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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 07-02-02C 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 2, 2002 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 Update • State Budget Update • County Budget Update - Finance Committee Meeting With Committee Chairs • WACEC Report— Berenschot, Burn and Lestrud 4 -H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REPORT – Tiffani will report since Kim will be chaperoning the St. Croix County delegation on the WI River Adventure June 30 -July 5 • County to County Exchange • Camp Counselor Training • 4 -H Summer Camp • State Fair Entries PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REPORT • Clean Sweep Grant Application • Proposed DNR Efficiency/Pilot Grants Update RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT • Town Planning Projects • Small Business Management Counseling • New Richmond Commercial Market Analysis 1 AG AGENT'S REPORT • Pasture Walk • Facility Tour • Farm City Day • Fair • NDF Digestibility Information • District Holstein Show • Financial Analysis Program • Farm Visits FAMILY LIVING AGENT'S REPORT • 4H Clothing Camp • Master Food Preserver Training • Nutrition Program • Post Tenure Review • Housing Coalition HORTICULTURE AGENT'S REPORT NEW BUSINESS: ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order.) SUBMITTED BY: Kim Reaman DATE: June 19, 2002 COPIES TO: County Board Office County Clerk News Media/Notice Board Committee Members 2 Ag & Extension/Resource & Education/Planning Committee July 2, 2002 Agricultural Service & Education Center Baldwin Convened: 12:30 p.m. Adjourned: 2:30 p.m. Present: Leon Berenschot, Ronald Raymond, Art Jensen, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Lee Milligan, Jim Janke, Tiffani Calmes, Melanie Melander, Mary Lestrud, and Mary Barney. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Bethke. Date of the next meeting was set for August 6, 2002. Jensen moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Berenschot seconded the motion. Motion carried. Raymond moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Burri seconded the motion. Motion carried. Berenschot moved that the vouchers be approved. Burn seconded the motion. Motion carried. Administrative Report Lestrud, Bum, and Berenschot reported on the WACEC conference. Burn, Lestrud, and Berenschot discussed budget and other issues from the state WACEC conference. Berenschot was congratulated on being elected once again as state vice president, and for receiving his five -year plaque. Committee members discussed the current federal and state budget situations. Committee members reviewed a list of potential cost savings prepared by the office staff. Ag Agent's Report Seventeen producers attended a joint Polk County /St. Croix County/WITC calf management tour at the Roger Kukowski farm. Milligan gave a presentation on calf housing costs. Attendees learned about calf housing costs, milk replacers and greenhouse calf facilities. Eleven graziers participated in a pasture walk at the Dan Pearson farm. Participants learned how to renovate or establish pastures. Milligan gave a presentation on Kura clover and its' potential application on the dairy and livestock industry in St. Croix County. It has some potential due to its' persistence and quality. Milligan attended an ethanol informational meeting in Dunn County. There is the potential of an ethanol production plant being located in Dunn, Pierce or St. Croix Counties. A producer cooperative has been developed to work on the development of an ethanol plant. Milligan and Randy Shaver, UW- Extension dairy nutrition specialist, made five farm visits regarding dairy nutrition and herd management issues. Milligan met with the Farm - City Day committee. Progress is being made in preparations. Milligan also participated in the District Holstein Show held in Glenwood City in June. Farm visits focused on corn and alfalfa, farm business structures, farm facilities, enterprise budgeting and the predicting alfalfa quality program. Milligan has scheduled a barn ventilation meeting at Greg and Bob Zwald's July 16. He is also involved in fair preparations. Family Living Agent's Report Lestrud updated the committee on the progress on the Somerset transitional shelter, which is still targeted to open in August. Lestrud has been pulling together information on how to work with area churches to ensure safe meals for shelter residents. She has also been part of the fundraising campaign. During June, Lestrud worked with a 4H committee to hold a summer clothing camp for 20 youth who, with the help of adult volunteers, made cargo pants. She is currently working on the Food Fair where all the fair food judging is done. This is also the day for the 4H Foods Review in which youth display complete table settings and make their favorite foods. Lestrud plans 5 -6 action displays to make the event more educational for the youth and their parents. St. Croix County has five new Master Food Preservers trained at a three- day program in June. They will be volunteering hours in the community to help people learn to can, freeze, and dry food. Lestrud discussed her role in helping colleagues who have tenure to continue peer review, which ensures that quality family living programs are maintained throughout the state. Resource Agent Report Janke updated the committee on comprehensive planning education activities. Currently, he is focusing on public opinion surveys with Erin Prairie, Stanton, and Cylon. He is also working with the Town of Emerald, where he helped them form a Plan Commission that is developing a "plan for planning." The next Tri- County Planning Education workshop is scheduled for September 18 in Baldwin. The program will focus on public participation and sources of planning data. Janke will be one of the program presenters. A workshop for the six towns in the Heartland Town Planning Project is scheduled for August 21 at the Hammond Town Hall. The program will focus on purchase of development rights, transfer of development rights, and conservation easements. Small business counseling was held in Hudson in June. All appointment slots filled quickly. The next counseling is scheduled August 7. Janke counseled an additional three clients by telephone. The New Richmond Business Market Analysis project has begun. The study committee has selected 6 comparison communities in the Midwest. Planning Department's Report Barney reviewed a list of June vouchers totaling $20,194.27. Berenschot moved that the vouchers be approved as presented. Burri seconded the motion. Motion carried. Clean Sweep Grant Application: Barney reported that the DNR grant application for household hazardous waste collections in 2003 was ready for mailing. If accepted, the County will receive $15,000, the maximum amount awarded. The county did not receive a grant in 2002, as first time programs throughout the state have priority. A graph showing costs and pounds of waste collected per participant from 1996 to 2001 indicates that by contracting with NWRPC, costs have dropped considerably, pounds of waste collected have increased, and county residents have two Clean Sweep events a year, rather than just one prior to 1998. Barney said she daily receives calls from the public asking for even more hazardous wastes disposal options. Proposed DNR Recycling Efficiency Incentive Grants & Pilot Program Update: Barney said that she and Dave Fodroczi attended the public hearing in Eau Claire on June 13' pertaining to the proposed supplemental grant opportunities. The multi - location hearings were not well attended throughout the State, and few comments were offered. Barney said that several recycling coordinators she had talked with were confused on eligibility rules and were waiting for more clarification from the DNR. Written comments from Fodroczi and approved by the committee were submitted to DNR Secretary Darrell Bazzell. Of major concern is that "efficiency" in present rule language is presumed to result from consolidation, cooperative agreements or operational size, and although in theory this may be the case, thorough documentation of results must be required. Also, other criteria should be considered in rating efficiency. Barney said the time line for rules approval was on track and the DNR anticipates rules going into effect on Jan 1, 2003. Then, applications would be due by March l As a responsible unit, the county would be eligible for some funding in the first grant year. 4 -H Summer Assistant Report submitted by Tiffani Calmes County to County Exchange Ten St. Croix County 4 -H members participated in the 2002 County to County Exchange with Barron County June 14 -16 and June 21 -23. Calmes served as an adult chaperone on the trip, along with 4 -H volunteer Tamara Morton. While visiting Barron County, the St. Croix County 4 -Hers and their host families took part in a potluck dinner and ice cream social and toured Pioneer Museum. The Barron County 4 -H members arrived in St. Croix County June 21 for a potluck picnic at Bailey's Park in Baldwin followed by a tour of Crystal Cave Saturday morning. After two days of family time activities ranging from horseback riding to river trips to Mall of America visits, the Barron County 4 -H members departed after a rootbeer float send -off at the Extension Office. Camp Counselor Training Twenty -six counselors and four junior directors took part in this year's Camp Counselor Training June 6 -7 at Camp Kiwanis in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. Amy Zwald represented St. Croix County on the junior director leadership team. Kim Reaman and Calmes served in a supervisory capacity. Calmes prepared a resource area in arts /crafts and foods, which camp resource counselors utilized for ideas and suggestions for possible educational sessions. 4 -H Summer Camp Younger campers in grades 3 -5 journeyed to Camp Kiwanis in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota June 24 -26 for 4 -H Camp 2002. Twelve counselors and two junior directors led various sessions, games, and activities centered around the theme "Jungle Island." Over 70 campers and staff participated. Camp was transformed from a "Jungle Island" to a festival of nations as older campers in grades 5 -7 arrived for "Cultures Around the World" June 26 -28. Campers and staff totaled over 80. Calmes served as an adult staff member and resource at both camps. State Fair Entries The 2002 State Fair in West Allis is set for August 1 -11. St. Croix County's State Fair entries have been submitted. The numbers are as follows: ♦ Dairy: ♦ Demonstration: ♦ Action Center: ♦ Music: ♦ Sheep: ♦ Beef. ♦ Non - livestock exhibits: 19 exhibitors, 4 chaperones 1 demonstrator, 1 chaperone 2 volunteers, 1 chaperone 38 performers, 5 chaperones 4 exhibitors, 1 chaperone 1 exhibitor 6 St. Croix County will be represented by a total of 65 delegates, 12 chaperones, and 6 non - livestock entries. Burn moved to adjourn. Raymond seconded. Respectively submitted, Art Jense Secretary oil