UC Blog
PR campaign to share facts about pesticide residues
Lindsay Lohan isn't the only one trying to rehabilitate a tarnished reputation. When the federal government announced funding to support specialty crops last week, $180,000 was awarded to the Watsonville-based Alliance for Food and Farming to "correct the public’s misconceptions about pesticide residues," according to a post on the California Watch blog.
The group aims to generate more balanced media reporting and change the public perception about the safety of produce when it comes to pesticide residues.
Not everyone is happy about the funding allocation. A spokesman for the Environmental Working Group asked, “Is it in California’s best interest to use taxpayers' money to give chemical-dependent industrial or conventional farming a competitive edge over organics?”
The alliance is undeterred by such comments.
“We really want to emphasize that we are not about discouraging information,” alliance executive director Marilyn Dolan was quoted. “We are about encouraging consumption of all fruits and vegetables – both organic and conventional.”
The money will help educate consumers about risks and benefits of eating fresh produce.
“Consumers are not eating enough fruit and vegetables, and part of that may be a fear of pesticides,” she said.
For more information about the specialty crops grants, see this ANR News Blog post.
A new PR effort is aimed at encouraging fruit and vegatable consumption.
Draft Sustainable Food Systems plan posted for comment
The draft plan for the Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative is posted on the SFS website at http://ucanr.org/sites/SFS and can be directly accessed at http://ucanr.org/sites/SFS/files/51288.pdf.
Anyone with an interest in the Sustainable Food Systems initiative should review the draft plan. Please submit comments about the Sustainable Food Systems draft plan on the survey at https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=5392. Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 30.
The initiative’s panel members will review the comments and integrate them into the plan and submit it for Program Council and Executive Working Group approval.
The Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative conference will be held Jan. 25 -27 at UC Davis to discuss implementation of the plan.
For more information about the plan or process, contact Joe DiTomaso, SFS initiative leader, at jmditomaso@ucdavis.edu, (530) 754-8715, or Sherry L. Cooper at slcooper@ucdavis.edu, (530) 752-1581.
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
'Livestrong' blog making use of UCCE information
If more justification was needed for posting UC Cooperative Extension research-based information to the Internet, a blog on the popular Livestrong website makes the case. Writers are frequently gleaning UC Cooperative Extension information to stream articles that will help Livestrong readers "dare to change" their lives.
Livestong is a brand developed by racing cyclist Lance Armstrong, who is an icon of good health after having won the Tour de France seven times as a testicular cancer survivor. The Livestrong website is a portal for healthy living resources.
Here are some examples of how UCCE information was used in Livestrong blog posts:
A post about olive oil says: "According to the University of California Cooperative Extension in Sonoma County, virgin olive oil works best (to treat scars) because of its mix of monosaturated fatty acids and antioxidants."
The Livestrong website extends UC's research-based information.
Administrative reorganization saves ANR $1.3 million
A year ago, Vice President Dooley made a series of announcements outlining action steps needed to address both unprecedented budget cuts totaling over $9 million in permanent reductions and unfunded liabilities while also realigning ANR administrative units and procedures to efficiently support the UC ANR Strategic Vision and to implement its initiatives.
As a significant part of our response to these challenges, a major effort was launched to maximize administrative efficiency, eliminate duplication, and redirect resources to program support. While minor adjustments are still possible, the major elements of this restructuring are in place and fully operational. Moreover, the actions taken have resulted in substantial savings across ANR.
Maximizing Efficiencies:
Steps taken included:
- Closing two executive offices in Oakland ANR
- Closing the North Coast and Mountain, Central Valley, and Central Coast and South regional offices
The closing of the three regional offices accounted for over 34 administrative FTE and over $2.8 million salary and related expenses. Oakland ANR office closings and other actions generated an additional $400,000.
Redistribution and Streamlining:
To streamline administrative support to our roughly 400 academics and program representatives and to consolidate operations across ANR, we redirected these resources along with those from support units and statewide programs to create three centralized support units:
- The Business Operations Center at Kearney for county needs
- The Business Operations Center at Davis for support units and statewide programs
- The Program Support Unit for support of all phases of ANR program delivery.
Total savings from the administrative reorganization is just under $1.3 million. ANR business, personnel, and program support activities and workflow are being handled. Also, we benefit from the fact that coverage and business controls requirements are met.
These changes have not been without other costs as well. Many staff have been affected by closures or restructuring. Virtually all staff have adapted to new realities and accepted new responsibilities. The result is that we are now structured to more efficiently conduct the business of ANR and more effectively support our research and extension mission.
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
Funds available for ANR staff development
ANR will be providing funds for staff development and the continuation of the popular web-based training system, Lynda.com. The staff development funds will be provided to ANR unit heads/managers to support staff participation in development opportunities such as seminars, workshops, webinars, etc. The unit head/manager may also choose to use the funds for group trainings. Funds will be provided in the amount of $300 per UC non-represented staff employee and UCCE county-paid employee. Funds are being provided to all non-represented career, limited term, and contracted employees regardless of their source of funding.
This funding does not apply to Program Representatives who received professional development funds in July 2010. UC-ANR represented staff can make requests to the ANR Staff Personnel Unit for staff development funds in accordance with their respective bargaining unit contract.
Funds will be transferred by the Business Operations Center at Kearney or Business Operations Center at Davis to a staff program development account for each unit head/manager for allocation. These funds must be spent by June 30, 2011.
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.