Cameron County Extension Programs Improving...
Transcript of Cameron County Extension Programs Improving...
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E I X
OFFICE OF CAMERON
COUNTY EXTENSION
1390 W. Expressway 83
San Benito, TX 78586
956-361-8236 Phone
956-361-8289 Fax
http://cameron.agrilife.org
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
4-H & Youth
Development
2
Urban Horticulture 3
Coastal & Marine
Resources
4
Agricultural &
Natural Resources
5
Family & Consumer
Sciences
6
Expanded Food &
Nutrition Program
7
Upcoming
Programs
8
J U L Y 2 0 1 5 — N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Cameron County
Extension Programs
Improving Lives.
Improving Texas.
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University
System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
P A G E 4
4-H & Youth Development Written by: Agents Marco Ponce & Guadalupe Castro
As our 4H family continues to grow I would like to introduce our new 4H club in Brownsville,
Brownsville Border Youth 4H. They have been charted and have begun to register over 5 adult
volunteers and plan to register 15 students. They kicked off their new 4H adventure by partici-
pating in the 4H National Youth Science Day on October 10, 2015. Through the lesson Motion
Commotion they learned about the physics of motion and how it affects them in their daily
lives. With the experiments kits, provided by Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension, they
were able to see the laws of physics in action. They also were able to see what happens to the
human reactions time when they became distracted, which was a great example of what could
happens when they text and drive.
Another development that has been in the works and will begin this December is the 4H Hero’s
4 Health Healthy Ambassador program. We have been recruiting fellow 4H youth as well as
youth from the community to participate in the Healthy Ambassador program which will help
teach youth in the community how to live a healthy lifestyle. Our Ambassadors will train on
December 5, 2015 on the Choosing Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness curriculum as well as learn
skills on public speaking and how to market their program to the youth audience. They will then reach out to the community and conduct healthy lifestyle lessons to youth. This program
runs from September 1, 2015 through August 1, 2016 and is being funded through a grant pro-
vided by National 4-H Council and sponsored by Wal-Mart.
Cameron County 4-H members have been extremely active in a wide array of contests, educa-
tional activities, and community service projects.
We have been growing everday by creating 4-H clubs and enrolling more 4-Hers these past few
months. We recently met with two new prospective club managers in the hopes of forming two
new 4-H community clubs in the county. One new club has already formed and is currently en-
rolling new members.
Over 100 Cameron County 4-H members and leaders attended our annual 4-H Awards banquet
that was held at the San Benito Community Center. 4-H members were recognized for their
outstanding achievement with their projects, leadership activities, and community service. 4-H
Club Managers and Volunteer Leaders were also recognized for their outsanding service to 4-H
youth both in their respective clubs and in the overall county 4-H program. The night culminat-
ed with a dinner and dance in celebration of all the award recipients from the previous year.
Cameron County 4-H Members participated in our annual Thanksgiving Holiday Help commu-
nity service project. Cameron County 4-H Members donated non-perishable canned food items
for 10 families in need who are part of the Harlingen I.S.D. Parental Involvement Center, and to
5 families in need who are part of the Rio Hondo I.S.D. Parental Involvement Center. Cameron
County Farm Bureau also collaborated on this service project by donating 15 turkeys also to be given to the families in need. 4-H members collected the food items and turkeys personally de-
livered the items to the parental involvement centers in Harlingen and Rio Hondo. Parental In-
volvement staff members assisted in this service project by identifying the families in need that
were the recipients of our donated items.
Cameron County 4-H Members participated in our annual 4-H One Day community service
project. This year 4-H members collaborated with the Texas Forest Service who were celebrat-
ing their 100th anniversary in Texas. The Texas Forest Service donated one Bur Oak tree to
every County Extension Office in the state as part of their celebration. Cameron County 4-H
members with the assistance of the Cameron County Master Gardeners, then planted the tree in
the Master Gardeners Arboretum. After the tree planting, a dedication ceremony was conducted
in which we discussed the importance of this event. We also discussed proper tree planting tech-
niques and how to properly maintain a healthy tree.
P A G E 5
Written by Agent Jennifer Herrera
Urban Horticulture
Webpage: http://txmg.org/cameron or
Facebook : Cameron County Master Gardeners
This year 9 Cameron County Master Gardener interns completed the Texas Master Garden-
er Training program. The Master Gardener Interns completed 70 hours horticulture educa-
tional training and averaged 65 hours of volunteer service.
The Cameron County Master Gardeners hosted their Annual Plant Sale Home Gardening
Extravaganza on October 10th. Over 300 Cameron County residents attended the event. The
Master Gardener’s had informational booth on rainwater harvesting, vegetable gardening,
composting, soil testing, herbs, native plants, community gardening, bee keeping, and chil-
dren’s activities. A popular table was our plant clinic. Homeowners were encouraged to
bring in diseased plant material or problematic insects to be identified and diagnosed by
AgriLife Extension Specialists.
Texas A&M Agrilife and the Cameron County Master Gardener hosted two Citrus Green-
ing Educational programs, a Fall Vegetable Gardening class, and an Earth-Kind Landscape
and Water Conservation program for homeowners. The Master Gardener’s volunteered at
Berta Cabaza Middle School to help with the Junior Master Gardener Program.
We have now completed the second year of the Growing and Nourishing Healthy Commu-
nities Grant program. Four new community gardens have been established in Cameron
County. The gardens are located at Combes Community Center, Bob Clark Social Service
Center, San Benito Heavin Trail, and Church of Christ Food Pantry in Harlingen. Garden-
ing classes are being offered to limited resource audiences throughout Cameron County.
P A G E 6
Written by Agent Tony Reisinger
Coastal & Marine Resources 2015 Texas Red Tide Cell
Cameron County Emergency Man-
ager Nate Flores Examines red tide
fish kill
Drone Training for County Agents
Red Tide Drone Study
Red tide was our predominant issue in marine extension this quarter. The red menace moved onto the
Texas coast from offshore at Corpus Christi in mid-September. It had originated in the Bay of Campeche.
The bloom quickly spread along the coast to South Padre Island and Boca Chica, reaching south to Tampi-
co. This harmful algal bloom (HAB) spread respiratory irritation to residents along the coast via a toxic
aerosol released from cells breaking in the waves and blown onshore by the wind. Significant fish kills
were caused by the toxin along Gulf beaches, and into the Laguna Madre, wreaking havoc with the recrea-
tional and shellfish fisheries.
Our Red Tide Rangers were mobilized and trained at the UTRGV Coastal Studies Lab. Rangers moni-
tored the bloom from beginning to the end in November, dedicating 282 hours of volunteer time to sam-
pling, counting cells, and determining aerosol impacts. The Cameron County Emergency Management
team was familiarized with identification, sampling and aerosol assessment. We worked closely with the
Texas Parks & Wildlife HAB Workgroup and they published our information on their red tide web page.
Our info was used for ground truth to track the bloom by satellite with the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration HAB group. We kept the public informed on the status of red tide on two Facebook
pages, “Red Tide Rangers” and “Texas Coastal Naturalist”. A post on wearing a dust mask to reduce
aerosol irritation had 6,500 hits! AgriLife Communications published an info piece picked up by major
Valley newspapers.
Red tide afforded us the opportunity to demonstrate the deployment of a new high tech tool, unmanned
aerial vehicles (drones or UAVs) to monitor bloom location and concentration. We invited UTRGV and
Texas A&M Corpus Christi researchers who conducted cooperative demonstrations studying the feasibil-
ity of detecting and tracking red tide. These demonstrations were spin-off from a county agent training I
organized for south region agents on the capability of monitoring agricultural fields and ranches via
UAVs. UAVs may be the future for HAB monitoring, enabling more cost efficient fish kill assessment
and bloom tracking.
The shrimp season was productive this quarter. Low prices caused concern. Our industry is competing
with subsidized farm raised imports. Their survival is dependent on low fuel costs. To keep them sustain-
able, we boarded 16 shrimp vessels, training 33 crewmembers in TED and BRD compliance. The Kemp’s
ridley sea turtle population has declined since 2010 after a significant recovery in the Gulf. Crews are
educated on correct TED angles and net flap cuts to allow sea turtles to be released should they encounter
a shrimp trawl. BRD compliance is demonstrated to teach crews proper location of the devices in their
nets. Red snapper is again the offshore fish species of concern in the Gulf and fisheye BRDs release at
least 30% of fish encountered by trawls, helping conserve these fish. Trainings were conducted aboard
commercial shrimp vessels in Cameron County ports. Our efforts help captains and crews understand
TED and BRD construction and installation, contributing to the sustainability of the fishery.
The Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Master Naturalist program now has 177 members. We have a new
naturalist chapter, the South Texas Border Chapter with 70 members headquartered in McAllen. It shares
Cameron County for volunteer projects. The Cameron County Native Plant Center under construction
with Ocean Trust on South Padre Island is a favorite volunteer site. We graduated 55 new naturalists this
year and are hoping for more next year with two chapters.
Our Texas Coastal Naturalist program is our most popular volunteer program. Trainings are held in con-
junction with the UTRGV Coastal Studies Lab. We offer classes for first response in harmful algal
blooms i.e. red tide, marine mammal stranding response, cold stun sea turtle rescue efforts, oil spill re-
sponse and other marine related classes. Fish printing has become our most requested class and class sur-
veys indicate they want more of these, which we are planning for next year.
P A G E 7
Agriculture Written by Agent Dr. Enrique Perez
Cameron County Extension Advisory Board
The Cameron County Extension Leadership Advisory Board met on Tuesday, September 23, 2015. This is
their second to the last meeting before the their last end of their year Annual Meeting to he be held on De-
cember 10, 2015 Dr. Jose Luis Cavazos Chairperson presided over the meeting. The purpose for the
meeting was to outline each program area plans and report on programming efforts as directed by each pro-
gram area committee (Agriculture, Family Consumer Science, 4-H & Youth Development , Horticulture
and Coastal Marine). Each LAB member present had the opportunity to hear reports from each committee
member and discussed outcomes on programs. The LAB members scheduled the Annual Extension Recog-
nition of Volunteers for Thursday, December 3, 2015 at the Extension Meeting Room , San Benito Annex.
This event is a very special event in which volunteers are recognized for their ongoing volunteer service in
communities across Cameron County. As in previous years County Extension programs success is due to
volunteerism. Volunteerism is the backbone for Extension programming. Cameron County Extension Lead-
ership Advisory Board members are; Dr. Jose Luis Cavazos, Cristobal Perez, Alicia Cavazos, Norma
Cavazos, Lori Murray, Cesar Pacheco, Richard Plata, Colleen Catlett, Gary Smith, Ivette Torres, Israel Sala-
zar, Joe Vega, Linda Butcher, Anita Westervelt, Chuck Malloy, Norma Louise, Monica Salinas-Advisor.
Eighty-two Cameron County Community Leaders/Stakeholders identified the top critical issues/
needs in Cameron County are; Environmental Stewardship, Water Quality and Conservation, Child-
hood and Adult Obesity Education, Parenting Skills Education, Children’s Health, Youth at Risk,
Drug Awareness, Teen Pregnancy and Eco-Tourism.
2015 Bull and Heifer Development Program
The Rio Grande Valley Beef Improvement Development Association initiated the Annual Bull and Heifer
Development program November 1st of this year. Beef producers can improve their herd or the herds of
their customers through more rigid sire selection. The program gives the beef producers the opportunity to
increase the value of bulls and heifers by collecting feedlot performance data and carcass characteristics
for sound performance in a breeding program. A total of 1170 bulls, 974 heifers and 142 steers have been
entered in the 17 years the program has been conducted. Currently, 37 bulls and 10 heifers are entered in
the program by cattlemen participating from throughout the Rio Grande Valley, south and central Texas.
Future Plans: In cooperation with the Rio Grande Valley Beef Improvement Association, plans are to
continue the program and perhaps consider marketing alternatives for participants. Another future possibil-
ity will be to offer an artificial insemination program for heifers.
Soil Campaign for Agriculture Producers
The Cameron County Extension Agriculture program kicked off the Soil Nutrient Management Campaign-
Soil Testing Program October 1st to assist agriculture producers obtain free soil analysis to their produc-
tion fields. More then 20,000 acres of agricultural fields have participated in this program. The purpose of
the Soil Campaign is to assist agriculture producers reduce their input of nutrients (fertilizer) in their agri-
culture fields. Soil analysis promotes nutrient management which reduces the flow of nutrients into water
tributaries such as the Arroyo Colorado and Rio Grande River. It also provides agriculture producers in-
troduce best management practices to promote environmental stewardship and reduce their input in pro-
duction costs for increase profitability. A total of 10 group methods resulted in 2080 contact hours of
education. Agriculture Producers can obtain free soil testing from the Texas A&M Soil and Water Test-
ing Lab in College Station.
2015 Private Applicator License Training for Agriculture Producers
Agriculture producers participated continue to participated in securing a State Pesticide Restricted License
for use and purchase of State Restricted Pesticides for agriculture production. Agriculture producers par-
ticipated in a 6 hour training on Pesticide Safety and are qualified to take a test under the Texas Depart-
ment of Agriculture to secure a State Restricted Pesticide License in Texas for agriculture use only. This
year (2015) more then 80 agriculture producers have participated in the training. A total of 20 group
methods resulted in a total of 1278 contact hours of education. As of today four Pesticide Safety Trainings
where conducted in 2015. For continuing education, 39 events were held, attended by 832 people who
earned 1768 CEU’s. The economic value of the CEU’s earned was $44,200
Extension Leadership Advisory
Board
Fall and Spring Bull and
Heifer Development Program
Soil Campaign Program
Private Applicator License
Training Series for
Agriculture Producers
P A G E 8
“To catch the reader's attention, place an
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Family & Consumer Sciences Written by Agent Lilian Mezquida
In October 2015, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in conjunction with San
Benito CISD, Harlingen CISD and San Benito Police Department conducted the
WATCH UR BACK Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program. The event began with a
presentation about the dangers of underage drinking presented by Texas A&M
AgriLife and dangers of using drugs by Detectives Carlos Romero and Joe Sanchez of
the San Benito Police Department. The students wore the special goggles to simulate
different levels of intoxication from a 0.12 blood alcohol level to 2.5. They also tried
riding the long pedal cars, walking a straight line and driving a simulator. The event
was held in 5 different schools. San Benito High School 300 students, Veterans Me-
morial 875 students, Miller Jordan 820 students, Riverside 664 students and Dr. Abra-
ham P. Cano Freshman Academy 600 students.
The Better Living for Texans Assistants conducted multiple nutritional programs from
September to November 2015. So far 150 adults completed the program; participants
were evaluated after completing the program. Other events where Better Living for
Texans Assistants participated were the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School
District’s Parents’ Day Fair 500 people, Catch the Healthy Vibe at the Ocelot Catch
Fest 500 people and the Brownsville CISD Parent’s Day Fair 5000 people. In these
Events people got information about nutrition, healthy recipes and Nutrition Classes.
Expanded Food & Nutrition
P A G E 9
Three Nutrition Education Assistants instruct Adult classes and two Nutrition Edu-
cation Associates instruct Youth classes throughout Cameron and Willacy County.
During the months of June thru November, the EFNEP Adult program conducted
classes throughout the weeks with a total of 1,500 total enrollments in Cameron
County and 70 total enrollments for Willacy County throughout the fiscal year
2015. In addition, the Youth classes (given in mostly Cameron County) accounted
4,971 enrollments and 512 enrollments in Willacy County.
Volunteers contribute to the EFNEP program with in-kind donations (hours, food
donations, class usage, and photo copies). Partial volunteer contributions during
this time during this time, volunteers donated their time, efforts, and food donations
to equal that of this time last year.
Parents taking the EFNEP Adult program receive many incentive items such as
booklets, measuring cups, re-usable grocery lists, food thermometers, calendars, and
certificates. This ensures that they are able to keep good references at home that
they use later. Below is a validation of the success of the outcome of the EFNEP
Program:
“I was moved to tell you about Laura H. Dorado, nutrition education assistant. I
am an M.D. with a long standing interest in nutrition in particular as it applies to
medical practice. I have a rather large background in studying nutrition from attend-
ing over 350 hours of seminars in Austin as well as extensive reading. In spite of
this I found the information provided at the AgriLife meetings useful as well as
very nicely presented by Mrs. Dorado. I wish you to accept my compliments in
providing so effective a teacher. She has frequent references from her experiences
in teaching along with personal and family life. The class, though small, is very
attentive and shares my feelings by also signing my letter. We all say thank you to
her and to you for making this available.” -All Saints Episcopal Church, San Beni-
to, Dr. Robert Summerville.
“My name is Norma Jimenez-Cerda and I am the Academic Counselor at IDEA
College Prep Brownsville. I would like to thank you for allowing Mrs. Cecy Bau-
tista to give the parent nutrition classes to our parents. Mrs. Bautista has been com-
ing to our campus for the past 3-4 years and she has been amazing with our parents.
Mrs. Bautista is able to connect with our parents and give meaningful classes to
them whether they are in English or in Spanish. Once again, thank you for the great
program you are running! We are looking forward to another successful year.”-
Written by Agent Oscar Zamora
P A G E 1 0
Soil Campaign Kickoff for AG Producers October 29, 2015
Parenting Classes November, 16, 24, 2015
Volunteer Recognition December 3, 2015
Commissioners Interpretation December 3, 2015
Tip of Texas Meeting December 7, 2015
Master Naturalist General Meeting December 8, 2015
4-H Christmas Holiday Help December 9,2015
Master Gardener Association Meeting December 10, 2015
Small Acreage Horticulture Webinar December 15, 2015
4-H Council & Managers Meeting December 21, 2015
Vet Science Lesson December 21, 2015
Tip of Texas Meeting January 4, 2016
Master Naturalist Board Meeting January 5, 2016
Master Gardener Board Meeting January 7, 2016
Pre Plant Cotton & Grain Program January 12, 2016
Master Naturalist General Meeting January 12, 2016
Master Gardener Association Meeting January 14, 2016
CEU Workshop—Ag License Holders January 21, 2016
Turf Landscape Workshop January 25, 2016
4-H Council & Managers Meeting January 26, 2016
Vet Science Lesson January 26, 2016
Tip of Texas February 1, 2016
Parenting Connections February 1, 8, 22, 2016
Pesticide Safety Training February 3, 2016
Master Gardener Board Meeting February 4, 2016
Master Gardener Association Meeting February 11, 2016
Leadership Advisory Board Meeting February 18, 2016
CEU Conference February 18, 2016
4-H Council & Managers Meeting February 22, 2016
Vet Science Lesson February 22, 2016
FCS/BLT Committee Meeting February 26, 2016
Master Gardener Board Meeting March 4, 2016
Tip of Texas Meeting March 7, 2016
Master Gardner Association Meeting March 10, 2016
4-H Council & Managers Meeting March 28, 2016
Vet Science Lesson March 28, 2016
Parenting Connections April 4, 11, 18, 2016
Visit our Webpage at http://cameron.agrilife.org or
Facebook : TX A&M Agrilife in Cameron County for upcoming programs and activities.
Upcoming Activities 2015
Extension Educational Programs
Tip of Texas Meeting April 4, 2016
Master Gardener Board Meeting April 7, 2016
Master Gardener Association Meeting April 14, 2016
4-H Council & Managers Meeting April 18, 2016
Vet Science Lesson April 18, 2016
Tip of Texas Meeting May 2, 2016
Parenting Connections May 2, 9,16, 2016
Pesticide Safety Training May 4, 2016
Master Gardeners Board Meeting May 5, 2016
Master Gardeners Association Meeting May 12, 2016
FCS/BLT Committee Meeting May 20, 2016
4-H Club & Managers Meeting May 23, 2016
Vet Science Lesson May 23,2016
Parenting Connections June 13, 20, 27 2016