Tagged With "food processing"
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New "Water Saver" publication documents Master Irrigator Program
A new publication - Water Saver: Oklahoma Master Irrigator Program - is available from the Extension Foundation. It documents the Oklahoma State Master Irrigator Program, which is helping Oklahoma farmers respond to the challenges they face due to decreasing water levels (a consequence of climate change.) Inspired by a program developed by the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, a team of academics at Oklahoma State University created a Master Irrigator program to help farmers...
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New Publication: How to Use Digital Dashboards to Improve Program Implementation and Evaluation
How to Use Digital Dashboards to Improve Program Implementation and Evaluation is available on the Extension Foundation’s bookshelf. This case study was written by Amy Patillo, Matthew Pezold, and Karen Funkenbusch from the University of Missouri. It outlines a strategy used by the University of Missouri (MU) Extension to manage and evaluate complex mental and behavioral health initiatives for farmers and rural communities. It highlights the processes and tools used to help a large,...
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"Engaged Program Planning for Impact Collaborative Teams" Publication Available on Flipping Books
Engaged Program Planning for Extension Foundation Impact Collaborative Teams has been issued as a flipping book. First published in October 2018, the publication details how to use the Impact Collaborative methodology and roadmap to help Cooperative Extension professionals design innovative and engaging projects, programs, and initiatives. It also provides context and guidance on community engagement and team building using Impact Collaborative practices. The publication was authored by...
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Urban Extension Professional Development Guide Reissued as Flipping Book
An Urban Extension Professional Development guide has been reissued as a flipping book by the Extension Foundation. Initially developed as an offering for the 2019 Impact Collaborative, the publication is jam-packed with information and resources curated and reviewed by a national team of experts. Note : Registration for the next Impact Collaborative - which will be held October 4-6th, 2022 - is now open. Information about the all-virtual event can be found here . The publication’s editors...
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ECOP "Opioid Response" Publication Reissued
“Opioid Response” - a curated collection of resources designed to help Extension professionals play a stronger and more strategic role in addressing the opioid crisis - is now available in a flipping book format in the Extension Foundation’s publication library. The resources were curated by the Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup (EOCRW), a task force created by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). More than three dozen Extension professionals and experts from...
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Indigenous Food Sovereignty Publication Reissued as Flipping Book
Kemēcemenaw: Tribal Extension Partnerships That Support Indigenous Food Sovereignty on the Menominee Indian Reservation has been reissued as a flipping book by the Extension Foundation. The publication describes the Menominee Indigenous food system initiative, a collaborative project between the 1994 College of Menominee and UW Madison Extension. It shares information and resources about Menominee food sovereignty projects, programs, and activities. It also includes valuable information...
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New Report Provides Regional Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Northeast U.S.
A new report - Ecosystem Services in Working Lands Practice and Policy of the U.S. Northeast - has been added to the Extension Foundation’s bookshelf. Authored by Northeast Ecosystems Services Fellows Alicia F. Coleman, PhD, and Mario R. Machado, PhD, the report documents results from an assessment of over 1,300 ecosystem service provisioning programs and policies across the U.S. Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,...
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guides Reissued
Two important resources about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have been reissued by the Extension Foundation in a flipping book format. Both publications define DEI and provide a vast array of information and resources, including links to frameworks, presentations, websites, videos, and more. They are an invaluable resource for Extension professionals seeking to learn more about DEI and how to incorporate best practices in their work. The 1st edition was created by Dr. Shatomi...
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A Template for Better Health: New publication details Diabetes Prevention Online Toolkit
The Extension Foundation has added a new title to its library. A Template for Better Health: Diabetes Prevention Program Toolkit was w ritten by Vanessa da Silva, an assistant professor and Extension specialist at the University of Arizona and an NTAE Fellow. The publication details the process undertaken by a national team of Extension experts to create an online hub to encourage and support Extension’s adoption of the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The toolkit is a critical part...
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ICYMI - Recommended Summer Reading from Extension Foundation
The Extension Foundation has recently released several new and previously published titles on various topics, from climate and extreme weather to building farm and farm family resilience. Check out our bookshelf to learn more about what other Extension professionals are doing in their work. ICYMI, here are a few recent titles that may interest you. Program Planning and Team Building: If you’re using the summer to plan upcoming Extension programs, take a peek at Engaged Program Planning for...
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"Bridging the GAPS: Approaches to Treating Water On Farms" Curriculum Available as Flipping Book
“Bridging the GAPS: Approaches to Treating Water on Farms” - a curriculum designed to help producers understand and address the regulatory requirements for ag water treatment in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) - has been reissued in a flipping book format by the Extension Foundation. Preventing foodborne illness and protecting public health are critically important to producers. Sanitary irrigation water is also mandated by the USDA; producers are required to monitor, treat, and...
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ECOP Health Equity Framework Available in Flipping Book Format
Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being has been published as a flipping book by the Extension Foundation. First published in July 2021, the report was produced by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), Health Innovation Task Force. The Health Innovation Task Force was established in March 2020 by ECOP to "investigate, explore, and provide recommendations in support of extension innovating for system-level change” particularly as it...
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New Publication Helps Cooperative Extension Professionals Engage Communities
A new publication - Engaging Communities Through Issues Forums: A How-To Guide for Onsite and Online Community Engagement - is available from the Extension Foundation. The publication explores the use of issue forums as a community engagement tool in Extension work. Both a process guide and content publication, it is a comprehensive “how-to” designed to help Cooperative Extension professionals successfully develop and implement issues forums in both onsite and online settings. Each section...
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Learn to Work with Communities to Implement Crime Prevention Strategies
Are you, or would you like to be, working with communities on crime prevention strategies? This is your opportunity to learn strategies to do this. Michigan State University Extension has been working with faculty in the MSU School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) and the MSU National Charrette Institute (NCI) to develop training for Extension professionals and communities on how to do crime prevention through placemaking and environmental design. The program is called Placemaking...
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Alignment with a Stop Light?
You've worked hard to come up with a great plan that will make things easier, remove frustrations, and even save time for everyone. You're proud of it. It's thorough. It's researched. You've consulted people with more experience in this area. You've taken criticism. You've been vulnerable. Now it's time for the big meeting to unveil it. You're excited. Even a bit nervous. It's your turn on the agenda and... Your excitement is met with a mild, lukewarm reception from the team. What happened?
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Email issues? Read this!
You're wrapping things up for the day & getting organized for tomorrow when a last-minute email pops in. Not wanting to miss something, you check it out. The tone is a bit confusing & leaves you unsure of how to proceed. What did the last sentence mean? Reply? Wait until tomorrow? You decide to wait. The problem is, this little message has now stolen your attention for the next few hours making it hard to move on with your evening responsibilities... This scenario has happened to all...
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There’s Still Time to Register for the First Meeting of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Posted on February 8, 2023 by ODPHP
The U. S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) announced that the inaugural meeting of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will be held February 9-10, 2023. The public is invited to attend the meeting virtually. Registration for the meeting is currently open through February 10th. To register to view the meeting, visit DietaryGuidelines.gov . The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will be chaired by Sarah Booth, Ph.D., and Angela...
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NEW: National Extension Tourism network e-zine highlights successes, presents case studies
NEW: National Extension Tourism network e-zine highlights successes, presents case studies The Extension Foundation has added a new title to its library that documents a wide array of tourism-related applied research and outreach programs. The NET Effect: Members of the National Extension Tourism network help raise the bar in sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation is now available online. The 57-page publication contains eight case studies that explore innovative Cooperative Extension...
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Three Strategies to Better Meet Military Families’ Needs
By Anna Peterson Summary Military-connected populations, including military families, face unique needs and barriers in finding services and care for family members. Extension educators/agents who serve military-connected populations can deploy three strategies to better meet their needs: 1) use the Social Determinants of Health model; 2) build collaborations with others; and 3) use a care coordination tool. Introduction The needs of the military-connected population (e.g., service members,...
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Food Insecurity Featured in Free Webinars From OneOp
Connect with OneOp as they focus efforts on providing programming to equip professionals with tools and information about the prevalence of food insecurity, and connect them with resources to help families who are at risk.
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Leadership ABC's
A = Attitude One of 2 things within your control; attitude and effort! Attitude is everything, pick a good one. B = Brave When you believe strongly in something or perhaps it scares you a bit, let your courage shine through. Be brave enough to go first and model the way. C = Character This is your behavior when nobody is watching. You won't always have the training and education for the situations you find yourself in. Your strong character will get you through. D = Dependable You do what...
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ICYMI: 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Holds First Meeting
February 24, 2023 By: Edward McCarthy , Public Affairs Specialist within OASH Office of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Image: 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee with HHS Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine, USDA Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean and Committee staff leads Summary: This blog provides an overview of the events of the first meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Committee on February 9th and 10th, 2023. Rockville, Md. – ICYMI: On February 9 and 10, the newly announced...
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Extension Climate Field Specialist, South Dakota State University Extension
South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension is searching for an Extension Climate Field Specialist I. This is a 12-month, full-time, benefit-eligible position available in one of our regional extension centers located in Watertown, Mitchell, or Pierre, SD. This position is supervised by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader and is affiliated with the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. The successful candidate will specifically address climate resiliency...
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Safety First!
Each of us strives to fulfill basic needs as humans otherwise we're surviving instead of thriving. When we perceive a situation isn't safe our fight/flight/freeze mode kicks in automatically so we can live through it. It's a great adaptation humans have developed over the millennia. We wouldn't be here without it. The problem comes when we live in this mode more than we feel safe. Cortisol and adrenaline flood our system even when we aren't actually in danger. Prolonged exposure to these...
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Evaluating a System-wide Project: An interview with the EXCITE evaluation team!
We are excited to have Isabel Osborne and Laura Downey to discuss their involvement in the evaluation and reporting process for the system-wide Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) Project. Isabel and Laura have been integral in developing a comprehensive and dynamic system for evaluating the EXCITE project's progress and success. Q: Isabelle and Laura, could you please tell us about yourselves and the roles you play in the evaluation team? Laura: Great.
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Let’s talk about nutrition security
By Noelle Harden I recently talked with my mom and grandparents about hunger and food insecurity in the military. My grandpa served in the air force, then worked for the Veterans Administration. My mom spent her childhood moving across the country from base to base. They shared their struggles to be able to afford healthy and affordable food. Food Insecurity in the Military The RAND Corporation released a report last month on food security in the military. They found that 15.4% of active...
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2 thoughts...
When you feel the surge, resist the urge. There are times in our lives when we feel threatened. Some are real. Some aren't. Our bodies process these situations exactly the same. When threats aren't real often we let our fight/flight response take over. In these moments we react as if in real danger. The actual danger here is not having the self-awareness to realize the "threat" is perceived and be able to calm ourselves down. If we succumb to the survival hormones flooding our bodies we...
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Off to College: Preparing Military Teens for Post-Secondary Education
Military teens grow up with their own unique set of challenges. From parental deployments to relocation, teens in military families have learned to be flexible and resilient. That flexibility and resilience can be a great benefit when teens are planning their next steps after high school graduation. For many, that next step means heading off to college and laying the groundwork for the beginnings of a career. As military service providers, we can support military families as they navigate...
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How Medicaid Helps Families Experiencing Food Insecurity
By Chris Plein, Ph.D., Rachel Brauner, and Lillian Byars, OneOp Medicaid provides health insurance coverage to eligible families and individuals with low incomes and/or specific healthcare needs. Since its inception in 1965, Medicaid has provided a platform for individuals to access needed care and to offset the costs often associated with healthcare. By providing access to care, it can help families stay healthy and avoid costly medical bills that can contribute to food insecurity. Over...
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Requirement or Preference?
Phil Jackson, the Hall-of-Fame NBA coach (Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers) was once asked about one of his players. He was asked if he minded what hair color Dennis Rodman had. Coach Jackson replied that it was Dennis' preference what hair color he chose but it was a requirement he plays defense and rebound. It might not be what hair color Coach Jackson would choose but he honored his player's preferences. The requirements are not negotiable so he focused on coaching his players to be...
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The Spectrum of Prevention: A Framework to Tackle Food Insecurity in Communities
By: Jenny Rea, Ph.D. Adapted by Anna Peterson Did you know… 25% of active-duty spouses reported food insecurity in 2021? The 2021 Survey of Active Duty Spouses found that 27% of families with children under six experienced food insecurity. Among this same group of active-duty spouses, 41% were unemployed. These findings echo those mentioned in Noelle Harden’s (Health and Nutrition Educator, University of Minnesota Extension) recent blog post . Noelle provided an overview of nutrition...
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Register for the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s Second Meeting on May 10
Posted on April 13, 2023 by ODPHP The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) will host the second full meeting of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on May 10, 2023. The meeting will be livestreamed for public viewing. Members of the public who wish to view the meeting may register on DietaryGuidelines.gov . The Departments encourage public participation in the Committee’s process and opened a public comment period in January. A public comment...
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Resource Roundup: Recruiting Training and Leading Volunteers in Extension Programs
April is National Volunteer Month , a time to celebrate the impact that volunteers have to strengthen and expand our Extension programming . Not only do volunteers extend our reach in communities , but their perspective and credibility bring a valuable contribution to our projects and program . We all know how valuable volunteers are to our Extension programs! Let us recognize the power and potential volunteers have in helping Extension by enhancing our skills and using resources to help...
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Healthy Eating Resources for Families Facing Food Insecurity
As any parent can tell you, it can be tough to get your kids to eat healthy foods. Proper nutrition is an important part of raising happy and healthy families. But what happens when proper nutrition is difficult to obtain? Not having enough food to eat is a growing problem for many families, so it can be hard to eat healthily when food is limited. Whether a family is facing a lack of access to healthy foods or affordability issues, this challenge of food insecurity puts families through...
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The Office of Nutrition Research is Seeking Input on Food Is Medicine Research Opportunities
The NIH Office of Nutrition Research (ONR) has announced the release of an interagency Request for Information (RFI) on Food Is Medicine research opportunities. As part of a government-wide collaboration that includes 12 federal agencies and offices, as well as 16 NIH institutes, centers, and offices, the request invites input on the following Food Is Medicine topic areas: Research Community Outreach and Engagement Education and Training Provision of Services and Activities Coverage for...
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Beliefs on the Leadership Journey
Getting clear with ourselves about our beliefs helps connect us to our core values. They will shift over our lives so it's a constant journey of discovery. Here are some things to ponder as you check in on your journey. Your Leadership Philosophy Defining what the huge topic of leadership is to you is of utmost importance. It helps us get clear on our approach, communicate it to others, and measure how we're doing every day. Here's mine right now... It's realizing it's not about me &...
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The Impact of Food Insecurity on Mental Health
When families experience food insecurity, hunger may be only one result. An often-overlooked factor of insufficient access to food is the detrimental impact on mental health. Adults with low food security are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and heightened stress [1]. Socio-economic background, race, culture, and location all play a role in the development of one’s psychological well-being. Historically marginalized groups are already at a disproportionate disadvantage to being...
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Expanding Food Security in Military Families
Since 2010, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Department of Defense have supported OneOp in delivering evidence-based programming focused on improving the well-being of military families. This year, the newest series within the Military Family R eadiness Academy streamlines the efforts of these two agencies into a single focus: to expand food security in military families. We value the support of our longtime advocate, Brent Elrod, Science Programs Officer and...
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Military Families and Food Security
Mark your calendars for OneOp’s upcoming Military Family Readiness Academy series , Military Families and Food Security: A Call to Action , starting on 1 June. The MFRA is a free virtual multi-disciplinary learning opportunity for service providers, expanding their knowledge to educate and support service members and families. Watch a special message from Mrs. Patricia Barron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy at...
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Draft Protocols of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Now Online at DietaryGuidelines.gov
Posted on June 2, 2023 by HHS/ODPHP The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recently held its second meeting, where members discussed their list of prioritized questions that focus on the relationship of diet and health across the lifespan. As part of the discussions, the Committee presented draft protocols for the majority of the scientific questions. The draft protocols discussed at the meeting are now online. A protocol – or plan – is developed for questions answered using...
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The National Meat Summits Steering Committee: Introduction and Opportunities to Collaborate
Are you working to support meat supply chains in your region? Interested in learning from other efforts happening across the U.S.? Join us for this webinar to learn about the recently formed National Meat Summits Steering Committee, which works to build connections, increase knowledge, grow collective skills and advance market opportunities for local and regional meat supply chains. The webinar will also provide lessons learned from the 2023 Mountain Meat Summit and International Livestock...
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University of AZ - Associate Director for 4-H Youth Development
Arizona is hiring and we encourage YOU to consider applying and joining our team! This is a full-time, year round position that provides leadership for 4-H statewide. To review the position description and qualifications, see attachment. To apply for Req16498 use link: https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/16498?c=arizona
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June Check in: Recap of this Year's Program Center Stage Webinars!
Cooperative Extension implements community-driven impactful programming across the system. To showcase these programs, the Extension Foundation hosts a monthly series called Program Center Stage , which invites Extension teams from diverse areas to spotlight their programs and project methods, strategies, and impacts. This series serves as a platform for Extension professionals and partners to connect with these programs, gain insights and explore opportunities for collaboration or program...
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How Practicing Connection Can Cultivate Food Security Collaborations
Like many of the issues that impact our families and communities, food security is complex. There are multiple factors that affect the issue, including economic, social, environmental and political factors. Interrelated issues like poverty, healthcare, and climate change make food security even more complex. Complex issues can only be addressed from multiple perspectives and by a wide range of people and organizations. Obach and their collaborators write, “Building networks allows for...
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Toxic Leadership
What is toxic leadership? Using coercive, controlling, or manipulative tactics prioritizes personal gain over meaningful goals undermining collaborative achievements. When our actions hurt those we are charged with caring for, it can damage relationships and the whole organization. Common Characteristics Micromanagement Excessive control and monitoring of others leave little space for autonomy or independence. It inhibits creativity and imagination. Intimidation Using threats, humiliation,...
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Helping Military Families Inflation-Proof Their Budget
For over two years, U.S. inflation rates have exceeded their long-term average of about 3%. Like all Americans, military families have experienced a loss of purchasing power as their income cannot buy as much as it did previously. Individuals cannot stop inflation but they can mitigate its impact. Below are six inflation-fighting strategies for Extension professionals to discuss with Service members: Needs Versus Wants Analysis - During inflationary times, it is more important than ever to...
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Ten Strategies to Fight Shrinkflation
One cause of food insecurity among military families is inflation. As food costs rise, the ability to make nutritionally sound food purchases and maintain consistent access to food decreases. In February 2023, food prices were 9.5% higher than a year earlier according to the USDA Economic Research Service. Another cause of concern for cash-strapped military families is “ shrinkflation ,” i.e., where food and household product (e.g., toilet paper) manufacturers keep prices the same but reduce...
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Three Ways Service Providers Can Expand Food Security in Their Communities
In 2021, 33.8 million people living in the United States were food insecure (Weeks et al, 2023). Food security is defined by the USDA as, “Access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members” (OPA). Frequent relocations, barriers to spousal employment, and the Basic Allowance for Housing being factored into SNAP eligibility compounds the issue of food security for military families. As a result, one in four service members currently experience food...
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What keeps senior leaders up at night?
Our family had the pleasure of being stationed in Tokyo, Japan while my wife and I were in the U.S. Air Force. While Japan and the other countries we visited were amazing, it was a particularly complicated time in the Pacific region. Most notably, North Korea's leader was threatening war. Additionally, many career fields in the Air Force lacked the people to sustain the operational pace required to maintain peace and stability in the region. Because of these situations, several military...
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Extension Foundation Receives USDA-NIFA Award to Maximize Biosecurity Threat Resilience
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is a collaborative network of Cooperative Extension educators across the United States and territories who work to improve the delivery of education and information, and the availability of resources related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Historically, this grassroots network has been aligned with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and supported by USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)...