HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 12-09-02y
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: December 9, 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
• 2002 County Budget
• WACEC Report
• Personnel
PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REPORT
• Appliance Collection Proposals
• DNR Efficiency Grants Update
• America Recycles Day Report
• State Recycling Funds Transfer
• Waste Composition Study Presentation
4 -H YOUTH AGENT'S REPORT
• Platbook Progress
• Human Subjects Review
• Youth Protection Policy
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AG AGENT'S REPORT
• RU SAFE Youth Workshop
• PEPS Yield Contest
• Midwest Herd Health Conference
• Fertilizer Dealer Meeting
• AAIMS Workshop
• WI Sustainable Ag Task Force
• Ag Lenders Conference
• Seed Dealers Meeting
• Farm Visits and Calls
RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT
• Comprehensive planning surveys
• Comprehensive planning workshops
• Small business management program
• New Richmond Business Market Analysis
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order.)
SUBMITTED BY: Kim Reaman
DATE: November 21, 2002
COPIES TO: County Board Office
County Clerk
News Media/Notice Board
Committee Members
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AG & EXTENSION /RESOURCE & EDUCATION /PLANNING COMMITTEE
Monday, December 09, 2002
Ag Services & Education Center, Baldwin
Convened: 12:30 p.m.
Adjourned: 1:45 p.m.
Present: Art Jensen, Chris Bethke, Lois Burn, Dave Fodroczi, Lee Milligan, Jim Janke, and
Kimberly Reaman.
Absent: Leon Berenschot, Ronald Raymond, and Mary Lestrud.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Bethke at 12:30 p.m.
Date of next meeting was set for Tuesday, January 7, 2003 at 12:30 p.m.
Art Jensen moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Lois Burri seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Lois moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Art seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
Art moved that the vouchers be approved. Lois seconded the motion. Motion carried.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Federal Budget Update —No report.
State Budget Update— No report.
County Budget— Reaman recommended that some of the end of the year funds generated from
the vacancy in the horticulture position be used to purchase two new computers that were
scheduled for replacement in 2004. Moved by Burn /second by Jensen. Motion passed.
WACEC Update —No report
Jensen moved to have Milligan, Janke, Reaman, and Lestrud share the Office Chair position in
2003. Burn second. Motion carried.
The committee recommended that agent performance reviews be held at the scheduled
committee meeting for either January, February, or March. Milligan will coordinate the
scheduling with Mike Perkl.
Applicants for the horticulture position will be screened on December 16. Interviews with the
screened applicants will be January 3 with Lee Milligan and Tom Parslow, UWEX agriculture
program leader. Final interviews will be held in St. Croix County with Bethke, Jensen and Burri.
Milligan will schedule the interviews between January 7 and 17. Mike Perkl, UWEX Western
District Director, will be involved in the interviews.
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PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REPORT
Appliance Collections Proposals: Fodroczi reported that the Planning Department received two
proposals for appliance collection services. J.R. Appliance proposed to continue their existing
contract with user fees at $11.00 per appliance and $21.00 for air conditioners and water
softeners. Kleenair Disposal proposed services with user fees at $10.00 per appliance and $20.00
for air conditioners. Fodroczi said staff recommends continuing services with J.R. Appliance
because of their proven level of service. Jensen made a motion, seconded by Bethke, to approve
J.R. Appliance for appliance collection services. Motion carried.
DNR Efficiency Grants Update: Fodroczi reported that discussions continue between the
Assembly Rules Committee and the DNR on the draft administrative rules for Recycling
Efficiency Grants. If the revisions are not developed and approved promptly, the funding from
this grant could be eliminated for 2003.
America Recycles Day: The County participated in America Recycles Day on November 15`
The mercury disposal booth from Midwest Recycling Association was on display that week in
the Government Center. Barney accompanied representatives of the American Plastics Council to
identify successful plastics recyclers in the Hudson area and distribute cash awards of $100 as
part of a national "Get Caught Recycling" promotion on November 15` America Recycles Day.
Fodroczi passed around a copy of extensive event coverage from the Hudson Star Observer.
State Recycling Funds Transfer: Fodroczi reported that $1 million was transferred out of the
State Recycling Fund to pay for chronic wasting disease activities. He commented that such
transfers come at the expense of local recycling programs.
Waste Composition Study: Staff has developed a presentation of a waste composition study of
landfills statewide. It will be presented at the January meeting when all members are present.
4 -H YOUTH AGENT'S REPORT
Plat Book Progress —The books have not arrived yet.
Human Subjects Review — Reaman and Lestrud participated in the Human Subjects Review
training in November. Human Subjects Review is a procedure that ensures safety and privacy of
individuals who are involved in research projects. One of the determining factors in deciding if
the Human Subjects Review paperwork needs to be completed is how the information will be
used. If it is solely for internal use, for program evaluation/improvement Human Subjects
Review is not necessary. If the information gathered may be shared with the public or could
somehow put the participants at risk it is necessary to file the Human Subjects Review forms.
Youth Protection Policy —Each year about 35 new adult volunteers complete the youth
protection policy to become a certified 4 -H leader. That process involves a volunteer application
with permission to conduct a background check for child safety issues, a 2 -hour orientation and
signing a behavior agreement form. In the past, leaders have only signed the volunteer behavior
form at the time they participate in the orientation. Beginning this fall, leaders will be required to
sign the behavior agreement form annually. The behavior agreement form will be distributed
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with the enrollment forms in an effort to minimize increased workload on the support staff and 4-
H club organizational leaders.
RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT
Janke reported that comprehensive planning public opinion survey results were completed in four
towns: Cylon, Stanton, Erin Prairie, and Hudson. He distributed executive summaries of each
survey. Seven survey projects were completed during 2002.
On November 12 a comprehensive planning workshop was held in the UW- Extension classroom
in Baldwin. The topic was agricultural and natural resources planning. There were 33 persons in
attendance.
Janke gave a summary of comprehensive planning programming for 2002. He had 36 meetings
with town plan commissions. 201 people attended five workshops. 113 persons attended public
information meetings sponsored by 3 towns. 113 people attended public participation issue
identification workshops.
Small business management counseling was held in Hudson on December 6 with 5 clients. For
the year 2002 the total number of small business clients was 56.
Focus group interviews are being planned as part of the New Richmond Business Market
Analysis. Janke held a work session to develop the questions for the interviews, which will be
scheduled in late January.
AGRICULTURE AGENT'S REPORT
Milligan took total mixed ration samples from three dairies and had them tested at the UW-
Marshfield Forage Testing Lab using a new test for fiber digestibility. In two herds the test
showed that the rations needed to be adjusted due to incorrect fiber digestibility assumptions of
some of the feedstuffs. Milk production and herd health were issues on the dairies. Rations are
being adjusted.
Milligan coordinated two UW & Extension farm computerized record keeping (AAIMS)
meetings. Gary Frank, UWEX farm management specialist and developer of the program, was
the presenter. The program focused on how to use the program, troubleshooting problems, and
using new features of the program. Milligan discussed the AgFA program. Twenty -three people
participated in the two programs.
Milligan continues to write part of the farm management curriculum to be used statewide. He is
also working on a couple of one -page articles on managing the dairy herd and capital
management.
In November Milligan did a PEPS Corn and Yield Contest check for Van Beek's. The corn yield
was 169 bushels/acre and soybeans 4 bushels/acre. For most of St. Croix County the yields were
very good in 2003. It is not unusual to see 200 plus bushel corn yields and 55 plus bushel
soybean yields.
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Milligan attended the Midwest Dairy Herd Health Conference. As a result of attending it and
sharing information with a producer, he decided to increase the size of the freestalls he was
building in a small dry cow, special needs barn. The goal is to increase cow comfort.
An Extension sponsored youth safety program was held at New Richmond. Milligan and Tim
Jergenson, Barron County UWEX ag agent, taught four forty - minute segments on farm safety
issues. Seventy -three high school youth participated.
Milligan will be hosting the Wisconsin Sustainable Ag Task Force listening session December
13.
This is a time when the Task Force gathers ideas for upcoming activities.
For the upcoming several months Milligan is planning four pesticide applicator training sessions,
three grain marketing workshops, beginning a milk marketing club, two nutrient management
meetings, and a couple of dairy herd management meetings. Several of these will be coordinated
and taught with Greg Andrews, Pierce County ag agent.
Milligan and Andrews are also considering the development of a small farms series. This would
focus on many issues that small landowners have about raising various types of animals and
crops, managing pastures, direct marketing, purchasing equipment for the small farmer, and other
issues.
Art moved to adjourn. Lois seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Submitted by,
Art Jensen
Secretary
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