Cornell Cooperative Extension Community Horticulture

My calendar says we decided on January 15th for our next PWT meeting and that date is here next week!

I’d like to go ahead with a short one as I could use county educators input on plans for the summer Master Gardener Volunteer Conference which will include an educator track(essentially a in-service).

I don’t have any other pressing items to put on the agenda but do also want to hear from you..what good things do you see coming in this new year and what worries you. I can also give you some an update on a few staff professional development efforts on the horizon.

I have reserved Rice room 109 on campus which has video conference abilities so we can connect with 3 other locations. Let me know if you want to connect from your county. If we have too many we have to make some choices.

timeframe will be:

10 am to noon

lunch break

12:30 to 2:30

Lori

PLEASE RSVP

bushway@cornell.edu

607.255.5918

Cornell University will be moving its commercial soil testing and plant tissue analytical services currently conducted through the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab (CNAL) to Dairy One Cooperative under a collaboration named Agro-One.  The following is a list of questions and answers intended to address common concerns.

Q.  Why is the transfer of CNAL commercial soil and plant tissue analytical services taking place?

A.  The move away from providing commercial laboratory services is consistent with Cornell’s focus on research and spinning off commercially-viable technologies to the private sector.  The opportunity to free up resources previously dedicated to routine soil and plant tissue analytical services will allow Cornell to enhance its research capabilities and focus on the development of innovative and expanded agro-environmental analytical services.  Through Agro-One a critical analytical resource will be preserved and enhanced over time.  Please see November 11, 2008 Agro-One announcement.

Q.  What is the timetable for this transfer?

A.  It is anticipated that the transfer will be completed by late winter 2009, in time for early spring soil samples.  Until a formal announcement of the transition, soil samples can still be submitted to CNAL for analysis.  There will not be an interruption of soil and tissue testing services in the transition.

Q.  Will samples be tested the same way Cornell tested them in the past (Morgan) or will they be run by Mehlich III  with a calculated Morgan equivalent value?

A.  It is the goal of Agro-One to provide soil and plant tissue testing services that are consistent with how Cornell has performed them in the past.  Interpretations of soil test results based on Cornell’s recommendation system will remain in place.  A Morgan extraction method will be available through Agro-One.

Q.  What quality control measures will be in place to ensure accuracy of Agro One soil & tissue analysis?

A.  Dairy One uses a variety of industry-leading quality control measures in all of its laboratory operations.  Specifically, Agro-One will follow QC guidelines developed cooperatively with Cornell and also work within the framework of the Soil Science Society of America’s North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) program. .

Q.  Can I use my pre-paid Cornell soil test kits?

A.  Cornell pre-paid soil test kits can be used as long as supplies last and will be honored at Agro-One. Pre-paid soil kits can still be ordered through CNAL until further notice and will be honored.

Q.  Where do I get new Agro One soil & plant tissue test sample kits, and what submission procedures will be implemented?

A.  Information will be forthcoming on how and where to get new sample kits. Cornell and Agro-One will provide appropriate options for sample submission and forms consistent with past offerings and stakeholder expectations.

Q.  Will the Agro-One kits be pre-paid or pay-as-you-go?

A.  Details on Agro-One service packages and pricing will be forthcoming, but will include an option for pay-as-you-go.

Q.  How will I get Agro-One results (mail, email, fax, etc)

A.  Analysis results will be available via mail, email, and fax.  Results will be formatted to pull in to widely used nutrient management software.

Q.  Who will make recommendations?

A.  The Cornell recommendations system will continue to be used through Agro-One for the wide variety of crops and soils it has supported in the past.  Cornell will maintain and develop the system as it has traditionally done.

Q.  What is the expected turn around time?

A.  Dairy One’s current average turn around time for soil tests is four days.  It is anticipated that this will be the same or better under Agro-One.  If non-routine tests are requested, turn around time may be affected.  Dairy One prides itself on its laboratory turn around times and customer focus.

Q.  What services will be offered by Agro One?

A.  Services currently available from Dairy One will continue as well as a “Cornell Package” that is anticipated to be very similar to current CNAL packages of services.  Agro-One will be working with Cornell to improve testing technology as well as bringing new test to market for the benefit of farmers and their advisors.

Q.  What will the Agro One soil test & plant tissue analysis services cost?

A.  Testing charges will be competitive with similar testing services.

Q.  Will Extension staff get copies of submitted soil samples from their counties?

A.  Agro-One will work with CCE personnel to receive or access soil sample data similar to past practices and providing flexibility to producers and CCE.  Dairy One has extensive experience in providing data in a variety of formats and channels and will collaborate with Cornell on making data accessible in efficient and confidential formats.

Q.  I would like to use the Dairy One pick up point in my area to send my soil samples. How do I go about doing that?

A.  Agro-One plans to take advantage of the Dairy One transportation network for sample receiving.  Detailed information will be forthcoming.

Q.  Can I still get the Cornell Standard, Low Range or High Range pH kit? Where do I order them? What will they cost?

A.  The pH kits will remain available through Cornell.  Detailed information will be forthcoming.

Q.  How will future Cornell soil fertility research be done?

A.  It is anticipated that Cornell soil fertility research will continue as it has in the past.  All aggregate soil test data through Agro-One will be available to Cornell for research and extension purposes.

Q.  Who do I call if I have a question about a sample or recommendations?

A.  Information will be forthcoming, but it is anticipated that people will call Agro-One regarding samples and results.  Cornell and CEE will remain responsible for questions related to interpretation and recommendations.

Q.  How will this impact CNMP development.

A.  This should have little or no impact on CNMP development and the Cornell recommendations will basically remain available..

Q. Can I still submit soil samples for analysis to the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory?

A. Cornell is moving away from routine soil and tissue testing, and will focus on research, analytical innovations, emerging agro-environmental issues, and special requests.  Cornell will offer new analytical services, such as the soil health test, for a limited time until they become viable for commercialization through Agro-One and other labs.

Cornell University and Dairy One are planning to combine their strengths to provide soil and plant testing services to farmers and farm advisors.

Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Dairy One Cooperative, Inc. are collaborating through Agro One to insure that farmers and farm advisors in New York and the Northeast continue to have high-quality soil, plant tissue, and nutrient laboratory testing services available to them now and into the future.  Additionally, the collaboration will provide a mechanism for delivery of new analytical services and systems in the future.

Through this collaboration, Cornell will move its routine soil and plant tissue analysis to the Agro One laboratory housed at Dairy One’s Ithaca facility.  This allows Cornell to focus on soil and plant research and the development of innovative analytical methods, while Agro One will focus on providing routine soil and plant tissue analysis to farmers and their advisors.  Agro One will provide soil and plant tissue testing services as have been available through the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory along with additional analytical services. Key input regarding analytical methods and quality control will be provided by Cornell, and Cornell nutrient management recommendations will continue to be provided through Agro One.  Stakeholders will therefore continue to receive the same services as in the past.

Agro One will bring together the strengths of Cornell’s knowledge and research in agronomy and horticulture with Dairy One’s industry-leading analytical capabilities and customer service.  The Dairy One sample transportation system that blankets the Northeast will become available for soil and tissue samples being submitted to the Agro One lab.  Agro One will also provide an expanded set of analytical data for use by Cornell researchers.

The move away from providing commercial laboratory services is consistent with Cornell’s focus on research and spinning off commercially-viable technologies to the private sector.  Freeing up resources previously dedicated to commercial soil and plant tissue lab services will allow Cornell to enhance its research capabilities while improving the amount of data available through Agro One.

There are many logistical issues to be worked out in the coming weeks.  Cornell and Dairy One are committed to making a smooth transition for farmers, farm advisors, extension educators, and Cornell personnel.

Dairy One Cooperative, Inc. is a 501 (c) 5 educational not-for-profit cooperative that provides dairy herd improvement services (DHIA) and software to dairy farmers in 13 northeast U.S. states and analytical services for forage, milk, water, soil, and manure to customers in the U.S. and around the world.

At long last, we have finished our compendium of resources for building evaluation capacity of community organizations and Extension staff – Building Capacity in Evaluation Outcomes: A Teaching and Facilitating Resource for Community-Based Programs and Organizations. This 500 page resource has been ‘in process’ for several years and seeks to provide in one place a variety of hands-on activities, handouts and powerpoint slides to cover the basic concepts of evaluation.  We started this project in response to county educators’ demands for help in responding to community requests for evaluation assistance — from United Way funded groups, coalitions, schools, agencies and local governments.   We have found, however, that it is useful for others — mentors, liaisons, team leaders and evaluation champions who are working to build evaluation capacity of their teams, staffs and Extension colleagues.  We hope you may find it useful as well.

Go to our Program Development and Evaluation web site ( www.uwex.edu/ces/pdande) where you can order a print copy or view and/or download the pdf and powerpoint files.

Best,
Ellen

Ellen Taylor-Powell, Ph.D.
Distinguished Evaluation Specialist
University of Wisconsin-Extension
432 North Lake Street
609 Extension Building
Madison, WI  53706-1498
608-262-2169

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension has the following position open:

· Extension Educator, Northeast Clark County

To access the position:

www.unrsearch.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=53610.

The position application deadline is March 6, 2009.

Applications are now done on-line.  Anyone interested in applying must go to the above link to complete the application.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at (702)257- 5577.

Paul Lessick M.S.

Administrative Resources Specialist, Personnel Manager

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension – Southern Area

8050 Paradise Road #100

Las Vegas, NV  89123-1904

P (702)257-5577 F (702)222-3101

www.unce.unr.edu