The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutAg & Extension 10-05-04 X ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Ronald Raymond, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Agriculture & Extension Committee DATE: October 5, 2004 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Agricultural Services & Education Center CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES ACTION ON VOUCHERS UNFINISHED BUSINESS: ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT • Federal Budget Report • State Budget Report • County Budget Report • Personnel • WACEC • 40% Department of Youth Development District Liaison Position 4 -H YOUTH AGENT'S REPORT • County Fair Report • Family Camp • Educational Programs Conducted by 4 -H Volunteers AG AGENT'S REPORT • Building A Vision • Beef Quality Assurance • PEPS Contest Yield Checks • Corn/Corn Silage Yield Checks • World Dairy Expo • Farm Visits RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT ■ Drinking Water Programs ■ County Economic Analysis ■ Land Use Planning workshops FAMILY LIVING AGENT'S REPORT • Legal Checkup • Family Camp • Walk to School Day • Inservice: Nutrition and Aging NEW BUSINESS: ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order.) SUBMITTED BY: Kim Reaman DATE: September 22, 2004 COPIES TO: County Board Office County Clerk News Media/Notice Board Committee Members Unofficial until approved Agriculture & Extension Committee October 5, 2004 Agricultural Service & Education Center Convened: 9:00 a.m. Baldwin Adjourned: 10:35 a.m. Present: Ronald Raymond, Lois Burri, Bill Peavey, Gene Ruetz, Lee Milligan, James Janke, Kimberly Reaman, Mary Lestrud, and Martha Mabis. Excused: Jan Zoerb Chairman Raymond called the meeting to order. Date of next meeting was set for November 2, 2004. Burri moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Ruetz seconded the motion. Motion carried. Peavey moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Burri seconded the motion. Motion carried. Burri moved that the vouchers be approved. Peavey seconded the motion. Motion carried. Administrative Report Federal Budget - No report State Budget — No report County Budget — The 2005 budget for UWEX has been reviewed by Finance Committee. The greatest number of questions was in confusion over the United Way Grant line item. Each year we receive $2200 from the United Way to fund the St. Croix County Family Camp. Last year there was some carry over in that line item because camp was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict created by the camp staff. The figures don't accurately reflect the monies in the account because of computer glitches in the program. Personnel — A position announcement for the 40% District Liaison position in 4 -H Youth Development has not been posted. WACEC — There will be no District WACEC meeting in December. Family Living Agent's Report Lestrud taught three programs to HCE leaders (Baldwin, New Richmond, Hudson) regarding the importance of establishing a Power of Attorney for Finances and Property prior to sickness or incapacitation. Lestrud discussed the positive benefits of Family Camp for low- income families and the excellent support from United Way for that program. Lestrud helped sponsor walk -to- school days as part of her work on a youth nutrition coalition. She handed out stickers and pencils to students at St. Croix Central Elementary School. The purpose of the program is to increase physical activity among all young students, and, in the long run, to reduce obesity and improve health. Lestrud and Mabis attended a nutrition training in Madison regarding nutrition and fitness for seniors. Research is showing that even attaining a moderate amount of physical fitness can add many years to a person's lifespan. Unofficial until approved Family Nutrition Educator's Report Mabis reported on how beneficial the Community Garden has been to residents of St. Croix County. She reported that the people she sees in her work have been very appreciative of the fresh produce. Resource Agent's Report Janke reported that two drinking water programs were held. The combined program for Richmond and Erin Prairie was on September 10 with 75 participants. The combined program for Hammond, Rush River, and Pleasant Valley was on Oct 1 with 44 participants. In the first program 13 of the samples exceeded the drinking water standard for nitrate; 4 had bacteria, 3 were high in lead; and 1 was high in copper. Results from the second program are not yet available. The County Economic Analysis study committee met on Sept 9 and will meet again on October 6. They reviewed demographic and economic trend data for the county. Over 40 persons attended the Sept 29 workshop on how to get started in comprehensive planning. Additional workshops are scheduled on October 13 and October 27. Agricultural Agent's Report Milligan worked at Farm Technology Days in Bloomer. He manned the UWEX low cost parlor exhibit for a day. It was extremely busy and will be used in programming efforts around the district including Pierce and St. Croix counties this winter. Milligan has completed his section of the "Building A Vision" farm management curriculum. This is a three -day workshop that Milligan and several agents have been piloting during the 2003 -2004 winter meeting season. Evaluations have been very good and the materials have been improved based on suggestions. Participants from fourteen farms in Pierce and St. Croix counties have attended the workshops. They will be continued in 2004 -2005. The development of a "Building A Vision II" series will begin during the year. The Western Wisconsin Ag Lenders Conference is currently being planned. Milligan is helping with finding speakers for the program. Milligan is involved in the "Profits for Efficient Production Systems" (PEPS) program this year. This is a contest for corn and soybean producers where the winners are based on lowest cost of production. Milligan will be involved in six to eight yield checks this fall for producers participating in the contest. This is a good educational opportunity. Milligan is developing a "Beef Quality Assurance" (BQA) program for November. The materials have been developed by the UWEX Beef Team and will be piloted in Pierce and St. Croix counties. The Pest Management Update and Fertilizer Dealer meetings have been scheduled or the District. Unofficial until approved Milligan harvested a corn silage plot at the Luckwaldt farm. Yields have not been calculated, as the moisture test needs to be returned from the lab. Soybean yields from dealer plots are in the 35 to 45 bushel range. Yields of corn and soybeans were substantially improved by the warm weather in September. Most are anticipating an average corn crop. Farm visits and calls have included yield checks, livestock housing design, alfalfa evaluation, pasture evaluation, weed control issues, pricing corn silage, land rent, crop damage assessment, fall alfalfa harvest, and other subjects. The winter meeting schedule is being developed: tentative topics include; Beef Quality Assurance, Building A Vision, low -cost dairy modernization, farm tax management, crop production program, and a possible small farms program. 4 -H Youth Development Agent's Report County Fair Report — There were 229 more Jr. Fair exhibits at the County Fair. Family Camp — Reaman reported on this educational program, which is a positive outreach effort on behalf of 4 -H Youth Development and Family Living program areas. The camp is completely grant and donation funded for the families. The target audience is families with limited resources. This year, 12 families were registered which is full capacity for our program. Reaman and Lestrud expressed disappointment though, because 6 of the families did not show up on Friday night. The families will be contacted to determine if the reason for their absence — was it lack of transportation, improper clothing since it was rainy, last minute family crisis. At this point, we can speculate it could simply be part of the "culture of poverty" and the inability to plan and prioritize. The objectives of Family Camp are to 1) Provide parents with parenting education and skills 2) Develop an informal support network for families and 3) Provide positive time together as a family. Throughout the weekend camp, families are provided experiences to interact as a family in a positive way through a variety of activities: nature, craft, games /skits, food, etc. Saturday morning is devoted to educational workshop for the parents and the children, who are divided into appropriate age groups. The evaluation results indicate the objectives were met as families shared the Family Camp "brought us closer together"; "received support/friendship from other parents "; "helped me make my family a priority this weekend "; and "created important family memories ". Parents also listed an assortment of individual tips they gained throughout the weekend. Chairman Raymond ruled meeting adjourned. Respectively submitted, Gene Ruetz Secretary mh