Volume 17, Number 11
June 16, 2017

 

NOTES FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Internal Applicants for Vacant County Extension Educator Positions:  Effective June 1, 2017, applications will be open to internal applicants only for 60 days.  If a suitable internal applicant is not found within 60 days, applications will then be open to external applicants for positions that have funding available.
      Section VIII, E.3, pages 33-34, of the OCES Procedure Guide: Field Operations states the following with regard to internal transfers:

 “Transfer to another position will be granted only after one has served at least two years in their current position.  Exceptions may be made when it is clearly shown that the transfer is in the best interest of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.  Internal County Extension Educator applicants who are successful in applying for and receiving a County Extension Educator position in another county should do so under the premise that such a move is a lateral transfer. There is no implied promotion or salary adjustment affixed.  The Associate Director and respective District Extension Director may determine that it is in the interest of OCES that a particular vacancy be filled with an experienced Extension Educator with a specified set of skills.  Under that determination, a one-time stipend may be approved by the Associate Director as an incentive to internal applicants.  An Educator receiving such a stipend would be eligible for a similar inducement to transfer after five years.  Moving expenses may be negotiated by the transferring Educator with the District Extension Director.  The guidelines for arrangements and payment of such expenses may be found elsewhere in this guideline manual.”  (Guidelines for moving expenses may be found under Section VI., J, page 18.)

As stated in the above guidelines, the 2-Year Rule will be waived if the move is deemed in the best interest of OCES.

                                                                                                                                               Jim Trapp

CURRENT EVENTS

Current Challenges in Floriculture Slated Aug. 3: As part of the Shackelford Lecture Series, Current Challenges in Floriculture will take place Aug. 3 at the Wes Watkins Center on the Oklahoma State University campus. This conference is designed for the green industry professional, as well as the advanced hobbyist/gardening enthusiast. Genhua Niu, Texas A&M, El Paso, will address water quality and quantity issues. Three successful greenhouse operations will be highlighted as well as cutting edge pest control methods discussed. The importance of pollinators to green industry workers and ultimately their clientele (end consumer), will be reviewed. Many more topics as well will be highlighted throughout the day. Participants will leave with new ideas regarding greenhouse gardening and plant materials. Registration is $30 per person and due by July 21. Registration information is available here. For more information, please contact Stephanie Larimer at 405-744-5404 or via email at stephanie.larimer@okstate.edu.

Women in Ag Conference: The 2017 Statewide Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference is scheduled for August 3-4, 2017 at the Moore-Norman Technology Center, located on South Penn Ave. in Oklahoma City. The focus of the two-day conference is to assist women and producers in successfully managing risk for their agricultural enterprise and/or small business.
     Keynote speakers this year will be Dr. Pamela Ronald  from UC Davis and Lauren Nelson, co-host of Discover Oklahoma.
     A number of concurrent sessions will be offered during the conference. Sessions will be led by practitioners and experts in their fields, among them agricultural professionals, producers, business entrepreneurs, OSU Cooperative Extension educators and more. Opportunities for informal networking between participants and interaction with conference presenters often leads to personal and professional inspiration, ideas and solutions.
     The two-day event is sponsored by USDA’s Risk Management Agency, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, and numerous other sponsors who have helped to keep cost low to participants. The cost to attend is $50 if registering by July 31, and $60 thereafter. Registration includes two breakfasts, two lunches, refreshment breaks and materials. Registration brochures will be mailed soon. If you would like additional copies to share, please contact Sara Siems at sara.siems@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-9826.
     The conference is listed on the In-Service Training website for in-service credit. Please note: If you sign up for credit, you will still need to register for the conference either online or by sending in a registration brochure. For conference registration and more information, please visit our website.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wheat News: The results for the wheat variety trials, which have been harvested, can be found here. Results are listed by planting location. www.wheat.okstate.edu.

New/Updated Publications on PODS: There are a number of new and updated publications available on the Print on Demand System at http://osufacts.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/HomePage. New publications include:

• BAE-1536 Bioretention Cell Design Guidance for Oklahoma
• BAE-1537 Understanding Soil Water Content and Thresholds for Irrigation Management
• CR-2177 Understanding Seeding Methods and Amounts for Winter Wheat and Canola
• ANSI-3934 Minerals for Horses: Calcium and Phosphorus
• BAE-1535 Review and Operational Guidelines for Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeters
• HLA-6724 Building a Vertical Hydroponic Tower

Revised publications include:

• FAPC-133 Trans Fats, Health and Nutritional Labeling of Foods
• FAPC-134 Formulating Food Products with Low Trans Fats
• FAPC-Low Trans Fat and Trans-Free Fat Update
• PSS-2160 Spring-planted Oat for Grazing or Hay Production
• AGEC-202 Broiler Production: Considerations for Potential Growers
• CR-2141 Fall Forage Production and Date of First Hollow Stem in Winter Wheat Varieties During the 2016-2017 Crop Year
• T-3160 Diet and Heart Disease
• T-3161 Diet and Diabetes
• T-3120 Drug-Nutrient Interaction
• T-3159 Diet and High Blood Pressure
• T-3620 Food Allergies and Food Intolerances
• T-3152 Diet and Osteoporosis
• T-3167 Weight Management

Congratulations to: Dana Zook, Area Extension Livestock Specialist, Northwest District, and her husband, Russell, on the birth of their daughter. Norah Jean Zook was born May 20, weighed 8 pounds, 2 ½ ounces, and was 21 inches long. Congratulations!

Congratulations to: Kathy Enyard, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, and CED, Ottawa County, on the birth of her granddaughter. Emory Lyn Young was born May 24, weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 20 ¼ inches long. Proud parents are Kristen and Kurtis Young. Congratulations!

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

Appointments

None to report

Title Changes/Transfers

Alan Jennings, Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, and CED, Logan County, effective 3-1-17 (was: Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Logan County)

Ashley Davis, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, and CED, Adair County, effective 7-1-17 (was: Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Adair County)

Separations/Retirements

Kristin Loveland, TV Producer/Director, Agricultural Communications Services, effective 5-8-17

Joshua Yates, Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, and CED, Washington County, effective 5-31-17

Bradley Womack, Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, and Interim CED, Haskell County, effective 5-31-17

Marty Green, Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, and CED, effective 6-30-17 (retirement)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Internal Applicants Only

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Pottawatomie County

Area Positions

Area Extension Agriculture Economist, SW District

Area Extension Agronomy Specialist, SE District

Approved Applicants

Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Alfalfa County

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Grady County

COMING EVENTS

June 15-24: Citizenship Washington Focus (Washington, D.C.)
June 23: Co-Parenting for Resilience (Purcell)
June 26-28: 4-H Design Institute (Stillwater)
July 10: OSU Crops Conference (Ardmore)
July 13: OSU Crops Conference (El Reno)
July14: Co-Parenting for Resilience (Pauls Valley)
July 15: Oklahoma 4-H .22 Pistol and .22 Rifle Contest (Oklahoma City)
July 17: OSU Crops Conference (Alva)
July 18: OSU Big 3 Field Days (Stillwater)
July 20: OSU Crops Conference (Afton)
July 22: Oklahoma 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Recertification Training Workshop (Stillwater)
July 26-28: 96^th State 4-H Roundup
August 3: Current Challenges in Floriculture (Stillwater)
August 3-4: 2017 Statewide Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference (Oklahoma City)
August 10: Sustainable Landscapes: Designing a Rain Garden (Stillwater)
August 18: Co-Parenting for Resilience (Purcell)
August 19: Oklahoma 4-H Senior Outdoor Archery National Qualifying Contest and Junior and Intermediate Archery FUN Shoot (Stillwater)
August 26: Oklahoma 4-H Sports Clays Contest (McLoud)