ANR news blog

4-H's future contemplated in the media

Across the nation, 4-H programs are threatened by cuts in state and county spending, according to an Associated Press story by John Seewer distributed widely last week. The article recounted the dire situation in Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana and Minnesota. Today, the Fresno Bee localized the article for California by adding comments from the assistant director of News and Information Outreach for ANR, Pam Kan-Rice. (The story does not yet appear on the Bee's Web site. If it is posted later today, I'll add a link here.)

According the print version, Kan-Rice told the newspaper that California 4-H is operated as a partnership between UC Cooperative Extension, the federal government, county government and private donations.

"If UC takes more budget cuts, then the Cooperative Extension could take more cuts," Kan-Rice was quoted. ""But at this point we just don't know until the state approves its budget."

The AP article reported these developments in 4-H funding around the country:

• Voters in one Ohio county will decide this month whether to approve a levy that will keep 4-H and other agriculture services operating.
• A 4-H center in Tennessee where youngsters learn swimming and canoeing is scheduled to close this summer.
• Washington County commissioners outside Minneapolis voted last month to eliminate the $130,000 it spends each year on 4-H. 
• In Louisiana, a proposed $13.3 million cut for the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center would mean the loss of about 100 extension instructors and staff, including 4-H educators.

 

4-H logo

UCCE's Kent Brittan outlines 4-H swine flu precautions

The farm animals taking part in the Yolo County 4-H Spring Fair this weekend will be monitored for symptoms of flu and other diseases, according to UC Cooperative Exension director Kent Brittan. Brittan's comments were in an unbylined article in yesterday's Woodland Daily Democrat..

"All animals will be checked by a veterinarian upon arrival at the fairgrounds. Only animals that pass these health checks are allowed to be shown at the fair," Brittan was quoted. Brittan also said in the article that animals will be kept at a safe distance and will have no direct contact with visitors.

Health monitoring is of particular importance this spring because of a worldwide swine flu scare, which has been reported on extensively by the news media. Swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs. When the flu spreads person to person, instead of from animals to humans, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to treat or fight, because people have no natural immunity.

According to media reports, such as this one from CNN.com, the World Health Organization is warning of widespread human infection from the swine flu outbreak that originated in Mexico.

The story in the Woodland paper also quoted UC Davis Cooperative Extension specialist Martin Smith as saying that "biosecurity is a priority in UC ANR."

"Because backyard flocks and herds serve as potential vectors of disease, and fairs and exhibitions where 4-H youth show animals represent potential bio-security risks, education outreach efforts that include practical strategies for 4-H have been developed and implemented," Smith is quoted.

Swine in repose.

UCCE remembered in story about varmints

Santa Rosa Press Democrat writer Meg McConahy opened a a story about varmint infestations with a cute, if maybe exaggerated, lead. "If you thought flood, fire and mold were the largest threats to your house," she wrote, "you probably have yet to face the menace of a pregnant raccoon."

The lead foreshadowed an anecdote in the story in which a raccoon ultimately led homeowners to hire a crane lift and punch a hole in their roof to get rid of an unwelcome guest. Fortunately, most critter infestations are more easily remedied. On way to face the problem is by downloading information from the UC ANR publications catalog; the URL to the site was published in a sidebar that appeared with the article.

Homeowners may want to research ways to protect their homes from wildlife infestation. Proactive pest exclusion is probably the best way to control the problem. After an animal has set up housekeeping, eradication is more complicated and costly.

Deer, gophers, moles, voles and rabbits are among the animals that can burrow and eat their way through landscapes; raccoons, opossums, squirrels, skunks, coyotes, foxes, bats and rats can cause thousands of dollars of damage to ductwork, insulation and Sheetrock, the story said.

Opossum mom and babies.

Agriculture scientists positive about grazing

The Modesto Bee ran a story over the weekend with a headline that proclaims, "Experts positive about effect of grazing on land." It is remarkable, in my opinion, because scientists are so rarely "positive" about anything and are very adept at using conditional wording, such as seemingly, may be, could be, almost, nearly, etc. 

On the other hand, the headline writer may have been using the meaning of "positive" as merely the opposite of "negative."

The story was based on reporter John Holland's take on a recent Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District seminar, in which participants learned that  grazing enhances the foothill environment by controlling wildfire fuel and keeping imported grasses from overwhelming the native species. Cattle grazing also preserves open space.

"These are all privately owned landscapes that you are all managing for the greater good of everyone else," the reporter quoted UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Scott Oneto.

According to the article, experts at the meeting said perennial native plants can thrive on grazed land because the cattle thin out the annual European grasses that have dominated the landscape since the 1800s. This improves habitat for squirrels and other small wildlife that sustain bobcats, golden eagles and other predators. Cattle, the story said, have taken on a role similar to that of buffalo on the Great Plains.

 

 

4-H summer camp for military kids continues in '09

A news release about UC Cooperative Extension's involvement this year in "Operation: Military Kids" was picked up by the News Blaze, a northern California community newspaper. The story said UCCE's 4-H Youth Development program has teamed up with the Operation: Military Kids once again this summer to host camps throughout California for the children of military men and women deployed all over the world.

Operation: Military Kids was launched in April 2005. Since its inception, OMK has touched 88,000 military children. The summer camp is just one part of a support system for military youth. Camp participants are enrolled in 4-H and local 4-H clubs are encouraged to reach out to the military youth to get them involved in activities year round. For more on 4-H Operation: Military Kids, see the 2005 news release and the OMK Web site.

"As a token to some of our nation's most patriotic citizens -- the children of military members -- we want to offer camping opportunities that bring military kids with local youth from their communities together for a fun filled week of activities that will build leadership, coping and youth development skills," the story quotes Chanda Gonzales, the UCCE 4-H military liaison.

"We want to help military youth know that the 4-H Youth Development program and local community partners appreciate them," Gonzales said.

 

A patriotic craft made at summer camp.

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