CCE News
February 24, 2003

Topics this week:

Healthy Living and Learning Environments Program Work Team (PWT) Distance Learning Demo -- The Healthy Living and Learning Environments PWT showcased its programs and collaborations for the College of Human Ecology's (CHE) Advisory Council on February 13. Professor Joe Laquatra and Extension Associate Mark Pierce, Design and Environmental Analysis, linked with extension educators and a collaborator via two of the CCE distance learning sites. At the CCE-Westchester site, Martha Shortlidge, CCE-Westchester; Pat Claiborne, CCE-Orange; and Mark Russo, CCE-Rockland, described local programs and collaborations on healthy human environments, how Cornell resources are applied, and the value of the national extension system. Martha also related how an association uses interactive video for program deliberations, inservices, and virtual meetings. At the CCE-Onondaga site, Glen Ivers, Executive Director of the American Lung Association, described how his organization joined with CCE to lead the Central NY Coalition for Healthy Indoor Air.

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Commissioner Announces $214,500 For NY FarmNet To Assist New York Apple Growers -- State Agriculture Commissioner Nathan L. Rudgers has announced the Governor's commitment to provide $214,500 to help NY FarmNet respond to the needs of New York's apple growers. NY FarmNet is developing a business-planning workbook to enhance apple growers’ decision-making skills and to provide technical assistance in the business-planning process. The apple industry in the United States, and in New York State in particular, has dramatically changed over the past several years to a point where growers are being forced to make major decisions about the future of their business.

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CCE Associations Become Partners in Clean Sweep Program -- The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) plans to, eventually, conduct Clean Sweep programs across the state and will need the cooperation of Cornell Cooperative Extension associations in an educational role. CCE administration fully supports association participation in the Clean Sweep program. The use of the Cornell logo and Cornell Cooperative Extension name on the brochure is a show of our cooperation and support of the educational mission of this program. We feel the benefits of the program far outweigh any possible liability issues, particularly since the role of Cornell Cooperative Extension is clearly defined as an educational role and a high level partnership has been formed with our fellow agencies. Whether to participate in the program can be an independent association decision. However, we strongly encourage support and participation to ensure an effective extension educational effort in communities across the state.

The Clean Sweep program is dedicated to the intensive collection and disposal of pesticides. The program provides an opportunity for farmers and other agricultural pesticide users to dispose of banned, obsolete or unwanted pesticides and containers in an environmentally safe manner.

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Two Agricultural Biotechnology Brochures Available -- Two agricultural biotechnology brochures are available in both print and electronic formats. The brochures, “Informing the Dialogue about Agricultural Biotechnology,” and “Agricultural Biotechnology: What are the Issues?" are available on-line at www.nysaes.cornell.edu/agbiotech. Each association will receive printed copies of the brochures via pouch mail this week.

A limited supply of both publications is available **FREE** of charge to Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, until the "free" supply is depleted. To order your free copies (limit: 10 per request), contact the Cornell University Media & Technology Services Resource Center (607-255-2080; or email: resctr@cornell.edu). Please specify which publication you are ordering. Note that all free copies will be delivered via pouch mail to county extension offices.

After the supply of free copies of "Informing the Dialogue" (102ABIOT) is depleted, additional copies may be purchased for $3 each, plus postage. After the supply of free copies of "What are the Issues?" (102ABIOT 2) is depleted, additional copies may be available through Gemma Osborne at gro2@cornell.edu.

For this and past issues of CCE News, please visit: http://www.staff.cce.cornell.edu/administration/ccenews/index.htm.

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