Sustainable Horticulture Issue Team Teleconference

October 11, 2002

Introduction of team members:

Jim Gill, Chair, Washakie County University Extension Educator

Scott Hininger, Co-Chair, Sheridan County University Extension Educator

Bill Taylor, Ag Initiative Chairman

Ron Delaney, Head of UW Plant Science Department

Karen Panter, Extension Horticulturist

Roy Reichenbach, WDA, Weed & Pest Coordinator

Donna Cuin, Natrona County Extension Horticulturist

Adele Legerski, Laramie County Master Gardener

Steve Hollingsworth, Pawnee Irrigation/Evergreen Landscapes, Cody

Kelli Belden, UW Soils Specialist

Bill Taylor explained the charge to the issue team made by the Ag Initiative Team and the background of UW and Extension Service Strategic Planning. The Team has made money available for the Horticulture Issue team meetings and teleconference.

Statement

Horticulture is important to urban and rural clientele to enhance their quality of life and provide for economic viability and sustainability to private and commercial enterprises. As a part of this goal, it is important that UWCES adequately support those services in place to solve horticulture problems (disease, entomology, soils, etc.) Horticulture should be a recognized and rewarded portion of the field educator’s job description as outlined in the UWCES Strategic Plan.

Charge

Develop a vision of scope for horticulture program

Determine resources required

Implementation plan

Financial

Required Training

Fee basis, amount charged, what is charged for?

Services provided

Impacts and outcomes expected

Review relation to Weed & Pest offices

Small acreage issues

Alternative crops

Goal

Formal connection to volunteer groups (must have more personnel to address this charge)

Dean=s visioning

Esthetic landscape

Centralize training

Ron Delaney reviewed the resources available for Horticulture within Extension and from the University of Wyoming. Karen is 75% Extension Horticulture, have assistance from Gary Franc, Kelli Belden, and Roger Hybner from Sheridan Research Station.

Karen Panter presented an overview of the Horticulture position and issues and programs. The Master Gardener program should have a coordinator as she does not have the time in her position to oversee this program. She works with consumer issues and commercial interests, serves on the board of the Groundskeeper’s Association.

Steve and Adele presented ideas and comments “Not from the UW perspective”. There is a definite need for help with horticulture questions. The Master Gardeners are an incredible resource – free and educated – but need a coordinator and standards for training and information.

Donna reported that the State Master Gardeners had met recently and are going to work on a state-wide curriculum for standard information. They will meet again on November 15.

Roy said that he had asked the Weed and Pest Supervisors what the impact would be on their jobs if the Extension Service no longer worked on Horticulture issues. The answers were that it would add up to 50% to their work. It is very important to keep Horticulture at UW. He sited an example of how Wyoming Weed & Pest had help fund the UW bio-control specialist position.

The challenge for this committee is to have vision for the future of Horticulture, and not to get side-tracked by the money issues. Where do we go from here? - Web pages, 1-800-call-me or ? Discussion about web pages and the problems of keeping them current and updates made in a timely fashion.

Next meeting will be November 6, 2 pm in Casper – probably at the Parkway Plaza.