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On a congratulatory note, the winning story lead from the May 2020 contest has now been published in Farm Journal. The winning story lead came from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and was submitted by @Jeff Goodwin . From there, Farm Journal worked with the team at the University of Hawaii, including Dr. @Koon-Hui Wang , to produce the full story. The full story, Screenhouses Boost Marketable Yields for Farmers , is available here . In addition, Farm Journal featured this story on AgDay...

Join the Weather Ready Farms group on Connect Extension Here We often hear the term “needs assessment” in Extension work. It’s an important pillar in a strong Extension program. As Extension professionals, we need to know about learners’ needs that can be potentially filled by our work. It’s important we conduct needs assessments to identify the “difference, or gap, between what is and what should be – or what is reasonably possible,” (NDSU Extension, n.d.). Conducting needs assessments...

In this first of three sessions during From "Me" to "We" the focus was introspective as we looked at how our values help us with our daily decisions, guide our behaviors & inform our beliefs. Our core values are the platform for authentic leadership. They are the way we connect with ourselves & how others' begin to trust us. In case you couldn't join us, you can watch the "Values" video here . Here are some resources for continued action on your journey! KNOW YOURSELF Here's a FREE...

eXtension has updated virtual.extension.org with a collection of resources related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This is just the start, if you have other similar resources to share, we invite you to submit them to contact-us@extension.org . In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the eXtension Foundation launched virtual.extension.org to create a national resource site for Cooperative Extension professionals. The purpose of this site was and still is to help Extension professionals...

eXtension recently announced the opportunity for nominations for the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) for Year 2 projects. The nomination form will be available on June 15th until July 20th, 2020. Selected projects will receive wrap around services from the eXtension Foundation to support and amplify the project/program outcomes. Wrap around services include: Project/Program advisory support from a Catalyst (current or past senior program or administrative Cooperative...

Last month, the eXtension Foundation launched a monthly story lead contest in partnership with Farm Journal in the Farm Journal Monthly Story Lead Contest group here in Connect Extension. Monthly winners, along with their Extension Directors and Administrators, have the chance to work with Farm Journal to further develop their story and have it published in Farm Journal media. The topic area for the May 2020 contest was about the important work Extension is doing to help farmers and rural...

Acclerate Your Projects & Programs The eXtension Foundation is pleased to announce nominations for New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) for 2020. The NTAE cooperative agreement with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will enter the second year on September 1, 2020. Nominations are a short request for information that is quickly and easily completed in minutes. Nomination forms will be available June 15, 2020. Requirements of projects/programs to...

Please help Cooperative Extension help producers tackle On-Farm Water Treatment. Led by a multi-state team from North Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, the University of Tennessee, Washington State University, and the University of Florida, Cooperative Extension is implementing a free curriculum to help produce growers address on-farm water treatment pertaining to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). We need your help to ensure execution of the best program possible. To inspire...

Over the past few years, the eXtension Foundation has been migrating its custom technology platforms to commercial tools. This has resulted in providing Cooperative Extension professionals with better technology solutions that are consistent with industry standards and provides greater flexibility, usability, and marketability. To date, the Articles publishing platform (articles.extension.org) and its companion content-authoring platform Create (create.extension.org) where former eXtension...

This is just a reminder that the deadline for the monthly Farm Journal Story Lead contest is coming up for the month of May on the 25th ! In case you missed the details about this contest, I've included them below. We look forward to your submissions! The eXtension Foundation, in partnership with Farm Journal, is pleased to bring this opportunity to Cooperative Extension. Each month, we will offer a story lead contest right here in Connect Extension in the new Farm Journal Monthly Story Lead...

The eXtension Foundation, in partnership with Farm Journal, is pleased to bring this opportunity to Cooperative Extension. Each month, we will offer a story lead contest right here in Connect Extension in the new Farm Journal Monthly Story Lead Contest group. Monthly winners, along with their Extension Directors and Administrators, will have the chance to work with Farm Journal to further develop their story and have it published in Farm Journal media. Submissions for the contest are simply...

Dr. Daisy Fancourt at University College London (UCL) is conducting a study to explore the effects of COVID-19 and social distancing on mental health. In partnership with UCL, the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine and Americans for the Arts Action Fund are extending the study to the U.S. This study tracks mental health on a weekly basis, and investigates what activities – including arts and culture activities - may mitigate against mental health decline within social...