Alachua CountyAlachua CountyCooperative Cooperative ExtensionExtension

Division of Community Division of Community Support ServicesSupport Services

Alachua County Cooperative Alachua County Cooperative Extension OfficeExtension Office

• Smith Lever Act 1914- developed Smith Lever Act 1914- developed Extension as a partnership with USDA, Extension as a partnership with USDA, Land Grant University, & CountyLand Grant University, & County

• IFAS- University of FloridaIFAS- University of Florida• Research, Extension, EducationResearch, Extension, Education

• Provide research based information to Provide research based information to clientele within the counties.clientele within the counties.

Alachua County Alachua County Cooperative Extension Cooperative Extension

Office StaffOffice Staff Extension Director/Livestock AgentExtension Director/Livestock Agent Environmental Horticulture AgentEnvironmental Horticulture Agent Family & Consumer Science AgentFamily & Consumer Science Agent Commercial Horticulture AgentCommercial Horticulture Agent 4-H Agent4-H Agent Ag & Natural Resource AgentAg & Natural Resource Agent Staff AssistantStaff Assistant Office AssistantOffice Assistant Administrative CoordinatorAdministrative Coordinator

Alachua County Alachua County Cooperative Extension Cooperative Extension

MissionMission

To provide scientifically based To provide scientifically based information for citizens to use in information for citizens to use in making informal decisions relating to making informal decisions relating to agriculture, youth development, and agriculture, youth development, and family and consumer sciences. family and consumer sciences.

Overall Advisory CommitteeOverall Advisory Committee

• A group of citizens organized by A group of citizens organized by Extension for the purpose of providing Extension for the purpose of providing advice on and assistance with the advice on and assistance with the planning, legitimization, planning, legitimization, implementation, evaluation and implementation, evaluation and accountability of Extension programs, accountability of Extension programs, and the maintenance of the general and the maintenance of the general health and welfare of the Extension health and welfare of the Extension organization.organization.

Cooperative Extension Cooperative Extension Clientele Contacts- 2009Clientele Contacts- 2009

• 116,857 Total individual contacts116,857 Total individual contacts• 48% of Alachua County Citizens 48% of Alachua County Citizens

ReachedReached

Educational Educational ProgrammingProgramming

Short CoursesShort Courses WorkshopsWorkshops Tours/Field DaysTours/Field Days Consultations – Walk Ins, TelephonesConsultations – Walk Ins, Telephones Field VisitsField Visits DemonstrationsDemonstrations Research PlotsResearch Plots Publications- TV, Newsletters, Factsheets, Publications- TV, Newsletters, Factsheets,

Newspaper ArticlesNewspaper Articles

Agricultural Production in Agricultural Production in Alachua CountyAlachua County

• Total Value of Ag products Total Value of Ag products sold……………………………..$92 milsold……………………………..$92 mil

Value of Crops including nursery & Value of Crops including nursery & greenhouse….………………..$65 milgreenhouse….………………..$65 mil

Value of Livestock, & Value of Livestock, & products…………………..…..$27 mproducts…………………..…..$27 milil

Commercial Horticulture Commercial Horticulture Production in Alachua CountyProduction in Alachua County

• Vegetables, Melons, Potatoes, Sweet Vegetables, Melons, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes…………………$9.9 mil (20Potatoes…………………$9.9 mil (20thth))

• Nursery, Greenhouse, Floriculture, & Nursery, Greenhouse, Floriculture, & Sod……………………….$28 mil (17Sod……………………….$28 mil (17thth))

• Fruits, Trees, Nuts……...$19 mil (20Fruits, Trees, Nuts……...$19 mil (20thth))

Division Director &Division Director &Livestock Program Livestock Program

Cindy SandersCindy Sanders• Provides overall leadership and Provides overall leadership and

management for the office, County, & management for the office, County, & IFAS. IFAS.

• Responsible for developing programs in Responsible for developing programs in Livestock & Forage production.Livestock & Forage production.

• Under the direction of the Alachua County Under the direction of the Alachua County Community Support Services Director .Community Support Services Director .

• Under the direction of UF/IFAS District Under the direction of UF/IFAS District Director Director . .

Livestock Program Area Livestock Program Area Impacts in Alachua CountyImpacts in Alachua County

• 1313thth in FL in Beef Cattle - 46,500 head in FL in Beef Cattle - 46,500 head = $ 27 mil = $ 27 mil

• 55thth in FL in Horses - 4,000 head in FL in Horses - 4,000 head• 22ndnd in FL Goats -3,200 head in FL Goats -3,200 head• 33rdrd in FL Forages & Hay - 20,000 acres in FL Forages & Hay - 20,000 acres

Commercial Horticulture Commercial Horticulture ProgramProgram

Aparna Gazula - AgentAparna Gazula - Agent

• Responsible for the development of Responsible for the development of educational programs for Commercial educational programs for Commercial Horticulture in Alachua County. Horticulture in Alachua County.

crop production efficiency and sustainability, crop production efficiency and sustainability, farm safety and regulatory compliance.farm safety and regulatory compliance.

Best Management Practices, commercial Best Management Practices, commercial nursery and landscape management, and nursery and landscape management, and irrigation management.irrigation management.

Environmental Horticulture Environmental Horticulture ProgramProgram

Wendy Wilber- AgentWendy Wilber- Agent• Provides education and Provides education and

leadership in the area of leadership in the area of landscaping best management landscaping best management practices, with emphasis on practices, with emphasis on nutrient reduction and water nutrient reduction and water conservation.conservation.

• This program also gives This program also gives

instruction and support to instruction and support to homeowners with gardens moving homeowners with gardens moving towards sustainability.towards sustainability.

Cont. Programmatic ImpactsCont. Programmatic Impacts

• As a result of partnering with area As a result of partnering with area builders and developers about FYN:builders and developers about FYN:• 3 new developments in Alachua County 3 new developments in Alachua County

(Bryton, Weschester, Northpoint) installed (Bryton, Weschester, Northpoint) installed Florida friendly landscapes in 2008.Florida friendly landscapes in 2008.

• These homeowners will see 1/3 reduction These homeowners will see 1/3 reduction in water used in landscape as a result of in water used in landscape as a result of adopting recommendation by Agentadopting recommendation by Agent

Family & Consumer Sciences Family & Consumer Sciences ProgramProgram

Brenda Williams - AgentBrenda Williams - Agent• Program Areas:Program Areas:

• NutritionNutrition• Food SafetyFood Safety• HousingHousing• Financial Financial

ManagementManagement• Before You Tie the Before You Tie the

KnotKnot• Home & Community Home & Community

Educator VolunteersEducator Volunteers

4-H Youth Development 4-H Youth Development ProgramProgram

Matt Benge - AgentMatt Benge - Agent

• 4-H aspires to be the leading youth 4-H aspires to be the leading youth development program that creates development program that creates positive change, and the development positive change, and the development of life skills in youth, families, and of life skills in youth, families, and communities through project areas communities through project areas and community clubs.and community clubs.

• Alachua County 4-H – 1Alachua County 4-H – 1stst County County established in Florida 1909established in Florida 1909

4-H & Youth Development 4-H & Youth Development ProgramProgram

• 2000 - Number of Youth Enrolled in 4-H 2000 - Number of Youth Enrolled in 4-H activities including School Enrichmentactivities including School Enrichment

• 17 - 4-H Community Clubs17 - 4-H Community Clubs• 300 - Youth Enrolled in 4-H300 - Youth Enrolled in 4-H• 200 - 4-H Volunteers200 - 4-H Volunteers

Ag & Natural Resource Ag & Natural Resource ProgramProgram

Barton Wilder- AgentBarton Wilder- Agent• To develop and implement educational To develop and implement educational

programs for agronomic row crop programs for agronomic row crop producers and natural resource producers and natural resource management management • Agronomic row cropsAgronomic row crops

• TobaccoTobacco• CornCorn• SoybeansSoybeans• SorghumSorghum

• Small Farms and Natural ResourcesSmall Farms and Natural Resources

Ag & Natural Resource Ag & Natural Resource Program ImpactsProgram Impacts

• Florida Master Naturalist ProgramFlorida Master Naturalist Program• Freshwater Wetlands, Coastal Systems, Freshwater Wetlands, Coastal Systems,

and Upland Habitatsand Upland Habitats

• Continuing Education Units for Continuing Education Units for Restricted Pesticide Licenses & Restricted Pesticide Licenses & Exams (Only offered at Extension Exams (Only offered at Extension Office, FL Statute 482 & 487)Office, FL Statute 482 & 487)

Cooperative Extension Cooperative Extension Volunteer ServiceVolunteer Service

• 400 Volunteers400 Volunteers

• 19,305 Hours19,305 Hours

• @$17.35/hr = @$17.35/hr = $335,520$335,520

PartnershipsPartnerships• City of Gainesville- Clean Water PartnershipCity of Gainesville- Clean Water Partnership• Alachua County EPDAlachua County EPD• St. John’s Water Management DistrictSt. John’s Water Management District• Florida Green Building CoalitionFlorida Green Building Coalition• Alachua County Farm BureauAlachua County Farm Bureau• Alachua County Cattlemen’s AssociationAlachua County Cattlemen’s Association• CHOICESCHOICES• Alachua County School BoardAlachua County School Board• Florida Organic GrowersFlorida Organic Growers• Shands Eastside Outreach Educational ProgramShands Eastside Outreach Educational Program• United WayUnited Way• Alachua County Farmers MarketsAlachua County Farmers Markets• MANY MORE…..MANY MORE…..

Value of Alachua County Value of Alachua County Cooperative ExtensionCooperative Extension

• Cost per resident based on 241,000 Cost per resident based on 241,000 citizens = $1.37citizens = $1.37

• For every dollar Alachua County For every dollar Alachua County spends to support Extension there is a spends to support Extension there is a $5 value gain in program match from $5 value gain in program match from the University of Florida/IFAS, which the University of Florida/IFAS, which results in savings to citizens.results in savings to citizens.

QUESTIONS/COMMENTSQUESTIONS/COMMENTS