April 2008

• Extension's housing and energy specialist teaches workshops on cold and marine climate homebuilding and solar design around the state. His next solar workshop will run from 5:30-9:30 p.m. April 30 in the Anchorage Extension office. Check his website for the latest workshops.

March 2008

• Getting answers to life's questions just got a lot easier with the launch of Cooperative Extension Service's valuable new online resource: www.eXtension.org. Consumers may use the searchable site to get research-based answers from experts at land-grant universities across America who study subjects relevant to everyday life. Curious minds can find a range of information including tips on how to calculate their retirement readiness score, ease credit card debt or grow the best tomatoes on the block. Use the eXtension site to "Ask the Experts" or to contact more than 3,000 local Cooperative Extension offices with professionals who can help you locally. You’ll get customized answers to your specific needs and more than 36,000 answers to frequently answered questions.
• What is 4-H camp like in Bethel? Read about the camp for children of deployed rural Alaska National Guard and about Extension's many other activities in the 2007 Cooperative Extension Service Program Highlights. Find out about some of the programs that provide research-based, practical education to Alaskans—whether they're new Alaskans from Southeast Asia and learning how to garden here or longtime residents trying to cut their heating costs. As Fairbanks Agent Roxie Dinstel says, "People rely on us."
• Home gardeners and commercial growers will benefit from the Fourth Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference and Organic Growers School, which will meet March 21-22 at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. Participants will hear the latest in marketing and horticultural research, cut flower production, weed control, small farms economies and renewable energy options. The husband-and-wife team of Lynn Byczynski and Dan Nagengast are guest speakers. Byczynski is the editor of Growing for Market, a respected publication on growing and direct marketing of vegetables, fruits, herbs, cut flowers and plants. Nagengast specializes in rural development and sustainable agriculture. The conference agenda and registration form are available here. Register by the March 14 deadline and pay $30 for one day or $50 for both.

Febuary 2008

• As tax documents start arriving in the mail, it’s time to think about home paperwork. How do you set up a permanent home filing system and how long should you keep records and what should you discard? Help is available through the Extension.
• Extension's Rural Development Project develops and disseminates relevant and easily understood research and technology to rural Alaskans, primarily in the lower Yukon-Kuskokwim rivers, the Copper River Valley and Southeast Alaska, to improve their quality of life. Read about its latest programs in the new Rural Development Project's annual report. The publication features stories about Kalskag's recycling concerns, Craig's innovative solution to high heating costs, the new Youth First Responders program on Prince of Wales Island, educational and subsistence workshops in the Copper River Valley and economic development in the Bethel area.

January 2008

• Many people prefer to can game meat and fish in cans because they are lightweight and durable. Cooperative Extension Service Home Economists Roxie Dinstel and Julie Cascio offer step-by-step lessons on canning with cans in Extension’s new DVD: FNH-1282 Canning Meat and Fish In Cans. Produced by Extension Communications, the DVD also offers visual instructions on assembling a can sealer. Order a copy online for $5 or contact an Extension office in your area.
  The DVD is the third in Extension’s Preserving Alaska Bounty series. DVDs released last summer include FNH-1280 Canning Basics and FNH-1281 Canning Meat and Fish in Jars. Upcoming topics will include drying foods, pickling and processing game meat.
• The 27th annual Alaska Greenhouse and Nursery Conference will be held Jan. 30-31 at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. Hosted by Extension's Tanana District, the conference will offer two days of information on all aspects of the nursery and greenhouse business—including irrigation, Alaska soil mixes, current landscape plants, beneficial insects, disease and commercial herb production. The featured speaker, Chris Beytes, editor of GrowerTalks magazine, travels the world reporting on the latest growing and retail trends. The conference agenda and registration form are available here. Register by the Jan. 18 deadline and pay $60 for one day or $100 for both.

December 2007

• Artificial trees may be easier to tend, but nothing compares to the look, feel and smell of a real Christmas tree. As the holidays approach, consider Selecting and Caring for a Christmas Tree, an Extension publication that provides advice on how to choose a tree and which varieties retain their needles the longest. The publication also has information about how to make cut trees fresher longer and on tree safety.
• Fairbanks Extension hosted November's Alaska Invasive Species Conference, which drew 60 attendees from Alaska, Yukon Territory and out of state. Four national speakers added perspective on invasive species issues. Greg Ruiz, from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, was impressed with the discussions and efforts under way in Alaska. He stressed the importance of analyzing potential entry points for invasive species and early detection. Goals for 2008 include focusing on citizen networks, early detection/eradication, monthly teleconferences, creating a "one-stop shopping" location online for invasive species information, and seeking support and participation from the state to continue the working group. For additional information, contact Extension Land Resources Agent Michele Hebert.
• Two Extension Web sites have been substantially revised. The Integrated Pest Management site now also includes information on invasive plants, control options and resources. A color gallery of invasive plants profiles species of concern. The Rural Development site updates new staff and projects, including the ATV village transportation economic analysis and the 4-H projects. The site also offers online access to native plant fact sheets and other new publications. Check out the wood energy link and cost calculator.
• The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service team has completed their visit and review of the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and UAF's pursuit of the land grant mission. The team's preliminary observations and recommendations are provided for your review and comment. UAF is reviewing the report and investigating the options for implementing the proposed recommendations. Your thoughts will be an important part of the process. Please send your ideas and comments to fnjcp@uaf.edu. Thank you for your support and input.

November 2007

• The conference will be followed Nov. 14-15 by the Eighth-Annual Noxious and Invasive Plants Management Workshop, also at the Princess. Presenters from across the state and five national speakers will talk about invasive plants prevention and management and what these invaders mean for Alaska. Two conference speakers, Michael Lusk of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and John Randall of The Nature Conservancy, also will present a public lecture from 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Noel Wien Library auditorium. Their talks are titled, "Weeds Invading Alaska: Why You Don't Want Other States' Problems" and "The Nature Conservancy's Global Invasive Species Approach."
• Everything from invasive plants to fish and mammal intruders will be discussed at the 2007 Alaska Invasive Species Conference Nov. 13 at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. A highlight will be Gregory Ruiz, a senior scientist with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, who will talk about "Coastal Marine Invasions in Alaska: Patterns, Processes and Predictions."
• Check out the latest issue of Under the Canopy, the forestry and forest products newsletter of Extension, which has been posted on our site. The issue highlights changes associated with climate change, a circumpolar boreal forest arboretum planned for UAF West Ridge and a closer partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the forestry extension service of western states.

October 2007

• UAF Cooperative Extension Service, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Forest Experimental Station, and other land-grant operations statewide will meet with the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) external review team the week of October 22 26. The five-member review team will conduct interviews in Anchorage, Palmer, Bethel, Fairbanks and Delta between Monday, Oct 22 and Thursday, Oct 25. Members expect to have a preliminary report on Friday, Oct 26, primarily focused on recommendations regarding the university's land-grant mission, resources necessary for Extension to meet that mission, and the organizational relationship that would enhance those capabilities. The team has requested a number of documents, including organization charts, unit strategic plans, UAF planning documents, advisory council information and instructional programs. You can find this information at www.uaf.edu/ces/csrees. The report also will be presented to the UA Board of Regents for consideration of recommendations during its December meeting.
• With winter approaching, its a good time to think about preparing your house for the cold weather. This may mean sealing cracks that may have appeared around windows and doors. Make sure your wood stove or oil furnace is in good working order. You may want to perform annual maintenance on your water softener. Fall is also a good indicator that its time to winterize your car or camper. There are also some things you can do in the yard to prepare for next spring. Throughout the winter, refer back to Extension for tips on keeping your house operating during the cold winter.
• Are you someone who takes pride in a pantry full of canned fish? Extension's first DVDs FNH-1280 Canning Basics and FNH-1281 Canning Meat and Fish in Jars bring Home Economists right to your kitchen to provide step-by-step instructions in home canning. Available for $5 each, DVDs are available by ordering online or contacting an Extension office in your area.

September 2007

• Berries are ripening around the state and Extension research has shown many to have high levels of antioxidants--an important biochemical in the human diet. Equip yourself with information on cleaning, storing an preserving berries to get the highest nutritional value possible. Extension publications FNH-00110 Lingonberries and FNH-00111 Alaska Blueberries provide detailed nutrition, storage and recipe information. Order your free copies online or by contacting an Extension office near you.

August 2007

• Fair enthusiasts, the wait is almost over! Visit Extension at fairs around the state.
  • Southeast State Fair
  • Kenny Lake Fair
  • Delta Fair
  • Tanana Valley State Fair
  • Kenai Peninsula State Fair - Aug 17-19
  • Galena Fair - Aug 24-25
  • Palmer - August 23-Sept. 3
• The 2007 Communicator Award for National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NEA4-HA) went to the Anchorage district Extension team. Their original 4-H promotional package included a Flash module, brochure, poster, CD, and web address cards. 4-H and Youth Development Agent Marianne Kerr and Administrative Assistant Susan Bybee will accept the award on Oct. 21 in Atlanta, GA at the national NEA4-HA meeting. Eielson AFB Extension 4-H Agent, Candi Dierenfield will also be accepting national recognition with her NEA4-HA "Aim High" Award at this meeting.
• You may think twice about squashing that funny-looking bug after reading Extension's newest free publication, PMC-10075 Beneficial Insects and Spiders of Alaska. This spiral-bound pocket guide includes color photos and information on identification of spiders and insects and details their helpful attributes. Order your copy online or by contacting your local Extension office.

July 2007

• A strange phenomena has been been reported sporadically around the Fairbanks area--a mass of larvae traveling in a procession. Extension IPM Technician, Diane Claassen, along with other entomologists from Alaska and the rest of the country, identified them as fungus gnat larvae. Although this behavior is not unheard of, it is uncommon in Fairbanks. Currently the larvae have shown up in isolated areas and do not pose any threat. For more information, or to report an occurrence, please contact IPM Technician Diane Claassen at fndmc2@uaf.edu or 474-2428.

June 2007

• Welcome to Extension's redesigned website. Over the next couple of months we will be updating and adding more content as well as building databases for various portions of the website. Please visit here often and let us know what you think.
• Interior Alaska has been alive with the hum of yellow jackets and hornets. Residents wanting to take a proactive role in the extermination of these pests can visit www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/wasp_traps.htm for detailed instructions on building your own trap. For additional information contact an IPM agent in your area.
• As the spring puddles dry up, many begin to think about about landscaping. Keep your trees healthy this year with some help from Extension publication FWM-00119 "Tree Health and Fertilization." Learn to recognize unhealthy trees and steps that can be taken to promote tree health. Order this publication online or call Extension Communications at 877-520-5211 to reserve your copy.

May 2007

• Extension Housing and Energy Specialist Richard Seifert will be offering the workshop "Integrating Solar Features Into Your Alaska Home" May 16-17 in room 201A-B in the Natural Sciences Building on the UAF campus in Fairbanks. The class will feature Alaska-specific solar information, including passive solar use and active solar systems and will feature the text EEM-01255 "A Solar Design Manual For Alaska," which can be purchased at the workshop or online for $10. Call 474-7201 to pre-register or for more information.
• Extension's Food Product Development Program will be having its First Annual, Alaska Specialty & Gourmet Foods Conference on May 4 from 5-8 pm and May 5 from 8:30 am to 6 pm at the UAF/TVC Culinary Arts Facility in Fairbanks. Keynote speaker, Stephen Hall, is the author of the book "From Kitchen to Market," and a nationally recognized speaker on specialty and gourmet food marketing. Conference participants will have the opportunity to: learn from industry professionals, business experts and Alaska's own successful specialty food entrepreneurs; learn the "how-tos" of getting a product from kitchen to market; network with others; and share products and ideas. Register online or download a registration form. For more information contact Coral Howe at 474-1512 or coral.howe@uaf.edu.

April 2007

• Andy Anger, a faculty member in the Applied Business and Applied Accounting programs at UAF's Tanana Valley Campus, will conduct a free marketing workshop cosponsored by UAF Cooperative Extension Service and the University of Alaska Southeast, on Saturday, April 14, in Thorne Bay. Participants will explore the challenges to identify specific forest-product markets, to determine customer desires and then to effectively communicate that knowledge. For more information, or to sign up for the workshop, please call Karen Petersen in Extension's Thorne Bay office at 907-828-3207.
• Growers and naturalists in southern Alaska have a new resource for producing and cultivating plants. Extension's HGA-00232 "Native Plants of Alaska" series is comprised of 10 factsheets, each highlighting a different plant. View the complete series online or order any of the factsheets by contacting Extension Communications at 877-520-5211 or fycit@uaf.edu.

March 2007

• Most Extension offices around the state will be closed Friday, March 16, with the exception of the Anchorage office, due to University holiday. Offices will reopen the following Monday, March 19. The Anchorage Extension office will be closed instead on Friday, March 23 to coincide with area schools' spring breaks and will reopen Monday, March 26.
• Register now for the State Master Gardener Conference. Gardeners in Alaska will be gathering in Fairbanks March 16-17, 2007 for the annual conference, which will feature nine speakers on a variety of gardening topics. For more information email vld@acsalaska.net or call Virginia at (907) 451-8478.

February 2007

• Agriculture producers, supporters and enthusiasts: mark your calendar for Mar. 3, the annual Delta Farm Forum. Participants will be treated to presentations by representatives from the US Forest Service, Extension, USDA, UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences and more. Held in the Delta High School small gymnasium from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., the forum includes a potluck lunch. An informational flyer is available online at http://www.uaf.edu/ces/pdfs/2007FFflyer2.pdf. For more information, contact the Delta Junction Extension District Office at 895-4215.
• Ordering your favorite Extension publications just got easier! Extension is pleased to announce a secure online ordering feature now available on its website for paid publications. Customers ordering online with the new form receive 10% off their order through Friday, March 2, 2007.
• Register by Feb. 28 for the third annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference and Organic Growers School. The workshop, taking place March 30-31 at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, is for home gardeners and commercial growers alike and will feature grower presentations, panelists and exhibitors. For more information contact Extension agent Michele Hébert at 474-2423 or ffmah@uaf.edu.
• Do you think you make the best blueberry jam from your grandmother's secret recipe? Or maybe you have created a salmon dip mix that all your friends tell you should sell? If you are considering taking them to the public market, come learn more about the process. Coral Howe, Small Business Development Specialist for Extension's Tanana District will facilitate a casual information session for those interested in small business start-up ideas for food-related products. The gathering will held at the Fairbanks Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Feb. 24 from 10 am-noon and is free to the public. Individuals from Alaska DEC Environmental Health, Small Business Development Center and local marketing and food entrepreneurs are expected to attend to answer questions and discuss business opportunities in Alaska. For more information contact Coral at 474-1512 or coral.howe@uaf.edu.
• The latest installments in the Vegetable Factsheet series, FNH-00561M "Chard" and FNH-000561N "Pumpkin Seeds" are now available. Both offer nutrition and health information and tips on selection, storage, preparation and cooking methods. To order, fill out our online order form or contact Extension Communications at 877-520-5211 or fycit@uaf.edu.
• Teens from Ben Eielson Sr. High and the Eielson Youth Center, in collaboration with Extension Media Technician Jeff Fay, Extension/Alaska TRACKS 4-H program and Eielson Family Advocacy program produced four commercials about dating violence awareness. DVDs created and edited by teens will be distributed to high schools and community agencies throughout the state for Teen Dating Violence Awareness week, Feb. 5-9, 2007. For more information contact Extension 4-H and Youth Development Agent Candi Dierenfield at 377-4130.

January 2007

• Extension is pleased to announce the availability of its 2006 Program Highlights. Read about Extension outreach and public service activities over the past year. Hard copies may be requested by calling Extension Communications toll-free at 877-520-5211 or emailing fycit@uaf.edu.
• The latest installment in the Alaska Livestock Series, LPM-00747 "Goats in Alaska", is now available. A handy reference, this publication provides an overview of goat husbandry and general information on successful management of goats in Alaska. Publications may be ordered online, by emailing fycit@uaf.edu or calling Extension toll-free at 877-520-5211.
• Support 4-H in Alaska! - For every ticket purchased for Paramount Pictures and Walden Media's production of Charlotte's Web beginning Dec. 8, Hollywood Movie Money will make a $1 donation to 4-H to help support your state's 4-H program. To purchase tickets visit https://www.activaterewards.com/four_h/. This promotion runs through Jan. 31, 2007. For more information visit http://www.4-hbrandnetwork.org/CharlottesWeb/.
• The 26th annual statewide Alaska Greenhouse and Nursery Conference will be held Jan. 23-24, 2007 in Wasilla. Conference participants will also be able to attend the Polar Grower Trade show occurring simultaneously. Visit http://www.uaf.edu/ces/pdfs/GHNC2007registration.pdf to register or for more information. Contact the Palmer Extension office at 907-745-3360 with any questions.