Central Extension Workshops????

We haven't had an alfalfa workshop in Butte County in a couple of years, nor a master gardener class either. We are getting pressure to be "more coordinated" in our programing activities.

Lemhi County has the Cattlemen's Winter School that occurs for 2 hours every Tuesday evening in January and half of February, but Custer and Butte Counties haven't ever successfully sustained a program like that....these counties have usually has one-day "schools" or "workshops".

So as extension clientele, let us know what kind of educational program(s) you think we should be creating for YOU! Use the comment section to let us know:

1. What subject(s) to cover


2. Where it should be held


3. What time of year


4. What time of day


5. How long should it last

If you don't what to share your suggestions with the world, put that in the comments.....the comments are "moderated" which means that they won't appear on the blog until I approve them. So if you don't want your comments or suggestions posted--just put that in the comment and we will respect that too! You can also send us an email----see the addresses on the right side bar at the bottom.

Chad

Extending the Grazing Season in Central Idaho

Thanksgiving is right on schedule and so is the snow. It started snowing this morning in Arco, and has put down and inch and doesn't seem to be letting up. This is, of course good news for our irrigation water supply, but some, perhaps many livestock operators will have to begin feeding soon.

In most cases, cattle will have been on aftermath hay fields and have been doing pretty well. Many cases these cows will be nearly out of feed anyway. Grazing aftermath cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $0.25 cents per head per day or less, while feeding hay, costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.25 per head per day or more. Thirty days more grazing would have saved about $30 per head. Many of these operators could have gotten these 30 extra grazing days with a little bit of trouble. Here's why.

Trying New Technology

With a 19% permanent reduction in funds to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho, the face of Extension in the counties will probably be changing some. The budget of the CALS is over 90% in salaries, so with the current budget crisis and pending permanent reductions in base funding, CALS administrators are looking for ways to "hack" the budget. The old method of attrition of faculty and staff may not work this time around.

The problem, for Extension, and for the CALS in general is that there are so many great programs that support so many industries and clientele groups that vary tremendously across the state that any attempt to cut a "program" generates immediate (unpleasant) consequences for the administration. The first program suggested to be cut was the Parma Research and Extension Center. The Parma R&E Center has a grape research and extension program to support the fledgling viticulture and enology industry in Idaho. They didn't like that very much and stopped the movement to close the station, forcing reconsideration of the entire strategy.

The CALS administration has made a commitment to keep at least one extension faculty person in each county, if they can! Since central Idaho counties have been largely single educator counties for many years, that won't change (probably). However, the demands on the faculty members to help in other more populated locations will likely grow, as well as the demand that their programs be more "coordinated". Not an easy thing to do when you are 1.5 to 2.5 hours apart when the weather is good!

CALS has introduced Adobe Connect and other technologies that may be able to help bridge these distances, but only time will tell if they will be accepted by the various clientele groups in central Idaho, (or even by the faculty.)

I started this blog with the idea that maybe this form of communication would permit the faculty and the clientele in central Idaho work on programming issues with less time and fuel...lets give it try, and let me know what you think, and how this could perhaps help.

We are already using a blog to help communicate information about the Horizons http://arcomoore.communityblogs.us/ community development program....Why shouldn't we share information about other programs in a similar way...