HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 11-03-09 NOTICE OF MEETING AND
ST. CROIX COUNTY AGRICULTURE & EXTENSION COMMITTEE (revised agenda)
November 3, 9:00 a.m.
Agricultural Service and Education Center
1960 8` Ave., Baldwin, WI
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
DATE OF NEXT MEETING — December 1, 2009
REVIEW OF VOUCHERS
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
• Budget
• WACEC
• Personnel
- 133 Contract
- Job Description — Peter Kling
• Strategic Planning
• Other Administrative Items
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS:
AGENT'S REPORTS:
• Resource Agent
• 4 -H Youth Development
- Educational Programs for 4 -H Youth Development
• Ag Agent
• Family Living Report
- Program response to the economic crisis
• WNEP
• Horticulture Educator Report
ADJOURN
SUBMITTED BY: Pete Kling
DATE: October 26, 2009
Copies to: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD
COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS
(Items may be taken in different order)
10/26/2009 12:23 PM
' Unofficial until approved
Agriculture & Extension Committee
November 3, 2009
Agricultural Service & Education Center Convened: 9 a.m.
Baldwin, Wi. Adjourned: 10:25 a.m.
Present: Gene Ruetz, Bill Peavey, Linda Luckey, Richard Marzolf, Lee Milligan, Pete Kling, Marie Witzel,
Ruth Hilfiker, and Roger Rebholz
Absent: Dan Raebel
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ruetz.
Date of next meeting was set for December 1, 2009.
Marzolf moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved with one correction. Peavey seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
Peavey moved to approve vouchers for $6,767.62. Ruetz seconded the motion. Motion carried.
AR Agent's Report
Milligan reported crop yields appear to be extremely good this fall. Due to the wet weather in October, harvest
has been slow.
There are reports of mold in corn throughout the state. As a result, UW- Extension will be sponsoring a Crop
Harvest Webinar on November 6 to address crop harvest concerns.
Milligan will be hosting a site for Pierce County and St. Croix County agricultural professionals.
4 -H Agent's Report
Witzel reported on the 4 -H recognition event held in October. It is a great opportunity to recognize 4 -H
members and the volunteer leaders. The Leaders Council takes leadership for the program and presents most of
the awards and it is great to hear what the graduates see as value in their 4 -H experience.
This month, Witzel did a lot of teaching including the annual leader training, teaching colleagues at the district
meeting about Communicating Your Success, and the club officer training.
From the annual leader training, 100% of the leaders said they anticipate using the information presented in the
future. In the narrative comments indicating how they would use this training, leaders shared comments about
using ice breakers, get acquainted activities, and recreation ideas to strengthen the belonging in the club and to
help increase retention. They also enjoyed sharing ideas with other clubs and many will try to include youth and
parents in program planning.
From the club officer training, 100% of the members indicated they will be better able to be an officer in their
club because of the training. In addition, 100% of the respondents indicated that they felt Club Officer Training
was helpful. In the narrative comments, the members shared that the most helpful /useful information was
learning what their job is as an officer; including everything involved in the agenda, finding your article in the
paper, good handwriting and good notes, and the stuff to have in a book.
WNEP Report —no report
Resource Agent's Report
Kling updated the committee on the Working Lands Initiative. UW- Extension will play an educational role and
may also assist landowners in submitting a petition for a pilot project. UW- Extension will also work with the
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Unofficial until approved
St. Croix County Planning and Zoning Department in updating the county Farmland Preservation Plan which
must be completed by 2011.
Family Living Agent's Report
Sprain reported on UW- Extension's response to the economic crisis. Programs include one -on -one financial
coaching with Drug Court, Human Services, and other agencies.
UW- Extension is also providing classes at the Workforce Center on Dealing with a Drop in Income, Living on
Less, and Keeping Your Family Strong During Stressful Times.
Rent Smart is being provided in response to the foreclosure crisis; a need identified by the Foreclosure Task
Force and WESTCAP, who provides foreclosure counseling. Participants receive a certificate and the end of the
workshop that they can give landlords to verify they have attended the class.
Food preservation education has increased this fall due to the demand for information. One example is a seminar
provided at Farm & Home in New Richmond.
Sprain is working to form a coalition of bankers and other community leaders to launch an America Saves
during February. This is a campaign to promote saving.
Commercial Horticulture Educator Report — Ruth Hilfiker
Hilfiker's program focus continues to be on new horticulture business development.
• Farm visits: In October, Hilfiker made farm visits to new fruit and vegetable growers; which included
evaluating vineyard disease problems, demonstrating how to calibrate a manure spreader on a small
vegetable farm, and reviewing methods to minimize insect movement into a new hoop house for season
extension of harvest.
• St. Croix Valley Fruit & Vegetable Growers Newsletter — Hilfiker sent out her newsletter to 300
local growers.
• Workshops to be Offered — On November 12, a workshop on Growing the Business of Local Foods in
the St. Croix Valley will be held. Hilfiker serves on the steering committee for the project. On
December 12, Hilfiker will be co- teaching a Blueberry Pruning Field Day at Rush River Produce in
Maiden Rock.
• Planning for Winter Workshops — Hilfiker is planning a workshop on Vegetable Pest Management &
Marketing. In February, she will offer with Tammy Wittmer in the St. Croix County Land and Water
Conservation Department, a short course on Professional Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance;
which will include rain garden management, environmentally sound fertilizing, and other techniques to
reduce urban run -off and contamination of water resources.
Meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Marzolf
Secretary
Recording Secretary Witzel
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