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Venom is associated with being harmful, but red imported fire ants are using their venom for its medicinal benefits by sharing the toxic substance with their nestmates, according to a study published in the Journal of Insect Physiology . Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists from the agency's Biological Control of Pests Research Unit and Southern Insect Management Research Unit in Stoneville, Mississippi, discovered a new way that fire ants use their venom to prevent diseases in...

RFA: ECOP Health and Workforce Program Action Teams: Resilient Economies and Community Health (REACH) ELIGIBILITY: Competitive opportunity available to ALL Land-grant universities (LGUs) (1862, 1890, 1994) by completing a simple online application. The Extension Foundation in partnership with the ECOP Health and Workforce Program Action Teams, is offering two opportunities to apply and be selected to pilot a community development initiative in a community of their choosing. More...

The Extension Foundation 's Program Center Stage series had a great first year , highlighting programs that are doing impactful work across the system . Throughout the year , the series featured Southern University Ag Center Emergency Prep ared ness Response & Recovery , J UN T OS 4-H, New Technologies for Ag Extension ( N TA E ), Extension Collabor ation on Immun ization Education ( EX C ITE ), North Star Legacy Communities , Utah ’ s Remote Work Online Initiative Program , P estic ide...

UNH Extension Seeks a Public Affairs Manager | Extension The public affairs manager coordinates University of New Hampshire (UNH) Cooperative Extension county office operations and public affairs activities to further UNH’s community engagement, while developing local leaders and champions among Extension staff, volunteers, and stakeholders. UNH Cooperative Extension has staff in each of N.H.’s 10 counties and performs vital work throughout the state. This position enhances the awareness and...

In December, many Extension educators field questions about holiday shopping and subsequent debt repayment. Check out these tips to share with clients.

The great sports broadcaster Dan Patrick used to host a podcast with the title "Things I think I think". During a presentation to our team, we were reminded of his show and it sparked my own thinking about what I think I think. Here are a few to ponder... Curiosity over Certainty When we remain curious we're open. We have a growth mindset. We see challenges as opportunities. While we can have aspects of our lives we're certain about, like our core values, in daily interactions it often leads...

The Administration for Community Living has released two Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services (INNU) funding opportunities for cooperative agreements to establish or replicate innovative approaches to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and outcomes of nutrition programs and services within the aging services network. The announcement can be found here and the grant opportunities can be accessed at the links below: INNU – Replication (HHS-2023-ACL-AOA-INNU-0008) Projects replicate...

Recently, @Adam T Hughes from Cornell University asked me to join him and their Public Health Program Work Team (PWT) in a quarterly meeting to discuss how Mississippi State University Extension is connecting with public health partners here. That gave me reason to take a step back and consider what approaches have led to our success in health-related work. These are some of the things I shared with them that undergird my thinking and efforts in this area. 1. Extension has a history of work...

What you need to know about selling your home-based and farm-raised foods? Join faculty and educators from Ohio State University Extension for three webinars to help you start your food business!

How well do you know your colleagues? Do you really know them? Our initial response is probably a quick "yes". It's when we slow down we discover quite a few assumptions. Help get to know them better by sharing your self-awareness "manual" in answering just six questions! What’s your style? Strengths, weaknesses OR include descriptors like energetic, compassionate, participative Gets people in touch with how their emotions/actions might affect others What do you not have patience for? Common...

As all nutrition professionals, educators, and researchers know, nutrition science is constantly evolving, and staying up to date on new and emerging research is important. The Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) at USDA’s National Agricultural Library is making it easier to receive credible federally and privately-funded research updates from Agricultural Research Service (ARS) priority nutrition journals with a new, free Research Publications (Nutrition) feed. Why is FNIC’s...

On National Rural Health Day, we celebrate with the #CDC the #PowerofRural, and the many programs and professionals striving to protect rural communities' health through Extension programming and resources! The Extension Foundation is proud to support the critical work many programs are doing to bring health resources, tools and education to rural communities. Below are projects supported by the Extension Foundation that show the impact Cooperative Extension is making in rural communities...