EXTENSION TRENDS: JEROME COUNTY University of Idaho Extension, Jerome County • www.uidaho.edu/jerome
2019 Impact
2019 By the Numbers • 2,153 direct contacts • 408 youth participants • 33 volunteers • 1,000 volunteer hours • $492,655 extramural funding
The major focus for the UI Extension, Jerome County agriculture program the past few years has been soil health and cover crop demonstration research. The major impact of this work has been finding ways for producers to incorporate cover crops into their existing cropping systems. In 2019, a team of UI Extension educators and specialists completed a two-year demonstration study focused on documenting the regrowth potential of cereal grains as part of a season long summer cover crop grazing mix. This work answered questions asked by producers about using cereals in a summer grazing mix. Producers are now starting to use cover crops more for grazing in the Magic Valley. For the family and consumer sciences program, diabetes prevention and management is a top priority identified by community partners. The National Diabetes Prevention Program provided the City of Jerome workplace wellness program participants group support in reducing their incidence of diabetes while Dining with Diabetes supported Hispanic/Latinx participants with learning diabetes self-management skills through healthy eating in collaboration with the Jerome Recreation Center.
Our Advisory Council
4-H in Jerome County
Special thanks to our volunteers who help shape programming and inform the work we do for UI Extension in Jerome County: Teri Anderson, Sarah Brown, Michelle Emerson, Charlie Howell, Linda Mecham, Kristal Kendall, Kent Thibault, Gary and Becky Warr, Yolanda Sedano De Guzman, Maria Madrigal, Robert Erwin, Katie Stroschein, Guy Stubbs, Jack Nelson, Brady and Tianna Fife, Jim Patrick, Clark Kauffman, Roger Wells, Doug Huettig, Norberto Herrera, Anne Dovenmuehler, Jamie Rupert, Donna Gillespie, John Crozier, Ben Crouch, Debbie Hartley and Kyli Gough.
On the Horizon
UI Extension Educators Steven Hines 208-324-7578 shines@uidaho.edu
Gretchen Manker 208-324-7578 gretchenm@uidaho.edu
Jerome County Juntos 4-H served 75 Latinx 8th-10th grade students and their families by working together to support the youth’s academic goals and pursuit of higher education. Jerome County 4-H sent a team to the National Livestock Skill-a-thon contest and increased youth enrollments by more than 200 youth. Beef projects increased by 17 youth, 27 teens attended the State Teen Association Convention, and 15 teens attended the State Ambassador Summit.
UI Extension Educator Steven Hines is starting new demonstration research projects with colleagues, continuing important work answering grower questions related to cover crops. One study is focused on growing silage on wider than normal rows (44" and 60") and interseeding cover crop to see if silage yield can be maintained and provide a high biomass cover crop for grazing and soil cover. Educator Gretchen Manker is continuing to work with Cooking 101 and teaching youth cooking skills and meal management tools to build confidence in food preparation leading to healthier eating patterns.