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Annual Report - October 2010 - November 2011

St. Joseph County MSU Extension

St. Joseph County MSUE Staff:

Lyndon Kelley, Agriculture &

Agribusiness Institute-Irrigation

Maury Kaercher, Agriculture &

Agribusiness Institute-Field

Crops Temp

Eva Beeker, Children & Youth

Institute-4H Program

Coordinator

Diana Fair, Health & Nutrition

Institute-Disease Prevention &

Management

Linda Kline, Health & Nutrition

Institute-Program Assistant

Tonya Barrington, Program

Aide

Deanna Mumby, Program Aide

Linda Towles, Prog. Aide;

Master Gardener Coord.

Brad Neumann, District

Coordinator

More regional staff on page 2

St. Joseph County MSU Extension

612 East Main Street

Centreville, MI 49032

Phone: 269/467-5511

Fax: 269/467-5641

Email:

msue.stjoseph@county.msu.edu

Web:

www.msue.msu.edu/stjoseph

It is with great pleasure that the staff of Michigan State University (MSU) Extension in St. Joseph County submit this annual report for 2010-2011 to the Board of Commissioners. The report provides highlights of key educational initiatives conducted by MSU Extension staff in St. Joseph County over the course of the last year. The programs we highlight detail some of the knowledge, behavior and condition outcomes that result from our educational programming in the county.

MSU Extension takes pride in partnering with St. Joseph County, the State of Michigan, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to deliver our programming to the residents of St. Joseph County. This partnership ensures that residents of St. Joseph County have access to the research and educational resources available at Michigan State University. In other words, local support for Extension leverages hundreds of additional MSU faculty and Extension educators from around the state who also deliver educational programming to St. Joseph County residents. You are encouraged to browse the sidebar on page 2 of our annual report for a partial listing of Extension staff from other southwest Michigan counties that also bring their expertise to county residents as a result of your local investment.

On behalf of Michigan State University Extension, we would like to thank you for your support. We look forward to continuing our partnership with St. Joseph County to improve the quality of life for all residents by Bringing Knowledge to Life!

Our Mission:

Helping people improve their

lives through an educational

process that applies knowledge

to critical needs, issues, and

opportunities.

MSU Extension continues to advance the agriculture industry through trials and research in St. Joseph County. Research results are translated into reports and other educational materials to be delivered each year during winter programs.

One such trial is a five acre switchgrass plot located in the corner of an area seed corn field, with half under irrigation and the other half dryland. The purpose of the research is to (1) determine the impact of irrigation on establishment and yield of switchgrass and (2) evaluate whether switchgrass, as a biomass crop, could be grown on dry corners and in seed corn setback areas. Dennis Pennington, Bioenergy Educator, says it takes three years to achieve a mature stand and conclusions can’t yet be drawn, but preliminary results suggest that switchgrass could help fill a gap for seed corn producers.

In March of 2011, Lyndon Kelley, Irrigation Educator, and Mike Staton, Soybean Educator, held a focus group comprised of St Joseph County soybean producers and an agribusiness agronomist to identify and prioritize local on-farm research projects. Three projects were identified as having the potential to increase soybean yields on irrigated coarse-textured soils. 1. 20 pounds of actual nitrogen applied at a certain stage in growth (R3). 2. A foliar application of boron fertilizer applied at the R1 growth stage. 3. Two rates of potassium fertilizer applied in the spring (100 lbs. per acre and

200 lbs. per acre of 0-0-60).

Trial results suggest that the addition of potassium or nitrogen fertilizer at the specified growth stages does not significantly increase soybean yields. The results of the boron trial are yet to be finalized. Kelley and Staton do plan to conduct another focus group in February 2012.

Agricultural Trials and Research

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Today, MSU Extension educators specialize in narrower subject areas and cover broader geographic areas than in the past. We see the need to become more specialized as industry has become more technical and the challenges in our communities have become more complex. To that end, many other MSUE staff serve the needs of St. Joseph County residents, including:

• Deb Barrett, Children & Youth Educator

• Roger Betz, Farm Management

• Bob Bricault, Consumer Horticulture

• Beth Clawson, Community Food Systems

• Zelda Felix-Motley, Nutrition Ed.

• Beth Ferry, Swine Educator

• Ron Goldy, Vegetable Educator

• Jeanne Himmelein, Commercial Hort.

• Jane Herbert, Water Quality Educator

• Rita Klavinski, Community Food Systems

• Mark Longstroth, Small Fruit Educator

• Bruce MacKellar, Field Crops Educator

• Dale Mutch, IPM and Cover Crops

• Roberta Osborne, Dairy Environmental Management

• Dennis Pennington, Bioenergy Educator

• Julie Pioch, Public Policy Educator

• Suzanne Pish, Social/Emotional Health Educator

• Mark Thomas, Product Center Counselor

• Natalie Rector, Manure Management

• Bill Shane, Tree Fruit Educator

More MSU Extension specialists and educators serving the needs of St. Joseph County residents can be found at: http://people.msue.msu.edu/

St. Joseph County Extension - A Focal Point for Irrigation

When people think about Michigan irrigation, St. Joseph County

comes to mind. The sandy soil and easily accessed abundant water

supply supports an estimated 110,000 irrigated acres of cropland

in the county. St. Joseph County makes up almost one quarter of the

state’s irrigation but more importantly is central in a region of over

650,000 acres of irrigated land within a two hour drive. The largest

pool of irrigated land east of the Mississippi coupled with a

moderating effect of the Great Lakes and sandy soils that allow

minimal delays to planting, field operation and harvest have earned

the area national recognition for seed, vegetable and specialty

crop production.

Since St. Joseph County stands in the center of the irrigation region,

it is easy to see why MSU and Purdue Extension placed their jointly

sponsored irrigation field educator in the St Joseph County MSU

Extension office. The Michiana Irrigation Association, a non-profit

irrigation educational group with more than thirty-five years of

history serves as an advisory board identifying these major

educational efforts: Educate irrigators on opportunities to improve

irrigation efficiency while improving profits; improve irrigation

water management through better scheduling, improved uniform

applications and controlling run-off; and irrigation designs for

beginners and advanced irrigators.

St. Joseph County MSU Extension staff also maintains a website

library that provides area irrigators with factsheets, presentations,

educational materials, reporting forms and registration

requirements. The site is positioned to come up high in many of the

web search systems when searching for Michigan and Indiana

irrigation related topics.

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St. Joseph County is a powerful hub in the Michigan agricultural economy. The County is home to the largest production area of hybrid seed corn in the nation. It is also home to one of the most diversified cropping systems in the state, with more acres and types of large scale specialty field crops produced than any other in the region. However, a significant new challenge was identified in a St. Joseph County Field during the summer of 2010, a new weed species native to the southwest U.S. called Palmer Amaranth.

Palmer Amaranth is a member of the pigweed family, a cousin to the redroot pigweeds that we find in fields, farms and gardens across the county. However, this weed is an aggressive competitor in fields and grows to be over 5 feet in height while producing over 400,000 seeds per plant. Even more problematic, this strain of the weed has tested resistant to glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide in soybean production. The “good news” is that the weeds were susceptible to several of the classes of herbicides used to control weeds in commercial and seed corn fields. The “bad news” is that soybeans, snap beans, and potentially potatoes may face challenges from the new weed species.

Dr. Christy Sprague, Weed Control Specialist in the Department of Crop and Soil Science at MSU, conducted a greenhouse trial in the fall of 2010 and determined that the weeds can withstand a 32x application of glyphosate applied at the full rate. In response to this challenge, Dr. Sprague conducted a full research study to investigate using pre-emergence + post emergence + residual herbicide treatments of all available soybean herbicides to identify which options might work the best in controlling this aggressive new weed species. While some control programs surfaced as being significantly better than others, no option controlled 100% of palmer amaranth seedlings over the course of the season. We will be sharing the results of this research at MSUE grower meetings held in many locations around southwest Michigan this winter.

A second round of field research is scheduled for 2012, as well as a more thorough analysis of how many acres are impacted by the weed. The current estimate is that the weeds primarily exist within about a 6 square mile area in St. Joseph County, with several fields exhibiting low populations currently. With the amount of wheel traffic that goes through the fields in St. Joseph County (a potential source to move around the seed), the problem is sure to spread. In addition, there is potential risk for the commercial and seed corn industry because some strains of Palmer Amaranth have become resistant to the family of herbicides, which may be providing some to most of the control of the weed in corn production. The goal of this research is to protect St. Joseph County’s largest and most vibrant industry, production agriculture.

MSU Research to Control Emerging Weed in Soybeans

This has been another good year for the Master Gardener Volunteer Program. This year, 11 people completed the class with 10 of them completing their 40 volunteer hours to received their basic certification.

Once again, our major project was the educational garden at the fairgrounds. The volunteers spent their time working in the garden from the beginning design to the end, with clean-up and readying the garden for planting next year. This year the volunteers put in a total of 1,095 hours in the garden alone, not to mention the volunteer hours they have put in for their communities, churches and garden clubs.

There are 6 garden clubs in St. Joseph County and currently there is at least one Master Gardener in each club. The Three Rivers club has the most with 6 Master Gardeners, with 4 in the Sturgis garden club. Colon has 3 volunteers and Mendon, Burr Oak and Constantine each have one Master Gardener volunteer involved.

At the October awards banquet, two of the volunteers received their 500 hour pins and one who received his 250 hour pin. These pins are awarded for the number of accumulated hours that the volunteer has put in since they first became certified. With volunteer time valued at $19.79 per hour, that’s nearly $10,000 worth of volunteer time by one individual!

Master Gardener Volunteer Program

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modeling project (made of wood

shavings), a tie-dyed t-shirt

(wardrobe personalization),

painting projects, and creative

crafts. Not only was the still

project exploration a hit, but also

the fishing, canoeing, swimming

and the “bog” fun, making camp

a huge success.

Along with Pam and Idy, we have

a hired cook, Patti Adams, a

waterfront director, Melanie

O’Connell (Sturgis Public Pool),

and “Nurse Betty” Meyers, RN.

We also had thirteen volunteer

parents who came to help with

fishing, canoeing and still project

exploration many times over the 3

day period.

This year the camp theme was

“Campin’ in the Decades”. Each

cabin had a decade theme and

name. The camp counselors

decorated their cabin to fit their

particular decade. The campers

had a great time dressing to the

theme and learning a little about

the “old days”. To wrap up the

4-H camp is one of the most

anticipated events of the year and

this year was no exception! Each

year for 3 days and 2 nights in

July, Camp Fort Hill becomes home

away from home to 70+ 4-H

youth, ages 7-12 years old, and

13 teen leaders. Each 4-H

member comes with the thoughts of

getting to do “fun stuff” at camp

without mom or dad!

There were some significant

changes at camp this year. We

hired Pam Keeslar to be our camp

director and Idy Stemely to be the

Assistant Camp Director. Pam is a

4-H leader with the Courageous K-

9’s 4-H club and is a 5th grade

teacher at Eastwood Elementary

School in Sturgis. Idy is also a 4-H

leader with the Rolling Clovers 4-H

club and also is a 5th grade

teacher at Hoppin Elementary

School in Three Rivers.

Both Pam and Idy brought a

renewed energy to camp with lots

of new ideas. Pam and Idy had

several still 4-H project ideas for

the kids to explore. Each camper

was able to “make and take” a

“decade” experience, the campers

danced to music from the 50’s,

60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Who knew

that poodle skirts and rolled up

jeans could be so fun?!

The dates for 2012 4-H camp have

been set for July 10-12. We are

looking forward to another great

experience with all that 4-H and

Camp Fort Hill has to offer.

4-H aims to help young people

become self-directed, productive

and contributing members of

society. We accomplish this through

programming designed to build life

skills, support in-school learning

during out-of-school experiential

educational programming, and

teach employment skills needed by

today’s and the future work force.

4-H projects are the vehicles we

use to achieve these broader youth

development goals.

Children and Youth Institute Focuses on Life Skills at Summer 4-H Camp

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six weeks and one-time

presentations. During the

educational sessions, participants

gain knowledge and skills in

planning and preparing healthy

meals, reading food labels to

make healthier food choices,

saving dollars at the grocery

store, reducing fat, sugar and

sodium and preventing food

borne illness. Each weekly session

also emphasizes the importance of

regular physical activity.

SNAP-ED continues to be the

largest out-reach educational

program provided to county

residents who receive, or are

eligible to receive, food stamps.

Initiated in 1994, this educational

program continues to reach

hundreds of adults and youth in St.

Joseph County during series lasting

According to the 2008-2010 County Health Rankings of Michigan, over 30% of St. Joseph County adults are

obese and approximately 10% are diagnosed diabetics. In an effort to promote healthier lifestyles, MSU

Extension developed the Disease Prevention and Management Work Group within the Health & Nutrition

Institute. The workgroup team, including St. Joseph County based Educator Diana Fair, identified three curricula

to address the increasing problems of chronic disease and diabetes, in particular. These curricula include Dining

with Diabetes, a four week series addressing diabetes education, nutrition, meal planning and food

preparation; the Michigan Diabetes Prevention Program, a five week series focusing on lifestyle changes to

prevent or lessen the onset of diabetes, and PATH (Personal Action Toward Health), a six week series focusing

on increasing the self-management skills of people with chronic disease or their caretakers.

PATH, developed by Stanford University, was offered throughout the State of Michigan

through grants provided by the Office of Services to the Aging and awarded through

regional Area Agencies on Aging. In 2010, St. Joseph County was one of a four county

applications to be awarded a PATH grant through the St. Joseph County Commission on

Aging, with MSU Extension and Community Mental Health as collaborating partners.

In June 2010, Diana Fair completed the four day PATH training offered through the AAA grant along with two

staff members from Commission on Aging and one staff member from Community Mental Health. In the fall of

2010, Fair and her Community Mental Health partner held their first six week workshop and are currently

conducting their fourth PATH workshop held in the County. Over 32 adults have participated in PATH workshops

conducted by the MSU Extension/Community Mental Health partnership, gaining skills in reducing stress and

increasing problem solving abilities, improving communication, gaining knowledge in nutrition and physical

activity, and practicing weekly action plans designed to achieve goals.

Participants have reported fewer visits to medical doctors and hospital facilities, decreased levels of pain,

fatigue and depression, and increased ability to problem solve and set positive healthy lifestyle changing goals

during the workshop evaluations.

SNAP-Ed series and presentations

were conducted throughout St.

Joseph County by Diana Fair,

Extension Educator, and Linda

Kline, Program Associate, at

locations including in-home,

Keystone Homeless Shelter,

Department of Human Services,

WIC at Community Health Agency,

H.O.P.E. House, Child Care

Resources, Public Schools, after

school programs, and the Sturgis

Parenting Fair.

MSU Extension Health and Nutrition Institute

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MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs,

sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.

MSU Extension was built on the foundation of extending the university’s knowledge to address real-world issues and opportunities facing Michigan residents. It continues with the same mission today: to help people in every community improve their lives through applied science-based, university-generated knowledge. MSU Extension staff members deliver educational programs centered around four broad topic areas:

Agriculture & Agribusiness - Supporting Michigan’s second-largest industry is key to a brighter future. Activities in this area emphasize increasing agricultural producer success, supporting food safety, reaching new markets and advancing agriculture through applied research.

Greening Michigan - Moving toward a sustainable future for our state will require leveraging existing networks of community and economic development leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. They’ll engage new partnerships to focus on initiatives around responsibly managing Michigan’s rich natural and human resources.

Health & Nutrition - Increasing Michigan’s productivity and reducing healthcare costs will give Michigan residents the tools they need to embrace healthy living. A healthy population is also a sound financial investment for the future.

Children & Youth - Ensuring a productive workforce means preparing today’s young people to be tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, mentors and skilled employees. Youth programs are empowering youngsters to expand their horizons and lay the foundation for lifetime success.

Since an initial February 2010 meeting with St. Joseph County MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Centreville Safe Routes 2 School (SR2S) initiative has expanded to involve numerous partners and collaborators, all of which have contributed to encouraging and/or enabling more children to bicycle and walk to school: • Village of Centreville and Centreville DDA • MSU - School of Planning, Design, and Construction • Wayne State University - School of Engineering • Nottawa Township Library • Michigan Department of Transportation • Michigan Fitness Foundation

During the 2011 calendar year, the Centreville SR2S initiative gained momentum with the design and facilitation expertise of Wayne Beyea, Extension Specialist, and Warren Rahue, MSU Professor of Landscape Architecture. As a program within the MSU Extension Greening Michigan Institute, Beyea and Rauhe conducted a Safe Routes 2 School Design Initiative with the Centreville community.

Over the course of the year, Beyea and Rauhe conducted a series of public forums to gather input regarding desired improvements to the routes to and from school and surrounding the school campus. They also worked with the community to conduct a ‘walking audit’ in which parents, students, and school officials literally walked the town to take photos and document the areas needing improvement.

In August 2011, MSU, in partnership with Wayne State University, revealed a set of final designs for improved walking, biking, drop off/pick up zones, improved parking areas, and bus loading/unloading zones. The designs, in combination with the written input from community partners, constitute the Centreville SR2S Action Plan. Having a SR2S Action Plan has allowed the community to obtain a $5,000 grant from the Michigan Fitness Foundation to implement a Walking School Bus, in which adults accompany children along a designated route to and from school. The grant has also allowed Centreville Public Schools to conduct pedestrian and bicycle safety instruction in the classrooms.

MSU Extension helps Centreville develop Safe Routes to School