IN THIS NEWSLINE ISSUED OCTOBER 31, 2005:

1. TWO CALS FACULTY NAMED 2005 AAAS FELLOWS
2. VICE DEAN INDUCTED INTO USDA/CSREES HALL OF FAME
3. PINYON PINE DIE-OFF EXPLAINED
4. ARIZONA LAND AND PEOPLE MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
5. BT COTTON AND PEST RESISTANCE
6. WALK ACROSS ARIZONA STARTS NEW PROGRAM IN PIMA COUNTY
7. MASTER WATERSHED PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED AT OPENING OF RIO SALADO PROJECT
8. UA WATER FORUM ON NOVEMBER 9
9. OUR YARD AT PIMA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADDS FIREWISE EXHIBIT
10. MONEY MANAGEMENT TRAINING IN MARICOPA COUNTY
11. REDUCING ON-THE-JOB STRAINS FOR WORKERS IN PLANT-RELATED INDUSTRIES
12. UA WATER VILLAGE
13. SOIL SURVEYS NOW ONLINE
14. SEMINAR ON THE 1922 COLORADO RIVER COMPACT
15. TURKEY COOKING TIPS

1 TWO CALS FACULTY NAMED 2005 AAAS FELLOWS

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has named three faculty members from The University of Arizona in Tucson as 2005 AAAS Fellows.

Vicki L. Chandler, Richard A. Jorgensen and Michael W. Nachman are among 376 new fellows from across the nation.

"These individuals have been elevated to this rank because of their efforts toward advancing science or applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished," according to AAAS.

Chandler is director of UA's BIO5 Institute and a UA Regents' Professor. She holds the Carl E. and Patricia Weiler Endowed Chair for Excellence in Agriculture and Life Sciences at the UA where she is a professor of plant sciences. Chandler is cited in the field of biological sciences "for major contributions to understanding the molecular basis of paramutation in
plants."

Jorgensen, an associate professor of plant sciences, discovered a basic genetic phenomenon known as RNA silencing. AAAS is honoring him in the field of biological sciences "for the discovery of a fundamental genetic mechanism, cosuppression, now known as RNA silencing, which controls gene expression and chromosome structure in eukaryotes."

Michael W. Nachman, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, is cited in the field of biological sciences "for discoveries concerning selection at the molecular level in humans and mice and the genetics of adaptation and speciation in mammals."

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/19.3.html

2 VICE DEAN INDUCTED INTO USDA/CSREES HALL OF FAME

Colin Kaltenbach, CALS vice dean and director of the Arizona Experiment Station at The University of Arizona, was inducted into the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 13.

Kaltenbach was being honored for 25 years of administrative leadership in Wyoming and Arizona, where he has been a major contributor to agriculture in state, regional, national and international arenas. His efforts have helped CSREES fulfill its mission of advancing knowledge of agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities.

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/19.2.html

3 PINYON PINE DIE-OFF EXPLAINED

The high heat that accompanied the recent drought was the underlying cause of death for millions of pinyon pines throughout the Southwest, according to new research.

The resulting landscape change will affect the ecosystem for decades. Hotter temperatures coupled with drought are the type of event predicted by global climate change models. The new finding suggests big, fast changes in ecosystems may result from global climate change.

At study sites in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, a team of scientists found that from 40 to 80 percent of the pinyon trees (Pinus edulis) died between 2002 and 2003. The researchers confirmed the massive regional dieback of vegetation through both aerial surveys and analysis of satellite images of those states' pinyon-juniper woodlands.

David Breshears, School of Natural Resources

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/10.10.html

4 ARIZONA LAND AND PEOPLE MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

The latest issue of Arizona Land & People magazine includes articles on the Extension Indian Reservation Program on the San Carlos Apache and Navajo Indian reservations; the Ag-Ventures program at the Maricopa Agricultural Center; a new electronic agricultural library in Afghanistan; job placement for Race Track Industry program graduates, and more.

Arizona Land & People is published by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona. It features articles on research, extension and academic programs.

Hard-copy subscriptions to the publication are available by filling out the online form at http://cals.arizona.edu/landandpeople/subscription.html.

Susan McGinley, Educational Communications and Technologies

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/landandpeople/current.html

5 BT COTTON AND PEST RESISTANCE

Biotech cotton has beaten back pink bollworm eight years running, reports a team of scientists from The University of Arizona in Tucson.

The surprising finding is good news for the environment. Arizona farmers who plant the biotech cotton, known as Bt cotton, use substantially less chemical insecticides than in the past.

Insect pests sometimes evolve resistance to such chemicals in just a few years, a fate that was predicted for biotech crops genetically altered to produce Bt toxin, a naturally occurring insecticide.

Bt cotton has been planted in Arizona since 1996. Now more than half of the state's 256,000 acres of cotton fields are planted with it. Without the protection provided by Bt cotton, some fields can have 100 percent of plants infested with pink bollworm caterpillars, which live inside the cotton boll, destroying the crop.

The research findings will be published in an upcoming issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Tim Dennehy, Department of Entomology

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/11.15.html

6 WALK ACROSS ARIZONA STARTS NEW PROGRAM IN PIMA COUNTY

The Walk Across Arizona program was developed here to increase physical activity and increase community spirit. Sunday, November 6 is the official start of the walking program in Pima County. Walking groups provide social support which has been found to be an important mediator in health behavior change. This 16-week program is designed for teams of up to 10 people. The teams have a friendly competition to see who can get their pals, neighbors, co-workers and family out to build a healthy habit and walk for fitness. The miles logged by teams will be collected by team captains each week and recorded on the Walk Across Arizona Web-site list below.

Last year, 219 teams in Arizona walked 341,857 miles in the fourth year of the campaign. A registration fee of $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per youth will be collected at the meeting to recover the cost of program materials and incentives. Scholarships are available. Participants will receive enrollment information with initial incentives at registration, eight-week promotional gifts, and names from the Wrap-Up forms will be submitted for the grand prize in March.

The Walk Across Arizona program will begin in other counties throughout the fall and winter.

Linda Block, Pima County Cooperative Extension

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/walkacrossaz

7 MASTER WATERSHED PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED AT OPENING OF RIO SALADO PROJECT

Volunteers, staff and partners of the Arizona Master Watershed Steward Program will be at the Grand Opening of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project in Phoenix on Saturday, November 5. The public is invited to participate in a variety of activities that feature this new statewide program's knowledgeable volunteers.

There will be informational displays, water-related demonstrations and wetland walks for all ages. Partners included in this event are Arizona Project W.E.T., SAHRA, the UA Water Sustainability Program, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and the Arizona Native Plant Society.

The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project Nature Festival will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. along Central Avenue at the Salt River Bridge. The Arizona Master Watershed Stewards and their program partners will be located next to the reconstructed wetland.

Robert Emanuel, Master Watershed Steward Program

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/watershedsteward

8 UA WATER FORUM ON NOVEMBER 9

A water forum will be held November 9 at the UA Student Union, Tucson Room from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Water Sustainability Program (WSP), it will feature the latest research from a selection of UA TRIF (Technology and Research Initiative Fund) water projects relevant to Arizona water issues. Presentation topics include an assessment of water conservation measures, impacts of endocrine disrupters in fish, nitrate remediation, a new water supply decision support model and the reliability of the Colorado River water supply reliability.

Updates on education and outreach projects, the Arizona Water University, the WSP grants RFP, and the new Arizona Water web site will also be provided. Posters and displays featuring water-related projects, programs and departments from across campus will be in the South Ballroom from 2:00 to 6:00.

Jackie Moxley, Water Resources Research Center

To learn more:
http://uawater.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/uawater/news.pl?ID=36

9 OUR YARD AT PIMA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADDS FIREWISE EXHIBIT

A "Firewise" exhibit is beginning to take shape in the Our Yard project at the Pima County extension office. The purpose of the exhibit is to demonstrate building construction options that are less flammable, and appropriate firewise landscaping options for Pima County and Southern Arizona.

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) placed a steel roof structure on the Firewise ramada on October 28. This 12'wide structure travelled up Campbell road along with a giant crane to drop it onto concrete pillars. The structure was built in the TEP welding shop--they donated all the labor and transportation. The value of this donation is estimated at $15,000.

The exhibit will demonstrate the use of appropriate landscaping and how it can benefit the entire community by providing a fire buffer, which will potentially slow approaching wildfires. The completed project will provide an educational opportunity for citizens and school-aged children to see and explore firewise landscaping and to learn about issues related to reducing wildfire risks.

Our Yard is located on the west side of the Pima County Cooperative Extension office building, 4210 N. Campbell Avenue in Tucson.

Cynthia Flynn, Pima County Cooperative Extension

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

10 MONEY MANAGEMENT TRAINING IN MARICOPA COUNTY

Money Management Advisor volunteers teach money management skills to limited income families in neighborhood centers, churches, community sites and parent programs. The program is geared to adults interested in teaching limited income families how to improve their financial status and money /budgeting skills.

The Money Management Advisor training focuses on identifying values and needs, stopping spending leaks, planning spending, budgeting, using credit and banking wisely and methods for teaching adults. The next 2 part training in Maricopa County will be Thursday, Dec. 1 and Thursday, Dec. 8 at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. Participants should attend both days. The registration, due Nov. 23 for the train-the-trainer workshop, is $25 for a notebook of lessons, handouts in English and Spanish and the 2-day training.

Sharon Hoelscher Day, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/fcs/mm.html

11 REDUCING ON-THE-JOB STRAINS FOR WORKERS IN PLANT-RELATED INDUSTRIES

A new CALS website is now available featuring information on how to help nursery and agricultural workers cope with heat stress, reduce or prevent work-related musculo-skeletal disorders and improve communication in the workplace. It also offers legal and regulatory information related to workers in the nursery industry.

The website features short PowerPoint presentations, printable heat stress prevention bookmarks and additional information and resources designed to be used as training tools for supervisors and workers.

Ursula Schuch, Plant Sciences
Trent Teegerstrom, Agriculture and Resource Economics
Russ Tronstad, Agriculture and Resource Economics

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/riskmanagement

12 UA WATER VILLAGE

Researchers at The University of Arizona in Tucson are developing a laboratory facility that will test new technologies designed to monitor the safety and aesthetics of the nation's water supply.

Much of the impetus for the UA "Water Village" comes from a substantial grant awarded by the Office of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency. The grant includes researchers at several other universities who are working on water-related issues.

The grant creates an EPA Homeland Security Center, specifically the Center for the Advancement of Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA) at the UA and six other schools: Michigan State University, Northern Arizona University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, Drexel University and Carnegie Mellon University. The heart of the UA's effort will be the "Water Village," a unique facility geared to test new technology.

On the outside, the Water Village looks like four otherwise unremarkable houses located on the grounds of the university's venerable Environmental Research Laboratory. Inside, the houses are a labyrinth of pipes, fiber optics and monitoring equipment. Researchers expect the village will become the premier testing facility for securing the nation's water supply in three key areas: safety, health and aesthetics.

Ian Pepper, Soil, Water and Environmental Science

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/6.13.html

13 SOIL SURVEYS NOW ONLINE

A new interactive web soil survey site provides public access to soils information. Soil survey maps help agricultural producers, conservationists, engineering firms, county and city planners, and others to make informed decisions concerning land use.

"Soil surveys are a valuable resource for anyone interested in land resource and environmental information, assessment and management, including agronomists, soil scientists, horticulturalists and range specialists." says Jeff Silvertooth, head, Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science. "Having this information available online is going to be a tremendous benefit."

Soil surveys began in 1899 and evolved into a partnership of state and federal agencies working together to collect, classify, interpret and provide soils information. For years, soil survey books were free to the public at USDA/NRCS field offices. The launch of Web Soil Survey will bring information on soil properties and soil usage to everyone with access to a computer and the Internet. People without computer access can acquire soil survey information from any NRCS field office or by going to the local library.

Currently, NRCS has soils maps and data available online for more than 95 percent of the nation's counties and anticipates having 100 percent in the near future. The site will be updated and maintained online as the single authoritative source of soil survey information.

Craig Rasmussen, Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science

To learn more:
http://soils.usda.gov/survey

14 SEMINAR ON THE 1922 COLORADO RIVER COMPACT

A seminar on the state of Colorado's perspective of the Colorado River compact will be held November 4 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at the Sol Resnick Conference Room, Water Resources Research Center, 350 N. Campbell Ave., in Tucson.

The 1922 Colorado River Compact allocated the entire flow of the Colorado River. Although not widely appreciated at the time, the Upper Basin received the 'hydrologic leftovers' in the river. Much like Arizona in the Lower Basin, the entire Upper Basin including Colorado faces significant uncertainty over the amount of ultimately usable water in the river.

A shortage in Colorado would likely first impact Front Range municipalities, many of which are heavily dependent on the Colorado River. The recent drought caused most large post-compact trans-mountain diverters to question the wisdom of continued Colorado River water development in the state because new developments might place all trans-mountain diversions at risk of curtailment during a compact 'call'. This newly appreciated risk has forced some radical re-thinking in the state. Colorado's vulnerability and some of the new ideas to reduce this exposure will form the basis of this talk.

Brad Udall, Director of the Western Water Assessment Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado at Boulder, is the featured speaker.

Jackie Moxley, Water Resources Research Center

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/AZWATER/announcements/annc.html

15 TURKEY COOKING TIPS

Buying, thawing and cooking a turkey is an American tradition. Proper cooking methods ensure a safe holiday meal.

Print out a few of these handy tip sheets to keep in a convenient place for a stress-free holiday meal:

-- Poultry Safety
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/health/foodsafety/az1071.html

-- Additional Turkey Cooking Methods
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/health/foodsafety/az1091.html

-- Buying and Storing a Turkey
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/health/foodsafety/az1074.html

-- Storing Leftover Turkey
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/health/foodsafety/az1072.html

-- Stuffing a Turkey
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/health/foodsafety/az1073.html

-- Talking Turkey: To Stuff or Not to Stuff
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/health/az1061.pdf

-- Thawing a Turkey
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/health/foodsafety/az1075.html

Scottie Misner, Nutritional Sciences

To find out about available CALS publications and upcoming events, go to http://cals.arizona.edu/ If you have questions or comments about NewsLine, send an email to newseditor@ag.arizona.edu. Previous issues can be viewed at http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/newsline/previous-issues.html

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