yard looking great.

Tyler Storey, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/

9 CONFERENCE ON MADREAN ARCHIPELAGO

Biodiversity and Management of the Madrean Archipelago II: "Connecting Mountain Islands and Desert Seas" will be held May 11-15, 2004 at the Doubletree Hotel in Tucson.

"Connecting Mountain Islands and Desert Seas" is two conferences in one. It is a 10-year update on the Madrean Archipelago as described by the participants of a conference in 1994. It is also the 5th Conference on Research and Resource Management in Southwestern Deserts. The event is co-presented by several organizations, including the UA School of Natural Resources.

This event will assemble the current state of knowledge about the unique natural and cultural resources of the Madrean region that stretches through the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and continue discussion of management practices useful for maintaining those resources.

Peter Ffolliott, School of Natural Resources

To learn more: http://www.skyislandalliance.org/madreanconference/

10 4-H TEEN CONGRESS

This year's annual 4-H Teen Congress will be held in July on the University of Arizona campus. The theme is "4-H'ers Gone Wild."

Workshops, inspirational speakers, lively discussions, and hands-on activities will give teens the opportunity to meet people and experience different cultures, make new friends, share a university dorm room, and gain perspective on campus life. Teen Congress will be held             July 13 - 16, 2004.

Participants must have been at least 13 years old by January 1, 2004 to be eligible to attend.

Sandra Saad, 4-H Youth Development

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/4-h/teen.htm

11 OFFICE OF ARID LANDS STUDIES ACTIVITIES

The Office of Arid Lands Studies (OALS) is a multidisciplinary teaching, research, and information unit in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson. It conducts interdisciplinary programs that address local, state, national, and international problems related to understanding, regenerating, and managing the world's arid lands.

OALS researchers are working to adapt existing technologies and to develop new, affordable methods of alleviating the problems posed by desertification and its impacts upon fragile natural resources. To further its objectives, OALS gathers and disseminates information that relates to all aspects of arid lands and their uses.

See the "What's New" page on their Web site for updated information on conferences and workshops, new projects and publications and stories about OALS in the news.

Carla Casler, Office of Arid Lands Studies

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/whatsnew/whatsnew.html

12 BIOSOLIDS SAFE FOR LAND APPLICATION

For at least two decades, wastewater treatment plants have produced Class A and B biosolids, the organic residues that result from specific treatment of sewage. Over the past two years, questions have arisen over whether Staphylococcus aureus, a human disease pathogen present in raw sewage, remains in treated biosolids and potentially causes illness following its application to soil.

In a recent study, scientists at the University of Arizona have produced evidence that S. aureus is not present in biosolids.

Biosolids are frequently used for land application on cropland, pastures or timberland, where they decompose while furnishing nitrogen, phosphorus and potash to growing plants. This method offers a more ecologically sound and practical alternative to domestic waste disposal than landfills or incineration, where water or air pollution may result.

Ian Pepper, Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science

To learn more: http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/general/resrpt2003/article11_2003.html

13 UPCOMING EVENTS

MAY 11-13 - Desert Ag Conference at The Property Conference Center, 1251 W. Gila Bend Highway, Casa Grande.For more information contact Jeanette Wilk (602-266-6149) or see http://cals.arizona.edu/crops/counties/all/meetings/2004/dac051104.pdf

MAY 21: The 13th Annual Desert Horticulture Conference at the Tucson Community Center from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The conference is open to all members of the Green Industry: landscape architects, designers, growers, retailers, contractors, maintenance personnel and suppliers. The registration fee is $45 if paid before May 10, and $70 after May 10. The fee includes a deli-style lunch buffet. Course credit will be available for The Structural Pest Control Commission, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Irrigation Association. For more information see http://cals.arizona.edu/deserthort/. Contact Jack Kelly, Pima County Cooperative Extension (520-626-5161).

To learn more: http://ag.arizona.edu/calendar

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