Agriculture Glance 7-27-08

Online climate briefing; Farm Bureau develops policy; Vegetable workshop

---

ONLINE CLIMATE BRIEFING

  The Climate Assessment for the Southwest and University of Arizona Cooperative Extension will be hosting an online climate briefing for natural resource managers, extension faculty and interested citizens at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

  University and agency experts will present their analyses and insights about the 2008 North American Monsoon, with a focus on Arizona, followed by a question-and-answer period.

  The GoToWebinar videoconference system will be used in tandem with Meet Me Call teleconference system. All webinar participants can submit questions using a question-and-answer window in GoToWebinar.

  Registration is required. The registration URL is: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/484694053. System requirements are:

  - PC-based attendees: WindowsR 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista.

  - MacintoshR-based attendees: Mac OSR X 10.3.9 (PantherR) or newer.

  For more information, contact Gregg Garfin at gmgarfin@email.arizona.edu or 1-520-622-9016; or Michael Crimmins at crimmins@ag.arizona.edu or 1-520-626-4244). More information is also available at www.ispe.arizona.edu/events/climate_briefing.html.

---

FARM BUREAU DEVELOPS POLICY

  The Yuma County Farm Bureau will hold its annual policy development meeting at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at Basque Etchea Restaurant, 8575 S. Avenue 40E in Tacna.

  Every year, the Yuma County Farm Bureau invites members to discuss issues and concerns that impact agriculture in Yuma County. All farmers and ranchers are encouraged to participate and help form Farm Bureau policies for the new year. Important issues to be discussed this year include ethanol, biofuel, corn prices and food safety.

  "All Farm Bureau agricultural members and other farmers and ranchers in Yuma County are invited to our policy development meeting," said Marvin Marlatt, vice president of the farming organization. "This is a great opportunity for the people in Yuma County who are out there growing Arizona’s food to voice their concerns. We are a grassroots organization and this is where our policies start."

  For more information on becoming a member, contact Liz Foster at 1-480-635-3611 or visit www.azfb.org.

---

VEGETABLE WORKSHOP

  The 2008 preseason vegetable workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Yuma County Cooperative Extension auditorium, 2200 W. 28th St. For more information, call Kurt Nolte at 726-3904.