CAHNRS News – November 1, 2012
Early Edition of CAHNRS News
CAHNRS News is going out a little early this week, as the CAHNRS Marketing, News, and Educational Communication site, http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/, is being migrated to a new server as a part of the ongoing Web Integration Project.
Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Thank you to those of you that have completed the mandatory online Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Prevention training. To date, 61 percent of CAHNRS and WSU Extension employees have completed the training. If you have not completed the training, please do so as soon as possible. Please be reminded that you have until January 4, 2013 to complete the training. However, we have an internal goal to have 100 percent completion by CAHNRS and WSU Extension employees by December 17th. For new employees, the course must be completed within six month of the date of hire. You can access the course at http://bit.ly/WbwCYA.
Reminder: International Travel Award Nov. 15 Deadline Coming Up
The deadline for the International Travel Award sponsored by the Office of International Programs and Office of Research is November 15. Three to five travel awards (averaging $2,000-5,000) will be awarded to enable our WSU faculty who are actively engaged in research to visit their international collaborators or to invite their collaborator to WSU. Please see award’s guidelines and requirements at http://bit.ly/VeX8yG, and FAQ at http://bit.ly/SAlAsz.
WSU Extension’s Global Reach: A Hands-on Learning Experience for Afghan Extension Agents
A group of eight Afghan extension employees were fortunate enough to visit the U.S. for a comprehensive tour of the U.S. Extension System the first two weeks in September, 2012. USDA’s Borlaug program funded the Agricultural Executive Management Course for the second year in a row with WSU’s office of International Research and Development helping with the program’s design and accompanying the tour group.
Their journey started in Kabul, the group of 8 employees from the District and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (DAIL and MAIL respectively) traveled straight to Washington DC, where they spent four intense days learning all about USDA policies that govern how extension works on the ground in the U.S. From DC they took a brief drive to Baltimore, where Catholic Relief Services (CRS) held a leadership, change management, and strategic planning training course over the weekend.
Once fully informed on management strategies and U.S. extension policy, the group flew out to the Washington of the West, where they met with CAHNRS faculty and extension personnel at WSU in Pullman before taking a tour through the state from Pullman to Prosser, Wenatchee to Seattle to witness how Universities, U.S. policy, and local County Extension all work together to provide useful and well researched recommendations to their clients: farmers.
After a smoky couple of days in Wenatchee, their trip culminated in Seattle on Sunday September 16th with certificates of completion being awarded on a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. At the end of the two week tour all 8 participants flew back home to Afghanistan, where they have both the means and the understanding to make meaningful changes in the extension methods currently used there.
Raise a Glass, Fund a Scholarship Program
Support Washington State University Viticulture and Enology students this holiday season by visiting restaurants participating in Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ 5th annual Raise a Glass, Fund a Scholarship promotion and choosing wines that support this scholarship program. Your participation in 2011 contributed $40,000 to the program at WSU. For a list of participating restaurants, please visit http://bit.ly/veglass.
AMDT Students Participate in “Promoting Pullman Project”
Visual Merchandising and Promotion students from the Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles department having created promotions and displays for 10 merchant clients in Pullman. This Promoting Pullman Project is coordinated with the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, WSU Office of Civic Engagement, and the following merchants: At Home Designs: Framing it up, Barnes & Noble “Bookie”, Crimson and Gray, Design Effects, Flirt, GLASSPhemy, Lily Bee’s Consignment Shop, Neill’s Flowers and Gifts, Ric-O-Shay, Sam Dial Jewelers. Starting with Chocolate Decadence, November 8 from 4-6 p.m., you can show your support for this endeavor by visiting these participating merchants, shopping locally, and balloting for the best displays. Ballot entrees qualify you to win the Home for the Holidays Prize-pack. Best displays and Prize-pack winners will be announced December 1st at Holiday Fest from 4-6 pm in Pine Street Square. AMDT is taught by Dr. Carol Salusso with Amanda Rawling, Graduate TA and Caze Chui, Undergraduate TA.
Hispanic and Women Farmers and Ranchers Claims Resolution Process
The United States Government is establishing a Claims Process to make available up to $1.33 billion or more to farmers who alleged discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) based on being female or based on being Hispanic, in making or servicing farm loans during certain periods between 1981 and 2000. Those who qualify and submit a timely claim could receive an award of up to $50,000 or up to $250,000 in cash, depending on the evidence. Rich Koenig, Associate Dean and Director of WSU Extension and Dan Fagerlie, Extension’s representative on the USDA Statewide Strategic Outreach Committee, ask that Extension personnel distribute the flyer at https://www.farmerclaims.gov//Documents/9-13%20HWFR%20poster-508.pdf to these audiences. They also request Extension offices send a short email reporting the quantity and distribution method to: Philip Eggman, Rural Development in Olympia, philip.eggman@wa.usda.gov.
Events
Ross Bricklemyer, Soil Science Ph.D. Student, “Soil carbon determination using rapid, inexpensive, non-destructive spectroscopic techniques,” Monday, November 5, 1:10 p.m., Johnson Hall 204. Videoconference arranged for Mt. Vernon, Prosser, Puyallup, Wenatchee.
Karen Hills, Crop Science Ph.D. student, “Improving Baking Quality and Local Markets for Wheat Grown in Western Washington,” Monday, November 5, 3:10 p.m., Johnson Hall 204. Videoconference arranged for Mt. Vernon, Prosser, Puyallup.
Sowmya Ramachandran, Plant Pathology Ph.D. student, “Actin Remodeling During Pathogen Invasion and Host Defense,” Monday, November 5, 4:10 p.m., Johnson Hall 343. Videoconference arranged for Mt. Vernon, Prosser, Puyallup, Wenatchee. Read More ».
Daniel Zommick, Horticulture Ph.D. student, “Temperature stress and physiological bases for retention of postharvest quality in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.),” Thursday, November 8, 1:25 p.m., Food Science T101. Videoconference arranged for Mt. Vernon, Prosser, Puyallup, Wenatchee, & Whatcom County.
Marco Costanigro of Colorado State University will hold a seminar on Truthful, Misguided Labels: Nutritional Outcomes Signaled by Product Attributes and Labels Friday, November 9, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.in Hulbert 27.
Marianne Powell, Plant Pathology M.S. student, “Disease Outbreaks in High Tunnels in Western Washington and Isolation of Microbes from Agricultural Mulches,” Wednesday, November 14, 4:10 p.m. in Johnson Hall 343 and on WECN 5700971.
WSU Tukey Horticulture Orchard Fruit Sales
Through the end of November. Fridays, 12 Noon – 6 p.m., Saturdays, 10 am – 4 p.m. U-pick and ”already picked” produce available (U-pick ONLY in October). More details »
Save the Date: CSANR Symposium for Sustainable Ag
WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources will host a Sustainable Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources Symposium on December 6, 2012 from 2:00 to 7:00 PM in Ensminger Pavilion on WSU Pullman Campus. See Agenda »
Kudos
Charles Coslor, M.S. student in the Entomology program, was selected to receive this year’s Louis W. Getzin Memorial Scholarship which will support travel to the National Entomological Society of America meeting in Knoxville on November 11-14, 2012. Charlie will present his research paper entitled Management of Drosophila suzukii through systemic activity of neonicotinoids on highbush blueberry. He will also present a poster entitled Systemic activity of neonicotinoids on Drosphila suzukii in blueberry for general submission at the national meeting.
Dr. Daniel Toro-Gonzalez (WSU Ph.D., WSU School of Economic Sciences, May 2012) has been selected as the 2012 recipient of the Food Distribution Research Society’s National Appelbaum Award for Best Dissertation.
Dr. Peter Tozer has joined the School of Economic Sciences as an Research Associate.
Dr. Marketa Halova has joined the School of Economic Sciences as an Assistant Professor.
Dr. Brian Love, Program Officer for the Gates Foundation, has been named an adjunct faculty member at Mount Vernon Research and Extension Center (NWREC). Dr. Love has been working in international agriculture for over a decade, and currently works in agricultural development supporting projects in Africa and South Asia. As an adjunct faculty member he is collaborating with Drs. du Toit and Jones and also organizes research opportunities for graduate students housed at the Center.
Recent News Releases
WSU Organic Agriculture Education to Benefit from Gift of Marrowstone Island Farm
WSU receives $1.5 million grant for collaborative water modeling in Columbia Basin
Public, Press Invited to Celebrate Dedication of Twin Vista Ranch to WSU
All our news releases are archived at http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/news-archive/.
New in CAHNRS e-Newsletters
The Oct. 24 issue of On Solid Ground has stories on virus interactions, the new online food science program, and a wrap-up on the CPAAS Technology Expo and promising new orchard automation technology. Read all about it at http://bit.ly/QY3eNz.
Archives
CAHNRS News is archived at http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/category/cnews/.