Yard work season is in full swing. That means research agricultural field research is underway as well. It doesn't look like water will be a big concern this year. I'm hoping my yard is ‘under control' by Memorial Day to avoid weeding, pruning, and tree trimming during the heat. In spite of yard work, I made progress on the dossier reviews. I am halfway through with 39 packages left to undergo my first review.
Today was the first meeting of new UC ANR Governing Council. The 6-hr long session was intended for the Council to get to know each other and UC ANR. Both Glenda and Tu gave overviews of our high-level goals, programs, funding sources, and expenditures. While all, or most, of the Council members know a fair bit about UC ANR, the details were likely informative to all. The fact that Cooperative Extension is a 3-way partnership between federal and state governments and the local community (county) may be a detail that was unknown to some of the Council members before today. Numbers of academics and staff largely depends upon the level of support provided by each of the three partners. Should one partner step away, the entire partnership is compromised.
During the Western Extension Directors Association meeting last week in San Diego, I learned that the Extension Director in Nevada had made tremendous progress demonstrating the value that Cooperative Extension brings to the state. Though Cooperative Extension was slated to receive a 72% cut to its state funding back in 2011 (proposed by the Provost; a 33% cut proposed by the Governor), it appears that things have turned around mainly due to County support for programs. Clark County (Las Vegas) is partnering with Cooperative Extension to address youth violence by providing Cooperative Extension a $60 million contract to solve the problem through its 4-H program and sub-contractors on an as-needed basis. Also, the Director requests a $4.7 million increase from the State. I grabbed a copy of the 1-page ask to review and share with others.
Other states are in a very different position. The University of Alaska is merging Cooperative Extension and the Ag Experiment Station. That by itself isn't a problem. It is the intent to downsize both that causes concern. One of the three campuses plans to close, and while Fairbanks has not declared exigency, some speculate that tenured faculty may lose their jobs. The thought that field-based academics may be released when their communities need them most is of great concern.
These conversations as well as others throughout the 2-day meeting reminded me that while we may not have the density of positions per capita or square mile as other states, we do support our people very well, offering travel funds, grants support, program evaluation support, and many training opportunities.
Tomorrow I head to Denver for an Extension administrators meeting before visiting with the team in San Bernardino County.