Okaloosa County BOCC — July 26, 2016 — Agenda Packet — reading text

telecom is still relatively new. 52 Operating Supplies $25,000 $15,000 $53,000 $38,000 253.3% Provide funds for fiber and conduit management system software and licensing. 54 Books/Pubs/Subs & Memberships $250 $250 $500 $250 100.0% 60 Capital Outlay $0 $0 $10,000 $10,000 0.0% Provide funds to replace three pipe locators. TOTAL $317,150 $257,950 $246,200 ($11,750) (4.6%) Packet Pg. 100  BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: July 26, 2016 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: John Hofstad, County Administrator SUBJECT: Extension Service The attached documents provide a presentation and the performance based budget for the Agriculture/Extension Office. Packet Pg. 101 Packet Pg. 102  BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA SERVICE AREA: PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: EXTENSION SERVICE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Okaloosa County Extension Service develops and delivers research-based educational programs, workshops, newsletters and publications in the areas of agriculture/small farms, family and consumer sciences, horticulture, natural resources, marine science, and 4-H/youth development. The nationwide informal educational network links experts and resources at federal, state and local levels. Local advisory committees provide guidance and recommendations for programming based on local community needs. Programs in Agriculture/Small Farms/Natural Resources focus on agriculture profitability and the sustainable use of environmental resources for the larger commercial operations as well as those smaller farms with more limited available resources. Family and Consumer Sciences programming involves food, nutrition, health, food safety, family finance, community prosperity, and housing. Home and Commercial Horticulture programs include training of Master Gardeners and development of Best Management Practices for the benefit of the environment for all county residents. With increased urbanization and growth come increased pressures on our coastal ecosystems. Balancing population needs while conserving our natural resources is one of the major goals of Okaloosa County’s Sea Grant and Natural Resources Extension program. 4-H clubs develop youth leadership, character, and good citizenship. Projects and programs focus on a wide array of youth interests REVENUE: The Extension Service is funded within the General Fund and two partners; federal and state. Federal and state partners provided $780,023 to support the Extension Office during FY15/16. In addition, local Extension agents secured $322,443 through grants, in-kind services and monetary donations. For every dollar of General Fund contribution provided to the Extension Service, over $3.14 was obtained from other sources. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR:  Extension Agents published 98 newspaper articles and aired 3 TV and 104 radio programs reaching almost 300,000 people each week with unbiased research proven information.  In 2015, the Agriculture Extension Program reached 4,441 clientele through on-farm consultations, phone calls, group meetings, emails and office visits. The focus of the Livestock Extension Program for 2015 was nutrient management. By following nutrient management BMPs, livestock producers can reduce nitrogen losses to the environment by 45 lb of nitrogen per acre. Sixty-six producers who attended educational activities in 2015 saved approximately $13.50 per acre (in fertilizer costs) over 1,800 acres for a total savings to the group of $24,300. It also resulted in an 81,000 lb reduction in nitrogen lost to the environment in Okaloosa County.  The Commercial Horticulture program in Okaloosa County has enabled 755 Green Industry professionals to obtain and maintain the state required licensing for pesticide and fertilizer application. Additionally, specialized training was offered including Horticulture Professional Certification, New Pest Concerns of the Southeast, and continuing education for Spanish-speaking pesticide applications. In doing so, the individuals have alleviated the potential for fines from non-compliance, learned how to protect themselves and others from harmful effects of pesticides, and acquired the knowledge needed to prevent environmental damage.  The Commercial Horticulture Agent reached 5,565 clientele through field visits, phone calls, group meetings, emails, and office visits. In 2015, while working with the largest developer in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, the Commercial Horticulture Agent was able to assist with the update of the Service Contractor Agreement utilized on all of their properties (@ 3,000 acres). The current contract follows the Packet Pg. 103  Green Industries Best Management Practices (BMP) and Florida Friendly Landscaping principles. Additionally, all bidding Landscape Contractors are required to be BMP certified. Work with specialists from Florida A&M, UF/IFAS School of Forest Recourses and Conservation and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for program delivery and research projects in the area of invasive species, specifically cogongrass, Formosan termites and air potato biological control. Assisted with the maintenance and technical advice for the Crestview Community Garden. Assisted with school garden building and instruction at Shoal River Middle School. (41 participants) 2015. Delivered Teacher In-Service for Okaloosa S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (26 participants) 2015.  Trained through the Master Naturalist program, 21 AmeriCorps volunteers utilized the newly acquired interpretative skills into their Grasses in Classes and Dunes in Schools programs, delivering curriculum to nearly 2,000 elementary school students monthly and enabling 278 students to successfully grow and install 414 coastal restoration grass plants to restore 2,000 sq. ft. of coastal dunes located in state parks.  Work with the Six Rivers Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas partnership group resulted in approximately 2,000 acres of invasive species being removed, treated and/or replaced with native plantings. To better assist residents in the area of diagnostic needs, the Extension Office offered diagnostic testing of soil and water. In addition, the Extension Office informed the public of diagnostic labs, procedures in sampling and provided interpretation and management recommendations of diagnostic samples submitted through UF/IFAS. More than 1000 samples were submitted and processed from Okaloosa County citizens in FY15. We had 82 Master Gardener volunteers provided 6,382 hours of volunteer service, teaching over 3,500 residents Florida-Friendly practices in maintaining their lawns, landscapes and gardens in 2015. Using the 2015 accepted $21.61 value for volunteer time, Okaloosa County Master Gardeners contributed a net in- kind donation of $137,915.02 to Okaloosa County to date.  Okaloosa County 4-H reached 1547 youth through clubs, camps, day camps, school enrichment and after- school programs in 2015. These youth learned science, engineering and technology, healthy living, leadership and citizenship skills. Young people in 4-H report better grades, higher levels of academic competence, an elevated level of engagement at school and are two times more likely to plan to go to college to pursue a degree in science, engineering or computer technology than their peers.  Thirty three classrooms at seven Elementary schools participated in our Embryology program, reaching 920 students in 2015. Teachers indicated that these students learned something new about eggs and chickens from this project being brought into their schools.  The Family Consumer Made 93 businesses and 1,891 visitors aware of Okaloosa Saves during the March 7 Expo. Reached 500,000+ indirectly through marketing and media outreach. Reached 188 youth through the Teach-A-Child-to-Save campaign to encourage youth to open a savings account or add to an existing account. Held an Okaloosa Saves event and partnership, which was featured on the front cover of Building Industry Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties program distributed to 25,000 in Okaloosa County. Placed ads in daily newspaper with 31,000 readers, reached 100,000+ people through radio PSAs, earned 400,000 impressions through billboards, and was featured on TV to over 500,000 viewers. Conducted Piggy Bank Pageant for youth with 31 participants in the final contest, winners were selected by votes from 898 event attendees. Provided three wealth building workshops. Enrolled 163 savers in Okaloosa Saves or Military Saves. Conducted an Artisanal Cheese and Yogurt Making Workshop in 2015. The agent planned and implemented a cheese and yogurt making/food safety workshop. The workshop consisted of a live demonstration of cheese and yogurt making, as well as sanitation procedures. 56 people attended a total of 4 workshops. In a post reflective survey, participants reported a: 77% increase of level of knowledge in the sanitation process. Over 200 adults reached through the Family Nutrition Program and over 400 youth reached. Topics for program include nutrition, physical activity, and making healthy choices, to prevent obesity. Home canning classes were taught to over 50 people to demonstrate safe canning methods and reduce the incidence of Foodborne illness.  In 2015, Extension Agents and volunteers taught 27,157 clientele in classes, phone conferences, demonstrations, seminars, web-based modules, interactive audio/video conferences and through field and office visits. Packet Pg. 104 PROGRAM GOAL:  Provide quality educational programs and services using research-based information in response to resident’s needs in a timely, accurate manner.  Serve as the liaison between the University of Florida and the county.  Maintain current levels of state and federal funding while working to increase external funding. KEY OBJECTIVES: 1. Staff will develop and deliver new and innovative programs in the areas of agriculture/small farms, family and consumer sciences, horticulture, natural resources, marine science and 4-H/youth development by October 2017. 2. Staff will participate in professional development opportunities to gain new knowledge and enhance ability to serve and train stakeholders by October 2017. 3. Staff will actively Recruit and train 20 new volunteers in support of extension educational programs and services by October 2017. 4. Staff will increase use of technology (i.e. webinars, social media) to enhance educational delivery and communication with stakeholders by October 2017. 5. Staff will solicit grants to increase external funding to support programming October 2017. PERFORMANCE MEASURES: Actual Estimated Proposed Performance Measures FY14/15 FY15/16 FY16/17 Input