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IN THIS NEWSLINE ISSUED August 28, 2006:
- GROSETA FAMILY DONATES LAND IN YAVAPAI COUNTY FOR CALS EDUCATION
- STICKER DEVELOPED BY CALS SOON WILL SHOW CONSUMERS WHEN PRODUCE IS RIPE
- WATER HARVESTING MODEL ON UA CAMPUS
- NATIONAL COOPERATIVE RESEARCH UNIT AWARD FOR ARIZONA
- RECENT ISSUE OF ARIZONA LAND AND PEOPLE AVAILABLE ONLINE
- SPORTS NUTRITION CONFERENCE ON UA CAMPUS IN OCTOBER
- MASTER WATERSHED STEWARD VOLUNTEERS TEACH IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
- PIMA COUNTY MASTER CONSUMER ADVISOR TRAINING BEGINS IN OCTOBER
- 4-H MILITARY PARTNERSHIP
- HOPI PARTICIPATORY RURAL ASSESSMENT
- ONLINE SATELLITE IMAGERY CLEARINGHOUSE
- IMPROVING WESTERN VEGETABLE QUALITY
- 2006 EXTENSION FACULTY OF THE YEAR: SUSAN PATER
- SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN ARIZONA
- GYPSUM AS AMENDMENT FOR SOUTHWEST SOILS
1 GROSETA FAMILY DONATES LAND IN YAVAPAI COUNTY FOR CALS EDUCATION
Yavapai county residents interested in learning more about agriculture; natural resources; and family and youth programs will be able to do so in a one-stop location to be constructed in Camp Verde.
A new facility--which will house the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Agricultural Experiment Station, the CALS V Bar V ranch office and the Yavapai County Cooperative Extension office--is in the planning stages thanks to a land donation by Cottonwood residents P. Andrew (Andy) and Mary Beth Groseta.
The five acres are located between Camp Verde and Cottonwood on Highway 260 off Interstate 17. The new building will be named the Groseta Education Center in honor of the family. The university has retained M3 Engineering and Technology Corporation of Tucson to design the proposed 5000 square-foot facility, with construction expected to begin June 2007.
The family was publicly recognized for their support at the V Bar V ranch explorer's field day at Mahan Park in Coconino County.
Jeff Schalau, Yavapai County Cooperative Extension
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/9.18.html
2 STICKER DEVELOPED BY CALS SOON WILL SHOW CONSUMERS WHEN PRODUCE IS RIPE
A University of Arizona professor has invented a sticker that can tell consumers if a fruit or vegetable is ripe.
The stickers will be available to growers next year, and should make their way to supermarkets within two to three years, said their inventor, Mark Riley, a UA assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering.
To read about this research in the Arizona Daily Star, go to:
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/139457.php
3 WATER HARVESTING MODEL ON UA CAMPUS
According to an EPA study conducted by UA researchers, up to 74% of Tucson's current water needs could be met through harvesting rainwater. While harvesting all of the annual rainfall may not be realistic, water harvesting has tremendous potential to reduce the city's dependence on groundwater pumping and CAP water.
An innovative student-initiated water harvesting project at the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering building, 1130 N. Mountain Avenue on the UA campus, is intended as a model for similar campus water harvesting projects in the future.
In collaboration with facilities management staff and supportive faculty, students first obtained grant funding and then installed the project through hundreds of hours of intensive physical labor. In addition, they pushed for the creation of a new upper division and graduate level class in water harvesting within the Soil, Water and Environmental Science department.
James Riley, Soil Water and Environmental Science
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/6.15.html
4 NATIONAL COOPERATIVE RESEARCH UNIT AWARD FOR ARIZONA
The US Geological Survey (USGS) of the United States Department of the Interior announced in mid-June the awarding of two (2) national Cooperative Research Unit Recognition Awards.
The commendation from USGS for the Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (CFWRU) reads: "The Arizona Unit is recognized for its strong and effective relationship with the Unit Cooperators. The Unit scientists are relied upon for some of the most sensitive and important challenges in the Southwest. The Unit is one of the most productive Units in the West, and it effectively leads a critical minority education program."
CFWRU scientists who hold faculty appointments in the CALS School of Natural Resources are -Scott Bonar, Unit Leader -Courtney Conway, Assistant Unit Leader for Wildlife -Melanie Culver., Assistant Unit Leader for Fisheries These scientists are ably supported by unit staff: Carol Yde, Administrative Assistant Cora Yaras, Minority Training Coordinator Chris Kirkpatrick and Alison Iles, Senior Research Specialists.
Pat Reid, School of Natural Resources
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/19.6.html
5 RECENT ISSUE OF ARIZONA LAND AND PEOPLE AVAILABLE ONLINE
The latest issue of Arizona Land & People magazine includes articles on the construction of the new Norton School building, a historic UA date palm that has ties to Iraq, climate change in Arizona, burrowing owl research and more.
Arizona Land & People is published by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and 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
6 SPORTS NUTRITION CONFERENCE ON UA CAMPUS IN OCTOBER
Participants at the 2006 Nutrition for Fitness & Sport Conference will get the chance to learn more about the latest nutritional sports science findings and ways to enhance personal fitness. This one-day event will be held Friday, October 6 at the Health Sciences Center on the UA campus. Sponsors include the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Nutritional Sciences, the Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition and Gatorade Sports Science Institute.
Although this conference is geared toward health professionals, the content is appropriate for athletes, casual exercisers, or people interested in improving their health, managing their weight, and increasing energy levels. Participants will learn how to apply the latest nutritional information for sports to their personal fitness, health, and athletic performance.
Linda Houtkooper, Nutritional Sciences
To learn more:
http://nutrition.arizona.edu/snc/
7 MASTER WATERSHED STEWARD VOLUNTEERS TEACH IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Anyone who has lived in Arizona for a while knows about the ephemeral nature of Arizona's waterways. Some rivers, such as the Colorado, flow nearly year-round. Some appear above ground only after measurable rainfall has occurred. The watersheds in the state encompass a much greater area and include all of the lands that receive moisture as the water percolates through the soil.
Master Watershed Stewards are university-trained volunteers who first learn about and then teach the basics of Arizona watersheds and water resources in their communities.
Several Arizona Master Watershed Steward Courses will be offered across the state this fall. Curriculum topics will include climate and meteorology; geology and soils; mapping, GPS and GIS applications; hydrology, stream processes and water quality; applied ecology; and land and water management.
Robert Emanuel, Master Watershed Steward Program
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/watershedsteward/
8 PIMA COUNTY MASTER CONSUMER ADVISOR TRAINING BEGINS IN OCTOBER
Do you know what to do when the monsoon season hits and the power goes out? How do you remove mildew from your walls, tiles and clothing as a result of too much moisture? These are some of the questions Master Consumer Advisor volunteers handle through telephone assistance to the public.
If you are interested in becoming a Master Consumer Advisor, sign up for the workshop series that begins September 13. Offered through Pima County Cooperative Extension in Tucson, classes run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesdays through October 25. Previous formal and informal training is helpful, but not required.
Participants will receive 36 hours of research-based training and a training manual in exchange for 36 hours of volunteer time at the Cooperative Extension office. Topics include financial and house management, food and nutrition, food safety, food substitutions, food preservation and drying, clothing and textile care, pest control and Internet search techniques. Master Consumer Advisor volunteer opportunities are not limited to answering telephone calls but may also include additional community outreach with other family and consumer science and health promotion programs.
Class size is limited to 12 and there is a registration fee of $55 to cover class materials, handouts, food and beverages for the 6-week training. Registration closes on September 1.
Linda Block, Pima County Cooperative Extension
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/fchs/mca/index.html
On an Air Force base in Arizona, a furry rabbit named Oreo is teaching young people about responsibility. But Oreo, named for its black ears and tail and white body, isn't merely a beloved pet. He's just one element of a wide-ranging effort to bring programs and activities to young people living on U.S. military installations through the Arizona 4-H Military Partnership.
The Partnership supports University of Arizona Cooperative Extension employees to train military personnel in 4-H principals so they can offer consistent and meaningful youth development programs on military bases. Since military families move so frequently, young people are routinely separated from family and friends. Such disruptions can affect their mental health, education and social lives. Consistent programming is crucial to helping kids adapt, adjust and belong.
Lisa Lauxman, 4-H Youth Development
To learn more:
http://www.vpr.arizona.edu/ror/summer06/4h.html
10 HOPI PARTICIPATORY RURAL ASSESSMENT
Like many rural communities in Arizona, the Hopi reservation is dealing with people moving away to find better jobs. The traditions of the Hopi people on the reservation in northeastern Arizona have historically been tied to the land and to traditional crops.
After hearing complaints over the years that reservation leaders put more money into ranching than into farming, the Hopi Department of Natural Resources decided the best way to find out what support the tribe could give to farmers was to ask.
Participatory rural assessment research projects are designed not only to gain community information, but to train area residents in interviewing techniques. Because they are a part of the community, these locally trained interviewers are often able to establish a comfort level with participants and therefore perhaps obtain more in-depth information than an outsider could. Not only did the interviewers get training on how to conduct interviews, they also helped develop the questionnaire and later presented their findings at community gatherings and before the tribal council.
Matt Livingston, Extension Indian Reservation Program
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/landandpeople/spring2006/article3.pdf
11 ONLINE SATELLITE IMAGERY CLEARINGHOUSE
The Arizona Regional Image Archive (ARIA), an online clearinghouse for digital maps and imagery focused on the US Southwest and Mexico, includes digital maps, aerial photos, satellite imagery, hyperspectral imagery and digital elevation models.
ARIA is used by educators, land use managers and regional planners who want to know about the geography of the Sonoran Desert and the interactions of climate, ecosystem response, land management and policy over periods ranging from months to decades.
Stuart Marsh, Office of Arid Lands Studies
To learn more:
http://aria.arizona.edu/
12 IMPROVING WESTERN VEGETABLE QUALITY
The produce section in local grocery stores is continually expanding the shelf space devoted to cut and pre-packaged fresh fruits and vegetables. No longer satisfied with the canned and frozen food lifestyle, Americans demand convenience, safety and top quality in the fresh produce they buy.
Several disease outbreaks have been linked to vegetable consumption during the last decade. Although most were due to crosscontamination (such as putting vegetables in contact with raw meat), studies show that pathogens can grow in produce and that high microbial loads can make people sick.
The Western Vegetable Quality Assurance Program, based at the Yuma Agricultural Center, was created in 2003. It provides research-based information on a diversified range of crops, including cotton, small grains, and such vegetables as lettuce, broccoli, melons and others.
Projects include fieldwork studying the increased nutritional value of crops grown with seaweed extract, for example, or lab work examining different packaging materials and their role in extending shelf life.
Jorge Fonseca, Yuma Agricultural Center
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/general/resrpt2005/article13_2005.pdf
13 2006 EXTENSION FACULTY OF THE YEAR: SUSAN PATER
Susan Pater has worked for Arizona Cooperative Extension since 1983. As the county extension director and 4-H youth development agent in Cochise County she currently develops, conducts and evaluates educational programs for youth and adults emphasizing life skills development of youth.
Because of her exemplary work coordinating an outreach educational program focusing on natural resources and environmental stewardship, she was lauded recently at the CALS faculty conference as "Extension Faculty of the Year."
The award is presented annually to an outstanding faculty member nominated by peers and selected by a committee composed of the elected chair of the county directors, the elected head of department heads and school directors, and a former faculty award winner. Other criteria for the award include innovation and quality of extension programming and outreach efforts.
Several nomination letters commended Pater for her professionalism and leadership. Nominators noted that under her leadership, a core group of Cochise County youth and adults has developed an action plan, an award and recognition plan and several new county level award areas that will reduce focus on competitive fair awards. Under her guidance, the CALS professional development working group developed clear and appropriate standards for peer review of faculty as part of their evaluation.
Additionally, Pater has been a major contributor in over $1.1 million in grant funds generated to implement research and extension efforts in Cochise County and Arizona.
Jim Christenson, Arizona Cooperative Extension
14 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN ARIZONA
Ensuring the future of agriculture in climates like Arizona's requires farmers and ranchers to be good stewards of arid and semi-arid lands. To maintain good productivity and conserve soil and water, producers are adopting practices that are economically viable, socially supportive and ecologically sound.
A four-page brochure describing current sustainable agriculture projects in the state is available at the link below.
Rick Gibson, Pinal County Cooperative Extension
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/sustainableag_publication.pdf
15 GYPSUM AS AMENDMENT FOR SOUTHWEST SOILS
If you're interested in amending your soil with gypsum, a new publication from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences explains more about it. Gypsum is a soil amendment that is often used in southwestern soils. It can help stabilize aggregate structure in some soils, but since gypsum may not improve the physical or chemical properties of other soils, it's important to understand what happens when it's used as an amendment.
Gypsum is slightly soluble in water, and will slowly move into the soil with precipitation or irrigation water. Physical incorporation, though, will improve subsurface soil structure more rapidly than unincorporated surface applications.
For more information see the bulletin "Using Gypsum in Southwest Soils," available as a PDF at the link below.
James Walworth, Soil, Water, & Environmental Science
To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1413.pdf
To find out about available CALS publications and upcoming events, go
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