The PSAS team met in Casper April 12-13, 2001. Brett Moline was appointed recorder for the team.

Bill Taylor, team chair, led the group in a discussion of questions such as: "Why are you here?" "Who do you represent?" "What do you have to offer?" "What are you going to give up to make this process work?" All expressed a commitment to the concept of interdisciplinary teams and to providing the support to making them work. Several stated they were present because they saw the work of initiative teams as one of the most important things they could be involved in. It was agreed that all would have to give up some time from other commitments, but there was consensus that the work and products developed by this team would compensate for time used in the process. However, it was also agreed that the work within individual counties cannot be ignored and must be balanced with work on the team.

The group discussed the issue of needs assessment and whether it could go ahead. After discussion, it was agreed that continual needs assessment is necessary, and more formal collection of data may be desirable in the future. However, the team felt that sufficient brainstorming had been done in the previous meeting to get started and that it was important for the team to get a product on the ground, so to speak. Glen stated that state administration will be initiating a formal all-CES needs assessment this fall, doing a district each year and the entire state the fifth year. This will be a continual rotating process. In a few years this may provide the amount of formal data needed to assist the team in making programming decisions.

The issue of horticulture was discussed by the team. It was agreed that hort constitutes the majority of walk- and call-in traffic for many field agents and some specialists during the growing season and that this team must address it constructively. However, with reluctance, it was agreed that the team does not have the resources to address both traditional agricultural programs and hort immediately. Sustainable hort will be added as a desired long term outcome/impact in our model and addressed after programs have been initiated in livestock and crops.

It was agreed that programs developed are not necessarily permanent. They will need to be continually evaluated in the light of emerging needs, outcomes already attained, and resources available to determine when and if new programs should be initiated and if established programs can or should be maintained or dropped. It would not be a good practice for the team to start a program for livestock and never get to crops or horticulture.

The drought task force was discussed and it was agreed that this would be a classic inter-initiative issue team as described in the strategic plan and the PSAS team recommends that it be established as such with the Sustainable Management of Rangeland Resources team. [Note: The SMRR team later agreed to this policy at their meeting and administration has approved the drought task force as an inter-initiative issue team.] Hoof and mouth disease was also discussed and Dr. Galey stated that he is on that task force and will keep this team and agricultural educators informed if there are any developments.

The team then tackled the process of completing their logic model of anticipated assumptions, external influences, short-, medium-, and long-term goals, outputs in terms of activities and participation, and inputs. To view the model and/or other team documents, including complete meeting minutes, log on to http://www.uwyo.edu/CES/InitiativeTeams/AgSystems.html. The first project of the team was determined to be "Sustainable, Efficient Livestock Forage Systems" and will start with an emphasis on young female cattle. The audience will be commercial producers, agencies, and allied industries and the team will consider such venues as a website, educational presentations, compressed video, a resource list, and educational materials. A target date for first public delivery was set for January of 2002.

The team will meet in Sheridan on June 6, 2001 to determine inputs needed/available for the program project and to begin the design and development of educational materials.