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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 07-01-03 ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Chris Bethke, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Extension Ag Committee/Resource & Education Committee DATE: July 1, 2003 TIME: 12:30 p.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 PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REPORT • Spring Collection Report • Ag Clean Sweep Application • Recycling Efficiency Grant • Local Recycling Grant Distribution • Fall Newsletter 4 -H YOUTH AGENT'S REPORT • Camp Counselor Training and Summer 4 -H Camp • 4 -H Interstate Exchange to Texas • 4 -H Alumni Food Stand at Fair • Summer Assistant Report AG AGENT'S REPORT • Ag Engineer Farm Visits • Ag Ventures Teaching Module • Holstein District Show • Farm City Day Preparations • National Guernsey Convention Activities • Holstein Twilight Meeting • District Department Head Meeting • Dairy Fitting and Showing • 4 -State Dairy Nutrition Conference • National Association of County Agents Professional Improvement • Corn Silage Field Day RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT • Small Business Management Programs • New Richmond Business Market Analysis • St. Joseph Drinking Water Program • Comprehensive Planning Workshop FAMILY LIVING AGENT'S REPORT • Summer 4 -11 Clothing Workshop • Results From Parenting Class • Second Jail Class • Grant Update (Nutrition and Jail) HORTICULTURE AGENT'S REPORT • Update Industry Survey • Update Horticultural Inquires Commercial & Home Landscape NEW BUSINESS: ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order.) SUBMITTED BY: Kim Reaman DATE: June 18, 2003 COPIES TO: County Board Office County Clerk News Media/Notice Board Committee Members AG & EXTENSION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION /PLANNING COMMITTEE July 1, 2003 Agricultural Service & Education Center Convened 12:35 pm Baldwin, Wi. Adjourned Present: Leon Berenschot, Ronald Raymond, Art Jensen, Chris Bethke, Dave Fodroczi, Lee Milligan, Jim Janke, Kimberly Reaman, Jon Behling, Jennifer Havens, Mary Lestrud, and Laura VanDyk The meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Bethke Date of next meeting was set for August 5, 2003 Raymond moved the agenda be adopted as presented. Jensen seconded the motion. Motion carried. Berenschot moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Bethke seconded the motion. Motion carried. Raymond moved that the vouchers be approved. Berenschot seconded the motion. Motion carried. Administrative Report Federal Budget - No report. State Budget — No report. County Budget — Each department has been asked to proof the information compiled by Springstead for the Personnel Study. The information for UW- Extension is accurate however the Structure and Management piece is missing. Originally, the staff had created a flowchart containing that particular information and the individuals inputting the data did not change it into a written paragraph form so that piece needs to be done and submitted by the August County Department Head meeting. Reaman will have it ready for the Extension Committee's approval for their August meeting. There are two revisions to be made to the Capital Outlay Plan. The price for computers listed for 2004 and 2006 are high. The University has a program to help counties purchase computer equipment for Extension Offices by allowing them to spread the payment out over two years. The prices currently listed are for full payment for one year, not 2 payments over two years. Reaman will make the necessary corrections and resubmit it to Chuck Whiting. Personnel — No report WACEC Report — Berenschot, attended a meeting June 18 in Des Moines, Iowa to meet with committee members and representatives from the surrounding State Extension Services. State budgets were discussed and Berenschot reported on the obvious strengths of the Wisconsin Association of County Extension Committees. That is a political layer that is missing in many other states. 1 Planning Department Report Fodroczi presented a list of bills in the amount of $235,477.25. There was discussion about the 2002 and 2003 grant payments to municipalities. Fodroczi clarified the payment spread sheet attached to the list of bills, and explained that the funds were received from the DNR for the 2003 Recycling Grant and the 2003 Efficiency Grant, totaling $270,431.62. The motion was made by Raymond, seconded by Jensen to approve the list of bills as presented. Motion carried. Spring Collection Report: Havens presented a slide show to demonstrate how the 2003 collection events have been going. All the events have brought in waste equal to, or more than previous years and show that participation overall for these programs is increasing. Fodroczi explained that one reason the Clean Sweep numbers were high for the spring collection is because there were several businesses that participated and brought large volumes of material. The businesses pay to use this service and that helps to offset some of the county costs for the program. Ag Clean Sweep Application: Havens is in the process of preparing the Agriculture Clean Sweep grant application and asked the committee to authorize St Croix County's participation in the program. The County is eligible for up to $22,000 in funding under this grant and will work extensively with the other agricultural service agencies to get the information out to the agricultural community. Motion was made by Raymond, seconded by Jensen to authorize staff to apply for the Agricultural Clean Sweep Grant. Motion carried. Recycling Efficiency Grant: Havens is beginning to work with Dunn and Eau Claire counties on a program for next year in order to qualify for DNR funding in 2004. The committee asked how counties qualify for these grants and what St Croix did to qualify in 2003. Fodroczi explained that our current system which represents 26 of the 35 local municipalities met the requirements for the 2003 grant and St Croix County received $42,457.48. Next year the county will have to do something further to qualify. The committee discussed the efficiency grant and asked staff to provide funding information about other local programs that are their own responsible unit. Staff agreed to provide that information to committee members. Local Recycling Grant Distribution: Havens explained the grant payment spreadsheet that was attached to the bill list. For 2002, all municipalities will receive 48.6% of their total expenses. Of this, 25% was previously paid out in the first payment in 2002. Along with the remaining 2002 funds the County will be disbursing the first 2003 recycling payment. Since the county has received both the recycling and efficiency grants in total, the first payment to municipalities will be greater than it has in the past. Municipalities will receive either 75% of total expenses or an adjusted per capita payment, which ever is less. Calculating the total payments based on per capita will help to ensure that all municipalities are getting their fair share of funding based on both the total amount they spend on recycling and the number of people they serve. Fall 2002 Newsletter: Havens will begin drafting a copy for the next newsletter in mid -July. There will be information about the new cell phone recycling program, agricultural clean sweep, and more details about acceptable and unacceptable items accepted at the clean sweep. Ag Agent's Report Milligan led two days of farm tours at the National Guernsey Convention at Hudson. Over 280 people participated in the tours in St. Croix, Polk, Barron, and Pierce Counties. 2 The 4 -H Dairy Fitting and Showing Workshop was held at Ter -Rae Farms — The Mitchells. Sixteen youth and adults participated in the workshop. Participants learned the proper care of dairy cattle and preparing them for the Fair. Milligan met with the Farm City Day Committee regarding preparations for the event at Ter -Rae Farms — The Mitchells, August 9. The Holstein Twilight Meeting was held at NOVA Holsteins — Tom, Carol, Lance, and Ryan Kamm. Ted Halbach, UW- Madison Dairy Science Youth Outreach Coordinator, discussed the new dairy replacement grading system. Producers will be able to use the system in the sale and purchase of heifers. Milligan had an agricultural engineer visit five farms regarding facility design. They also met with the Fair Long Range Planning Committee regarding horse barn designs. Two designs have been developed and will be shared with the Committee in July. The Holstein District Show was held in Ellsworth. Several St. Croix Holstein breeders participated and did well in the event. Milligan participated in the Extension report to the County Board. Individual contacts included dairy nutrition, farm business arrangements, pasture management, farm management, and crop production. Milligan also attended the District Department Head meeting. Educational activities include 4 -H Dairy Committee, Fair Long Range Planning Committee, National Association of County Agriculture Agents in Green Bay, St Croix County Fair, Crop Care Clinic, and a Milk Money Program. Milligan is also working on Farm City Day and a corn silage field day in August. Horticulture Educator's Report Over a 16 -day work period (Mayl- Julyl), Behling received and responded to 197 walk -ins or over the phone inquiries. Below is a breakdown of the content areas of the inquiries: Tree s- 77 Weed Control - 24 Fruit - 25 Vegetables - 26 Lawns - 19 Miscellaneous - 26 Plant ID -8 Farmer's Market - 4 Organic Certification - 1 Business development - 3 Prairie establishment - 7 Mosquito control - 3 Behling attended the Northern Wisconsin Fruit Pathology Field Day in Maiden Rock. 3 Behling visited 2 sites in the Glenwood City area for potential business start-ups. He visited MOSES - Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service -Spring Valley. Behling met with Small Business Development Center/ Ag Economics Dept and Pierce Co. small business development center to introduce himself and determine if any of these group may be willing to cooperate with potential workshops in the coming year. Behling finished the Industry Survey and it will be mailed out to perspective and established horticultural businesses during the week of July 7 -11th. Met with St. Croix Master Gardeners (May /June meeting) and worked at the Community Gardens in New Richmond one full Saturday. Behling presented a talk on sustainable agriculture at the Chippewa Valley Garden Walk in Chippewa Falls on Sunday June, 29 and made 9 site visits for disease /insect diagnosis and planting design suggestions during this 16 -day period from May 1 -July 1. 4 -H Youth Development Agent's Report Camp Counselor Training — Reaman worked with 32 camp counselors and 4 Jr. Directors in a 2 -day training. Camp counselors are teenagers in the 9 th grade and up. There are also two teen Jr. Directors who are experienced camp counselors. There are two aspects to the counselor training: planning the camp and training to make sure the counselors are prepared for their leadership role. The Jr. Directors take on a more administrative role during counselor training and camp as they work with the counselors to plan the camp. They are responsible for bringing the counselors to consensus on a camp theme, cabin names /decorations, educational sessions to be offered, the large group games, organized "free" time and campfire programs. The educational focus of the training this year emphasized attitude and how in any situation, your personal attitude can make or break the experience for campers. Our goal is to send every camper home feeling like they are the most important person at camp. Interstate Exchange to Texas — St. Croix County is responsible for coordinating this two- county program for 2003 and 2004. The delegation of 14 members and 2 adult chaperones will spend a week in Wharton County Texas, learning about that part of the country and their 4 -H program. Next summer, the Texas 4 -H delegates will travel to Wisconsin and be hosted by the members who stayed with them. For many, this is the first long distance travel experience they have had and their first exposure to another culture and way of life. 4 -H Alumni Food Stand at the Fair — This is a new fundraising effort at the fair for the 4 -H program. Recent alumni have agreed to organize and run a food stand during the Tractor Pull on Friday night July 18. Reaman will be working with the planning committee. There are a couple of things the funds may be dedicated to: The 4 -H Endowment Fund, subsidize trips for 4 -H members and possibly support new promotional efforts. Summer Assistant Report: Shared resources with 4 -H Camp Counselors to use for their sessions at 4 -H camp. Spent the night building a sense o unity and teamwork. VanDyk created a news release for local papers. 4 4 -H Camp: St. Croix County was in charge of organizing the older 4 -H Camp. VanDyk created the cabin assignments, registration forms and camp program. There were 58 campers and 16 counselors. Campers took part in nutrition, improv, and bee pollination sessions. They worked together while playing group games and made new friendships from across three counties. VanDyk spent three days at the younger camp. There were 42 campers and 16 counselors. These 4 -H members made kites, homemade ice cream, and learned new games and songs. Both camps were a success and all went home tired, but happy. VanDyk distributed a news release to local papers. State Fair entry Forms: VanDyk has been proofing and will be sending Wisconsin State Fair Entry forms in today. Exhibitors have worked hard on their projects and will hopefully enjoy the State Fair. Clothing Workshop: VanDyk took pictures at the clothing workshop, which was made up of twenty - one 4 -H members. VanDyk also helped participants with their sweatshirts. They worked hard and helped each other complete their hooded sweatshirts. VanDyk created a news release for local papers. Upcoming Events: County to County Exchange, Wisconsin Tour, Cloverbud/Explorer Day Camp, and County Fair Volunteer Schedule. Resource Aeent's Report Small business counseling was held in Hudson on June 25 with four clients. Janke also counseled two additional clients during June. Work is continuing on the New Richmond Business Market Analysis. Team members are finalizing their estimates of demand and supply of the categories that were selected for further analysis. Janke reported on results of the Drinking Water Program in St. Joseph. There were over 200 participants. Twelve of the samples collected (6 %) contained coliform bacteria. Six wells (3 %) showed nitrate levels above the drinking water standard. The results were better than those in 1999, when 11% had coliform bacteria and 5% exceeded the limit for nitrate. Seven samples (5 %) had unsafe lead levels while two (5 %) were unsafe for copper. There were 55 repeat participants from the 1999 program. Janke showed a graph comparing the 1999 and 2003 nitrate levels for the 55 repeat tests. 35 samples showed a change of less than one -half part per million in either direction. Twelve showed an increase greater than one -half part per million, with the largest increase being 3.4 parts per million. Eight decreased more than one -half part per million, with the largest reduction being 9.5 parts per million. Open houses were held on June 24 and 26 for the first part of the comprehensive plans in Pleasant Valley, Hammond, and Cylon. Family Living Atient's Report Lestrud discussed summer youth programming. Twenty -one youth made sweatshirts at the clothing workshop. The second series of jail classes is finished with four participants, including a pregnant mom. Evaluations and book will be shared next time. 5 Mabis' program grant and budgets are now complete. There will be money available to purchase a LCD projector. The state is wondering if the county would be willing to contribute a small amount so that the projector could be used by the entire office, not just the Family Living Program. Raymond asked that the office determine how often it will be used throughout the year. Berenschot moved to adjourn. Jensen seconded the motion. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Art Jensen Secretary pmh 6