Plugged In: For UMaine Extension Staff and Volunteers

Extension Leadership Team Minutes July 17, 2017

Extension Leadership Team Minutes
July 17, 2017
Farmhouse Rm #11 – University of Maine at Augusta

Facilitator: Dennis Harrington
Note taker: Richard Brzozowski

4-H Camps
Jon reported that the camps are having a good summer and enrollment is strong this year.

Diagnostic Lab
Dennis reported that the University is entering a new phase of the project.  Decisions are coming before Dennis at a rapid pace. The anticipated move-in date is sometime after January1, 2018.

The Maine Food and Agriculture Center – Dick reported that many research projects funded by MFAC are now underway.  For instance, the broiler comparison was recently highlighted at the Witter Center Field Day (July 12).

UMaine Extension and UNH Extension Leadership Meeting
We debriefed the combined ME/UNH Extension administration meeting that was held June 21st in Falmouth.

New Dean for the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry & Agriculture
Fred Servello is beginning his new role as Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, and Director of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. We explored how the ELT might help orient the Dean in his new role and how it relates to Extension.

New Vice President for Research
Kody Varahramyan is beginning his new role as UM vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School, effective July 1.We explored how the ELT wants to help orient the VP in his new role and how it relates to Extension.

Maine 4-H Foundation
Susan Jennings joined the meeting at 11:00 am and provided an annual update to the ELT.  We discussed the Maine 4-H Foundation and her role in support of resource development work for Cooperative Extension.

The Move to York Village
The York Village move is now complete. When staff come to campus they are encouraged to stop over to York Village to say hello and check out the new office space.

Lobster Institute Speaker Support
Cathy Billings requested speaker support as a part of their 30-year anniversary November 8 conference that has sustainability as the focus.  Since this date is when our Extension professionals are meeting Fran will explore a move to a different date.

CONGRATULATIONS

Safeguarding the US Potato Industry Against Emerging Seed Potato-borne Pathogens that Impact Trade and Farm Viability 
Congratulations to PI James Dwyer who has been awarded $42,979 by the USDA – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for his “Safeguarding the US Potato Industry Against Emerging Seed Potato-borne Pathogens that Impact Trade and Farm Viability” project.  The primary purpose of this agreement is to support investigations of two soil-borne viruses and a soft rot bacterium that have recently emerged as major concerns in US seed potato production and are becoming more widespread in commercial potato plantings

Demonstrating the Effects of Fly Ash – 06/13/2017
Congratulations to PI Sukhwinder Bali and Co-PI Lakesh Sharma who has been awarded $64,292 by the USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service for the “Demonstrating the Effects of Fly Ash on Agriculture Production and Soil Amendments at a Reduced Cost” project.  The primary purpose of this project is to Demonstrate and quantify the impacts of fly ash as amendments on soil chemical, physical, biological, and climatic properties and their relationships with nutrient uptake, and plant growth at a reduced cost.  Fly ash will be utilized as a value-added product for agriculture and would like to give farmers a better opportunity to save some money and reduces environmental and economic impacts of disposal

Determining the Current Cost of Producing Milk in Maine 2016
Congratulations to PI Gary Anderson and Co-PIs Richard Kersbergen and David Marcinkowski who have been awarded $29,438 by the State of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry for their “Determining the Current Cost of Producing Milk in Maine 2016” project.  Through farmer surveys and on-site farm data collection/financial verification, 2016 financial data will be collected and analyzed to determine the cost of producing fluid white milk for dairy producers in Maine.  The results will then be presented to the Maine Milk Commission for review and comment.

Expanding the Eat Well Volunteer Program to Enhance Self-Sufficiency Skills of Hancock and Washington County Food Pantry Clients 
Congratulations to PI Marjorie Peronto who has been awarded $6,888 by the Maine Community Foundation for her “Expanding the Eat Well Volunteer Program to Enhance Self-Sufficiency Skills of Hancock and Washington County Food Panty Clients” project.  This project aims to strengthen and expand the Eat Well Volunteers Outreach program to provide fresh produce and healthy cooking/nutrition lessons to 50 additional food pantry clients in Hancock and Washington counties.

Improving Access to FSA Programs Through Record Keeping Education
Congratulations to PI Richard Brzozowski who has been awarded $35,000 by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for his “Improving Access to FSA Programs Through Record Keeping Education” project.  This project will work with FSA to identify farmers who have difficulty meeting record keeping requirements, such as beginning and non-commodity crop farmers.  Training sessions will also be held for farm service providers statewide to build the capacity to improve the record keeping skills of farmers.  In this effort, this project expects to increase awareness and access to FSA’s risk management programs.

Master Food Preserver Program Receives National Award
Congratulations to Kathleen Savoie and Kate McCarty on receiving the “Master Family and Consumer Science Volunteer Award” from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.  They are being recognized for the success of UMaine Cooperative Extension’s Master Food Preserver Program that for over a decade has trained and retained volunteers to help extend our reach to provide home food preservation education in the community.  The award will be presented at the NEAFCS National Conference in Omaha, NE in October 2017.

Professional Promotions
Congratulations to the following Extension Professionals who recently received promotions: Lani Carlson, Viña Lindley, and Tracey Ferwerda.

Search Updates

4-H Youth Development Professional – Aroostook County – Offer made
4-H Youth Development Professional – Franklin County – Interviewing
4-H Youth Development Professional – Hancock County – Interviewing
4-H Youth Development Professional – Knox/Lincoln Counties – Interviewing
4-H Youth Development Professional – Oxford County –Offer made and accepted
4-H STEM Specialist – Orono – Offer made and accepted
Ornamental Horticulture Specialist – Orono – Failed Search
Assistant Extension Professor & Extension Plant Pathologist – Orono – Offer made and accepted
Integrated Pest Management Technician – Aroostook –Marc Dwyer hired
Accounting Support Specialist CL2 – Orono – On Hold (Failed Search)
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Pest Management, Orono – Failed Search
Community Education Assistant CL1 (Horticulture) – Oxford County – On hold
AIP Coordinator – Bryant Pond 4-H Center – Lyndsey Smith Hired
Marine Extension Associate (Joint appt. with Sea Grant) –  Advertising
Agriculture Record Keeping Professional – Advertising
Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist & Assistant Extension Professor and Assistant Professor of Horticulture – Advertising
Nutrition Education Professional – PDQ and JD sent to HR

ELT Meeting Dates –2017– Meetings are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm – unless otherwise noted.