PSAS team meeting

October 15, 2001

Cody, Wyoming

 

Those attending the PSAS team meeting included Scott Hininger, Glen Whipple, Tanya Daniels, Ed Bradley, Tom Whitson, Bill Taylor, Jim Gill, John Hewlett, Chris Bastain, Brett Moline, Wayne Tatman, Alan Gray, Jerry Langbehn, Dallas Mount, Steve Paisley, and Troy Cooper.

 

Each person introduced themselves and explained their representation in the meeting. Steve P. will be taking Doug Hixon’s place as Animal Science specialist on the team. Alan G. explained that he was representing Jim Krall, who was unable to be present.

 

Glen Whipple discussed position replacement for faculty in the University.  Each position vacated is taken over by Central Position Management (CPM).  Any positions filled become a new position under and must be  justified to CPM.  This past year, one FCS faculty member (Silliman) resigned and one Animal Science (Nel) retired.  CES did not receive any new positions from the process with CPM. Two faculty positions in the College of Ag are being hired, a Natural Resource Economist in Ag Econ and an Ecologist in Renewable Resources. Thus, CES has lost those positions and the monies to support them. Cooperative Extension has input in the hiring process, but will have to supply a strong justification to CPM before we will receive any consideration. This will take strong input from the initiative teams. If each initiative team provides a recommended list of needed specialist positions and a justification of each, then the State Coordinating Committee, made up of the initiative team chairs, can recommend what faculty positions in extension should be filled.  By April, this committee should have completed a set of requests for positions. Glen’s conclusion is that we won’t get another specialist position until we can convince CPM.

 

Tom Whitson, IPM coordinator, reviewed the IPM RFP process.  Twenty-one applications were received in the last RFP process and 7 were funded for a total of approximately $60,000.  The same amount is available again for IPM grants. Whitson recommended proposals have many persons involved and have a state wide emphasis.  After much discussion, the team recommended 1) to keep the process the same, with selection by regional IPM experts, 2) the team should have input via the chair when the IPM coordinator is next chosen, 3) the PSAS team chair should review the IPM program with input from the rest of the PSAS team.

 

The Young Beef Female issue team gave a progress report. The writing assignments to develop the proposed site are incomplete.  One assignment and a couple outlines have been turned in to Wayne. Tatman reported that Randy Anderson is the contact about getting information on the web site. However, he does not have the time for extensive site design. He would like the materials prepared in a format he can simply post, such as he now does with the initiative team document.  Hewlett lead a discussion concerning web design.  An educational presentation on the web could lead producers to the information they are looking for.  However, the issue team needs to know the proper questions. To help determine the proper questions, it was suggested to survey producers attending the joint Wyoming Stockgrowers and Wool Growers meeting.  It was suggested to work with the education committees of each group. Information needs to be grouped by topic and by production cycle.  The question was raised, “Is the audience the county agents or the producers?”  Discussion confirmed it is both.

 

Consensus was reached that this team is not yet ready to attack the sustainable cropping question other than the parts associated with the young beef female issue.

 

Those attending the team meeting for the first time were updated on past activities.  The young beef female issue was chosen for several reasons.  Beef cattle production is the largest agriculture industry and includes several other topics raised; for example: drought, range, crops, etc.

 

Relation of the team to peer educators was discussed. Some suggestions to improve the awareness and information flow from this team to interested educators were: 1) get on the agenda of district meetings; 2) provide periodic updates/information for CES Newsbriefs; 3) ask administration to provide names of new agents and have a team member contact them; 4) contact or meet with county advisory committees and ask for their input.

 

The team also discussed needs assessment.  The team was informed that each district and the state will perform needs assessments.  Each year, a district will have a needs assessment done and state will be done every 5th year. However, it was felt this would not provide the information we need fast enough. We need some form of needs assessment now. Bill appointed Jerry L. (chair), Brett M., Chris B., Steve P., and Dallas M. to serve on a committee to provide the team with alternatives and priorities for needs assessment and to report by the end of November.

 

It was agreed that the initiative team would next meet in Casper on December 6th, the next day after the WSGA and WWGA winter meeting. The main topic for discussion will be a determination of specialist needs and justification for Central Position Management. The group will also discuss implementation of needs assessment recommendations made by that sub-committee.

 

Young Beef Female Issue Team Meeting

 

A one day concurrent session presentation was suggested as a format for delivery of the young beef female information.  Each subgroup- health, forages/range, economics, human resources, and production, are to put together sample topics for a six hour day.  These topics will be put together into a list.  This list will be used to survey Stock and Wool Growers to determine which subjects producers want to learn more about. 

 

Different delivery methods were discussed.  Panel discussions, a mix of concurrent sessions with a key note speaker, and demonstrations were the methods viewed as most appropriate.  Supporting publications will also be utilized.  This would probably consist of printed material, a cd, and website.  Also within the survey will be questions concerning willingness to pay and willingness to travel.

 

Chairs of the subgroups are as follows:

Health:            Lynn Woodard

Production:    Steve Paisley

Forages:        Dave Koch, Jim Krall

Range:            Eric Peterson

Economics:    John Hewlett

Human:           Bill Taylor

 

Topics need to be chosen by the next issue team meeting November 1 in Casper

 

Respectfully submitted

Brett Moline